LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Western North Carolina Nature Center
Like a field trip into the western North Carolina outdoors, this site will introduce you to the plants, animals and environs of the Southern Appalachians.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Lake James State Park
Located in both Burke and McDowell counties, Lake James State Park is a place where students can learn about the animals and plants that inhabit the area.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Learning from a tree
Observation of a single tree throughout the year can be the starting point for explorations of nature, life science, and environmental science.
By Linda Dow.
Birds by inquiry
Students will make observations of bird pictures to note the similarities and differences in one animal group. They will note especially the beaks, feet, wings and feathers of different types of birds. The life cycle of birds will be explored.
Format: lesson plan (grade K English Language Arts and Science)
By Anne Allen.
Estuaries in North Carolina: A primer
Estuaries are places near the coast where freshwater and saltwater mix. Influenced by ocean forces yet partly sheltered from them, estuaries have unique and fascinating ecologies. This article explains what estuaries are, their geology and role in the larger...
By Waverly Harrell and Jennifer Godwin-Wyer.