Coastal Heritage Curriculum Connection
Explore Curriculum Connection guides, which are written to accompany each issue of Coastal Heritage, a quarterly publication of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.
Coastal Heritage, Spring 2020 issue: 1980-2020: S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Marks Four Decades of Change
- What 1862 federal program served as the model for the National Sea Grant College Program Act?
- How has the aquaculture industry changed over the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s (Consortium) 40-year existence? What role has the Consortium played in these developments?
- What were the top five commercial fishing landings in 2017? How do these compare to the top five from 1980?
- What hurdles do commercial fishers face in making a profit? What industry model might they follow to result in higher profit margins?
- What factors have contributed to the decline of working waterfronts in South Carolina?
- Describe three collaborative research efforts that the Consortium has funded. How did these joint projects influence coastal policy?
- How have the rates of tidal flooding in Charleston changed over time?
Use the Curriculum Connection to Address These South Carolina Academic Standards
1st Grade Social Studies (Life in South Carolina)
1.CG.4 Collaborate with others to identify, resolve, and communicate resolutions on a local or state issue.
1st Grade Science
1.E.4B.2 Obtain and communicate information to explain ways natural resources can be conserved (such as reducing trash through reuse, recycling, or replanting trees).
2nd Grade Social Studies (Life in the United States)
2.G.3 Explain how the distribution of human features, physical features, and natural resources within the U.S. changes over time and impacts economic activity.
3rd Grade Social Studies (World Geography)
3.2.2.ER Identify and analyze the ways people interact with the physical environment in different regions of the state, the country, and the world.
3rd Grade Science
3.E.4A.3 Obtain and communicate information to exemplify how humans obtain, use, and protect renewable and nonrenewable Earth resources.
4th Grade Science
4.E.2B.2 Obtain and communicate information about severe weather phenomena (including thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes) to explain steps humans can take to reduce the impact of severe weather phenomena.
5th Grade Social Studies (United States and South Carolina Studies Part II)
5.5.CX Contextualize the changes in rural communities in South Carolina within national and global industries.
5th Grade Science
5.E.3B.4 Define problems caused by natural processes or human activities and test possible solutions to reduce the impact on landforms and the ocean shore zone.
7th Grade Social Studies (Geography of World Regions)
7.5.6.AG Gather evidence and construct a map or model to investigate a significant contemporary cultural, economic, or political issue facing North America at the local, regional, or global scale.
7th Grade Science (Life Science)
7.EC.5A.3 Analyze and interpret data to predict changes in the number of organisms within a population when certain changes occur to the physical environment (such as changes due to natural hazards or limiting factors).
8th Grade Social Studies (South Carolina and the United States)
8.5.CC Analyze the continuities and changes in South Carolina’s identity resulting from the civic participation of different individuals and groups of South Carolinians.
High School Human Geography
HG.1.2. PR Explain the cultural, economic, environmental, and political conditions and connections that contribute to human migration patterns.
High School United States History
USHC.5.CX Contextualize domestic economic development and American national identity within global politics.
High School United States Government
USG.4.IP Describe and evaluate the ways citizens can participate in the political process at the local, state, national, and global levels.
High School Economics and Personal Finance
EPF.1.ER Examine how scarcity of time and resources necessitates decision-making.
High School Biology
H.B.6D.1 Design solutions to reduce the impact of human activity on the biodiversity of an ecosystem.
High School Earth Science
H.E.6A.5 Analyze and interpret data to describe how the quality of the water in drainage basins is influenced by natural and human factors (such as land use, domestic and industrial waste, weather/climate conditions, topography of the river channel, pollution, or flooding).
Lesson Links and Educational Resources
This issue of Coastal Heritage focuses on the 40-year history of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) and describes a number of relevant coastal research topics. The following lesson links and educational resources expand on these subjects in order of appearance in this issue.
Previous Coastal Heritage Issues
Since 1982, the Consortium has been publishing Coastal Heritage, a free, quarterly publication that features a single important coastal topic within each issue. This current edition of Coastal Heritage chronicles the past 40 years of the Consortium’s activities with many of the highlighted topics previously included in past issues. An archive of Coastal Heritage magazines can be found on the Consortium’s website. Many issues are accompanied by a Curriculum Connection for educators with relevant activities and lesson plans. (K-12)
Marine Debris Curriculum
Designed for use by both formal and nonformal educators, the Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico acts as a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter, derelict or abandoned boats, and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. (K-12)
Barrier Island Story Map
Created by S.C. Sea Grant Consortium to accompany the Fall 2019 issue of Coastal Heritage, you can take a virtual road trip of all thirty-four of South Carolina’s barrier islands with this story map. Move from island-to-island and learn a little bit about the varied history, ecology, and culture of South Carolina’s barrier islands. (6-12)
Sea Sampler Activity Books
Shortly after its creation in 1980, the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium began supporting an effort to bolster K-12 marine education. A long process led to the publication in 1985 of Sea Sampler: Aquatic Activities for the Field and Classroom edited by Wendy Beard Allen and Patty Owens McLaughlin. The science in these publications still holds up, even if some activities might no longer match updated grade-level state education standards. (K-12)
Of Sand and Sea: Teachings from the Southeastern Shoreline Book
For an excellent reference material on barrier islands in the Southeast, check out the book Of Sand and Sea: Teachings from the Southeastern Shoreline. In addition to information on barrier islands, this book contains a comprehensive explanation of ocean zones, plate tectonics, the hydrologic cycle, and the physical and chemical properties of the ocean. (K-12)
North Carolina Sea Grant’s Lessons in Mariculture
Created by North Carolina Sea Grant, Lessons in Mariculture is a compilation of 10 lesson plans designed to introduce high school students to the industry of marine aquaculture and prepare them to potentially enter the marine workforce. Lesson topics include the history of the industry, biology of East Coast aquaculture species, and a variety of aquaculture production methods and impacts. (9-12)
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s FISHstory
Set to launch in Summer 2020, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) has created FISHstory, a citizen science opportunity for the public to help chronicle historical fishery management practices. Using photographs from recreational fishing docks from 1940-1970, participants will help identify and measure fish that were kept before dedicated catch monitoring was put in place. (9-12)
NOAA Coastal Decision-Making Lesson Plan
Incorporating social sciences in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classroom, this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Service Education lesson plan tasks students with problem solving through role-playing a variety of barrier island stakeholders. Students will use these different perspectives to examine the many human dimensions of coastal decision-making. (9-12)
NOAA Estuary Education Resources
To help educators incorporate estuarine topics in their curriculum, NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR) created a suite of lessons and activities for all grade levels. With both general estuarine information as well as geographically-specific topics, these educational resources use hands-on learning, experiments, fieldwork, and data exploration to make estuary science exciting and relevant to your classroom. (K-12)
Project Oceanica Resources
Project Oceanica developed a curriculum of beach activities designed for middle school students. These lesson plans include the creation of a beach profile for a variable shoreline, flora and fauna analyses, and geological investigation of beach sediment. While the curriculum was written with middle school standards in mind, these activities can easily be adapted for higher grade levels. (6-12)
To expand sea-level rise science to K-12 audiences, the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) has created a 5E curriculum that incorporates real data. Students will study the Savannah/Tybee Island region of Georgia to better understand how coastal flooding, tides, sea-level rise, and climate change are impacting these communities. (6-8)
South Carolina Aquarium’s Watershed Curriculum
This middle-grade curriculum from the South Carolina Aquarium introduces students to South Carolina’s watersheds through hands-on activities that are aligned to South Carolina science standards. These activities focus on watershed basics, topography, water quality, human impacts, and more. (5-8)
MyCoast: South Carolina Citizen Science App
To help document sea-level rise, storm damage, abandoned boats, and beach cleanups in South Carolina, you can download the MyCoast: South Carolina app from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Engage your students in a citizen science project that helps their community! (6-12)
Field Trip Opportunities
National Estuarine Research Reserve Sites
One of the primary functions of NERR sites across the United States is to serve as a living classroom to promote coastal and estuarine stewardship through education. South Carolina is home to two NERR sites, the ACE Basin and North Inlet-Winyah Bay. In addition to hosting field trips and developing educational materials for the classroom, NERR sites also offer yearly professional development opportunities for teachers through the Teachers on the Estuary program.
Caw-Caw Interpretive Center
Once part of several rice plantations, Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission’s (CCPRC) Caw Caw Interpretive Center provides an excellent site to explore the natural and historical history of the Lowcountry. Environmental and social studies education programs are available for students from preschool through college and can be reserved through the CCPRC website.
Beach Sweep/River Sweep
Are you and your students looking to make a positive impact on your watershed? Participate in Beach Sweep/River Sweep, the largest one-day cleanup of beaches, marshes, and waterways in South Carolina on the third Saturday in September each year. This event is coordinated by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and has cleanup groups organized throughout the state. To find a cleanup near you or to start your own site, visit the Beach Sweep/River Sweep website.
From Seeds to Shoreline® Program
From Seeds to Shoreline® (S2S) is South Carolina’s only salt marsh restoration program designed for students. After attending a teacher training workshop, you can lead your students in cultivating and transplanting salt marsh grass in your school. At the end of the school year, you and your students will participate in a marsh restoration field trip to plant your seedlings in this critical ecosystem. For more information about S2S and to find out how to get involved, visit the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium website.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Coastal Discovery Marine Education Program
Operating out of four coastal locations, SCDNR’s Marine Education Program provides a variety of place-based marine field trips. Students can gain hands-on experience in sample collection, data recording, and other critical science investigation skills. To find out more information and to book your field trip, visit the SCDNR Marine Education website. (K-12)