3. LESSON 1:
EXPLORE SOUTH CAROLINA
A LANDFORM is a shape or part of Earth’s surface, such as a hill
or a swamp.
South Carolina’s coastline has salt marshes, sand dunes, and
beaches.
Where is South Carolina? http://mapsof.net/south_carolina/static-
maps/png/where-is-south-carolina-located
Hemisphere? Continent? Country? State? What part of the Country? What
states border South Carolina? What bodies of water border South Carolina?
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina where our state leaders
work.
Charleston is home to one of the oldest museums in our country.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are located in the northern and
western corner of South Carolina.
4. UNDERSTAND HEMISPHERES
The EQUATOR runs
east to west and divides
the earth into Northern
and Southern
Hemispheres.
The PRIME MERIDIAN
runs north to south and
divides the earth into
Western and Eastern
Hemispheres.
5. LESSON 2:
GEOGRAPHY SHAPES OUR
COMMUNITIES
An URBAN community is a city where a large number of people
live.
What might you see in an urban community?
A SUBURBAN community is located near a big city.
What might you see in a suburban community?
A RURAL community is a place in the countryside where towns
are small and farther apart.
What might you see in a rural community?
Charleston is located along the Atlantic Ocean where the Ashley
River and Cooper River join together.
Why are communities built near water?
CULTURE is the way a group of people live.
6. LESSON 3:
NATURAL SOUTH CAROLINA
CLIMATE is the kind of weather a place has over time.
What is the climate of South Carolina?
An ECOSYSTEM includes the plants and animals that live in a
particular place. I.e.: salt marsh, swamp, cove forest, Carolina
Bays
What ecosystem is located in the valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains?
CONSERVATION is the protection of our forests, rivers, and other
natural resources.
Why is it important to protect South Carolina’s ecosystems?
8. LESSON 1:
THE BLUE RIDGE AND THE PIEDMONT
A REGION is a large area of land that has special features, such as
landforms, climate, and plants.
BLUE RIDGE REGION:
Smallest of the six regions
Mountain forests, streams, and waterfalls
Blue Ridge Mountains
PIEDMONT REGION:
Piedmont means “foot of the mountains”
Monadnock – an isolated, or single, hill made of very hard rock
Rolling hills and wide river valleys
Spartanburg
Textiles and peaches are important industries
9. LESSON 2:
THE SANDHILLS AND THE INNER
COASTAL PLAIN
SANDHILLS REGION:
SC’s old coastline
Hilly land
Aiken, Columbia, Camden, Cheraw
Fall line – water drops rapidly from higher land to lower land causing rushing
water and rapids; Why are cities built along the fall line?
INNER COASTAL PLAIN REGION:
Congaree National Park
Also has rolling hills
More than half of region is covered in forests
SC’s best soil is found here
Center of the state’s cotton production; wheat and soybeans are also grown
here
10. LESSON 3:
THE OUTER COASTAL PLAIN AND THE
COASTAL ZONE
OUTER COASTAL PLAIN REGION:
Flat and broken up by many rivers and streams
Swamps cover much of the land along the rivers
Railroads and canals were built; why?
COASTAL ZONE REGION:
Tourism has been the focus for more than 75 years
Fishing is an important industry
Beaches, marshes, and islands
“Grand Strand”
Leading seaports: Charleston, Georgetown, and Port Royal
A narrow, sandy island between the ocean and the mainland is called
a BARRIER ISLAND; it protects the mainland from the effects of the
ocean.
