Table Rock State Park
158 E. Ellison Lane
Pickens, SC 29671
864.878.9813

We invite you and your students to visit our park and participate in an educational program. Table Rock State Park is a landmark site that includes a vast diversity of plant and animal life, varied stream systems, and mountain geology.

We encourage you to experience the park by participating in one of the following Discover Carolina programs. Pre-site, onsite and post-site lesson plans have been developed to ensure a quality educational experience for you and your students.

Park Interpreter Led Programs: Mountain Stream Ecology

Pre-site Activities On-site Activities Post-site Activities

Stream ecology is a hands-on learning experience that places the students in Carrick Creek to collect coldwater organisms including macro invertebrates, salamanders, crayfish and other organisms. Students learn how these organisms interact and how to define a coldwater habitat.

Grade Level: 5
Length Time: 2 hours
Standards: 5-1.1, 5-1.4, 5-1.6, 5-1.8, 5-2.2, 5-2.3, 5-2.4 and 5-2.5
Setting: Park

Forest Ecology is an investigation of the forest habitat along the Carrick Creek Trail. During the forest hike different forest layer will be studied and concepts of habitats and the interrelationships among organisms will be the focus.

Grade Level: 5
Length: 1.5 - 2 hours
Standards: 5-1.1, 5-1.4, 5-1.6, 5-1.8, 5-2.2, 5-2.3, 5-2.4 and 5-2.5
Setting: Park

Note: Time permitting your class may do two programs in one day.

Students will hike a section of Carrick Creek Trail and observe evidence of chemical and physical weathering, erosion and material deposition. Rocks in this area consist of two main types granite gneiss and amphibolite gneiss, student will learn the make up of these how to identify them.

Grade Level: 7
Length Time: 1.25 hours
Standards: I.A.1.a.1., I.A.1.a.2., I.A.1.b.1., I.A.1.c.1., I.A.1.d.1., I.A.1.e.1., III.A.1.a., III.A.1.b., III.A.1.c., III.A.1.d., III.A.1.e., III.A.3.a., III.A.3.b., III.A.3.c., and III.A.3.d.
Setting: Park

Multiple examples of metamorphic rocks and their associated minerals, near right angle stream bends, and soil color changes occur along this trail. As students hike this area they will observe and classify rocks and minerals and measure stream bend angles. Examples of folding and igneous intrusions will be investigated during this hike as well.

Grade Level: 8
Length: Activity 1 - 70 minutes, Activity 2 - 75 minutes
Standards: 8-1.1, 8-1.2, 8-1.3, 8-1.4, 8-1.5, 8-1.6, 8-1.7, 8-3.4, 8-3.6, 8-3.7, 8-3.8 and 8-3.9
Setting: Park