Education Resources
Posters and Printed Materials
SERTC Posters and Lessons: Marine science posters and lesson plans designed to teach taxonomy of South Carolina's marine species.
Sea Sciences: A series of educational publications on a variety of marine related topics. Put together by scientists and educators of the Marine Resources Division at SCDNR.
ACE Basin Activity Book: Designed to instill a stronger awareness and respect for environmentalism and conservation and to encourage young students to enjoy discovering coastal South Carolina.
Spartina Poster: This poster explains the benefits of the salt marsh, food webs, and Spartina’s life cycle and adaptations to its environment.
Fun with Data
Graph Art for Elementary Students: It’s never too early to start helping your students read and create graphs.
NOAA Data in the Classroom: Leveled online modules using real-world data for Middle and High School.
Human Impacts on an Estuary: This High school phenomenon-based lesson helps students investigate Humans in the Estuary while examining real-world data to find answers.
Studying Water Quality: How is the weather and water quality in the ACE Basin changing? Check out this 4-pager about patterns in ACE Basin water quality.
Restoration Science: Why do we restore wetlands? Here is a story map on multiple habitat restoration projects and monitoring methods around the country within the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.
All About the ACE
ACE Basin Intro Video: What is the ACE Basin and why do we protect it? Watch this video to find out!
Dive Deeper: One of the most beautiful places in the ACE Basin is Botany Bay. Check out these videos and lessons to learn more:
Virtual Program Recordings
Marine Education Channel: Virtual lessons from our marine educators for a range of grade-levels. Explore topics from Survival in the Estuary to Sea Turtle Ecology.
SCDNR Webinar Series: Hear from SCDNR experts on a range of topics from Sea Turtle Nesting to Coastal Archeology.
Interdisciplinary Lessons
SC Coastal Resources Blog: Use our Coastal Resources blog to get your students reading about science!
Read & Reflect 1: Have students read our blog post on our top conservation stories from 2010-2014 then answer reflection questions.
Read & Reflect 2: Have students read our blog post on our top conservation stories from 2015-2019 then answer reflection questions.
Careers in Marine Science
Careers in Marine Science: An introduction to the range of careers in Marine Science and ideas for gaining experience now.
Day in the Life of a Marine Biologist Webinar: Three SCDNR marine biologists tell us about their not-so-average work days and how they got to where they are today.
Virtual Job Shadowing: Take a virtual tour of the SCDNR Reef Fish Lab.
Biologist Spotlight: Watch a SCDNR’s trammel net survey from a bird's eye view.
Salt Marsh Ecology
Salt Marsh Ecology Lessons: Bring the salt marsh into your classroom with these South Carolina specific activities. These lesson plans were curated for our state and cover concepts such as food webs, human impacts, and taxonomy, as well as incorporating ELA and Cultural Connection to the salt marsh.
Field Guide: South Carolina salt marsh field guide.
Sea Science: Have your students practice reading non-fiction text about the common biotic and abiotic factors of the salt marsh.
Here are short video segments with reflection questions:
Fisheries Genetic Mysteries
Marine biologists use genetic samples to determine presence of species, genetic diversity, and species abundance, and the effectiveness of protection activities.
Watch this short video to see our biologists at work isolating and amplifying DNA samples: Inside the Genetics Lab
Mystery #1: Use eDNA data to determine if an endangered species is using this estuary. In Round 2, use the same technique to identify the presence of an invasive species before it is too late!
Mystery # 2: Read chromatograms to determine if the DNA sample comes from a stocked fish or a wild fish. This technique allows biologists to determine the contribution of our fish stocking program to wild populations.
Family Outdoor Activities for parents
Take a moment every day to breathe in that salty air and read below to find some exciting activities you can experience outside with your friends and family!
- SCDNR has many different natural public areas around the whole state of South Carolina! This is a great opportunity to get outside and visit a park, beach, wildlife management area, look for animals, camp and fish, or just go out to have a picnic by the water!
- Start a Nature Journal: Sit outside, take a deep breath, and write or draw what you see, hear, smell, and feel, and take it with you on all of your adventures!
- One of the most beautiful places in the ACE Basin is Botany Bay. Learn about the Botany Bay: Beach Shells here and then go see what you can find on your own!
Do you like to make crafts? Watch our Marine Education Channel: Virtual lessons from our marine educators for a range of ages. Explore topics from Survival in the Estuary to Sea Turtle Ecology and learn all about different animals that live in marine environments.