The Piedmont region of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia is comprised of ecologically diverse ecosystems, providing abundant habitat for numerous plant and animals species.
Two cross-disciplinary projects at the University of South Carolina Upstate are helping to bring science awareness and interest in the region’s natural habitat to children, parents, and educators alike.
“These project came to fruition through a collaboration between faculty in the Division of Natural Sciences and Engineering and the Department of Fine Arts and Communications, and students in the School of Education, Human Performance, and Health,” said Dr. Jeannie Chapman, interim dean of the College of Science and Technology at USC Upstate. “This is an excellent example of cross-disciplinary work that not only serves as a resource for outdoor enthusiasts, schools, and parks and recreation organizations but also puts science at the fingertips of school-age children.”
“It’s a great honor to be recognized for our contribution to science education in South Carolina and to know that teachers around the state are finding it to be a useful resource. That means a lot to us,” said Dr. Jonathan Storm, associate professor of biology at USC Upstate, who collaborated with Dr. Briget Doyle, Julie Smoak, Melissa Storm and education student Rachel Furman on the publication. “We wanted to create an easy-to-use field guide that would help the general public identify common, distinctive organisms they might find in this region of the country. We also wanted it to be free.”
Storm, who serves as board president of the Spartanburg Science Center, also recently collaborated with education students Ashlyn Westmoreland, Alexis McAllister and Mariya Dmitrienko, art student Michael Weeks, and art faculty member Bridget Kirkland to produce the “Southern Piedmont Wildlife Coloring Book.” The coloring book is a fun and free way to learn about local organisms and it can be downloaded in two formats: single page sheets or as a booklet. An associated Teacher’s Guide links each coloring page to South Carolina Science Education Standards, which includes additional information on each organism and a worksheet for kindergarten and second grade students. This publication can also be found at www.uscupstate.edu/fieldguide.
“Working together, USC Upstate faculty and students created a resource that furthers the teaching and appreciation of science, and helps classroom educators make nature relevant and accessible,” said Dr. Laura Reynolds, dean of the School of Education, Human Performance and Health. “By connecting the coloring book to the South Carolina Science Education Standards makes this a valuable resource for classrooms across the state.”
“Hopefully the coloring book and field guide will help educate the next generation of biologists and nature lovers here in the Piedmont,” said Storm who hopes these publications will help encourage people to spend time outdoors and develop an interest in nature.
For more information, contact Dr. Jonathan Storm, associate professor of biology at USC Upstate, at (864) 503-5753 or [email protected] or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more about local natural. Visit www.uscupstate.edu/fieldguide to download the items for free and follow on social media.
Prepared by USC Upstate.