Field Trips to Eno River State Park
North Carolina state parks staff proudly offer numerous memorable field trip experiences for students and teachers. Explore science, history, social studies, and math through sampling stream life or climbing a mountain.
Eno River State Park offers two field trips options about the river: one focusing on river ecology and the other on the river ecosystem.
Field Trip Programs
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Many of the animals that call the Eno River home have very specific requirements to live. Students will learn about the critical aspects of water quality, including pH, turbidity, sediment, and dissolved oxygen; how scientists measure them; and to discover what can cause water quality changes in a river, with a goal of learning how these aspects affect the creatures that live there. In this exciting, active demonstration, students will have the opportunity to test the water of the Eno River themselves and work together to solve real problems that ranger at the state park have to deal with every day.
Additional Information
| Grades | K to 12 |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Class Size | Minimum 8 Maximum 30 Larger groups can be accommodated by rotating activities. |
| Times Available | Weekdays, year-round (weather dependent) |
| Required Dress | Weather appropriate clothing All students must bring an extra pair of closed-toe shoes for walking in the water. |
| Scheduling | At least 1 month in advance |
Correlations
| K.G.2 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand interactions between humans and the environment. |
|---|---|---|
| 1.E.2 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Understand the physical properties of Earth materials that make them useful in different ways. |
| 1.L.1 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans the enable plants and animals to survive. |
| 1.G.2 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand interactions between humans and the environment in different places and regions around the world. |
| 2.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand how interaction between humans and the physical environment is impacted by movement and settlement. |
| NC.3.MD.2 | Mathematics – Measurement and Data | Solve problems involving measurement: Solve problems involving customary measurement. |
| 3.E.2 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Compare the structures of the Earth's surface using models or three-dimensional diagrams. |
| RI.4.7 | Language Arts – Reading – Reading Standards for Informational Text | Integration of Ideas and Analysis Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears. |
| 4.L.1 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the effects of environmental changes, adaptations and behaviors that enable animals (including humans) to survive in changing habitats. |
| 4.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand the role geography has played in the development of North Carolina. |
| NC.5.MD.2 | Mathematics – Measurement and Data | Represent and interpret data: Collect data by asking a question that yield data that changes over time. Make and interpret a representation of data using a line graph. Determine whether a survey question will yield categorical or numerical data, or data that changes over time. |
| 5.L.2 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the interdependence of plants and animals with their ecosystem. |
| 5.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand the ways in which geographic factors and features have influenced the development of the United States. |
| 6.E.2 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Understand the structure of the earth and how interactions of constructive and destructive forces have resulted in changes in the surface of the earth over time and the effects of the lithosphere on humans. |
| 6.L.2 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the flow of energy through ecosystems and the responses of populations to the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment. |
| 6.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand the geographical factors that influence human migration and settlement. |
| 7.E.1 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Understand how the cycling of matter (water and gases) in and out of the atmosphere relates to Earth's atmosphere, weather and climate and the effects of the atmosphere on humans. |
| 7.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand ways in which geographical factors influence societies. |
| 8.P.2 | Science – Energy: Conservation and Transfer | Explain the environmental implications associated with the various methods of obtaining, managing, and using energy resources. |
| 8.E.1 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Understand the hydrosphere and the impact of humans on local systems and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans. |
| 8.L.3 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment. |
| 8.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand geographic factors that influence the development of North Carolina and the nation. |
| Bio.2.2 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects the next). |
| EEn.2.3 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Explain how water is an agent of energy transfer. |
| EEn.2.4 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Evaluate how humans use water. |
Get your hands and feet wet in the Eno River during a scientific survey of freshwater macroinvertebrates (i.e. water bugs). Working in small groups, students will use seining nets, identify critters with a dichotomous key, and interpret their results to describe the overall health of the river ecosystem.
Additional Information
| Grades | K to 12 |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Class Size | Minimum 8 Maximum 30 Larger groups can be accommodated by rotating activities. |
| Times Available | Weekdays, year-round (weather dependent) |
| Required Dress | Weather appropriate clothing All students must bring an extra pair of closed-toe shoes for walking in the water. |
| Scheduling | At least 1 month in advance |
Correlations
| K.P.1 | Science – Forces and Motion | Understand the positions and motions of objects and organisms observed in the environment. |
|---|---|---|
| K.L.1 | Science – Structures and Functions of Living Organisms | Compare characteristics of animals that make them alike and different from other animals and nonliving things. |
| 1.L.1 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans that enable plants and animals to survive. |
| 1.L.2 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Summarize the needs of living organisms for energy and growth. |
| 1.G.2 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand interactions between humans and the environment in different places and regions around the world. |
| 2.L.1 | Science – Structures and Functions of Living Organisms | Understand animal life cycles. |
| 2.L.2 | Science – Evolution and Genetics | Remember that organisms differ from or are similar to their parents based on the characteristics of the organism. |
| 2.G.1 | Social Studies – Geography | Understand how interaction between humans and the physical environment is impacted by movement and settlement. |
| RI.4.7 | Language Arts – Reading – Reading Standards for Informational Text | Integration of Ideas and Analysis Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears. |
| 4.L.1 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the effects of environmental changes, adaptations and behaviors that enable animals (including humans) to survive in changing habitats. |
| NC.5.MD.2 | Mathematics – Measurement and Data | Represent and interpret data: Collect data by asking a question that yield data that changes over time. Make and interpret a representation of data using a line graph. Determine whether a survey question will yield categorical or numerical data, or data that changes over time. |
| 5.L.1 | Science – Structures and Functions of Living Organisms | Understand how structures and systems of organisms (to include the human body) perform functions necessary for life. |
| 5.L.2 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the interdependence of plants and animals with their ecosystem. |
| 5.L.3 | Science – Evolution and Genetics | Understand why organisms differ from or are similar to their parents based on the characteristics of the organism. |
| 6.L.2 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the flow of energy through ecosystems and the responses of populations to the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment. |
| 7.L.1 | Science – Structures and Functions of Living Organisms | Understand the processes, structures and functions of living organisms that enable them to survive, reproduce and carry out the basic functions of life |
| 8.E.1 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Understand the hydrosphere and the impact of humans on local systems and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans. |
| 8.L.3 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment. |
| Bio.2.1 | Science – Ecosystems | Analyze the interdependent relationships of living organisms within their environments. |
| Bio.2.2 | Science – Ecosystems | Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects the next). |
| EEn.2.3 | Science – Earth Systems, Structures and Processes | Explain how water is an agent of energy transfer. |