Focus Question
How do you think precipitation, elevation and the geology of an area affect what types of wildlife communities you might find there?

Activity Synopsis
Students will explore the five geographic regions of South Carolina while taking special notice of each region’s elevation, average precipitation and overall basic geology. Students will create a model of South Carolina that delineates elevations and portrays differences in the basic geology of an area. After creating the model, students will research how the physical features of each region support the life of different types of organisms and thus different types of communities.

Time Frame
1-2 days

Student Key Terms

• abiotic
• biotic
• clay
• climate
• Coast
• Coastal Plain
• community
• ecosystem
• elevation
• Mountain
• Ocean
• Piedmont
• precipitation
• region
• Sandhills
• soil
• temperature

• igneous rock
• loam
• metamorphic rock
• sedimentary rock
• topography