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June 2024 on KnowItAll.org

June 2024 on KnowItAll.org

Summertime Fun! The Learning Continues on KnowItAll.org!

KnowItAll is full of great places to explore—all over South Carolina—and beyond! You may be surprised by all that you'll find!

 

TO ENCOURAGE SUMMERTIME FUN & CONTINUED LEARNING...

Educators, please add this link to KnowItAll.org to your school website and encourage your students to access this content throughout the summer! 

Link to KnowItAll.org:  https://www.knowitall.org

In addition, the Knowitall Blogs are packed with information that can be used as a guide all summer long. Link to KnowItAll Blogs:  https://www.knowitall.org/blog

 

NEW ON KNOWITALL.ORGCuriosity Trek Titlecard

CURIOSITY TREK

You ever see an object in a museum or while out traveling which made you do a double-take? Curiosity Trek! tells the stories of historic people and events through the artifacts left behind. This series highlights more than just objects of significant historical value - also the strange and the bizarre! The people tied to these objects may be gone, but their stories live on through these artifacts!

Join host Andrew Davis as he travels throughout the Palmetto State, showcasing some of its treasures! 

From the Sky tititlecard

FROM THE SKY

From the Sky is a digital series that offers viewers a glimpse into the cities and towns of South Carolina from a “not often seen” vantage point…from above. 

FEATURED THIS MONTH ON KNOWITALL.ORG

Carolina Day | History In A Nutshell

Are you a South Carolinian looking for another reason to fire up the grill and celebrate in the month of June? This episode of History in a Nutshell explores the S.C.-centric holiday known as "Carolina Day"! Carolina Day, which commemorates the victorious Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War, is observed every June 28th. On June 28, 1776, a small band of Patriots stationed at the palmetto log fort managed to miraculously fend off a massive British fleet. Learn more about the Battle of Sullivan's Island, the evolution of the Carolina Day holiday, and how the S.C. State Flag as we know it today came to be!

 

June is African American Music Appreciation Month - View the Collection here!

 

National Zoo and Aquarium Month Collection

June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month - View the Collection here!

 

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month - View the Collection here!

 

National Great Outdoors Month Collection

June is National Great Outdoors Month - View the Collection here!

Be sure to visit our KnowItAll Factoids at the beginning of each month to find the observances listed with related KnowItAll.org resources! The June observances are listed here!

 

EXPLORE OUR SERIES BY GRADE LEVEL OR SUBJECT AREA!

Explore by Grade Level

Explore by Subject Area

 

Featured Summertime Viewing & Activities - KnowItAll Series 

Annabelle & the CoGlo Amigos

Annabelle and her friends, the CoGlo Amigos, make learning fun for 4-year-olds. Each episode draws on South Carolina's Early Learning Standards. Storylines are developed with such competencies as approaches to learning and inquiry; physical development, self-help and motor skills; emotional and social development; mathematical thinking; and language and literacy development. Annabelle the giraffe, Leonard the lion, Glory the zebra, Rico the cheetah, Mingo Rose the elephant and Gazzie the gazelle navigate the first day of school, learn to garden, go to the dentist, and play soccer, among many other adventures.

Artopia

A comprehensive web-based experience for students, covering the visual and performing arts. Students will learn art history via animated one-minute movies, be guided on how to closely examine important works of art, and view videos of professional artists at work.

Step inside Artopia's Dance lobby! Students can learn about the history of dance by exploring Art History.  Under Be a Dance Critic, students are guided on how to closely examine a variety of dances.  In Meet a Dancer, watch videos of dancers at work.

Step inside Artopia's Media Arts lobby! Students can learn about media arts history by exploring Art History.  Under Be a Media Critic, students are guided on how to closely examine a variety of media types like television, radio, photography and film.  In Meet an Artist, watch videos of artists at work.

Step inside Artopia's Music lobby! Students can learn about music history by exploring Art History.  

Under Be a Music Critic, students are guided on how to closely examine musical performances and how various instruments sound.  In Meet a Musician, students can watch videos of musicians from various genres including classical, jazz, gospel and more.

Step inside Artopia's Painting lobby! Students can learn about the history of painting by exploring Art History. Under Be a Painting Critic, students are guided on how to critique paintings with a similar theme.  In Meet a Painter, watch videos of painters at work.

Step inside Artopia's Sculpture lobby! Students can learn about the history of sculpture by exploring Art History. Under Be a Sculpture Critic, students are guided on how to closely examine five different types of sculptures: (1) carving, (2) casting, (3) modeling, (4) assemblage & soft sculpture and (5) earthworks, installations & beyond. In Meet a Sculptor, watch videos of artists at work.

Step inside Artopia's Theater lobby! Students can learn about the history of theater by exploring Art History. Under Be a Theater Critic, students are guided on how to critique theater productions. In Meet an Artist, watch videos of theater professionals at work.

Arts Grow SC Resources

Arts Grow SC is a state-wide initiative to advance arts in education throughout South Carolina. Following a collective impact model, the goals of Arts Grow SC are to increase access to quality arts education, develop arts-rich learning environments, build and support infrastructure for arts learning at the district level, and research and develop new innovative practices.

Ask an Author

View interviews with national authors and illustrators!

Auntie Karen's Place

This program for grades Pre K-5th focuses on life skills using music and puppets. Topics include: Jazz Music; Sickle Cell Awareness; Financial Literacy; and Emergency Preparedness. The Auntie Karen Foundation partnered with ETV, Palmetto Health Children's Hospital and the USC School of Music, to create this innovative pilot. Students are introduced to Auntie Karen characters: Olivia the Octopus, Bull and Bear, and The Jamaican Yams. 

Carolina Snaps

From small towns to southern icons, learn about South Carolina with these 60-second videos. 

Carolina Stories

The Carolina Stories series highlights the rich cultural and historical landscape that is South Carolina. From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the stories are as geographically diverse as their subject matter and they are all produced by ETV's production teams. Some Carolina Stories include educational resources and teacher's guides. 

Climate Change: A Global Reality and Sea Change

Conversations with Crescent

Conversations with Crescent is an animated educational series created by Black female students in South Carolina. In the series, Crescent invites viewers to extend the conversations that take place in her world and among her friends. Episodes are standard aligned and primarily lend well to learning activities in ELA and Social Studies. The objectives of the series are:

  1. To model courageous conversation
  2. To promote social awareness, inclusivity, and cultural competency
  3. To provide examples of Black excellence

Video

Worksheets, Essay Prompts and Lesson Starters

The Cool and The Strong

Are you ready to embark on an exciting back-to-school adventure like never before? Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of "The Cool and the Strong" as we bring you an extraordinary 2-hour educational programming block that will leave you inspired and believing in the power of dreams.

Creating with Mr. Dearybury

Children’s Literature is a special art form blending perfectly woven words and beautifully created pictures. Reading the author’s story combined with the illustrator's images, readers can’t help but to dream, imagine, and create. In this 8-video series, join author, illustrator, and educator Jed Dearybury as he walks us through some of his favorite picture books and how they inspire him to make art. Hopefully you will start making too, because it is a great day to create! 

Expeditions Shorts

Naturalist, author, educator and Emmy-winning host Dr. Patrick McMillan embarks on fascinating adventures throughout North and South America. The following shorts have been provided from Expeditions with Patrick McMillan. 

Eye Wonder

Eye Wonder excites students with interesting facts and just plain fun! The series explores science and integrates technology, while focusing on various careers. The videos are less than 10 minutes and are filmed through the eyes of the cameraman, D.V.

First Choice Fit ®

Marcus Lattimore from First Choice Community Center in Columbia demonstrates fun and easy exercises that can be done at home.

Flu PSAs – Illness Prevention Tips & Wash Hands Song with Danielle Howle

Four key illness prevention tips are highlighted in English and with Spanish subtitles, along with the Wash Hands Song with Danielle Howle!

Foreign Language

Foreign Language: French, German and Spanish offer an introductory-level course in French, German and Spanish. All lessons present many words, with emphasis on the spoken word rather than the written word. There are ten lessons in each series. Begin with First Step 101-110, then progress to Next Step 201-210, and then on to Another Step 301-310..The AGAIN videos provide further practice.

From the Sky 

From the Sky is a digital series that offers viewers a glimpse into the cities and towns of South Carolina from a “not often seen” vantage point…from above. 

View questions on the videos, activities, and worksheets here. Just scroll down past the videos to view.

Go For It 

From the mountains to the midlands to the coast, there's always something new to discover in South Carolina. Discover SC's Devyn Whitmire will experience some of the most unique and iconic experiences the Palmetto State has to offer.

GullahNet

GullahNet and its host, Aunt Pearlie Sue (Anita Singleton-Prather), introduce Gullah culture and language to children on the web.

What is Gullah?

Located on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia are communities of people who are the descendants of enslaved Africans. They have a unique culture that is directly linked to West Africa. In South Carolina, this group of African-Americans and the language they speak are referred to as Gullah (Gul-luh). In Georgia, they are called Geechee (Gee-chee). Native Islanders is another term that refers to the Gullah and Geechee people.

Many historians believe that the word "Gullah" comes from Angola, a West African country from which many of the slaves came. Another idea is that "Gullah" is from the Gola, a tribe found near the border of Liberia and Sierra Leone, West Africa. Although the exact origin of the word is not known, most historians agree that the Gullah people and their language have African roots. View now!

The Gullah Music website was created to introduce children to the evolution of African music in America through Gullah history and culture. Gullah is the name of the descendants of enslaved Africans who lived on the Sea Islands of South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida. It is also the language spoken by the islanders.

Aunt Pearlie Sue and her sidekick stick Reverend Leroy take visitors on a musical journey to listen and learn how African music influenced many styles of music in America. Explore work songs, spirituals, play songs and the blues. 

Native Islanders share their folklore and history through storytelling and singing. Gullah storytellers often perform folktales that feature animals as the main characters. Much like tales heard in Africa, the smaller animals often outsmart the bigger ones. A good example is the trickster named Brer Rabbit. He is a direct descendant of Cunnie Rabbit, the clever character in African folklore. 

Storytellers in West Africa have always been respected members of their communities. Today, Gullah storytellers like Anita Singleton-Prather (Aunt Pearlie Sue) carry on this tradition of acting out characters by changing their voice and making animated facial expressions. During a live performance, one storytelling technique is to get the audience involved by asking them to repeat words.

Play the interactive stories or watch the video-based stories below.

Interactive Stories

Videos

Healthy Hannah's Healthy Choice Heroes

Healthy Hannah is a cyber super hero who helps her friends make healthy choices by teaching them about nutrition and physical activity while taking them on adventures through cyberspace. The series features twenty short videos that are engaging and fun to watch! Each segment helps to inspire young people to take the lead in living and enjoying a healthy lifestyle!

History In A Nutshell

History In A Nutshell provides videos that address topics on which few resources were previously available. These videos will be fewer than ten minutes long and will tell the story of an entire event from our history, in a fast-paced, engaging style!

In January of 1918, a deadly H1N1 strain of Influenza called the "Spanish Flu" began sweeping across the globe. This flu, also known as "Strain A" or "Avian Flu", took its toll worldwide, infecting mainly young adults, and even South Carolinians had to face this flu without any real forms of medicine. Learn how the Pandemic first arrived in South Carolina, along with its socio-economic effects, and measures taken to combat its spread.

This edition of History In A Nutshell travels back to antiquity; to some of the earliest days of Western Civilization: Ancient Rome! These three segments briefly cover the rise and fall of Rome, including: founding, transition from monarchy to republic, The Punic Wars, the fall of the republic, the reign of the emperors, Christianity, and Rome's collapse.

Note: Some topics regarding Ancient Rome may not be suitable for younger audiences. Please conduct further research at your own discretion.

After the American Revolution, the new United States of America needed to form a permanent government of its own. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail, and how did the U.S. Constitution come to be? This episode of "History In A Nutshell" answers those questions!

The date of January 24, 1848 started out as a typical work day for carpenter James W. Marshall, who was tasked with constructing a water-powered sawmill in Coloma, California. While digging a channel, Marshall looked down and noticed shiny metallic flakes in the water below him. What Marshall discovered would trigger one of the largest single movements of human beings in world history.  Once President James K. Polk confirmed the presence of gold in California, thousands of people from the United States and abroad caught “gold fever,” and flocked to California with hopes and dreams of striking it rich. The California Gold Rush transformed the United States forever, and fast tracked California to becoming a state in 1850.  Join our cartoon avatar host as he takes viewers through a brief historical expose on the California Gold Rush! 

This episode of History in a Nutshell explores the S.C.-centric holiday known as "Carolina Day"! Carolina Day, which commemorates the victorious Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War, is observed every June 28th. On June 28, 1776, a small band of Patriots stationed at the palmetto log fort managed to miraculously fend off a massive British fleet. Learn more about the Battle of Sullivan's Island, the evolution of the Carolina Day holiday, and how the S.C. State Flag as we know it today came to be!

The French and Indian War played a significant role in shaping North America as we know it today. Although it officially began in 1756 as part of the Seven Years War, the French and Indian War had engagements taking place years prior. Between the British and French colonists, and the Native Americans all living on the same continent, a conflict was only inevitable. The French and Indian War was a fight for supremacy of the Ohio Valley region, between the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, also known as "the Forks of the Ohio."

Join our cartoon avatar host as he guides viewers through the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The U.S. acquired the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, and President Thomas Jefferson wanted to know exactly what he had bought. Between 1804-1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the "Corps of Discovery" on a journey west to the Pacific Ocean on a search for the fabled "Northwest Passage" waterway. Was the journey worth it? Find out in this edition of History in a Nutshell!

President James K. Polk desired to achieve his vision of "Manifest Destiny," and sought to acquire Mexico's northern territories. Mexico had no desire to sell Alta California and Nuevo Mexico to Pres. Polk, and in turn was provoked into war by attacking American troops within disputed territory in Texas. From 1846-1848, the United States and Mexico fought for supremacy of these territories. Modern historians view the Mexican-American War as a source of controversy due to how the land was acquired.  Learn how the United States was able to expand from east to west with History In A Nutshell!

Saddam Hussein's military forces invaded and occupied Iraq's next door neighbor Kuwait on August 2, 1990. This invasion was immediately condemned by the United Nations, and an Allied Coalition was formed with the purpose of driving Saddam out of Kuwait. This edition of History in a Nutshell explores the reasons behind Saddam's invasion of Kuwait, and the process behind the Coalition's response to Saddam's aggression. 

Includes an interview with U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush - an A-10 Thunderbolt pilot who destroyed Iraqi tanks during the Persian Gulf War! 

Meet pilot Lieutenant Colonel Joel "Rally" Rush, U.S. Air Force, retired. Lt. Col. Rush flew various aircraft throughout his Air Force career, including the legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II, also nick-named the Warthog. Rush's primary job in the Persian Gulf War was hunting Saddam Hussein's Iraqi tanks. In these interview segments, Rush discusses his first-hand experiences during the conflict. 

Some of the material covered in this series may feature content not suitable for younger audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. 

The question of "the peculiar institution" known as slavery had been hotly debated long before the American Civil War. After the Civil War, Congress did not have a clear plan as to what to do with the millions of newly liberated African American "Freedmen". The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution were meant to fix the social and political issues many African Americans faced. Resistance in both the state and federal levels made progress during the "Reconstruction Era" difficult, and ultimately caused the "Great Experiment in Biracial Democracy" to fail. Full and equal rights for African Americans, as well as minorities, would not be fully realized until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

*Viewer discretion is advised, as it may contain content which some may find controversial*

In the late 1950s, and throughout the 1960s, the U.S. was in the middle of The Cold War with the Soviet Union. Both sides tried to out-perform one another in every way, including scientific advancements and setting records. The Soviet Union had kicked off the "Space Race" when they launched the first man-made satellite called "Sputnik."  In this episode of History In A Nutshell, follow the events leading up to the U.S. landing on the moon; from test pilots and Project Mercury, through Gemini and the Apollo program! 

Also included in this episode is a bonus feature! For the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the South Carolina State Museum hosted a special screening of the PBS documentary Chasing The Moon. During this event, Knowitall.org and SCETV got the opportunity to interview two South Carolinians who helped recover Apollo spacecraft after they returned from their journeys to the moon! 

Join our avatar host as he takes viewers through a brief expose on the events leading up to the forced removal of Native American tribes from the eastern United States. After the American Revolutionary War, an experiment in "civilization" was implemented so that American Indians could peacefully coexist with neighboring white settlers. As more settlers arrived in the U.S. in the early 1800s, more room was demanded from the Native Americans. Despite opposition to the Indian Removal Act initiated by President Andrew Jackson, Native Americans would eventually be forcibly moved from the eastern U.S. and placed in the "designated Indian territory" west of the Mississippi River. This forced transfer known today as the "Trail of Tears" remains one of the most controversial subjects in American history. 

This two part expose on the Women's Suffrage Movement in the U.S. outlines the early years of the movement, all the way to the passing of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920. The fight for full suffrage, to include African Americans and minorities, would not come to pass until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Thanks to the efforts of generations of suffrage leaders, people of all races and genders can have a say in U.S. elections! 

Learn about World War I, how the war started, the U.S.' involvement, fighting the war, and the aftermath with the Treaty of Versailles.

Hobby Shop

The place for hands-on math and science activities and games.

Learn how velocity and distance work in this balloon blast game. A catapult is a military device that was used in ancient and medieval times to hurl stones, spears, and other objects. There were many different types of catapults developed and used throughout history. The most well-known catapult is the bucket catapult, which used a winched down - arm with a bucket on the end to toss objects. The catapult used in our Balloon Blast game is called a trebuchet.

Learn how to use a compound microscope and a dissecting microscope.

Choose and customize a rocket. Launch your rocket and learn about Newton's Laws.

KidsECON

Laila, Ella, and Jayden are taking part in a special program at their school called KidsECON. Join them and their mentor, Peggy, on their adventures around the community as they learn how people spend and make money. [grades K-3] 


Kids Work!

A virtual community of workplaces designed to give students an interactive job exploration experience that connects school work to real work. Each area includes History, Job Play activities, Work Zone and Real People at work.

In each workplace, please be sure to start with the History area, then proceed to Job Play, then to Real People, and finally to the Work Zone area at each work site!

HOSPITAL

 A hospital is a place where sick and injured people go for medical and surgical treatment. Highly skilled health care professionals use the latest technology to make hospital visits as short and painless as possible. 

Real People: Hospital

View profiles with real-life hospital professionals.

TELEVISION STATION

Telecommunications is the word we use for the science and technology of sending messages using electricity. Visit ETV and learn about people who work in media.

Real People: Television

View profiles with real life television professionals.

THEATER

The word theater means a “place for seeing,” but theater is more than just a building where plays are performed. It’s the whole idea behind what happens there. Theater is where playwrights write scripts, directors supervise rehearsals, set designers and technical crew work behind-the-scenes, and the actors perform on stage. All of these people have an important role in the theater, but it is not true theater until an audience is there to experience it.

Real People: Theater

View profiles of real life theater professionals. Four of the interviews are from members of the Disney’s Beauty and the Beast U.S. National Tour and three are from the Peace Center for Performing Arts in Greenville, S.C.

La Ropa Sucia

La Ropa Sucia is a fotonovela produced by ETV and designed to target both Hispanic and non-Hispanic teenagers; the title, which means “Dirty Laundry,” is based on the Hispanic adage, “La ropa sucia se lava en casa.” (“Dirty laundry is washed at home,” or “Don’t air your dirty laundry.”). View the credits page to learn more about the project.

Let's Go!

Check out VRs of some of South Carolina’s most interesting historical sites on your desktop computer or the Matterport App. Each tour includes an overview video and photo gallery.

The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is located on the site of the former Avery Normal Institute. It was a hub for Charleston’s African American community from 1865–1954 that trained its students for professional careers and leadership roles. In 1985, the alumni of the Avery Normal Institute, spearheaded by the Honorable Lucille Whipper, formed the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. It joined with the College of Charleston to establish the Avery Research Center to preserve the legacy of the Avery Normal Institute and educate the community on the history and culture of African Americans in Charleston, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and South Carolina at large.

Over 3000 patrons visit the Avery Research Center annually, ranging from scholars and lecturers to school groups and universities, to families and community members from all over the world. The Avery Research Center provides tours, hosts workshops, presents lectures, and spotlights local and national talents in various forms of creative expression. Additionally, partnerships with the Charleston Public Schools, Berkeley Public Schools, the MOJA Arts Festival: A Celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts sponsored by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, and other community groups extend the Avery Research Center’s reach into local communities.

The childhood home of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays - the focal point of the Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site, a destination for individuals and groups interested in learning about the life of one of the nation’s most influential Civil Rights leaders and the African American experience in South Carolina.

ETV Education asked students from Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School in Greenwood, SC to investigate, analyze, formulate questions, and research potential captions for the Let’s Go Interactive of the Benjamin Mays Historical Site. Check out their inquiry.

Learn more about Dr. Mays by watching the Carolina Stories documentary, Born To Rebel, Driven to Excel.

"Rev. Alexander Bettis, a former slave who could read but couldn't write, established Bettis Academy in 1882 to provide education for African-Americans in South Carolina. Bettis Academy provided both day and boarding options for its students. Its curriculum emphasized the Bible and religious instruction, literacy, mechanical and agricultural arts, and home economics. Bettis Academy closed in 1950. An annual Earth Day event is held there each April." - Discover South Carolina

From 1915-1974, Booker T. Washington High School served as a separate educational system for young African Americans in Columbia, South Carolina. The school began with elementary grades and became a standard high school in 1924. For many years, Booker T. Washington was the largest African American high school in South Carolina. In 1956, the facilities of the school were expanded and renovated, but the 1954 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in "Brown v. the Board of Education" that segregated schools, no matter how fine their physical plant and educational programs, were inherently unequal, led to the end of the school. When Columbia schools were integrated, the University of South Carolina absorbed Booker T. Washington School's physical plant, some of whose buildings are still in use by the University. 

The mission of the Catawba Cultural Center is to preserve, protect, promote and maintain the rich cultural heritage of the Catawba Indian Nation through efforts in archives, archeology, tribal historic preservation, native crafts, cultural education, and tourism development. The Cultural Center provides an overview of the rich culture and history of the Catawba Indian Nation. There are exhibits that can be seen at no charge and a member of the staff will be happy to answer any questions that you have. There is also a craft store in the center that features crafts from many of our native artisans.

The Columbia Museum of Art sparks powerful connections through art from around the corner and around the world in an environment that is welcoming to all.

"The Florence C. Benson Elementary School was built in 1953-55 as Wheeler Hill School to serve African American students of the community and as a replacement for the overcrowded Celia Dial Saxon Negro Elementary School. An equalization school, it is both an example of the government’s efforts to maintain “separate but equal” school systems for blacks and whites and one of the last remnants of a segregated black residential area. The school served 270 students in the first through sixth grades. In 1958 it was re-named in honor of Florence Corinne Benson, a former teacher at the school."

Fort Hill, the antebellum plantation of John C. Calhoun, South Carolina’s pre-eminent 19th century statesman, started as a four-room Clergy Hall. Through a succession of Calhoun-Clemson women, Fort Hill would come into Thomas Green Clemson’s possession. In 1888, Clemson bequeathed three-fourths of the Fort Hill plantation and $80,000 to the state of South Carolina for the establishment of a public scientific and agricultural college. He willed that Fort Hill “shall always be open for the inspection of visitors."

The first fort on Sullivan's Island, constructed of palmetto logs and sand, was still incomplete when Commodore Sir Peter Parker of the Royal Navy and nine British men-of-war attacked it on June 28, 1776. After a nine-hour battle, the ships were forced to retire. Charlestown was saved from British occupation, and the fort was named in honor of its commander, Colonel William Moultrie. In May 1780 the British finally captured Charlestown, including Fort Moultrie, finally evacuating the city in December 1782 as the Revolution entered its final year. LEARN MORE

Today Fort Moultrie has been restored to portray the major periods of its history. A visitor to the fort moves steadily backwards in time from the World War II Harbor Entrance Control Post to the site of the Palmetto-log fort of 1776.

The H.L. Hunley submarine made history during the American Civil War when she became the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. In February 1864, the Hunley, under command of Lieutenant George E. Dixon, sank the U.S.S. Housatonic; a Union blockade vessel. The Hunley's mission was a success, but disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and never returned to port. The Hunley was the third in a series of submarines constructed by engineers Horace Lawson Hunley, Baxter Watson, and James McClintock. Before the Hunley's successful attack on the Housatonic, the Hunley had two accidents, the second of which claimed Horace Hunley's life. 

Located in York County near Rock Hill, Brattonsville is home to structures that range from a pre-Revolutionary War cabin to an antebellum plantation.

The original Scott’s Branch High School was formed to serve African American students in Summerton, South Carolina. Originally known as the Taw Caw School, the school's name changed due to the location of the first building being in front of a brook called Scott's Branch. When the first building burned down, parents raised funds to replace it with a two-story building and auditorium. This second building burned down in 1937 and Clarendon County rebuilt the present Scott’s Branch Middle School.

Lamar High School in Darlington County, South Carolina, was the site of an attack on school buses carrying African American students to the campus on March 3, 1970. In January 1970, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States ordered Darlington County Public Schools to immediately integrate by February 18, 1970. While there was compliance in much of the county, many white parents in Lamar strongly objected to integration. Local businessman Jeryl Best led a group, Citizens for Freedom of Choice, in a boycott of the segregated white schools in the Lamar area from February 18 to March 3. African American parents boycotted the segregated schools for two weeks, concerned there would not be federal protection for their children. A.W. Stanley, the president of the Darlington NAACP Branch, voiced the rising danger of violence to the County Superintendent of Education and urged him to request federal assistance. Continued here...

The Mann-Simons Site, home to the same entrepreneurial African American family for nearly 130 years, traces the journey of Columbia’s African American community from enslavement through urban renewal. 

Built between 1890 and 1895, this one-story cottage was home to Modjeska Monteith Simkins, considered "the Matriarch of Civil Rights activists of South Carolina," from 1932 until her death on April 5, 1992.

Located in downtown Charleston, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is nationally recognized as one of our country’s most significant historical sites.

Penn Center is one of the most significant African American historical and cultural institutions in existence today. The historic campus is located on St. Helena Island, one of the most beautiful and historically distinct of the South Carolina Sea Islands, and at the heart of Gullah culture. 

Completed by 1713, The Powder Magazine is the oldest governmental building in South Carolina. This facility was used as an arsenal from 1713 - 1748 to defend the colony from the Spanish, French, pirates, slave rebellion and native attacks. It was then temporarily reinstated by the Continental Army during the American Revolution. 

After 1780, The Powder Magazine was retired; however, private owners discovered a variety of other functions for this historic structure. Throughout the 19th century, The Powder Magazine was converted to a stable, print shop, blacksmith shop, wine cellar, and horse carriage house. In 1902, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of South Carolina purchased the building, saving it from being destroyed. It was then restored and opened as a museum.

The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum's mission is to collect and preserve the military history of this state. When visitors enter Columbia's oldest museum, they will uncover the state's military history from the Revolutionary War to the present War on Terror.

First established in Sumter county as the “National Guard Museum and State Weapons Collection”, the South Carolina Military Museum relocated to the capital city of Columbia to better serve its mission of preserving the State’s military history. This new location offered strong partnerships with the South Carolina Military Department and the opportunity to expand the collection. Through the efforts of staff and volunteers, the former National Guard motor pool was transformed into an inviting space for the community to learn their rich military heritage. Officially recognized by the U.S. Army’s Center for Military History and the National Guard Bureau, the museum features a timeline of South Carolina military history within two full exhibit galleries available for visitors to explore. Staff members are on hand to help with research inquiries by utilizing our archival collection or resource material. Always striving to lead by example, the museum also hosts community events to thank our veterans and build relationships with the community.

Located in the capital city of Columbia, the State House and its grounds are a living monument to South Carolina’s rich history. Take a 3D virtual tour inside the SC State House.

The Upcountry History Museum is a history museum in Greenville, South Carolina that displays the regional history of fifteen upstate South Carolina counties from the early 18th century to the present.

USS Yorktown (CV-10) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served with the US Navy in World War II and the Vietnam War. World War II’s famous “Fighting Lady” would participate significantly in the Pacific offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. The Yorktown received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II. In the 1950s, the Yorktown was modernized to operate jet aircraft as an attack carrier (CVA). In 1957, she was re-designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier (CVS), and would later earn 5 battle stars for service off Vietnam (1965-68). The ship also recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule (December 1968). The Yorktown was decommissioned in 1970 and placed in reserve. Today, the ship, is a floating military museum located at Patriot's Point in Charleston, SC.   

The Woodrow Wilson House in Columbia is the only museum in the nation dedicated to telling the story of Reconstruction. Located at 1705 Hampton Street, in historic downtown Columbia, South Carolina, this is the home where President Woodrow Wilson spent four years of his childhood. The house was built in 1871, during the height of the Reconstruction era; a tumultuous period in United States and South Carolina history. Today, the house is a museum, devoted to showing Columbia's struggle to rebuild itself after the Civil War, and the Wilson family's time spent in the home.

Let's Go! CAREERS

Using career profiles and 360 videos, Let's Go! CAREERS bring students virtually inside the work environment, especially in areas that need skilled workers.

Health Science

Be sure to view the lesson plans. Just scroll down past the videos. 

Manufacturing

View the lesson plans. Just scroll down past the videos. 

Public Safety

Scroll down past the videos to view the lesson plans. 

Transportation & Logistics

Be sure to view the lesson plans. Just scroll down past the videos. 

Please note: Higher Education and Workforce Development resources are located here.

Meet the Helpers

Many children have questions and can feel uneasy when emergencies occur in their communities. Together, we can help children learn about important community helpers in a calm and fun environment, so when an emergency strikes, children will understand who to look for and how to help. Meet the Helpers is designed to introduce “helpers” and explain the role they play in emergency situations. For more information on this WUCF initiative, visit meetthehelpers.org.

NASA Science Simulations

Students learn about these topics and scientific principles while having fun!

Click on “Launch Interactive” just below each of the simulations.

Natural State

A Natural State explores how people express a love for nature by shaping, twisting, carving, and weaving materials collected from the landscape. Some of the arts and crafts featured in A Natural State reveal the cultural heritage of South Carolina, while others employ concepts from the world of modern art. 

Nuestro Futuro (Our Future)

Nuestro Futuro follows five young Hispanics living in South Carolina. Their stories tie into larger themes about the impact of the growing Latino population on communities in the South. How are these recent immigrants being received? What new freedoms do they experience? What new challenges do they face? What do their stories bring to the history of immigration in America?

On the Other Hand

Designed to teach sign language to teachers and parents of deaf children, this innovative series can also teach signing to classroom students. Through animation, real-life segments, and direct instruction by the series’ hosts, students can learn the fundamentals of this language in order to communicate with friends and classmates who use signing as their primary means of communication.

Pee Dee Explorer

Pee Dee Explorer features over six hours of video vignettes that characterize the natural, cultural, and agricultural landscapes of the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Pee Dee Explorer is divided into chapters that provide various contexts for telling the story of the region. Each chapter contains a collection of video stories and accompanying text, based on well-known and "off the beaten path" landmarks found in the Pee Dee.

Project Discovery

Go exploring with Project Discovery!

Project Discovery Revisited

Edited versions from the popular live, interactive Project Discovery series. Hosted by students and featuring the best on-site segments from the original programs.

Reconstruction 360 - All 6 Modules now available! 

Reconstruction 360 uses a 360 degree video platform as a storytelling device that lets the audience step inside pivotal Reconstruction events. By clicking on icons within the 360 video the user can access short documentaries that offer the perspectives of multiple characters, historians and descendants. Reconstruction 360 also includes lesson plans, curriculum standards and primary documents. 

Be sure to explore all six modules! 

Step into a working farm in South Carolina in 1865, where an amazing reversal of labor and land ownership has taken place. Freedpeople are working their own farm, producing crops, making money. But then a visitor appears on the horizon, and one of the most painful, lasting chapters in American history is about to unfold.

You are invited to dinner in Savannah in 1868. The mother of a Black family has prepared a special meal to commemorate the new Georgia State Constitution that her husband and pastor have helped to create.

Welcome to a small school in rural Alabama. Everyone in the community is excited about the new teacher, a recent Normal School graduate who brings spelling books for her students.

This module, Violence and Hatred, is situated in Memphis, Tennessee in May, 1866, during a terrible event known as the Memphis Massacre, in which at least 46 Black Memphians were murdered by members of a White mob. 

This module, The Black Codes, deals with the laws passed by southern whites shortly after the Civil War that limited the rights of Black people in an attempt to establish restrictions similar to slavery. 

In this module, The First Vote, join a group of new African American voters at a polling station in Virginia in 1867. Black and white U.S. Army soldiers are serving as poll workers, since the state of Virginia is under federal military rule, and two Confederate Army veterans are not pleased.

View the 360 Experience here. 

RiverVenture

The story of South Carolina's cultural and natural landscape as told by its rivers. RiverVenture will take you on a virtual "float-trip" across South Carolina, following the Saluda, the Congaree, the Santee, the Cooper, and the Catawba Rivers.

This mountain stream is nestled in the Blue Ridge Escarpment of South Carolina. Carrick Creek flows within the Saluda watershed, the beginning of a river journey moving water from the mountains to the sea. Explore the module to learn more about this unique waterway and its geology, cove forest habitat, and aquatic ecosystem.

From the Appalachian Mountains, the Catawba River south through the Carolina Piedmont, where it becomes the Wateree River and eventually flows out to the Atlantic Ocean as the Santee River. From the earliest Native Americans to present day kayakers, people have always been drawn to the power of the Catawba River. On your Catawba RiverVenture you will explore several areas of the river that tell the stories of how the Catawba River has shaped the land and our history, and how we are still connected to the river today.

While you may recognize some present day landmarks on your journey, your Catawba RiverVenture is a virtual trip and doesn't represent the true distances between these landmarks.

RiverVenture needs your help! Riverventure Headquarters has heard reports of problems in the estuary. A sign warns people not to collect or eat shellfish such as oysters and clams. People are testing the water for strange reaons...

  • Find out why the shellfish bed in this area has been closed.

  • What are other potential problems for the estuary?

  • Gather clues and file a River Wrap Report when you're ready!

The panorama is full of objects, some obvious and others hidden. Scroll over the landscape and see how many you can find!

After floating through the hilly Piedmont, you arrive at the Sandhills of South Carolina. Between 55 and 100 million years ago the sea level was higher and the coast was farther inland. Marine fossils and beach sand remain as evidence of the ancient beachfront in the Sandhills. Over millions of years, the sea level dropped and by 10,000 BCE humans occupied the central area of the state.

Road Trip Through SC Civil Rights History

Learn about the people and events, and the importance of the civil rights movement in South Carolina from the 1940s to the early 1970s.

  1. Places
  2. People
  3. Facts

Television Series

SC Life

Take a virtual field trip to a South Carolina cove forest and a salt marsh. These virtual field trips were produced in collaboration between Clemson University's SC LIFE Project and South Carolina ETV. The virtual field trips were designed specifically for schools lacking easy access to natural areas.

Cove forests are unique ecosystems found exclusively in North America, in the southern Appalachian Mountains of the United States. They are a special type of forest known as mixed deciduous, meaning that forest's trees lose their leaves in fall. Cove forests are restricted to mountain "coves," which are bowl-shaped valleys with very rich, fertile, damp soil. Many cove forests have streams wandering through part of the forest. The cove forests of the South exhibit the greatest plant and tree diversity of any forests in the United States.

Salt marshes are found around the world, but the one you are about to tour can be found right here in South Carolina on the North American continent. Salt marshes are located only along the coast. This is because a salt marsh is an area that is flooded by saline (salty) water. The salt marshes are better developed as you move farther south in South Carolina.

Short Takes with Naturalist Rudy Mancke 

Naturalist Rudy Mancke, renowned for his work on South Carolina ETV’s NatureScene series, talks a tad about some of his favorite creatures, sharing his enthusiasm for nature and his knowledge about fascinating things all around us in SC. From his office at the University of South Carolina that is filled with artifacts and creatures of every size and description, Rudy shares a minute of information on interesting science topics! 

Simple Digital

Smart Cat

Smart Cat leads kids of all ages through exercise steps to get you up and moving. Here's your Smart Cat Seal of Approval. Stay happy and healthy, friends!

Lessons on topics including safety, getting a good night's sleep, handwashing and etiquette when coughing or sneezing, the five senses, character education, positive self-view, choosing friends, mental health, manners, handling money, and diversity and inclusion.

Download the workbook here. 

What's Wild

Experience the wonder! Explore the spectacular! What’s Wild features South Carolina’s rarest wildlife and the amazing people who protect them.

Be sure to view the lesson plans and Trivia Quizzes by scrolling down.

What's Wild Quizzes

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