Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

By Nicole Smock

And What Exactly Is It?

Virginia State Park
Located in Virginia Beach

National Natural Landmark

National Historic Landmark

Connection to Curriculum
First Landing State Park will help to reinforce the science

concepts taught in the classroom. The site could serve as

an introduction to a unit, or could be used after the
information has been taught. For example, a trip to First
Landing State Park would be beneficial to help the
students see and practice classifying producers, consumers,
and decomposers. After the trip to the park, there are
several extension activities that could be brought into the
classroom, such as a human food chain using the
organisms found in the park. What the students see and
observe can be helpful as reminders and future examples to
help teach different concepts.

Connection to Standards
Virginia Science SOLs
K.6 living vs. nonliving organisms
1.5 basic needs & characteristics of animals
2.5 living things are part of a system & are influenced
by their environment
3.5 relationships among organisms in food chains
3.6 ecosystems support a diversity of plans & animals
4.5 plant & animal interactions with ecosystem,
organization of an ecosystem, habitats, energy through
food webs

About First Landing State Park

Site of the first landing of Jamestown colonists in 1607
Swamps were used for military ships in War of 1812
Blackbeard hid in the park (local legend)

Landing site for Union and Confederate forces during

Civil War
Located next to a military training center

What Can I Do There?

20 miles of trails
1.5 mile stretch of Beaches on Chesapeake Bay
Historical and educational exhibits in Chesapeake Bay

Center
Variety of unusual habitats

Bald Cypress Trees

Lagoons
Rare plants and wildlife
Maritime forest ecology

Integration of Other Content Areas

Reading:
Read articles/information about the park in class
Math:
Hiking problems based on speed and distance traveled
Social Studies: historical significance of
Jamestown Settlers
War of 1812
The Pirate Blackbeard
Civil War

What Can Children Gain?

Children will gain real life examples of the science

concepts that are discussed in class. By visiting this

outdoor park, students will be able to examine habitats
in ways that are not found in classrooms. The students
will see that what they are learning is actually found in
nature. It is nice for the students to apply science
concepts to real life places because it allows the
content to be more meaningful and engaging for the
students.

Differentiation?
This site allows for differentiation in elementary science because

it can be used as a tool to gauge and help student readiness. If

the students are confused about topics being taught, the site can
be used to review the material from the previous year . For
example, if the students in 4th grade are struggling with the
concept of food webs, it would be beneficial to use the site as a
review tool of producers, consumers, and decomposers, which
are key concepts that provide a foundation for food webs.
This site also allows for differentiation because this is something
of interest to the students. This is not a traditional science
lesson, so the differentiation lies in the hands-on and physical
application that the students will be doing and seeing when
traveling to First Landing State Park.
The site allows for the students to observe and interpret what
they see fit, which allows for a differentiated experience for each
student.

Promoting an Inclusive
Environment?
This site promotes an inclusive elementary science

environment because the hands-on trip is good for all

students. Children with ADD or ADHD will benefit from
the movement involved at First Landing State Park. With
the correct resources and support, students with physical
disabilities will be able to visit the site as well.
Although students with physical disabilities will be able to
attend with the correct resources and support, it will be
difficult to get that for a field trip. Students in wheel chairs
or those that have mobile disabilities will have a tougher
time navigating around the park. Because of this, First
Landing State Park is not the best of sites for promoting an
completely inclusive environment.

Preparation
Introduce First Landing State Park by either going

online or reading about the site so that the students

know what to expect
Discuss some of the science content related to the site
in the science classes leading up to the trip so that the
students have some prior general knowledge
Divide everyone up into groups of 5-8 students to be
assigned to different chaperones so that the students
are in smaller groups when they are visiting the park