Explore South Carolina

Learn about South Carolina. You may be surprised at what you'll find!  

In addition to the topics below, you can also delve into South Carolina's history by visiting the Social Studies section.

Public schools observe John C. Calhoun's birthday, March 18, as South Carolina Day. 

 

Within this Collection

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Birch Tundra | Expeditions Shorts
Birch Tundra | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here in the Seward Peninsula in Alaska, Patrick talks about tundras: vast open areas without trees, but many species of grass, and woody, shrubby plants, like the American Dwarf Birch, and Arctic...
Tufted Milkweed | Expeditions Shorts
Tufted Milkweed | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Patrick McMillan, joined by Linda Kennedy, visits Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch in Arizona. Here, they showcase the Tufted Milkweed, a species of flower which grows in the area. What makes the...
Slave Cabin | Expeditions Shorts
Slave Cabin | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here at Nemors Plantation, in Beaufort County, South Carolina, Patrick McMillan shows us a nest of Black Vultures residing in an old, dilapidated slave cabin dating back to the 1700’s! One black...
Least Grebe | Expeditions Shorts
Least Grebe | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, in Alamo, Texas, Patrick McMillan shows us several species of duck in this area: the Least Grebe, and the Pied-Billed Grebe. Black-Necked Stilts, a...
Florida Yellow Bladderwort | Expeditions Shorts
Florida Yellow Bladderwort | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In Apalachicola National Forest, Patrick talks about Karst Topography, or giant limestone sinkholes located all over Florida. When these sinkholes fill up with water, many species of plants and...
Grassland | Expeditions Shorts
Grassland | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In this segment, Patrick visits Rocky Mountain National Park, in Colorado. Here we see vast fields of cool season grasslands. Many of the animals, such as Rocky Mountain Elk, depend on these grasses...
Big Bend Tree Lizard | Expeditions Shorts
Big Bend Tree Lizard | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Patrick McMillan visits the sunny, rocky slopes of Jeff Davis County, Texas, where he shows us the Big Bend Tree Lizard. This lizard is a subspecies of tree lizard, and they are described as “ornate”...
Longleaf Pine Flatwoods | Expeditions Shorts
Longleaf Pine Flatwoods | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Patrick McMillan visits Apalachicola National Forest in Florida, where we see Longleaf Pine Flatwoods. Here in these flatwoods dwell many species of low growing plants: Gallberry shrubs, Dwarf...
Pond Cypress Savannah | Expeditions Shorts
Pond Cypress Savannah | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Patrick visits Florida Bay, located in Francis Marion National Forest, South Carolina. Here, we see a savannah, filled with Pond Cypress trees, Savannah Iris flowers, Tall Milkwort flowers, and Purple...
Venus Fly Trap | Expeditions Shorts
Venus Fly Trap | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Patrick McMillan visits Apalachicola National Forest, in Florida, where he showcases a Venus Flytrap. The Flytrap, described by Charles Darwin as “the most amazing plant on earth,” is a carnivorous...
Receding Glacier | Expeditions Shorts
Receding Glacier | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here on the Kenai Peninsula, in Alaska, Patrick McMillan shows us evidence of a global interglacial period. On the Kenai Peninsula, we see a receding glacier, which has moved back hundreds of feet in...
Dall Sheep | Expeditions Shorts
Dall Sheep | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Dall Sheep are found roaming the mountains located within the interior region of Alaska. This species of sheep is native to Alaska, and are also found in some parts of Canada. Bighorn Sheep are also...
Northern Pine Snake | Expeditions Shorts
Northern Pine Snake | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

In the Francis Marion National Forest, Patrick McMillan shows a rather uncommon species of snake found in this area: the Northern Pine Snake. The dark patterns found on the top of the snake blend in...
Giant Sacaton Grass | Expeditions Shorts
Giant Sacaton Grass | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Here at Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch in Arizona, Patrick McMillan and Linda Kennedy talk about Giant Sacaton Grass, which makes a great habitat for sparrows, and diamond-back rattlesnakes.
Oak Toad | Expeditions Shorts
Oak Toad | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here in Francis Marion National Forest, in South Carolina, Patrick McMillan shows us the Oak Toad, one of the smallest in the toad species. Its unique skin colorations are perfect for camouflaging...
3D VR - Woodrow Wilson Family Home | Let's Go!
3D VR - Woodrow Wilson Family Home | Let's Go!

Interactive

Grades: 2 4

Located on 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...
Pike, John Martin | South Carolina Public Radio
Pike, John Martin | South Carolina Public Radio

Audio

Grades: 6 7 8

“P” is for Pike, John Martin [1840-1932]. Clergyman, editor, publisher. A Canadian and ordained Methodist clergyman, Pike was invited to preach at Columbia’s Washington Street Methodist Church. He...
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 4 4
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Columbo plants can remain in a vegetative state for up to thirty years before it sends up a flower stalk. Morel mushrooms and Devil’s Urn are species of fungi, which help break down dead materials in...
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 5 5
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim see the tell-tale signs of a beaver, coming in the form of chew marks on the base of a large tree. A skeleton of a gray fox is found nearby. A gray fox has ridges on the skull, whereas a...
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 7 7
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim find an unusually large Devil’s Walking Stick, which is usually around one third the size of the one shown here! Horse Sugar, Yellow Bellwort, and Birdsfoot violets are more species of...
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 3 3
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim move to the Long Cane Division of Sumter National Forest. Here, Umbrella magnolia is starting to bloom. Christmas fern and Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Faded trillium, Wild germanium, Baneberry...
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 6 6
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here close to a stream, there is a high population of Mountain laurel trees, rhododendrons, Tuliptrees, Fraser magnolias, Halberdleaf violets, Rattlesnake plantains, Heartleaf, Poor Robin’s plantain...