Cordell Hull Birthplace For Educators

  • A group of children and a woman are birdwatching in a park. They sit and stand on grass near picnic tables, all looking through binoculars. It's a sunny day.

    • Cordell Hull Birthplace Educator Programs 

    Want a fun way to get your students excited about learning? Why not learn with a Park Ranger?

    Tennessee State Parks offer accessible, discovery-based educational experiences aligned with Tennessee’s academic standards. Choose a program for your class, plan your day at a park, and request an experience today.

    Our Programs

      • A group of children and an adult in uniform are planting seedlings in a garden bed. They're engaged and focused, with a truck and greenery in the background.

      Field Trips 

      • Group of children listening to a man outdoors near a tree.

      School Outreach 

      • Group of children walking on a forest trail.

      Self-guided/Teacher-led

    Cordell Hull Birthplace Programs 

    • Standard Field Trip

      The standard field trip includes three education programs from the selections below. Please list the desired programs in the “Describe the Requested Program or Experience” section of your request.  

      Location: Park only  
      Grade Level: All grade levels   
      Length: 240 minutes   
      Capacity: 120 students, divided into groups 
      Cost: $0/student   

       

    • Birds & Binoculars

      Birding is a great way to see animal adaptation, structure, and function up close. During this program, students will learn the basics of using and handling binoculars as a scientific instrument and observe bird adaptations that allow them to survive in their environment.  

      Meets: 3.LS4.1-2, 4.LS2.5, 5.LS4.2, 6.LS4.1 

      Location: Park or school 
      Grade Level: Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade  
      Length: 60 minutes   
      Capacity: 30 students 
      Cost: $0/student   

    • Meet a Ranger

      Who are Rangers? What do they do? Find out! It takes skill, knowledge, experience, and education to be a Park Ranger. Join us today to explore a day in the life of a Tennessee State Park Ranger!   

      Location: Park or school   
      Grade Level: All grade levels   
      Length: 30 minutes   
      Capacity: 150 students   
      Cost: $0/student   

    • Bunkum Cave Loop Hike 

      During this 1.4-mile hike students will investigate the biodiversity and habitats found within the Highland Rim. We will explore the structures that allow plants and animals to survive, the role organisms play in the food web, and the importance of Bunkum Cave and Cove Creek to the environment. 

      Distance: 1.4 miles 

      Terrain: Uneven terrain, gradual slope

      Meets: 1.LS2.2-3, 2.LS2.1-2, 3.LS4.1-3, 4LS2.2-4, 5.LS3.2, 6.LS4.1, 7.LS2.1 

      Location: Park only
      Grade Level: Primary to Middle School
      Length: 120 minutes
      Capacity: 50 students
      Cost: $0/student

    • Cave Companions

      Ever wonder what’s hiding in caves? Caves such as Bunkum Cave provide specialized habitat for wildlife, create fragile formations, and can indicate the health of an ecosystem. During this program, students will explore the mysterious relationship between caves and the unique species that call them home.   

      Meets: 2.LS2:1, 3LS4.2, 4.LS2.4, 5.LS4.2, 6.LS4.1-2   

      Location: Park or school
      Grade Level: Primary to Middle School
      Length: 60 minutes
      Capacity: 30 students
      Cost: $0/student

    • Nobel Peace Prize

      Got what it takes to win a Nobel Peace Prize? Students will learn about the contributions of Tennesseans who’ve been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, discover the impact of Cordell Hull’s peace efforts during WWII, and create their own Nobel Peace Prize to take home.  

      Meets: 2.29, 5.49, TN.53, US.58  

      Location: Park or school
      Grade Level: Second and Fifth Grade
      Length: 60 minutes
      Capacity: 30 students
      Cost: $0/student

    • Pearl Harbor

      Students will learn about the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of two different Tennesseans: Cordell Hull and Cornelia Fort. During this program, students will explore the importance of the Hull Note, time zones, and the contributions made by Tennesseans during Pearl Harbor. Students will play a battleship game to reflect on the logistics of military tactics.  

      Meets: 5.18, 5.20, 5.49, TN.53 

      Location: Park or school
      Grade Level: Second and Fifth Grade
      Length: 60 minutes
      Capacity: 30 students
      Cost: $0/student

    • Track Down the Code

      Animal tracks are the window into the lives of those who leave them behind. During this program, students will investigate animal tracks of Tennessee native mammals and discover what tracks can tell us about an animal’s behavior, movement, and diet. As students identify each track, a letter is revealed to spell out a secret code.  

      Meets: 2.LS2:1, 3.LS4.2, 4.LS4.3, 5.LS1.1 

      Location: Park or school
      Grade Level: Primary Grades
      Length: 60 minutes
      Capacity: 30 students
      Cost: $0/student

    • Women's Suffrage

      Spies, marches, and protests, oh my! Students will be a part of a riveting escape room filled with secret codes, locks, and puzzles to learn about the women of the Tennessee suffrage movement. We will discover the major struggles and achievements of these amazing Tennesseans and how they impacted our future.  

      Meets: 5.09, 8.42, TN.46, US.18 

      Location: Park or school
      Grade Level: Primary Grades
      Length: 60 minutes
      Capacity: 30 students
      Cost: $0/student

    How to Request a Program 

    Program requests use the same form whether you are requesting funding support or not. Once you have submitted the form, allow 10 days for processing. Request educational program experiences at least four to six weeks in advance of the desired time frame for the program.   

    To complete the form:   

    • 1.

      Choose the park.

      Explore our parks to find the park that has the right location and program available for your needs. You can request more than one park and more than one program.

    • 2.

      Identify the type of program(s) of interest.

      You are not limited to just one program. When completing the application, provide us the list of specific programs you are interested in. 

    • 3.

      Complete the form.

      Fill out our program request form and submit. Once submitted, allow 10 days for processing.

    Request a Program

    Funding Assistance 

    Field trip funding may be available to remove barriers to participation.

    The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy (501-C3) assists schools in covering the costs of scheduled programs at a Tennessee State Park. Funds can cover bus transportation costs and park program fees. Partial funds may be awarded. Awards are given after the field trip is completed.    

    When applying for a program, select “yes” on the application form if you are interested in receiving funding support.    

    Download PDF

    What's Next?

    Submitting the form begins the scheduling and funding process.

    The request will be in Pending status until confirmed. Allow 10 days for processing. A park staff member will email confirmation of the program and notify you of any park-related fees.    

    If you requested funding, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy Director will email the decision to award or deny funding. Funding is processed after the program as a reimbursement. Partial funds may be awarded. In this case, the school will be responsible for any costs above the amount written in the award email. 

    Submitting for Funding Reimbursement 

    To receive reimbursement, you must provide the following documentation:  

    1. Bus invoice
    2. Park invoice
    3. Photos
    4. Number of students new to any Tennessee State Park
    5. Student and teacher feedback
    Apply for Reimbursement

    Accessibility: We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including those with disabilities, to engage fully.   

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