Places—The Great Smoky Mountains

An EFL lesson for middle-level students

Oct 2024. eflsuccess.com ⇔

Warm up: Each student should quickly name one thing related to “The Great Outdoors” (outside places people visit to go hiking, etc.).

Vocabulary:

(*key terms) sth=something; sb=somebody [click here for common English abbreviations]

*diverse (diversity): variety; things very different from each other and yet together “Biological diversity is the variety of interconnecting life that keeps things healthy.”
rugged: rough, uneven, strong (rugged people are determined, strong, able to live in a rugged place) “A rugged coastline has lots of big rocks, not a smooth beach.”
topography: the shape of an area of land, including how high or deep hills are
*heritage: traditions and positive values, often inherited from parents, such as traditional customs, personal characteristics, social values, hobbies and/or possessions “The national flag is a symbol of our heritage, not our country’s past mistakes.”
hardy: strong and healthy, and thus able to work in difficult living conditions “Hardy families worked hard to turn a forest into a farm.”
*to influence: to affect the way sb/sth develops, behaves, thinks, without using force
haze: smoke or other things in the air that are hard to see through; sth that makes things unclear “Is today’s haze caused by mist or pollution?” “My job description is a little hazy; can you explain this more clearly?”
*pollution: harmful substances (smoke, chemicals, etc) that make air, water, etc., dangerously dirty
visibility: the distance that current weather allows you to see
*farsighted: seeing the future; sb who is wise because he has an understanding of what will happen in the future “We need farsighted leaders who can guide us into a kinder way of life.”
lodge: inn/hotel in a natural area, or looking like it belongs in a rugged place “National Parks often have lodges made from natural logs.”
*to designate: to choose sth/sb for a particular purpose “These scholarship funds are designated for low-income people.”
logging: the work of cutting down trees so that you can sell the wood
*to dedicate: to formally say that a place (or funds) will be used for a particular purpose “The Governor dedicated the new building for health services.” “Janet dedicates 10% of her income to charity.”
biosphere: the part of the world in which animals, plants etc., can live together
World Heritage Sites: areas around the world that the United Nations recognizes as important for natural/artistic beauty, historical/cultural significance, etc.
to cherish: to love or deeply appreciate “Sports have given me friendships that I cherish.”
landscape: a beautiful area of land, away from cities
to enchant: to attract; to make others like sth/sb very much. “In college, I became enchanted by classical music.”
*development: the process of increasing business, trade, and industrial activity

The Great Smoky Mountains

A national treasure in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee

Underlined vocabulary terms are defined above; discussion questions follow this reading.

The Great Smokies are scenic, diverse, and culturally rich. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and nearby Blue Ridge Parkway are the most visited National Park lands in the United States. The Smokies’ rugged topography creates a rare diversity of plants and animals for visitors to enjoy. Meanwhile, the Smokies’ rich human heritage includes native Americans (e.g., the Cherokee), known for beautiful pottery, baskets, and masks. In America’s first 200 years, hardy families also cleared land and developed an enduring mountain culture. You can still see some farm buildings, and their music has influenced several types of American music, including bluegrass and gospel.

The Cherokee described these mountains as shaconage meaning “blue, like smoke.” During the growing season, the forests produce a lot of moisture, yielding a natural bluish haze and mist-like clouds that rise following a rainstorm. Unfortunately, air pollution also contributes to the haze. On a clear day, you can see 90 miles, but in recent decades visibility is sometimes reduced to only a few miles!

The Smokies also have a unique park story. In the early 1900s, a few farsighted people began asking the government to set aside this beautiful area. In a National Park, only roads and buildings that help visitors are allowed (e.g., visitor centers, restrooms, trails and lodges). By 1926, car owners (among others) were begging for a beautiful place to visit, and President Coolidge signed the law allowing the process to begin to designate the Smokies as a National Park. But unlike most US National Parks, much of the land was privately owned, so logging companies and farmers would need to leave. It took a lot of effort and millions of dollars for North Carolina and Tennessee to buy the land before the Park could be created. President Roosevelt was finally able to dedicate the new National Park in 1940. The Park gained global recognition in 1976 as it was designated an International Biosphere Reserve, and again in 1983 when the Smokies were listed as a World Heritage Site.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are among America’s most cherished natural landscapes. Ancient views enchant the eye and age-old traditions warm the heart. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park includes over 800 miles of trails, ranging from easy half-mile loops to a 70-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Campgrounds are popular throughout the year. Breathtaking hazy scenery, rushing mountain streams, beautiful plants and animals, and mature hardwood forests are protected from development for millions of visitors to enjoy.

(Discussion questions follow the photos.)

See below for more photos of nearby Gatlinburg and Dollywood.

Discussion:

Are there any terms you want to ask your teacher about? (As always, please do not answer any question that makes you uncomfortable.)

Why do so many people like to visit places like the Great Smokies?
If you have ever visited a National Park or World Heritage Site, tell us about it.
If you could visit a Cherokee museum, what questions would you ask?
Is air pollution a big problem in your country? What are some things that can be done to reduce air pollution?
As a class, list some of the things people do in a National Park (many are found in this article).* Which of those things would YOU like to do in the Great Smokies?
In your country, what’s the name of a well-known National Park or scenic area? What do people like about that place?
Have you ever been camping? If so, what did you like best? If not, would you like to try it (and why/why not)?
Have you ever been on a hike? Tell us about your longest or most memorable hike.
Do you think that businesses should be allowed to develop areas inside National Parks? Explain.
If you could visit any famous place in the world (such as a World Heritage Site), where would you go and why?

*(hike, fish, look at flowers, visit waterfalls and streams, camp, sleep in a lodge, learn at a visitor center, visit old farm buildings, drive to sightsee, look for animals..)

If you have extra time:

If you still have time, read and discuss this passage from the oldest book in the Bible.

⁷“Instead, ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds, and they will tell you.
⁸Or speak with the earth, and it will teach you. Even the fish will relate ⌞the story⌟ to you.
⁹What creature doesn’t know that the Lord’s hands made it?
¹⁰The life of every living creature and the spirit in every human body are in his hands.

~ Job 12:7-11 (God’s Word Translation)

Discuss: The author deeply believed that animals all know that God made them. What do you think about this subject?

This article was adapted mostly from National Park signs. Other resources:

Dollywood is an acclaimed, family-friendly amusement park, located just outside the Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, TN. It has rides for people of all ages.

Resources posted at EFLsuccess.com do not imply any consent from or relationship with any movie companies, locations, web-hosts, universities, on-line services, publishers, producers, etc. For a list of dictionaries I consult when creating my definitions, see my LEARNER LINKS page.

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