McKinney FallsMcKinney Falls State Park

Why Should You Go?

Read teachers' impressions

For the trip to McKinney Falls, we offer two options for on-site activities. You can easily do both. Below the on-site activities are pre-visit and post-visit suggestions. Pick and choose how you see fit.

As a state park, the great thing is that the cost is minimal. At the same time, you have to do a little more of the work for the on-site activity. So grab a few teachers and a couple of additional chaperones and head to McKinney Falls State Park.

School bus iconBefore you leave
Logistics for McKinney Falls

This is a beautiful location with much to offer – so don’t miss it!

Recommended Field Experiences

Water Quality Study
This field inquiry will excite students as they identify many aquatic invertebrates and make inferences based on their presence or absence.

Field Notes and Nature Sketching
Students will take field notes and sketch items along a hike down the Smith Rockshelter Trail.

Other Great Resources

Project WILD Educator Resources

Project WILD Workshop Information. You can contact Kiki Corry at 512-389-4369 or kiki.corry@tpwd.state.tx.us

TPWD Educational Trunk Program – these are free and available for loan!

Bug Picking Data Sheet – Helpful information on identifying macroinvertebrates

Tools of the Naturalist from Texas Junior Naturalists

How to Take Field Notes and Make Nature Sketches – an excellent resource with examples

Community Involvement

Texas Nature Trackers – This is a way for you and your students to get involved in gathering scientific data on species of concern in Texas to help in conservation. You can also contact Texas Nature Trackers at 800-792-1112 ext. 7011

Texas Watch – A network of people gathering information about the natural resources of Texas so that is available to all Texans. 40% are students and teachers! This is a cooperative between Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the EPA.

Interdisciplinary Activities

"Colorado River TV News Report": Integrates history and language arts. Have students research historical events on the Colorado River or Onion Creek and prepare a TV news report.

"Story Bags": Integrates history. Students present a personal narrative from the perspective of historical river people (Native Americans, Spanish explorers, Mexican settlers, pioneers, etc.). They decorate the outside of the bag to illustrate their life as that person as a whole. Inside the bag, they will place objects that illustrate particular parts of their story.

The Power of Water (52 KB PDF): Integrates math, history and science. This is a great activity for understanding how water can serve as a power source by estimating the horsepower of a waterwheel.

PDFRiver-Crossing Math (220 Kb PDF) – Integrates math and science. This is a challenging activity that will really get your students thinking. It is an authentic example of math in the real world.

Career Connections

Visit the TPWD Career Day Webcast archive: Students can learn about jobs such as an archaeologist, coastal biologist, park ranger and game warden through actual video interviews. There is also a helpful resource page for more information on planning a career.