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The South Carolina State House
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Explore the South Carolina State House with a coloring page and an informative reading passage. Learn about its dome, palmetto trees, and role in state government.
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Reading activity
Optional · Reading: Upper ElementaryAdd a reading worksheet
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Beneath the State House Dome
A copper dome rises above the streets of Columbia, South Carolina. Below it stands the South Carolina State House, a building where lawmakers meet and make decisions for the state. Palmetto trees grow on the grounds, connecting the building to one of South Carolina’s best-known symbols.
Inside the State House, members of the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives discuss proposed laws. These two groups make up the state legislature. A proposal must pass both groups and go through other required steps before it can become a law. The governor also has an office in the building.
The State House has a long history. Construction began in the 1850s, but the building was not completed until 1907. During the Civil War, Union troops reached Columbia in 1865, and artillery fire struck the unfinished building. Today, bronze stars mark places on its exterior where shells hit the walls. They allow visitors to see traces of that turbulent time.
The grounds tell stories, too. The palmetto is South Carolina’s state tree and appears on its flag. During the Revolutionary War, soldiers defending a fort near Charleston used palmetto logs in its walls. The soft logs helped absorb the impact of British cannonballs.
From its dome to its grounds, the State House brings together the work and history of South Carolina. Visitors can look closely at the building and its surroundings to discover reminders of the past alongside a place where state government still works today.
Glossary
- proposed: suggested for people to consider
- legislature: a group of people chosen to make laws
- artillery: large weapons used to fire shells
- turbulent: full of conflict or unrest
- absorb: to take in or lessen the force of something
Comprehension questions
What is the central idea of the passage? Give two details that support it.
How do the Senate and House of Representatives work together when a law is proposed?
Why does the passage say a proposal must go through other steps after passing both groups?
How do the bronze stars help visitors learn about the State House's history?
What does the word “turbulent” suggest about the time when the building was struck?
How are the palmetto trees on the grounds connected to South Carolina's history?
Why were palmetto logs useful to the soldiers defending the fort?
How does the passage move from describing government work to describing history?
What do the State House and its grounds each reveal about South Carolina's past?
Why might a visitor see the State House as both a historic place and a place where government works today?
Printables & worksheets
More ways to practice with this story — every sheet is built from the text itself, answer key included where it counts.
Get all 4 sheets as one workbook
One PDF with a cover, a contents page and every answer key at the back — color the page in, then keep going on paper.
vocabulary
Match the passage words to their meanings, then fill the missing words back into real sentences.
writing prompts
Two writing tasks that build on the passage, with plenty of lines to write on.
Explore the South Carolina State House
Download this free coloring page to explore the State House’s recognizable dome and the palmetto trees on its grounds. It’s a simple printable coloring page for upper elementary learners.
Pair coloring with the reading passage, Beneath the State House Dome, to learn about state government and South Carolina history. Comprehension questions and a glossary support discussion and vocabulary practice.
Use this coloring page with reading passage in the classroom or for an at-home activity. Print a copy for a lesson on state government, landmarks, or South Carolina.