This Land Is Your Land

This semester (quarter?) we are embarking on a US state study. Not an in depth study but rather an over view of the United States, it's geography and a few facts about each of the fifty states.

I was inspired to do this ages ago by Dawn's post on her state survey. This is where the file crate system created by Dawn comes in so handy. I've been wanting to do a similar study since she first posted the idea. I simply printed out her post and filed it away in my own files, which are inspired by Dawn but tweaked to reflect my different life and circumstances. They are not in a file crate but in my desk drawer and are less family and household oriented than Dawn's system. My files are solely for school stuff.

Since I saw Dawn's post I've moved the print-out to different folders a few times and finally it popped up this month, in this week's folder. Last week when I saw it was coming I ordered some materials to get us started and I will supplement with our library visit tomorrow. Wednesday is library day.

This is what I have so far…

U.S. States Activity Posters

U.S. Leaders Activity Posters

United States Coloring Book

The United States of America; A State by State Guide

Our Fifty States A Family Adventure Across America

America A Patriotic Primer

State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book

Not pictured but knocking around here are

States & Capitals Flash Cards 

Wee Sing America CD

US Map Floor Puzzle (we actually have about four of these types of puzzles)

Scrambled States of America (this has been a favorite game now for years)

What I need to get is a large laminated map of the US, our non-laminated map died an awful death a while ago. I think a trip to the teacher supply store may be in order. Keep in mind that I still have a lot of little people in my house and these resources will be used for at least another ten (gulp) years.

I also just ordered Help Mom There Are Liberals Under My Bed! because the election today in Massachusetts has sparked a lot of political discussion here with Katie and Erin. They are becoming more and more politically aware and I am enjoying the questions and concerns they are raising about how our country is being governed.

But I digress..

Today we began with A brief overview of our home state of New York. One child colored a poster, another a page from the coloring book. We made up a notebook page with five facts about the state and then everyone drew a picture of a rose, the state flower. Their binders are divided by region:

•  New England
•  Mid-Atlantic
•  Southeast
• Southwest
• Midwest
• Mountain
• West

Their pages went into their binders and the Posters went on the wall in the learning room.  Since yesterday was Martin Luther King Day another child colored his poster and we talked about the civil rights movement and Dr. King's contribution. I also spoke about Rosa Parks and we will color her poster tomorrow. I like to tell my girls about women with the strength to change the world without having to resort to being man-like.  

Again, I digress…

So we will do this a few times a week. The goal is to be familiar with the geography and some history of each state and to be able to fill out a blank map of the United States without help. The older kids can already just about do this and they have their state capitals memorized so we are well on the way.

I hope you enjoyed this homeschooling update.

Have a blessed day.