U. S. Geography
U.S. Geography
Alabama
Hawaii
Massachusetts
New Mexico
South Dakota
Alaska
Idaho
Michigan
New York
Tennessee
Arizona
Illinois
Minnesota
North Carolina
Texas
Arkansas
Indiana
Mississippi
North Dakota
Utah
California
Iowa
Missouri
Ohio
Vermont
Colorado
Kansas
Montana
Oklahoma
Virginia
Connecticut
Kentucky
Nebraska
Oregon
Washington
Delaware
Louisiana
Nevada
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Florida
Maine
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Wisconsin
Georgia
Maryland
New Jersey
South Carolina
Wyoming
Washington D.C.
Here at the Sculley Academy, we study U.S. Geography in a systematic way, covering every state every four years (and Georgia four times!).
We study a state by any of the following methods:
surf the web:
study historical biographies
surf the net on that region (National Geographic for Kids)
Stately Knowledge
50 States website
National Geographic Educator websites
National Geographic virtual Xpeditions
learn the capital, bordering states, and other state info
use geography software to explore that state
read a newspaper from that state (thanks, Camie, for this idea!)
trace the state on a US map
visit a restaurant that serves the local cuisine
visit the state
collect stamps featuring that state
learn about famous landmarks, natural and man-made
meet with someone from that state
play geography games
research recent news events
put together U.S. puzzles
study the history of that state
read an overview
browse encyclopedias
watch a travel video
study musical instruments from the region
study biographies of people from there (leaders, scientists, musicians, artists, writers, explorers, missionaries)
study native flora and fauna
read literature from that state or set in that state
make maps and charts
make regional arts and crafts
get cool, cheap (!) projects / books from Dover Publications
learn music or songs from that state
memorize a poem from that state
cook regional cuisine
make some regional clothing
Alabama (capital: Montgomery)
bird: Yellowhammer, flower: Camellia
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Alaska (capital: Juneau)
Cool Alaska links:
Alaska Facts
Journeys to Alaska
Wild-eyed Alaska
Alaska Information Services
Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Alaska Highway
Alaska Marine Highway
J did a project on Alaska, and made a map of the geographic features of the state, along with some coloring pages of national parks.
Arizona (capital: Phoenix)
bird: Cactus Wren, flower: Cactus blossom
Paul & Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
P & J did a state report on Arizona. They had to unscramble names of places in Arizona, then locate them on a map.
The children colored pictures of the Grand Canyon. This was right after we had visited it, so the image of the Canyon was fresh in their minds.
We read about the Grand Canyon in Stephen Biesty’s Incredible Explosions.
Arkansas (capital: Little Rock)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
California (capital: Sacramento)
bordered by Oregon, Nevada, Arizona
bird: Valley Quail
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
P & J did a state report on California. They chose a “driving tour” from a book I had, and found the route on a map. They answered questions on a “National Parks and Monuments” trivia page.
The children colored pictures of Sequoia National Forest. This was right after we had visited it.
Colorado (capital: Denver)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Connecticut (capital: Hartford)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Delaware (capital: Dover)
bird: Blue Hen Chicken, flower: Peach Blossom, tree: American Holly
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Florida (capital: Tallahassee)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
P went on a mission trip to Miami, and said the highlight was helping look after children of teenage moms.
Georgia (capital: Atlanta)
bird: Brown Thrasher, flower: Cherokee Rose, wildflower: Azalea, butterfly: Tiger Swallowtail, fruit: Peach
P, J, M, and C were born here!
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E lived here!
We study Georgia every year, of course!!! Did you know that Georgia’s flag changed on January 30th, 2001? And again in May 2003? Wow–that’s a lot of changes!
We do state reports on Georgia regularly, researching various aspects of our home state, and going on field trips!
Cool Georgia links:
Georgia Information
Sherman’s March to the Sea
We read these books:
The Georgia Studies Book
How to Draw Georgia’s Sights & Symbols — fun way to combine social studies and art
The Jimmy Carter Museum & Library
We took a field trip to visit the Jimmy Carter Museum and Library. It’s a wonderful learning experience.
Civics & Government
Cool Civics & Government links:
Inside the Voting Booth
The Perfect President
To Vote or Not to Vote
The Presidential Nominating System
Structure of Congress
Hawaii (capital: Honolulu)
Paul & Karen visited it.
We wrote our names in Hawaiian, and looked up words in the native language, using these websites:
Hawaiian glossary
Basic Hawaiian dictionary
Find your name in Hawaiian
We dressed paper dolls in native Hawaiian garb.
Idaho (capital: Boise)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Illinois (capital: Springfield)
bird: Cardinal, flower: Violet
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Indiana (capital: Indianapolis)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Iowa (capital: Des Moines)
Paul visited it.
We read Katie Shelley and the Midnight Express, by Margaret K. Wetterer.
C did a state report on Iowa. She colored the state bird of Iowa, and made a word search using important keywords associated with Iowa.
Kansas (capital: Topeka)
Kentucky (capital: Frankfort)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
M did a state report on Kentucky. He colored the state bird of Kentucky.
Louisiana (capital: Baton Rouge)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
P did a state report on Louisiana. He produced a nice-looking paper on his computer which included important state facts and a map of Louisiana.
P went on a mission trip to do cleanup in Lake Charles, following Hurricane Katrina.
Maine (capital: Augusta)
Paul drove across a bridge from New Hampshire to officially go to Maine, stepped out, then went back over the bridge!
We read Surrounded by Sea, by Gail Gibbons.
We read Into the Deep Forest With Henry David Thoreau, by Jim Murphy.
J did a state report on Maine. He completed a template on state facts; colored a map; and made a word search using important keywords associated with Maine.
Maryland (capital: Annapolis)
bird: Baltimore Oriole, flower: Black-eyed Susan
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
We learned that the Baltimore Oriole is the state bird, and the Black-eyed Susan is the state flower.
Massachusetts (capital: Boston)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Cool Massachusetts links:
A Tour of Massachusetts history & trivia
World History — Massachusetts
We read Letting Swift River Go, by Jane Yolen.
C investigated 5 famous people from that state, after completing a word find with many famous people. She also completed a timeline.
Michigan (capital: Lansing)
Paul, Karen, P & J visited it.
Minnesota (capital: St. Paul)
Paul, Karen, P & J visited it.
Mississippi (capital: Jackson)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Missouri (capital: Jefferson City)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Montana (capital: Helena)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Nebraska (capital: Lincoln)
Nevada (capital: Carson City)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
New Hampshire (capital: Concord)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
New Jersey (capital: Trenton)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
New Mexico
Paul & Karen visited it.
New York (capital: Albany)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Cool New York links:
New York Facts
Get the Facts (NY)
Layers of Lower Manhattan
Urban Explosion
World History — New York
Timeline of New York History
M did a state project on New York, and made a timeline of historical events, along with a coloring page of the state bird & flower.
North Carolina (capital: Raleigh)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
North Dakota (capital: Bismarck)
Ohio (capital: Columbus)
Paul, Karen & P visited it.
Oklahoma (capital: Oklahoma City)
Oregon (capital: Salem)
Pennsylvania (capital: Harrisburg)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Rhode Island
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
P & J did a state report on Rhode Island. They completed a trivia sheet about the state.
South Carolina (capital: Columbia)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
South Dakota (capital: Pierre)
Tennessee (capital: Nashville)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Texas (capital: Austin)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Utah (capital: Salt Lake City)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Vermont (capital: Montpelier)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Virginia (capital: Richmond)
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Washington (capital: Olympia)
West Virginia
Paul & Karen visited it.
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
D.C.
Paul, Karen, P, J, M, C, K & E visited it.
Sculley Family state statistics:
Paul has visited 41 states
Karen has visited 39 states
P has visited 36 states
J has visited 35 states
M has visited 33 states
C has visited 33 states
K has visited 33 states
E has visited 33 states
