NAME OF MY STATE

What state do we live in?

*Let children take turns identifying your state on the map.

State Song (Jodie Slusher -Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”)
Virginia is our state.
Virginia is our state.
Richmond is our capitol.
Virginia is our state.

*Insert your state's name and capitol in the song.


My World (Tune: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
In this song, you’ll have to fill in the name of your school, city, state, country, continent, and planet.
The name of my school is ___, ___, ___.
The name of my school is ___.
That’s the name of my school.

The name of my city is...

The name of my state is...

The name of my country is United States…

The name of my continent is North America…

The name of my planet is Earth…


My State Book
Make a state book based on your state flower, animal, famous people, state bird, capitol, flag, insect, famous places, etc. Children can become EXPERTS about their state.

For example: New Hampshire, New Hampshire, what do you see?
I see the Capitol in Concord looking at me.
Capitol in Concord, what do you see?
I see the purple lilac looking at me…

*The teacher who shared this idea said her kids loved reading this book and the parents were so impressed that their children knew more than they did about the state!


Mapping Ideas
*Ask children to point to the states as you discuss them.

What state were you born in? Ask your parents what state they were born in.

Follow your favorite team (football, baseball, basketball, etc.) Who are they playing this week? Walk your fingers from your state to where the game will be played.

What states are your neighbors?

What country is north of the USA? What country is South?

What does the blue color on the map represent?

Where are the Hawaiian Islands? Where is Alaska? Are they attached like the other states?

Point to the north, south, east, and west on the map.


Directions
Label the walls in your classroom with "north," "south," "east," and "west." Sing this song to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" as you point to the words. Face "north" as you begin.

The sun is rising in the east, uh-huh, uh-huh. (Point with right hand.)
The sun is setting in the west, uh-huh, uh-huh. (Point with left hand.)
My nose is north. (Point in front of you.)
My tail is south. (Point behind you.)
And so I turn myself around (Turn around.)
And the sun keeps rising in the east.
Uh-huh, uh-huh.


Hint! Take children outside in the morning. Point where is the sun coming up with your right hand. That direction is east. Point to the opposite direction with your left hand. That direction is west. Your face is north and your back is south.

DIRECTIONS

Here's a simple song that will help your students learn directions. It goes to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."

Directions

The sun is rising in the East, (Face the front of the room and point right.)

uh huh, uh huh.

The sun is setting in the West, (Point left.)

uh huh, uh huh.

My nose is North, (Point forwards.)

My tail is South, (Point backwards.)

And so I turn myself around, (Turn around.)

And the sun keeps rising in the East (Point right and then swing arm over to the left.)

And setting in the West.

*Go out on the playground in the morning and find the direction where the sun is rising. Sing the song and point to the true directions. 

*Play "Simon Says" as children point to the different directions. For example: Simon says point south. Simon says point west.

*Demonstrate how to use a compass.

*Explain how a compass rose is used all over the world to help orient people.

If you want to talk about Columbus Day (aka yesterday) here are a few thoughts I should have posted last week.  Oh, well!

Columbus Day

(Tune: “Going Over, Going Under”)

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 (March and salute.)

The Nina, and the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, too.

Going over going under in the Atlantic Ocean’s thunder,

(Make hands go up and down.)

What a brave thing to do! (Thumbs in to chest.)

When Columbus set sail he knew the earth was round.

(Make a circle with arms.)

He was amazed at all the lands and the people he found.

Going over, going under, in the Atlantic Ocean’s thunder,

(Make hands go up and down.)

What a brave thing to do! (Thumbs in to chest.)

Columbus visited Bahamas, Cuba, South America, too.

(Hold up fingers – 1, 2, 3.)

On October 12 we remember him and his crew. (Shake finger.)

Going over, going under, in the Atlantic Ocean’s thunder,

(Hands up and down.)

What a brave thing to do! (Thumbs in to chest.)

*You can download this book at drjean.org.

Sailor Hats 

Make sailor hats out of newspaper. Fold in half. Bring corners down until they meet. Fold up top edge and then turn over and fold up the bottom edge. Let children decorate.

Globe 

Point out where Columbus started in Spain and the islands he visited. How has travel changed since Columbus’s voyage over 500 years ago?

Sailor’s Chest 

Make a sailor’s chest for each child out of construction paper similar to the one shown. Explain that every sailor had a chest (like a suitcase) that they used to pack everything they would need on a long journey. What would you pack in your chest? (Children could write items or draw pictures.)

Sail Away 

Columbus didn’t have motors on his ships. What made them move? Have you ever seen a sailboat? Put a piece of paper on a table or on the floor. How can you make this paper move without touching it? Let the children practice blowing a sheet of paper across the floor. Divide the class into teams and have relay races to see who has the most “hot air.”