We have been going through the 50 states, learning them and learning a bit about them this fall with our upper elementary student. She did the states a few years ago and she has worked some on Texas history and US history, but knowing the names and placements of all 50 states is something we desire for her to learn. So, we tackled it this year. And she is doing super well.
The weekly plan includes working through two of the states from the USA Bundle that we received from The Crafty Classroom. We are using the National Geographic book titled Our Fifty States. It includes beautiful pictures of each state, giving all of the information needed to complete the page for that state in the printable from the bundle. We are also playing a game or two each week or doing a puzzle of the states.
Games that we have used include the Name That State Game from the Make-A-State Activity-Pak by Home School In The Woods. We have also used the Stack the States game, available on Kindle. There is a US history game that we have called American Trivia. It includes bits and pieces about the states so we have included it a couple of times.
Puzzles that we have include a cling film one that can go up on a window, a 100 piece puzzle with images of all the states and their main economic item, and a magnetic one where each piece is one state. We also have a table cloth that is a picture of all the states and I try to put it on the table every few weeks. (This was a fabulous project a few years ago when we were studying the states. We got glittery paint and marked where all of our family members lived. Great geography lesson for younger students.)
And, if you don’t know the song, Fifty Nifty is a great song for learning all of the 50 states in alphabetical order. With a catchy tune, it can be learned fairly quickly and will stick forever in your brain. I used it when I taught elementary music and by the time my students left first grade, every one of them knew all of the states in order. Music is a great tool!
With so many easy to use tools, perhaps your study of the states will be easy and fun. Also, check out a previous post about learning the states. It has quite a few hands on projects and a list of books. Some of the materials are duplicated here but these are some resources that we didn’t necessarily have back then.
Blessings,
Lori
Tagged: Elementary, geography, history, unit study
At Home 
Yes, I love Fifty Nifty song about the states! And your cling wrap idea is genius – absolute genius! I’ll try this at home for sure. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for stopping by Richie!
Great resources! Stack the States is on of our favorites.
It is a great app! I am so glad that someone mentioned it when they did because I was able to get it for free. It has been well-used by all three of my girls.
I’ve been watching your progress via various social media and it looks like you have wrangled together a good and helpful study.
She seems to be getting it and enjoying it.
I learned “Fifty Nifty” when I was a kid, and that’s what I used to teach the states to my teens when they were small. It will come up again soon as my 7yo will be ready for a at star study in the next year or so. 🙂
I love that the song has made the rounds and stuck for so long. It is a genius, catchy song.
I keep thinking about The Crafty Classroom bundle. We have enjoyed 50 States and Where to Find Them from Barefoot Meandering. Also, the Stack the States Game on Kindle Fire.
These you mention are all such good resources, though I don’t think I know the book from Barefoot Meandering. I’ll have to look that one up.
It is great, text to read, things to color, maps, flags, flowers, birds and such. Also references the Holling C. Holling books.