US States Geography

Being a visual learner, you can understand the science of why Kentucky, Indiana, & Illinois
all have the Cardinal as the State Bird

We are going through all 50 United States which is always so much fun! Especially when you can actually take sail to the States that you are learning about. Or you can just sail through your memories of the States that you have already visited. We have so many great memories, so either way learning US geography is the best.

I really liked how the Children of the World Pin map turned out and that it can be used for a variety of learning activities, so I decided to create another Pin Map for the US. I love how I can just fold up the cardboard when it is not in use for easy storage, so this time I used a smaller tri-fold and printed out a poster of the map that I created using some of NoorJanan blog signature colors. The color of the State on the map matches the color of the name card, abbreviation card, capital card, state bird and flower card, & state flag card for slight error control. Also included in the free download is a control card and region card and I just laminated them back to back. The State bird and flower cards is exciting for Lil A. However, the mini State books are my favorite. I really enjoy seeing the difference in each one of my Beloveds, even though they are standard format. The true joy in homeschooling for me is to watch them blossom and to see how each of them express their creativity. It is projects like these that keep it going.

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The Mini Books and Audubon Birds are great companions, for hours a free play.
The play birds make real bird sounds.

The nicest part about these cards and using the tabs is you can still
view the name of the States because the tabs are clear.

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I start each lesson with facts from abcteach.com and 3 books that include Greetings from 50 States, Picture Atlas of our 50 States, & The State Sticker Book. Then I ask them questions about the geography of the state, questions are also from abcteach.com. Then they work on the mini-book and are able to work on pin map if they don't know the States and the capitals already. We often talk about places we've been and places we're going. . .

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I soon realized that learning the population of each State can be an added bonus to review Place Values. So I created a wet erase sheet to put all the facts needed to complete the mini books. As seen in the picture above.

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We use the State Flags as visuals for our mini books, flash cards, and as a pin map also. By trial and error, I learned that the blank starred US State Capital Map is probably a better map to blow up and then you can use the star as the hole for pinning. Especially if you use toothpicks since they make bigger holes. I used pins for the regular pinning, however I chose to use tape and toothpicks for the flags so that I can easily store the flags on the rings when not in use.

             
Another great activity for learning the US State Map is having them copy the map and then try to draw it from memory.

S Man  really likes to sing his Capitals using this recording.

All NoorJanan US State Downloads are available on this page: Montessori- World Study Printables

NoorJanan Blog is linking up with: Montessori Monday
                                                    TGIF Linky Party
                                                    All Things Beautiful
                                                    ABC & 123
                                                    No Time for Flash Cards
                                                    Hip Homeschool Hop
                                                 
abcteach has really been one of my best purchases this year, for only $20 a year, you get Montessori, Preschool, Elementary, & Upper Elementary Curriculum: Printables & Interactives. The $20 price is through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op, otherwise it is $40. Homeschool Buyer's Co-op is a free service that offers many great discounts on curriculum.


Satori Smiles inspired me to purchase the Audubon Birds with bird sounds, she has a lovely post about the Burgess Bird Book which can be read free here and listened to free here. We enjoy listening to the book as we complete our mini US State books.