Curriculum Center Suggestions & Activities
Grades Seven through Twelve
Objectives
(will differ for you depending upon grade and ability level of your
students)
To help you:
- Easily locate World Wide Web sites and links related to the 50 states.
- Integrate technology into classroom activities.
- With a few suggestions for classroom activities and lessons.
To help your students:
- Locate and appreciate the information online about the 50 states.
- Use telecommunications for research.
- Use the suggested Internet sites as springboards for finding additional
resources.
- Develop thinking and problem-solving skills by using traditional and
online resources and learning to make use of these resources.
- Use links to widen searches for information.
- Learn about the 50 states of the United States and understand how to
find additional information on this topic.
Curricular Extensions, Projects, Ideas
1. Because a number of sites offer K-12 lesson plans, we encourage you
to spend some time reviewing what is available in order to find appropriate
lessons for your classes. To get you started, try these:
2. Check the curricular themes and the lesson plan section of Apple's Curriculum area to
find additional lessons about the states. The themes "Celebrate America!"
and "US Presidents & the Presidency" include ideas and activities
on this topic.
3. Use the map sites to focus upon geography of the states you are studying.
There are a variety of maps you can use online and download from the suggested
sites. You might want to create a mosaic landscape using some of the maps.
4. Take the students to the site Media
Shockwave of the States to let them see how this technology is used
for learning. Those who have an interest in computer programming may be
encouraged to develop some games of this sort for younger children.
5. Use the database information on the states to show students places
where they might begin to search for information on this topic. Then help
them see how to widen their searches safely.
6. Help your students learn about the first Americans by traveling to
First Nations Histories
which includes information on the Indian nations of North America. It's
a good starting place to discover more about tribal histories of the first
Americans and the areas (now states) in which they lived.
7. If you want to study very, very early periods in the history of one
of our states, try PreHistory
of Alaska which takes your students back to events in Alaska prior
to 4000BP.
8. Take your students on a virtual field trip to one of the online tours.
Ask them how they might improve upon such tours. Why aren't these trips
as exciting as they might be? What might the students suggest that would
enhance the tours? Let them plan a virtual tour of an attraction in your
state.
9. Set up an online chat with a class in another part of the country.
Talk with the other teacher about guidelines for the chat. Perhaps the
classes will want to debate an issue that concerns both of the states?
Perhaps each class will take the other on a virtual trip of its state?
Perhaps the classes will discuss a governmental or an environmental problem?
10. Go to the flag
and capital
indentification sites to let your students test their knowledge.
11. Introduce your students to the Governor's
Favorite Recipes site. Have them prepare some of the recipes for a
class feast or picnic.
12. You won't want to miss the ghost
towns in Arizona with this age group. Try the town of Ruby and let
the students find the ghost basketball court. How does this photograph
make them feel? Why did this town of 300 become a ghost town? Have the
students visit some other ghost towns. If you are including a study of
economics in your course, ghost towns might be a good way to introduce
some of the concepts being studied.
13. To relate studies of the states to science, introduce your students
to the Boyce Thompson Arboretium
where they'll learn about vegetation in the Arizona area. Have them search
for online information about vegetation in other parts of the country.
When finished, have them compile a listing of sites that focus upon this
theme.
14. How to
Eat a Lobster like a Massachusetts Native is an activity your students
will enjoy, especially if they have the opportunity to eat a real lobster
while following the directions.
15. Treat your students to an interesting time talking about official
state designations such as state mushrooms and muffins. Use the database
sites to help you with this information. Discuss with the students why
states have an official flower, for example, or an official food. In Maryland
several years ago, a group of students along adults interested in the game
of lacrosse wanted to make lacrosse the state sport. They went, in lacrosse
uniforms and with sticks, to the State Senate to request that the state
sport be changed from jousting to lacrosse. However, those interested in
jousting showed up, too. They were dressed as knights and ladies in waiting
and talked about the tradition of jousting in the state. Which group do
your students think won? Why?
16. Find out if your students know your state song. In times past most
students were taught state songs, but in recent years, most do not know
the songs. Why might this be? Have your students review your state song.
Could they write a better one? Would the one they write be appropriate
for all people in the state?
17. Send your students to the Florida
site to learn about Underwater Archaeological Preserves, mostly known
as shipwrecks.
18. Have your students compile information on the topics in American
history that are covered on the state sites.
20. After having your students take tours of several state sites, discuss
with them the value of this online information. Everyone, for example,
will not be getting this information-at least not at this time. What is
the purpose of it? Why are all the states providing online resources about
themselves? What topics show up on almost every state site? How might states
improve their sites. What do your students like best about the official
state sites?
Sample Student Activities Grades Seven through Twelve
(Adapt these to Grade & Ability of Students)
Activity #1 The Hunt
Grades 7-12
Use the information in the bookmarked database sites to plan an Internet
scavenger hunt emphasizing state information.
Bookmarks:
A Brief Guide
to State Facts
The Internet
Public Library's Stately Knowledge Chart
State Knowledge
50 states of the
United States
Activity #2 Book about Your State
Grades 9-12
Check the bookmark to learn about a novel being written by the Governor
and the students of Clark and Washoe Counties in Nevada. Do you like the
idea? Do you like the title? What do you think of this project?
With groups in your class, plan a book about your state. With your teacher,
set up standards for book content and writing. Use information gathered
online and in the library to create a novel based in your home state. Publish
your book on your school web site, after it is approved by your parents,
teacher, and school district.
Perhaps you'd rather create a book of poems or pictures or essays or...
?
Bookmark:
eNVy in the Desert
Web Sites & Descriptions
Activity #3 Ornithology
Grades 7-12
Birdwatching is one of America's favorite pastimes. You'll hear of concerns
about declining populations of some birds, overpopulations of other birds
in some areas, and endangered birds. Check the birds that have been officially
designated as state birds. Are any of these among the birds that are endangered
species or among the declining populations? Search online and through
library sources to locate factual information on the problems being faced
by bird populations in your state. You might, in addition, wish to expand
your study to include other states and/or birds that are not seen in your
state.
Bookmark:
State Birds
Bird Highlights from Around
the 50 States
Activity #4 Getting Involved
Grades 7-12
Check the web site (or sites) for your state to find information on
one of the controversial issues being discussed in your newspapers and
on television. Does the site contain any information on this topic? Broaden
your search using web, library, and people resources. Find out all you
can on the topic and organize the information into a talk that includes
a computer presentation of the facts.
Give the presentation to your class to see if others in your class want
to help you tackle this problem facing your state. Some classes have taken
their concerns to state governing bodies, some have written to newspapers,
some have invited leaders on both sides of the issue to talk to their class
or school, and some have lobbied their communities through information
campaigns.
What do you want to do about the issue you selected? Would your information
be valuable for the state's web site? Why or why not?
Activity #5 Sending & Examining Postcards
Grades 7-12
Find the postcard sites for Pennsylvania and Florida. Check the Pennsylvania
ones and send several to email buddies. Then go to the Florida site and
have a wonderful time exploring the picture postcards of the past. What
can you learn from these postcards?
Bookmarks:
Postcards from Pennsylvania
Florida Postcard
Collection
Activity #6 Locked Up at Alcatraz
Grades 7-12
Follow the pelican for an interesting tour (with sound) of Alcatraz
Island. What does the pelican have to do with Alcatraz? Learn about the
past of this island and the lives of those who were imprisoned there. How
is the island used today?
Bookmark:
Alcatraz Island
Activity #7 State Guidebook
With some partners in your class, use the California Guidebook as an
example and create your own guidebook for your state.
Bookmark:
California Guidebook
