State History Help

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Home : 2003 : July : 17

State History Help
By Jen

When I taught 4th grade (I now have 5th) we had to teach regions and our state. We were supposed to teach regions the first semester and then our state the second semester. But, I always felt like I never could do a thorough
job with either one because it wasn't enough time. I would think that the state history would be more important because in 5th grade it's American History and you're kind of teaching regions then too. I'm not really sure.

P.S. I have a great natural resource activity for states. After you have taught the natural resources of your state (or region) you need to find a cookie

cutter of your state. Then make sugar cookies, one for each of your kids. The kids then make a "paper" map labeling the major natural resources of their state. After the paper map gets graded and approved, they get a cookie to decorate. Have them frost them and then use realistic natural resources for a region of their state. For example, I live in Michigan so I would use those metal decorating balls for iron ore, candy corn for corn, a sugar cube for sugar beets, a cherry Runt for our fruit, etc. The kids LOVED it!!!! I've wanted to find somewhere where I could get a cookie cutter of every state and do a whole U.S. map but I haven't been able to yet!