All About the 50 States: Homeschool Edition

Learners in this ongoing class will engage with other homeschoolers for a virtual trip around the United States. We will explore each state in detail. Some of the topics we will cover are as follows:

States and capitals
State parks
Rivers/waterways/lakes/ springs
Mountain ranges
Unique features in each state
Terrain/biomes
Mineral resources
State birds/state animals/state trees/state minerals/state fossils
Wildlife refuges/endangered species/extinct animals
Popular food and traditions
State flags and symbols
National historic sites/National forests
Geographic regions/bordering states
State timeline/significant events
Typical weather patterns
State crops
State economy
Significant geologic events
Famous inventions/inventors
U.S. Presidents/Famous People
Quirky Tourist Destinations
Famous Landmarks

Class will begin with a short lecture through Nearpod on the day's topic. I will screenshare so students do not need to create a separate account in Nearpod.

We will have weekly activities to reinforce learning. Some examples may include, creating a map of the United States to track our progress, designing postcards and stamps, creating a travel brochure to the state to highlight what we learn, virtual trip planning to a famous landmark, art projects, basic research, making a traditional food from the region, and other projects as learners suggest interest in. 

Class periods will be utilized for one state at a time. However, we may use two to three class periods for each state so that we can go in depth with each one. This class is learner led in that I will take suggestions from the learners on ideas and topic suggestions.

Basic materials for class may include typical art supplies and paper. It is suggested that learners come to class with paper or a notebook if they plan to make notes or keep a record. We will create a timeline for each state's significant events so that students can have a keepsake from the class. 

Other materials outside of this will be listed in the classroom in ample time for parents to have them, if necessary. 

Class will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, video clips, and project based learning.

Our class schedule will be as follows:
Week of Monday, February 5, 2024- Alabama
Week of Monday, February 12, 2024-Alabama
Week of Monday, February 19, 2024-Alabama
Week of Monday, February 26, 2024- Alabama
Week of Monday, March 4, 2024- Alaska
Week of Monday, March 11, 2024- Alaska
Week of Monday, March 18, 2024- Alaska
Week of Monday, March 25, 2024- Alaska

More states will be added as content is completed. Please note that schedule is subject to change based on learner involvement. Some states may require more time than others based on learner interest and I am flexible in teaching that content. Some states may not require the entire allotted time, in which case, we will move on to the next state on the list. We will follow an alphabetical list of states for your convenience so that you know what comes next. Learners may enroll at any point and hop in and out of the class without any issues. Although content builds, we will be able to review material throughout each state's progression. 

Please send a message with any questions or suggestions on topic requests. I look  forward to seeing your learner in class!