mommyshanti Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I am going to do the 50 states with my son this year but was thinking of maybe doing it with a group. Has anyone done it for a co-op or group and like to share what you used? TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Reads a Lot Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I haven't done anything like this with a co-op, but I was researching 50 states stuff for the fall and I came across The Scrambled States of America (http://www.amazon.com/Scrambled-States-America-Laurie-Keller/dp/0805068317/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344017353&sr=8-2&keywords=scrambled+states+of+america), which is an adorable book. Well Gamewright has made a Scrambled States of Ameica card game (http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-5505-Scrambled-States/dp/B0009XBY1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344017353&sr=8-1&keywords=scrambled+states+of+america) to help kids learn the states' shapes and capitals. I found it used and it looks like a lot of fun. I plan to use the book and game with my son this year as we study Am History (plus a more factual 50 states book I got from National Geo). I don't know how many kids could play the Scrambled States game at once, but it could be a lot of fun in a co-op. HTH, Christina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I have not done 50 states in a coop, but About.com has a homeschooling course/resources for a 50 state study. You should check it out for inspiration. http://homeschooling.about.com/c/ec/1.htm Downside: You would probably be printing off a lot of pages for reference for the students. Imagine 50 states X minimum 4 pages/student X 10 students = YOWZA!!! You could get around this by sending links to each family one week ahead of time, and and each family is responsible for printing off each week. If class is every Monday, then Monday night, you send out links for the next week. Upside: There are a lot of fun states games to play in a group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyshanti Posted August 4, 2012 Author Share Posted August 4, 2012 Thanks:) This looks interesting-http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/u-s-geography Has anyone used it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolanda Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I was just on Amanda Bennett's site unitstudy.com and she's got lots of states, if not all, for unit studies. another option is Highlights puts out a program per state with maps, booklets and such. Not sure how that might work for a whole class but perhaps it could be good for grouping the kids, each doing a few states or a region or time zone, and then doing a presentation before the rest of the class. Then you get some public speaking going on as well!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mschickie Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Our co-op is actually doing a 50 states class. It is taking 2 co-op sessions to complete. They are using Our 50 States: http://www.amazon.com/Our-50-States-Adventure-America/dp/0689867174/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1344119070&sr=8-4&keywords=50+states The teacher also put together a little book where they fill out the state name, nickname, flower, bird, interesting info.... They do map work and some fun activities in class while we read the book (2-3 states a week) and fill out the sheet at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamd Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 We started a 50 state co op last session. We are scrapbooking each state with stickers, stamps, pics, and drawing important things about the states and we also did a 2nd class where they learned their States & Capitals, we used games we made up like family feud, and wow what amazing results. So good we ended up giving every student a trophy. We are continuing the scrapbooking of the states until all 50 are done. The real blessing is the kids do not want to stop this class. Good luck and have fun with it they learn a lot that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyshanti Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 Care to share the games you made up? :) Everytime I search only online games come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyshanti Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 this song would be a fun goal to have memorized by the end-http://www.mrsjonesroom.com/songs/50states.html 50 states bingo- http://www.webeans.net/hutt/educ/50statesbingo1.htm and a map game where 2 teams stand w/ arms behind their backs and then you call out the state and they have to be first to touch it(arms have to remain behind their backs until they actually find it) I'll post here when I find more. Keep the ideas coming ladies:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking-Iris Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I haven't done state geography with a group but here are some of the things I've done with my kiddos. Scrambled States of America is a wonderful book to read aloud. The game is only so-so, but a good resource. I also have a set of state cards called Five State Rummy. My oldest ds likes to play that. We also have a set of state license plate cards that have interesting facts about the states on the back, including what the state name means in various Native American languages. We love that part. I've also used the book Travel the Great States by School Zone as a read aloud/fun book and I've given state coloring pages from the Dover coloring book. Puzzles---the wooden kind with pegs for little hands and then building up to 100 piece. And we always keep a big map on the wall in ds's room and reference it often. A new thing we're trying this year is collecting state quarters. We got one of those folders to store them in and I think we're only missing 12 or so. We study the picture under the magnifying glass and then look up that state's quarter online to discover why they picked certain images. Sea to Shining Sea is a great book too. To link tall tale/folk story and folk songs to each state. Basically I start with them learning the actual geography and then go deeper learning the basic facts/culture of each state. My ds kept a list of the states with their abbreviations a few years ago---to learn how to spell them and learn the abbreviations. My plan this year is having him get solid on his capitols. Maybe some of those would be adaptable to a co-op setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyshanti Posted August 5, 2012 Author Share Posted August 5, 2012 Thanks, I really like the coin idea. We have a lot of them in a book already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniBlondes Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Thanks:) This looks interesting- http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/u-s-geography Has anyone used it? We are using that this year and we're uber excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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