APR
15
2013

Homeschool Geography Curriculum Forum

By | Forum, Geography, Homeschool

56 Comments

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Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying the curriculum discussions we’ve been doing lately. I’m hoping they will help you in choosing curriculum for your own family! Today I want to focus on the subject of Geography. Of course our family had a great time with the Expedition Earth World Geography, then moved to Road Trip USA Geography after that. Both are full year curriculum for elementary aged students. And they’re both really fun, hands-on, visual, and did an excellent job of getting my kiddos to remember what they learned! Expedition Earth World Geography curriculum is is a hands on world geography curriculum that covers 31 countries across the world. It is designed primarily for K-5 students. Students will learn the continents, oceans, people, cultures, animals, climates, try new foods, crafts and more, all through hands-on activities! Get ready for an exciting voyage across the world! Come along as we walk on the Great Wall of China, wander through the Amazon … [Read more...]

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FEB
27
2013

Road Trip USA: Wyoming

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool

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Welcome to our final state study as we’ve trekked across the United States using our Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum! Today we have finally made it to the wonderful state of Wyoming!   Wyoming was named the 44th state on July 10, 1890. It is known as “The Equality State” because it was the first place where women were granted the right to vote. The law allowing this was passed in 1869, 21 years before Wyoming became a state.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Wyoming on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Cheyenne, WY using the map coordinates. Worked on memorizing our US Presidents Song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: The Western Meadowlark State Mammal: The American Bison State Flower: The Indian Paintbrush Famous People: Jackson Pollock State Sport: The Rodeo! Food: Buffalo chili (Recipe included in the curriculum.) The state flag of Wyoming was … [Read more...]

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FEB
20
2013

Road Trip USA: Washington

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

11 Comments

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Welcome to our United States Geography tour! We are nearing the end of our unit study and today we are learning all about the beautiful state of Washington as we go through our Road Trip USA Curriculum!   Washington was made the 42nd state on November 11, 1889. It was nicknamed “The Evergreen State” because of the large fir and pine trees in the state that make it green year round. It is also home to Mount St. Helens, located in the Cascade Range southeast of Seattle, WA. The volcano last erupted in 1980 after 123 years of inactivity. The eruption blasted over 1,000 feet off the top of the mountain. This eruption changed the mountains elevation from 9,677 feet to 8, 363 feet.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Washington on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Olympia, WA using the map coordinates. Worked on memorizing our US Presidents Song Learned about the state and it’s flag State … [Read more...]

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FEB
13
2013

Road Trip USA: Utah

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool

6 Comments

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Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you are all off to have a fun time exchanging Valentine's Cards with friends and loved ones! Over here are Confessions, we're starting our day with school then heading out for a party. But before we do that, we're taking a quick jaunt over to Utah via our Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum! Utah became the 45th state on January 4, 1896. It is nicknamed “The Beehive State” in reference to early Mormon settlers who were described as having carried “swarms of bees” with them. Thus the nickname commemorates the industry of the people of Utah. Utah is known for it’s Great Salt Lake which has no outlets. This means that dissolved minerals carried into the lake by rivers and streams are trapped there making the lake extremely salty. (Almost seven times as salty as the world’s oceans.) Only brine shrimp and algae are able to live in the Great Salt Lake. Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Utah on our … [Read more...]

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FEB
06
2013

Road Trip USA: Oregon

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

5 Comments

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Welcome to our trip around the United States using our Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum! This week we are learning all about the wonderful state of Oregon. Oregon became the 33rd state admitted into the Union on February 14, 1859. It is nicknamed “The Beaver State” because of the association of beavers with the early history of the state and because of admirable qualities of intelligence, industry, and ingenuity associated with the beaver. Oregon’s Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S. and measures 1,949 feet deep in places. Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Oregon on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Salem, Oregon using the map coordinates. Worked on memorizing our US Presidents Song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: The Western Meadowlark State Animal: The Beaver State Flower: The Oregon Grape State Insect: The Swallowtail Butterfly State Landmarks: Columbia River … [Read more...]

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JAN
09
2013

Road Trip USA: Nevada

By | Curriculum, Geography, History, Homeschool, West

3 Comments

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Hi everyone! Welcome to our United States Geography study! This week we are checking out Nevada! Nevada was designated the 36th state on October 31, 1864 during the Civil War. That is why it’s called the “Battle Born State”. It is the largest gold-producing state in the nation and is second only to South Africa in the world. Nevada was made famous by the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the richest known U.S. silver deposit, in 1859.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Nevada on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Carson City, NV using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Mountain Bluebird State Mammal: Desert Bighorn Sheep State Flower: Sagebrush State Landmarks: Hoover Dam, Comstock Lode Food:  West Nugget Rib Cookoff Activity: Built a stick dam (instructions included in the Road Trip USA … [Read more...]

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DEC
13
2012

Road Trip USA: Montana

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

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Montana was named the 41st state on November 8, 1889. It was nicknamed “Big Sky Country” as a reference to the unobstructed skyline in the state that can overwhelm the landscape at times. It is home to more species of mammals than any other state. Elk, antelope, and deer populations outnumber the humans in Montana!   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Montana on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Helena, MT using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song (Here is a video so you can hear the tune) Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Western Meadowlark State Flower: Bitterroot State Insect: Mourning Cloak Butterfly State Mammal: Grizzly Bear State People: “Evel Knievel” Food: Huckleberries Here is my white board for the week, we use this to review all of the state facts and symbols each day.     We made designed a postcard from … [Read more...]

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NOV
14
2012

Road Trip USA: Idaho

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

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Hi awesome readers! I hope you are having a wonderful day, this week we took a little trip to Idaho for our Road Trip USA studies!   Idaho was named the 43rd state on July 3, 1890. It was named “The Gem State” because of its abundance of natural resources and scenic areas in the state. Hell’s Canyon, which was carved by the Snake River, is the deepest gorge in America. This canyon is about 10 miles wide and 7,993 feet deep.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Idaho on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Boise, ID using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Mountain Bluebird State Fish: Cutthroat Trout State Flower: Syringa State Insect: Hairstreak Butterfly State Landmarks: Pikes Peak, Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park. Food: In 2002 state legislature declared the potato … [Read more...]

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NOV
07
2012

Road Trip USA: Hawaii

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

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Hawaii is comprised of a chain of 132 islands. After several attempts Hawaii was finally named the 50th state of the U.S. on August 21, 1959. It is nicknamed “The Aloha State” which is the Hawaiian word for “hello”. It is the southernmost state in the U.S. and is also home of the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea on Mauna Loa. Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Hawaii on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Honolulu, HI using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Nene Goose State Fish: The humuhumunukunukuapua'a (pronounced: hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-auhp-oo-ah-ah) also known as the Reef Triggerfish State Flower: Hibiscus State Insect: Kamehameha Butterfly State Landmarks: Pikes Peak, Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park. Food: The Dole Pineapple Plantation Here is my white board for … [Read more...]

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OCT
31
2012

Road Trip USA: Colorado

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

2 Comments

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Colorado is in the heart of the Rocky Mountain range. It is nicknamed “The Centennial State” because it entered the union in 1876, just 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It has over 50 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation. The average elevation of Colorado is 6,800 feet above sea level making it the highest state in the United States. Denver is known as “The Mile High City”, and it has 4 major rivers flowing through it, the Colorado River, Rio Grande, South Platte and Arkansas, can you find them on the map?   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Colorado on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Denver, CO using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Lark Bunting State Fish: Greenback Cutthroat Trout State Flower: Columbine State Insect: Hairstreak Butterfly State Landmarks: Pikes Peak, … [Read more...]

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