Learning The Fifty
States
By Michael Frye
Analyze Learners
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This is a fifth grade lesson plan. The majority of
students involved should be ten or eleven years
old.
It is a general lesson plan for a general, diverse
class that will cover lessons in geography,
history, and also features some computer
elements.
State Objectives
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SS.5.4.4 Locate, identify and contrast the major rivers,
landforms, natural resources, climate regions, major soil
regions and deserts of the United States.
SS.5.4.3 Use a map to locate a country by hemisphere
and its proximity to the equator.
SS.5.4.6 Discuss and define the various regions of
the United States.
SS.5.4.7 Identify and locate each of the fifty United
States within their regions.
TEC.5.3.3 Begin to use presentation software; use
design template to create a minimum of 3 slides.
Select Media and Material
Blank US Maps
http://images.google.com/images?q=blank+us+maps&hl=en&
safe=off&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:enUS:official&hs=9XD&sa=X&oi=images&ct=title
 “Fifty Nifty United States” song and lyric handouts
http://www.teridanielsbooks.com/fiftyniftysong.htm
 A Globe and maps for reference and latitude/longitude
 Resource sites for states and state histories
http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/History/By_Region/U
_S__States/ and http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgibin/page.cgi/es
 United States Facts and Statistics
(http://www.teachervision.fen.com/usa/demography/2383.html)
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Utilize Media and Materials
Day 1
Introduce maps and their use.
 Longitude and latitude
 Look at different types of maps (political,
topographical, physical)
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Day 2
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Group activity involving globes (latitude and
longitude)
Day 3
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Regional characteristics
The introduction of states by region
Day 4
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Begin going over states by region
Start students on New England states
Day 5
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Play the “Fifty Nifty United States” song as
regions are still reviewed for a “state bee” to be
conducted on the next day.
Play Song
Day 6
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The “State Bee” is conducted
Ten bonus points are given to the winner
Day 7
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Introduction of three slide minimum
PowerPoint project
Introduce and help students with PowerPoint as
they get acquainted with it.
Day 8
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Dedicate class time for students to work on their
PowerPoints.
Offer guidance, suggestions, and provided
resource links to help them get info for their
state.
Day 9
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Devote more time for students to finish their
PowerPoints.
Help any students struggling or finishing late
Perhaps take volunteers for who wants to
present first
Day 10
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Have students give PowerPoint presentations
Require Learner Participation
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Using competitive games to help with
map/globe use
Have fun, computer oriented projects and song
to help with state memorization
Incorporate presentations to also give the
students a chance to have their own input
Evaluate and Revise
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Map introduction, location
Latitude and longitude exercise
Region characteristics and states by region
(“state bee” assessment)
State location through map use
PowerPoint projects
(presentation assessment)