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Thanks to all who responded to my querry about projects/activities for a study of U.S. Geography. 1.http://www.eduplace.com/projects/nj.html To obtain information from fourth graders throughout the state of New Jersey regarding what they like to do for fun in their specific area of New Jersey. To obtain information regarding what fourth graders find interesting or unique about their town. 2. Try the North American Quilt, an online project starting at the end of the September <http://www.onlineclass.com/NAQ/NAQhome.html>. It lasts for ten weeks as the participating schools collaborate on researching their own region's physical, historical and cultural geography, posting their findings on a collaborative Web site. The kids share activities and conversation by Web and e-mail. 3. Matt Rosenberg's Geography Site at About.com : http://geography.about.com 4. There’s a commercial production, and copies can be ordered for each student. It unfolds into a US map. A teacher brought this in last year and the students tried it. Students are given a list of historical/national parks across the country and have to plan a trip visiting (I think) 5 different sites. I looked at it briefly over the summer with an eye to fulfilling our Virginia Standards of Learning, and the end project could be a spreadsheet or, as it was done by the students last spring, a report that is keyboarded into a word processing program. 5.You could have each student draw a state name out of hat and give them an outline of information to find. Then have the students take that information and develop a travel brochure or you could have older students create a database of their information that the younger students could use for research (secondary source). 6.I read "Coast to Coast with Alice" about the first woman to drive across the states to 4th and let them trace the route and recall facts at the end of each session for quick note taking practice. 7.Our fifth grades are currently working on a US project. The students are researching regions of the US to create a news broadcast. It will be video taped. Each presentation will include examples of aerial, topographical, political, and physical maps. I thought it was a great idea for studying the US as well as different types of maps. 8.I am collaborating with one of my fourth grade teachers on a State Scrapbook. Each student is selecting a state and will be using the almanac, atlas, state books, and the Internet to find the required information. Once the student completes his scrapbook page it will be bound into a book for the whole class. We think students will be motivated to read what their classmates have learned and thus learn about the entire U.S. The teacher determined the items to be included on the page and has developed a rubric. There are 5 categories: Map of state--capital, major cities, major rivers/landforms State information--at least 3 of the following: flower, song, flag, tree, motto, etc. State Statistics--population, major industries, climate Government Information--# of U.S. Representatives and # of U.S. Senators Unique/Interesting Information-- 3 facts Rubric included these 5 categories + neatness A: Does not include a map Does not include any state information Does not include any state statistics Does not include any of the government information Does not include any of the unique information Page is not readable B. Includes one item on the map Includes one state information fact Includes one item of the state statics Includes one item of the government information Includes 1 fact or interesting information Page is readable, not very neat C Includes 2 items on the map Includes 2 state information facts Includes two items of the state statistics Includes all items of the government information Includes 2 facts of interesting information Most of page is neat and there is some color D Includes all three items on the map Includes all three state information facts Includes all three items of state statistics Includes all 3 facts of interesting information Page is very neat and very readable and colorful I designed a "data chart" with 6 columns (one for resource and one for each of the areas. We discussed which resources were best for which information--ie. almanac for population. Students did 2 sessions in LMS--intro to Big6 & planning and then mini lesson on resources. They then came back with data sheets and gathered necessary information. They could check out individual state books and/or I would photo copy. 2 pages for them. They were to gather all information and complete scrapbook page at home. 9.Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.notfrisco.com/almanac/indexa.html">The California Almanac</A> I thought this was a good idea for state study. Maybe kids could make their own. 10.I will send this to the list, in case some of you do not know of this site...it is a wealth of state information, and is simple to remember: http://www.50states.com 11.The pamphlet/paper is published by Interaction Publishers, Inc., (dba Interact), 1825 Gillespie Way #101, El Cajon, CA 92020-1095. (619) 448-1474 or (800) 359-0961. The team has to plot a course from San Diego to Bangor, visiting 15 points of interest. I believe our teachers amended this project a little. One could build a spreadsheet or database of things about each site. 12. I am referring you to one of our fifth grade teachers that has his kids creating multimedia projects on the states. He may be able to give you a better idea of what his program is. Here is his address: Russell Johansen russellj@orca.esd114.wednet.edu -- Roz Goodman, Media Specialist Southwest Region Schools PO Box 90 Dillingham, AK 99576 907-842-5287, FAX 842-5428 rgoodman@dlg.swrsd.gcisa.net =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv For LM_NET Help & Archives see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=