Friday, May 25, 2012

Fun State History Project

I'm not sure how it is for other teachers across the US, but here we have to teach students about our state's history. In fact, every grade K-6 has to teach some state history. This can get really boring after a few years,  and it seems like all the good ideas have been taken by the lower grades. My grade level started having a County Float Parade a few years ago, and it is a huge hits with parents and students.
This project is pretty simple to implement. The students simply choose a county in their state to research and create a float to represent the history of it. I usually let them choose two or three counties they are interested in and then select one of these for them to complete the project on. Every student has a different county to complete.

Some teachers choose to have students complete this as a home project. I don't like home projects, so my students complete it in class. I let them bring items from home, and I have a huge craft box for them to choose items from.  Al the shoe boxes must be covered. Craft paper of wrapping paper work great for this. The students usually do a really good job of wrapping the boxes.

Of course, some are better than others. I've used a rubric before, but this year I used a Do and Don't list. I think it worked just as well. You can tweak them to fit your needs. Click on the picture for a free copy of the list and research outline.


When all the floats are finished, we have a parade for all the other grades to see. The students attach wheels or put the float on a toy car and roll them down the hallway. We always have a couple of floats that lose their wheels halfway through the parade. Those students just pick them up and carry them the rest of the way.

This project is so much fun! Let me know what ideas you have for teaching your state history. Good luck as you continue to create magic in your classroom!

16 comments:

  1. That was such an awesome post! What a fun and different way to do state history.

    Adrianne
    The-Tutor-House.com

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    1. Thanks, Adrianne! I think the floats get better every year:)

      Selina

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  2. Thank you. What a neat idea. I am getting tired of the foldable project we do for our state activity since most of the clip art we use is also used in other grades.

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    1. You're welcome! I usually do a big research project, but the kids have studied the same material since PreK.

      Selina

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  3. This is a terrific idea. I am doing this next year! THANKS!

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  4. That's awesome! We do a couple things for state research: click the links below and it'll explain it a lot better than I can on here.
    http://theresourcefulteacher.com/index.php/learning-activities/97-using-resources

    http://theresourcefulteacher.com/index.php/history/90-forty-niner-day

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    1. THANKS for sharing your ideas! I'm always looking for new things to try.

      Selina

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  5. Love the idea! I do a scrapbook/scavenger hunt as a year long project for our state history. Looks like you must be from Arkansas. I was Miss Hot Springs County Jr. Miss in 1985. I recognized the county names. I love your blog! I am currently a 4th grade teacher in NM. I didn't realize you were from Arkansas until this post. Thanks for the many wonderful ideas!

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    1. Wow, small world! Yes, I'm from Arkansas. I was Miss Lake Dardanelle in ........ 1994, I think:) Seems like a lifetime ago.

      Selina

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  6. I will be teaching 5th grade this coming year, I will be using your awesome idea to teach the 50 states. Thanks a bunch for sharing.

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    1. You're welcome! I'm so glad you can use this.

      Selina

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  7. Love it! Here in NC, they don't learn state history until 4th grade, so I get to teach it all. Good for me on the ideas part. But I LOVE this idea! The kids will enjoy this a lot! Thanks!

    Fourth Grade Fanatics

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    1. Thanks, Sara! I'm your newest follower.

      Selina

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  8. This is such a brilliant idea! My teacher wants us to think or search for a project we can do, and this is a really good idea. You should make your own website and post ideas for classrooms and school projects.

    Thank you! :D

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  9. Oh wait this is a website! :O ^ ^
    __

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