Stating the Facts
Teacher Instructions
Purpose: To help students memorize the 50 states and learn valuable information about them.
Task: Working in table groups, students will have 3 weeks to gather information about their state, create a poster, make their state flag, and present the information to the class.
Assessment: Each group will create a 5-question quiz using information from their research. The questions from each group will be combined into one test for the class. The quiz can be used as a listening grade, social science grade or both.
Standards:
United States History and Geography: Making a New Nation
· 5.9 Students know the location of the current 50 states and the names of their capitals.
Language Arts
· 2.3 Write research reports about important ideas, issues, or events by using the following guidelines:
2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
· 2.2 Deliver informative presentations about an important idea, issue, or event by the following means
a. Frame questions to direct the investigation.
b. Establish a controlling idea or topic.
c. Develop the topic with simple facts, details, examples, and explanations.
Instructions: At the beginning of the year, give each table group the name of a state. This will replace calling them table 1, 2, etc. Ideally you will have 5 groups of 6 students each, giving you 10 rotations to finish all 50 states. You can adjust the numbers and timeline to fit your needs.
Each group will receive a laminated copy of the student directions in a folder. At the beginning of week 1, groups will create a state flag to identify their table with. Points will be given for creativity and accuracy. Each group will then have 3 weeks to gather the required information for their assigned state. Groups will need to display their information in the form of a poster. They will include pictures with captions and brief information. Students will then present their poster to the class. A written summary of their information must be submitted for grading, along with their poster.
Finally, each group will create 5-question quiz for their classmates. Each student in the group is to write a question for the quiz and put their student number next to for identification and grading purposes. Questions must be either fill in the blank or short answer.
Quiz questions and an answer key, must be turned in to the teacher before the end of week 3. The teacher will take the questions from each quiz to create one test. All of the students will take the test on the day after presentations are finished.
As presentations are being made, the audience will take notes for studying.
After the end of the 3 weeks, groups will be assigned a new state. If done correctly, this should take a good amount of the year and can be used as a filler activity when students finish other work early. To teach the order of each State’s admittance to the Union, use the attached list of states when rotating groups.
Extensions: Students can be required to present their information in different formats; ex: Power Point, Travel Brochure, Newspaper/Newsletter, etc.
State / Date of Admittance1700's
Delaware / December 7, 1787
Pennsylvania / December 12, 1787
New Jersey / December 18, 1787
Georgia / January 2, 1788
Connecticut / January 9, 1788
Massachusetts / February 6, 1788
Maryland / April 28, 1788
South Carolina / May 23, 1788
New Hampshire / June 21, 1788
Virginia / June 25, 1788
New York / July 26, 1788
North Carolina / November 21, 1789
Rhode Island / May 29, 1790
Vermont / March 4, 1791
Kentucky / June 1, 1792
Tennessee / June 1, 1796
1800's
Ohio / March 1, 1803
Louisiana / April 30, 1812
Indiana / December 11, 1816
Mississippi / December 10, 1817
Illinois / December 3, 1818
Alabama / December 14, 1819
Maine / March 15, 1820
Missouri / August 10, 1821
Arkansas / June 15, 1836
Michigan / January 26, 1837
Florida / March 3, 1845
Texas / December 29, 1845
Iowa / December 28, 1846
Wisconsin / May 29, 1848
California / September 9, 1850
Minnesota / May 11, 1858
Oregon / February 14, 1859
Kansas / January 29, 1861
West Virginia / June 20, 1863
Nevada / October 31, 1864
Nebraska / March 1, 1867
Colorado / August 1, 1876
North Dakota / November 2, 1889
South Dakota / November 2, 1889
Montana / November 8, 1889
Washington / November 11, 1889
Idaho / July 3, 1890
Wyoming / July 10, 1890
Utah / January 4, 1896
Oklahoma / November 16, 1907
1900's
New Mexico / January 6, 1912
Arizona / February 14, 1912
Alaska / January 3, 1959
Hawaii / August 21, 1959
Stating the Facts
Your table group will be studying one of our 50 states over the next 3 weeks. You will find the required information, create a poster or travel brochure, and then present it to the class. After presentations, you will be assigned a different state to study.
In addition to the project and presentation, you will re-create your states flag to identify your table.
Finally, you will create a 5 question quiz for your classmates to take, based on the information you have presented. Please be fair, but not too easy. Quizzes will be worth 10 points and must be fill-in-the blank or written answer. You will be correcting your state’s quizzes as well.
You MUST include the following information in your report.
1. The name of the state
2. The date it was admitted to the union
3. The state Capital
4. The state motto
5. The state flower
6. The state bird
7. The states which border it
8. Any bodies of water in or bordering your state.
9. 2 groups of Native Americans who originated in your state.
10. Any historical landmarks.
11. How did the United States acquire this state?
12. 3 interesting facts about your state. You may include products that are manufactured there, information about the economy, points of interest, or historical events. If you find a fact other than these, get permission from your teacher to include them.
During presentations, take notes as you will be quizzed on what you have learned.