| About Our Theme In our class we have a yearly theme. Themes help to build a sense of community and spirit in our classroom and give us a focus for the year. Our theme for the school year 2007-2008 will be Our Fifty Nifty, referring to our 50 great American states. With our theme we will be:
(your parents may remember it from elementary school!) The song begins with: Fifty Nifty United States from thirteen original colonies; Each state "contributes a quality that is great," and so does each student in a classroom! Listen to one fifth grade class sing this song here. Peirce Prides - On the Way to the State House! Our yearly theme is tied into a classroom incentive program in which children earn Peirce Prides (PPs) for demonstrating the following:
This year the children will begin their learning journey as a STATE REPRESENTATIVE. After 25 PPs they will become a STATE SENATOR. Another 25 Peirce Prides will move them to the level of LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, and an additional 50 PPs will have them becoming GOVERNOR!
Note: It is important to remember that this is NOT a race. It's not about getting there "first", it's about getting there!
Freedom, the Bear, will join families on weekends to help them explore our "Fifty Nifty" states. Accompanied by two terrific books and two great dvds, students and families will be asked to enjoy the books and movies, then reflect upon their learning and describe it in a journal.
The Books
Fifty States, One Country is a great book, part of the Newbridge Early Social Studies: Our United States Kit. Learn more here.
Celebrate the 50 States is an informative and fun book by Loreen Leedy.
Both are sure to be enjoyed by both students and parents alike!
The DVDS
The first DVD, This is Our Country, will be required viewing; the second, a Reading Rainbow special entitled From Sea to Shining Sea - Stories from America, will have some required and some optional viewing. Both are filled with important and interesting information about our country. Click on each dvd above to learn more.
Rhyme Zone - State Capital Quiz
Interactive Map of the United States
Resources for Students
Print Our Flag
KidZone Geography
Postcards from Buster
Zoom School - the United States of America
Quarter Explorer
Cents of Color
Puzzle Mint
50 States Quarter Program
Kid-friendly info about all the state quarters
Making Cents
Learning About the States at enchantedlearning
Nifty Fifty United States
Stately Knowledge Facts About the United States
A to Z Kids’ Stuff States
USA Symbols Match Game
National Park Fun
Junior Ranger Gazette
Massachusetts from enchantedlearning
Massachusetts Kids' Zone -
be sure to check out the Ladybug Story!
Fun Facts about the Massachusetts State Symbols
Worldatlas.com - Massachusetts
A Guide to Massachusetts
All Hail Massachusetts
Massachusetts Senators and Representatives by City and Town
Resources for Teachers and Parents
My Beautiful America
The Star Spangled Banner Project
National Parks - Experience Your America
50 States Quarter Program
U.S. Patriotism Theme from abcteach
Our Fifty States Theme Unit - links
Nifty Fifty States
The Nifty Fifty States
Tool Box of Links to pages about the states
Postcards from America
Fifty States
The US 50 - A Guide to the Fifty States
The 50 States from Surfaquarium - lots more links
Fifty Nifty Webquest
Feet Across America
Fun State Facts from the U.S. Census Bureau
How Does Government Affect Me?
Worldatlas.com - Massachusetts
Mass Moments
Massachusetts Links
State Unit Study - Massachusetts
A Web Tour of the Massachusetts State House
Inside the Massachusetts State House
Contact the Massachusetts State House
State Blinkies for your website
Patriotic Music - wavs for downloads, including Fifty Nifty
50 States Booklist
Smart About the Fifty States - great!
Discover America State by State Series
Kid’s Guide to Drawing America Series - excellent!
All Aboard America books
The United States from Buddy Books
From Sea to Shining Sea State Series
This Land is Your Land State Series
Hello USA Series
All of the following books were found on Kidsread.com - Travel Book Round-Up
WISH YOU WERE HERE: Emily's Guide to the 50 States
Never fear: this guide is not boring fodder for school reports. Emily and her grandmother lead readers briskly and brightly through our 50 states. Each state gets two pages, and instead of learning yawn-inducing facts, we discover where malted milk was first made (Racine, Wisconsin), read goofy quotations, and look at interesting, accessible maps. Emily rides horses and milks cows, and her Grandma wears a series of state-appropriate hats.
STUCK ON THE U.S.A.: Fascinating Facts About the 50 States
This nifty trivia book includes eye-opening information on each state as well as a sturdy folder to collect and display the 50 new Statehood Quarters (5 new designs are released each year).
THE AMAZING 50 STATE MAZE BOOK
Tease your brain with these detailed mazes, one in the shape of each state. Puzzle fans rejoice! The key cities and capitals are also marked on each maze, so you'll learn while you play.
CELEBRATE THE 50 STATES!
Loreen Leedy's wonderful illustrations accompany fun facts and basic info. For each state, Leedy includes a map, notable places, state birds and flowers, and more.
HOW TO FIND LOST TREASURE IN ALL FIFTY STATES: And Canada Too!
by Joan Holub
This book tells you how and where to find real treasure lost or left behind by soldiers, pirates, miners, pioneers and all kinds of other people. Really! From sunken treasure in the Great Lakes, to coins that wash up on Florida beaches, you'll see where $300 billion of booty can be found.
THE KIDS' BOOK OF THE 50 GREAT STATES: A State-By-State Scrapbook Filled With Facts, Maps, Puzzles, Poems, Photos, and More!
Kids like you from all 50 states contributed to this collection. On this cross-country tour you'll find fun facts, photos of landmarks, jokes, maps and tons of other fun stuff, written by the kids who know it best.
To our classroom site Window to Our World
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