United States Capitals and Symbols: Free Homeschooling Online

Lesson Ideas for United States Capitals and Symbols

United States Capitals and Symbols: These activities will help you learn how the United States came to be united. Study the state capitals and symbols with fun online games and free printables. Each of our free online homeschooling lessons includes language arts, social studies, science, and art components. Whenever possible, we also include math and PE. Scroll down for online games and activities. Enjoy!


United States Capitals and Symbols:  Free Online Homeschooling Lessons.




Elementary and Middle School Social Studies: Grades 3-8

Teacher Resources:
Free Common Core Lesson Ideas for grades 3 - 12 from Brainpop.com


Student Lesson:


Do this:  While you are studying the state capitals, make an index card for each state. On the front write the state’s name in the CENTER of the card in big, bold letters. 

On the back, write the name of the state’s capital. As you learn facts about each state, draw pictures on the card to represent them. For example, for Indiana decorate your card with the Cardinal (state bird) and Corn (state resource).


Watch this video about how it all began:

Schoolhouse Rock The United States Preamble to the Constitution



Geography


Cartoon: Sing the 50 state capitals with Wakko of Animaniacs.






Now, you're ready to practice what you've learned with this cool Capital Catch Game from kidsgeo.com. Match Capitals with States Online Game.


Learn State Capitals Game Quiz.
State capital matching game and quiz from kidsgeo.com.
Click the link above to play game.


History


When did Indiana become a State? ______________________
(Write out the question, and answer it in your daily journal.)
Find out here: Statehood Dates


Fun Videos that teach how we became the United States of America:

Video on Boston Tea Party by Schoolhouse Rock: No More Kings




Schoolhouse Rock: The Shot Heard Round the World




Why do we have fireworks on the Fourth of July?
Answer this in your daily journal.


Schoolhouse Rocks: Fireworks




Read How did the American Revolution happen?  If you subscribe to Brainpop, watch the video here.


Grab a piece of paper (or use a Google Doc) and tell how the American revolution happened? Why did it happen?  


Start with this Printable Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer


Because of all of that, America became a melting pot.



How are you doing? Test your knowledge with a State Capitals Quiz.


More about the U.S. Constitution from Brainpop.com (subscribers only).



Art Component
Let’s get messy! Make your own 3D map of the United States activity. You will need tempera paint, flour, salt, water, and some cardboard. Remember: Baking and Making is science too!

See how to do it at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.



How to make a 3D United States map with salt dough.
How to make a 3D United States map with salt dough.
Visit Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.


Language Arts Component


Grammar Monster explains the difference between capital and capitol.  Be sure to scroll past the quick answer to learn more about capital vs. capitol.



Science Component


What is the state bird for __________________? (fill in your state and bird). Optional: Research why your state bird was chosen.




Become a bird watcher in your state and Research Birds of the United States. Follow the link to learn about typical and rare birds found in each state. Find out how you can help report rare bird sightings.


Print this: Printable Worksheets for State Birds from Education.com


Did you know the state bird for Delaware is a Rooster, okay a chicken but still… :)



State Bird Coloring Sheets for Children from Education.com
State Bird Coloring Sheets for Children from Education.com


Early Elementary Component Pre-K - 3, but suitable for older kids too!


Free Online Quiz and Video on U.S. symbols from Brainpopjr.com
Free online matching game: Match the United States symbols.


Name 3 United States symbols. On a separate sheet of paper, draw the symbols with crayons or markers.


1.___________________________________________________


2.___________________________________________________


3.___________________________________________________

Social Studies Just for Fun Online Games


Play this fun game from Funbrain.com: Where is that?


From Cool-Mathgames.com: State Snap match the states shape game.

Fun Activity: Collect United States State Quarters. Each quarter has special information about the state it represents.

The U.S. Mint has lots of online games and videos. We've got an online lesson on how to make money - okay, it is really about how they make money at the mint, but how to make money sounds more exciting!

Recommended Reading:

United Tweets of America: 50 State Birds Their Stories, Their Glories


Learn about Presidents of the United States

Fireworks, Picnics, and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols

The Story of America's Birthday

Soaring with the Wind: The Bald Eagle

A Picnic in October - A story about the Statue of Liberty.




Cat Sleeping in Basket: Caturday Pictures

Funny Picture for Caturday, Cat Sleeps in Basket

So, my cat is very cool. Smoothe, unencumbered by normal cat behaviors. He sleeps, he eats, he sleeps. I was lucky to catch him in a less than flattering sleeping position. Smack dab in the middle of the snack basket. Embarrassed much? Not so regal now, Mister fancy pants... I feel a bribe coming on. Enjoy!

Cat Sleeping in Basket: Caturday Pictures
Cat Sleeping in Basket: Caturday Pictures.

Recommended Reading:

Cough Medicine for Kids: Dr. Cocoa™

Dr. Cocoa™ Cold and Cough Medicine for Kids

Cold season is around the corner, but if you are like me, it is always cough and cold season. NEW Dr. Cocoa™ for Children is the first-ever chocolate flavored, over-the-counter liquid cough and cold medicine line for children ages 4-13! When they asked me to review their product, I accepted with an resounding yes. We had a cold in the house. One cold leads to another and another. It seems like we have colds year round. Allergies are the worst.


Chocolate flavored cough syrup makes for smiling sick kids!
Chocolate flavored cough syrup makes for smiling sick kids!

The kids were excited when the brown box arrived at the doorstep. And, they were thrilled to see the adorable owl puppet inside. Owls are in again! We had it for a week, before the need for medicine came again. They both were anxious to try it, because they hate cherry and grape flavored syrups. They tolerate orange. Chocolate flavor? That might just work! Dr. Cocoa™ for Children is the first-ever cough and cold medicine for children with patented formulas combining trusted, effective ingredients with 10% real cocoa for great chocolate taste to make giving medicine to kids easier. ​  




Cough Medicine for Kids: Dr. Cocoa™
Cough Medicine for Kids: Dr. Cocoa™ 

The great chocolate taste, made with real cocoa, combined with trusted, effective ingredients, means kids are happy to take the medicine and moms are happy that their children will get cough and cold relief. Guess, what it works! Just as good or better than those other remedies with no fussing! I was going to sit on my kids to demonstrate what it is like to get them to take their meds, but then I thought some people might not think that is funny! Instead, I am sharing a picture of a happy kid, one who constantly suffers from allergies and coughs. You can't hear him, but he is thanking Mr. Dr. Cocoa™ .

You can find more about Dr. Cocoa™ on Facebook. Including how to enter to win a hand puppet for a limited time.

Remember, Dr. Cocoa™ products are FDA regulated medicines and should be used only as directed and kept safely out of reach of children.

#DrCocoaReliefWithASmile

Visit www.drcocoa.com for a $2-off coupon offer.

*This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. However, all opinions, text and experiences are my own.


Recommended Reading:

Owl Wreath for Autumn

Have a Spooky Sleepover and Pajama Reading Party with Halloween Books from Scholastics

Have a Spooky Sleepover: Pajama Reading Party with Candy Corn S'mores Recipe


It's easy to plan a spooky sleepover with a Scholastics story and EVEREADY® Gold batteries in your flashlights! We decided to plan our spooky pajama party around fun Halloween books for kids! "We picked some fun spooky books and decided on a Candy Corn S'more Recipe as the perfect companion snack! There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat" by Jared Lee, "Splat the Cat" by Rob Scotton, and "Ten Timid Ghosts" by Jennifer O'Connell. Read on to learn more about the best sleepover ever!

*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EVEREADY®. The opinions and text are all mine. It contains affiliate links.


Plan a pajama sleepover party with spooky books, treats, and Halloween shadow puppets.
Have a pajama sleepover with spooky Scholastic Books and EVEREADY® Gold.



Spooky Book for early readers, Scholastics, Ten Timid Ghosts.
Spooky Book for early readers, Scholastics, Ten Timid Ghosts.
Before the party, we gathered supplies for our craft, snack, and pajama party tent. The kitchen nook worked best, because it has room for a large, family-size tent. We used the walls and bench to construct a tent from one of our favorite blankets. Mommy filled a basket with books, juice packs, popcorn, and flashlights. Then, we created some, super cute edible crafts- with a ghost theme of course. Candy Corn S'mores!


How to Make S'mores with candy corn and candy corn marshmallows Recipe.
Candy Corn Smores Recipe: Make S'mores with candy corn and candy corn marshmallows.

For our Candy Corn S'mores recipe, we used graham crackers, candy corn marshmallows, candy corn, and chocolate chips to make our S'mores. They were the best S'mores we ever had! Messy, but delicious.

While our sleepover snacks were baking in the toaster oven, we started the spooky ghost craft. We used cheesecloth, Styrofoam cups, and buttons to make a Halloween Ghost craft.


Spooky ghosts from Styrofoam cups.
Spooky ghosts from Styrofoam cups.

After reading the story, Mayhem wanted to make a bat too. So, we cut out a pattern that looks like the bat on the cover of the book. To make our bat you only need scissors, construction paper, and glue. If you want to make an outdoor Halloween decoration, before cutting, cover your paper with Duct Tape in coordinating colors. The duct tape will make a durable Halloween decoration for your door.

While we enjoyed reading stories to each other and making shadow puppets on the walls, we had some surprise guests! They wanted to hear about Splat the Cat, and they wanted to chase the lights from our EVEREADY® Flashlights!


Curious cats crash our pajama party!
Curious cats crash our pajama party!
Educational Element for Homeschooling

We wanted to count this experience as school, so we found a free printable story starter and Lesson Plans for, There Was an Old Lady, on Scholastic's website. From the list of lesson plans, we also chose to try the edible estimations. This is a fun math lesson for kids where you compare the things the old lady ate with similar weighing objects around the house or classroom and then calculate the grand total of everything she ate. The EVEREADY® website has free printables to help plan for a disaster.


Grab your favorite Scholastic books, and EVEREADY® flashlights and get reading! When you purchase 2 special marked packs of EVEREADY® Gold Batteries or EVEREADY® flashlights, you can redeem them for a free book. How fun is that?

It must be time to go to sleep, our guests are yawning!


Yawning Cat and Sleepy Cat
Hey lady, don't shine that light in my eyes!
Where are my pajamas? Those stories made me sleepy!


This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EVEREADY®. The opinions and text are all mine.


Recommended Reading:



There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!


Splat the Cat Storybook Collection





Homeschooling Online: Cave Study Lesson

Cave Study Lesson for Homeschooling Grade 3, 4, 5, 6 and up.

Free Homeschooling Online: Cave Study Lesson.
Homeschooling Online: Cave Study Lesson.

Elementary Earth Science: Grades 3-6

Cave Study


Optional Group Activity:
Watch The Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Netflix) Documentary Movie on the oldest human painted images known to man. This is a full-length, artsy, feature film.


PBS Secrets of the Dead: Caveman Cold Case (53 minutes)



Educational Technology Component


Do an internet search for the following terms. Define in your own words.



Karst
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Speleologist_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Spelunking__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Stalactites___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Stalagmites__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Paleontologist________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Mathematics Component




Plot the following terms on the timeline:

Ice Age, Stone Age, Cretaceous, First Neanderthals




65,000,000 B.C. _____1,000,000 B.C. _____250,000 B.C. _____ 30,000 B.C. _____10,000 B.C. _____5000 B.C. _____2500 B.C. _____1000 A.D.  



Making Connections


When did the horse first appear in cave paintings?  What did the earliest ancestor of the horse resemble in size? When did this animal live? Plot it on the timeline.



Language Arts Component




Write (Draw) a simple story describing how you acquired breakfast. What did you eat? Was it a feast or were you still hungry after you ate? Use cave painting symbols and make a key so others can interpret your work.




Science Component


List five things that inhabit caves today.


__________________________________________


__________________________________________


__________________________________________


__________________________________________


__________________________________________


__________________________________________




Watch this Video:  Bats  (BrainPop Paid Subscribers)


Field Trip Op: Learn about the Endangered Bats in Indiana at Sodalis Park.



Art Component






Science Fair




Art History Just for Fun Online Games and Movies


Watch The Croods or Ice Age.




Recommended Reading:


Bats by Gail Gibbons *affiliate link

Science Project: Make a Cave Diorama 


Print this! Free Cave Lesson Printable


kccbutton125.jpg   
Copyright 2014 by Lora Langston, Kids Creative Chaos.