Fifty Nifty

We have been crazy busy learning about maps and globes with The Flat Stanley Project 2.0 and I have to say that teaching maps and globes is one of my favorite units!  The envelopes and packets have already been sent home and we are reading Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures #9: The Capital Commotion.  I love reading these books with the project, and this one just happens to be .95 cents from Scholastic book clubs right now. Each student brought in a dollar and have their very own copy.

I don't know if it's just because I love American History or that I grew up so close to Washington, D.C. but I can go on and on about our country's capital.  During this unit I also teach the Fifty Nifty United States song.  I learned this song when I was in 2nd grade and it's still how I can recite all 50 states. : ) My kids LOVE it although, it is a slow learning process. There are several versions on YouTube.  These are the two I use.

This is how we learn the words...

We use this video when we perform the song for the parents.  

We also created Me on the Map dots, I guess this is not the "technical name" but this is what I called them. I found several pictures on Pinterest but here is our version.

In addition to all this we have also been exploring Google Earth which I think it like the COOLEST and I also love the GeoWalk app on the iPad which I hook up to the projector to explore on our Smartboard.  Well, I think that catches you up to what's been going on!  Happy Wednesday!