Learn About Our State

Student Objectives:
-In fifth grade, students will conduct a state research project.
-They may choose any of the 50 states we learned about and conduct research and create a power point.
-Students will create a power point or movie to display the information.
-Students will locate pen pals from the researched state.
-A Flip Video camera will be used, so students can create a message or video to teach others about the state of Virginia.
-Tool Factory Movie Maker will be used to create a movie about Virginia's facts.

Step one-
Students will conduct a state research project. They will choose one state out of the 50 states we have learned about and research information.

Step two-
The students will use a variety of resources to perform their research. They can use books, encyclopedias, almanacs, and the internet. They must find the following information:
1. State, capital, and important cities
2. State bird, state, flower, and state food
3. Natural resources
4. Landforms
5. Climate
6. Any important landmarks in that state
7. List any interesting facts

Step three-
After the students have written down the information, they will create a power point. Each slide will display the requirements of the research.
*** Instead of a power point, students could also create a movie about their state using the same lesson plan format. They could use the Tool Factory Movie Maker software to create this piece.

Step four-
Next, students will share their finished products with the class. They will be the "teachers" of the day and educate the class on their power points or movies.

Step five-
Students will locate pen pals in their state they researched. They will write letters to the class they found and ask if they want to be pen pals.

Step six-
Then, my class will create a movie message by using the Flip Video camera. We will create a movie about the state of Virginia using Tool Factory Movie Maker and teach our pen pals about our state.