📖

Finding Our State

Our State and Country

Day 97of 180
Week 20of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Locate our state on a United States map

2

Recognize the basic shape of our state

3

Identify neighboring states

📖 Scripture Connection

Psalm 24:1

“The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein.”

— Psalm 24:1 (WEB)

God created all the land and states we see on the map

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large US map
  • State map
  • Colored stickers
  • Colored pencils
  • Worksheet with state outline
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather children around the US map. Ask them to point to where they live and talk about their excitement about learning about their state.

💭 Review Question: Who can remember what a state is from yesterday's lesson?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain how states are like special areas in our big country, each with its own shape and story.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Every state is unique, just like God makes each person special
  • States are part of the bigger United States
  • Each state has its own capital and government
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What makes our state special?
  • Can you describe the shape of our state?
3Activity: State Shape Exploration (7 min)
hands-on

Children will trace and color their state's outline, then place a sticker on their home location.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Give each child a state map worksheet
  2. Help them trace the state's outline
  3. Color the state with favorite colors
  4. Place a special sticker where they live
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Pre-trace state outline for children

Challenge: Add neighboring state names around the map

4Closing (3 min)

Review what we learned about our state today

📝 Review Questions:
  • What shape is our state?
  • Where do you live in our state?
  • What makes our state special?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for creating our beautiful state and for giving us a special home. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about how many states are in our country!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding.”

— Proverbs 3:5 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Trust Walk - Have children follow directions with eyes closed to represent trusting God's guidance

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

First graders are learning spatial awareness and basic geographic concepts

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use colorful, engaging maps
  • Be patient with spatial learning
  • Encourage curiosity about location
🤔 Common Struggles:

Understanding abstract map concepts

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Excitement about identifying their state's location

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a state shape puzzle
  • Take a family drive to explore local geography
  • Make a state fact book with drawings

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 98 →Back to History & Social Studies