Homeschool Corner: Geography - Alabama

What is the history of the United States? How were states formed? We are learning all about it this year as we study the United States. It is like taking a road trip from the comforts of our own home. Today we learned that Alabama was the twenty-second state. It can be difficult to remember the capitals of all the states, so I was delighted when I found this fun way of learning it from Kids Learn America! by Patricia Gordon & Reed Snow. They recommended imagining a mountain made out of gum and a owl sitting on top of the mountain. The owl will help you remember Alabama (owl/al) and the mountain of gum will help you remember Montgomery (mount gum).

I love the free printables from USA-Printables. I print them out and my 3rd grader colors them for his USA Notebook. It shows the capital, the state bird, and the state flower. Here is the link for the Alabama coloring page.

Download my free PDF notebook cover to keep all your coloring pages in. It makes a nice keepsake memory too!

We learned that Helen Keller and Rosa Parks were born in Alabama. That the Tuskegee Institute  is where George Washington Carver found all those interesting uses for peanuts.

You will find some free printables on Rosa Parks here.
There is a free resource and activity pack if you would like to learn more about Helen Keller here.
Also, you'll find a free resource from George Washington Carver here.

We laughed at funny things we read in books. Things like, it's illegal to wrestle a bear in Alabama.

Learning is supposed to be fun, right? It is all about how you present the material and allowing kids to be hands on while learning. Children love being read to. If you find interesting things and present them in a fun way, they will love what they are learning. Allow your kids to learn what they are interested in. Don't feel like you have to do everything. A page here and there will enhance their learning without overwhelming them. Be hands on, grow a peanut plant. These are things that they will retain.

Have fun creating memories with your child. This is a special cherished time.

Blessings,
Bridget