How to Use Know There
Know There comes with many versatile pieces. As a subscriber, each package can provide a base curriculum that can last the whole month. Below, we will share a few ideas on how to use each piece from your package! Feel free to print this page out & use it while completing your package.
Introduction Letter:
Your introduction letter will you give you a massive amount of information, but not every small detail. Each letter will go over a brief history, parts of geography, the state symbols, and maybe a few events or landmarks. The idea behind the letter is to give you small bits of information and encourage your family to become curious about the state.
- Research the original Native American Tribes that inhabited each state.
- Create a historical time line of events leading up to State hood.
- Discover the definition of the geographical terms noted in the letter.
- Compare geographies among the states.
- Study the botany of the state plants, the biology of the state insects and animals. What do the state gems look & feel like?
Coloring book:
Use this book to tap into your creativity. Use paint, markers, crayons or colored pencils to fill this book.
- Experiment with creating shadows.
- Kids can experiment with colors and designs, enhancing their creative thinking.
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Coloring pages can inspire kids to create stories or narratives about what they’re coloring.
Flag Magnet:
- Research the history behind the flag.
- How many versions of the flag have there been? Compare and contrast each flag.
- How many US flags share the same colors or designs?
Recipe and Food Card:
The best memories are made in the kitchen. It's also important to explore other cultures and discover the comfort food of those around us!
- Let your learner measure ingredients & practice counting, fractions, and volume.
- Have your learner follow the recipes to improve reading skills and understanding of instructions.
- Observe how cooking involves chemical reactions (like baking), which can teach basic science principles.
- Kids learn about healthy foods and the importance of a balanced diet. Dive into the food pyramid.
- Chopping, stirring, and pouring help develop dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Encourage your learner to complete these tasks on their own.
- Following a recipe teaches kids how to manage time and plan their cooking. Have your learner verbally explain their plan.
- Exploring different cuisines exposes kids to various cultures and traditions. Deep dive into these cultures. Compare and contrast foods from other countries or states.
- Cooking with family or friends encourages collaboration and effective communication. Cook in teams or have 1 person deliver instructions while the other one does the cooking.
- Kids can experiment with flavors and ingredients, enhancing their creative thinking. What seasonings or ingredients can you add to make the recipe even tastier?
- Preparing meals helps kids take responsibility for their tasks and fosters independence. If your child is at an appropriate skill level, have them make the recipe on their own.
- This is another opportunity to teach your learner the value of money and budgeting. Take them to the store to help purchase the ingredients with a set budget.
Historical Figure:
Learning about historical figures is essential because it provides context for understanding the events that shaped our world. These individuals often represent the values, struggles, and achievements of their time, offering valuable lessons about resilience, leadership, and morality. By studying their lives, we can gain insights into the complexities of human behavior and the impact of individual actions on society. Furthermore, learning about diverse historical figures helps promote empathy and a broader perspective on different cultures and experiences, enriching our understanding of history as a whole.
- Organize each Historical figure by date of birth.
- Encourage kids to create a narrative or a short story featuring the historical figure, integrating their life events and significance.
- Deep dive into the person to learn more than just the basics of their lives.
Surprise Cards:
Our surprise cards are always different. Sometimes you get a national park, other times you are getting a sculpture, or maybe an iconic restaurant. These cards are a good base for more research and discovery.
- organize your surprise cards into themes- restaurants, national parks, sports team etc.
- Discover the history behind each card and the impact it makes on the state.
Postcard:
Each package comes with a blank postcard. Your learner can save this as a collectible or use it to get to know the state better.
- Identify each symbol on the card.
- Practicing letter writing, grammar, and creative expression.
- Use postcards to create a map, plotting where each card is from and connecting them to related facts or stories.
- Reconnect with family or a friend.
Know There Idea List:
This page is your own brochure for the state. If you live there, or ever visit, these are some iconic and not so well known places to explore! This page also holds most of your points and is crucial for filling out your key!
- Theres plenty of places on this page that don't have any information about them. This gives your learner an opportunity to do their own research and learn all about these places!
- Compare the weather to other states in the US.
Crafts & puzzles:
The crafts and puzzles are always an exciting part of the package. Each one is all ages friendly, but may require adult supervision or help.
- Activities like cutting, gluing, and assembling improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
- Manipulating pieces helps develop grip strength and coordination.
- Solving puzzles requires logic, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking.
- Following instructions and executing steps boosts cognitive processes.
- Completing a puzzle provides a sense of accomplishment, boosting self-esteem.
- Kids can use their creativity to make a one of a kind art piece.
- Crafts and puzzles are a great brain break or can be done while information is being read to them.
Map/ flash card:
This is one of the most important pieces of your package. This one card is packed with information.
- Use the map to help kids learn about capitals, landmarks, and natural features. Try making a game of it by having them label or point to specific places you’ve studied together.
- When learning about history, locate places where events occurred on a map.
- Use maps to plan virtual "trips". Include activities like mapping out possible travel routes, learning about each area’s landmarks, and marking special cultural sites, foods, or customs.
- Maps are great for nature-focused learning. Try marking out different ecosystems, animal habitats, or geological formations. Weather maps are also fun tools for teaching about climate and weather patterns.
- Let kids create their own maps of fictional lands, local neighborhoods, or historical regions. They can practice skills like labeling, compass directions, and even making a map key. It’s a creative way to reinforce map-reading skills and spatial awareness.
- Use the map to practice math skills. Teach scale by comparing distances on a map to real-world distances. This can be a fun way to incorporate practical math lessons, helping kids understand ratios and measurement.
- Research books that take place in the state. For books with well-defined settings, locate the real places mentioned or map out characters' journeys. It helps bring stories to life and strengthens reading comprehension
- They can research that state’s symbols, create a poster, write a report, or make a scrapbook. This project can include art by drawing the symbols or writing facts about why each symbol was chosen.
- Many state symbols are plants or animals, which can lead to science lessons about local ecosystems. Study the characteristics, habitats, and life cycles of the state bird, tree, or flower. You could even grow the state flower at home or take a nature walk to look for similar plants or trees.
- Place symbols on a state map to make geography lessons interactive. For example, place a sticker or draw the state animal on the map. It helps kids associate the symbol with the state’s location and learn about each state’s regional characteristics.
- Kids can design a "State Symbol Collage" by drawing or crafting their own version of each symbol or make a 3D project like a state symbol diorama. They could also create a “state seal” by combining symbols and designing their own.
- Create cards with each state’s symbol and turn it into a matching game or quiz. Kids can match symbols to states or try to remember details about each one.
- Explore the stories behind each symbol. Why was a certain animal, flower, or food chosen as a state symbol? This often leads to historical facts or anecdotes that help kids learn more about the state’s culture or heritage.
- Many states have official foods or fruits (like Georgia peaches or Idaho potatoes). Prepare recipes featuring these foods together and add a bit of cooking or home-ec learning into your homeschool day.
- Organize the states in alphabetical order or by statehood date!
Key map:
The key map is there to help with reading comprehension but also to help visualize where each event, city, mountain, or landmark can be found in the state.
- Practice using compass directions (north, south, east, west) by giving them points to find in relation to other points. For example, "Find the city north of your state capital," helps kids understand direction while navigating maps.
Crossword & Word Search:
Crosswords and word searches are fun, engaging tools for homeschool learning that can strengthen vocabulary, spelling, critical thinking, and even reinforce subject knowledge.
- Use crosswords to reinforce subject vocabulary. Word searches are great for introducing new vocabulary terms as kids find and visually recognize words.
- Word searches are excellent for spelling reinforcement, as kids have to look closely to find each word letter by letter. Use weekly spelling lists or challenging words related to a lesson. Crosswords also help with spelling, as they require correctly spelled words to fit in the grid.
- Crosswords especially help develop critical thinking because they involve clues, context, and hints to deduce answers. This can be a great exercise in comprehension and logic.
- After completing a crossword or word search, have kids write a story or summary using some of the words they found. This promotes creativity and encourages them to use new vocabulary in context.
- Let kids design their own crosswords or word searches for siblings or parents. They’ll need to create clues and organize words, practicing writing, spelling, and problem-solving in the process.
Pin::
Add your unique pin to any fabric you’d like. Use the information you learned in your package to design your own pin!