Second Grade · History · week 15

The USA: find our state

Locate the United States on a map of North America and locate your own state within the country.

The United States is one country on the continent of North America. Inside the United States are fifty smaller parts called states, each with its own shape, name, and capital city.

A map can zoom in like a camera: first the whole world, then just North America, then just the United States, then just your own state. Each zoomed-in map shows the same real place with more detail.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Show your child a zoomed-out map of the world, then North America, then the United States, then your own state, in that order.
  • Trace the outline of your own state with a finger and describe its shape (California, for example, looks a bit like a long boot).
  • Find your own town or city on the state map, even approximately.
  • Talk about your state capital and how it is different from your own town (unless you live in the capital).
Talk about it:
  • What country do we live in, and what continent is it on?
  • What is the shape of our state like?
  • What is the name of our state's capital city?

Mastery looks like: They can locate the United States on a map of North America and correctly locate their own state within the country.

Common stumbles: Confusing "country" and "state," or not recognizing that a map can zoom from very wide (the world) to very specific (their own state).

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of History for this learner.
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