Gage goes to school Monday-Thursday and mornings are a time he usually is willing and wanting to learn a little, so I decided to start doing a little state work each three-day weekend.

Exploring the States:Pennsylvania, the Keystone State. I decided to use this series I found at the library.  We start by reading through the book and then I chose some things to do 5-10 minute activities over the three days.  My goal is really just two activities  for each of the three days and then two books, this one and one more picture book.

Here’s what we did

1. Trace the state map, marked the capital,painted it, and wrote Pennsylvania. He hates to write and this week’s long state name made his unhappy and stubborn.

2. Colored and painted the very intricate state map.

3. Used glitter glue to color the state flower, mountain laurel.

4. The book featured the Crayola Experience and factory in Easton so we did a Crayola project.

Took the paper off broken crayons (took longer than I thought it would), mixed the colors in different muffin cups, put in the oven at 300 for about 10 minutes, pull them out one by one and drop the flimsy one all over the floor, put in the freezer, pull them out and you got some very cool looking crayon pellets.  Inspired by this pin.

Our Pennsylvania Punxsutawney Phil activities (because he was featured in the book).

5.We read a book about Groundhog Day, made a craft and did a few papers matching objects with their shadows.  He was very happy to have his picture taken 😉

6.(learning how to use the side of the chalk from dad)Tape his feet to the paper and attach a pipe cleaner to the back to help him stand and ta-da! It’s Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow.  This pin was the inspiration.

7. Watched a video of Phil (he wasn’t all that impressed)

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Keep sending me ideas for your state – especially book ideas!

Our Ohio activities.