Our 50 States is a one-year U.S. geography curriculum for students ages 5-10. We recommend it for 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, or 4th grade. You can use it with multiple children in that age range at the same time.
Watch this video walkthrough with author Mary Evelyn McCurdy to understand how all the components fit together.
Our 50 States has 104 lessons for use during one school year (26 units of 4 lessons each). After you read each lesson, you can choose the assignments you want your child to complete. For example, you might expect a 4th grader to do all of the suggested assignments while a 1st grader might only complete a few. The choice is yours.
You will spend two days studying each state, plus two days on Washington, D.C., and two days on the five major U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Students can read the richly illustrated lessons on their own, or you can read the lessons aloud.
The first lesson for each state introduces kids to a variety of places and topics important to that particular state. The second lesson features a song from that state's history and a story that focuses on a real person, a real family, or a real place that is part of the fabric of that state. We have produced audio recordings of all the songs in Our 50 States, which you can stream or download as part of your purchase.
For example, in Ohio you learn how a young farmhand discovered the spectacular Ohio Caverns. In South Carolina, you meet a Gullah family and learn about their faith in Jesus. You also get to hear a Gullah song.
As they study Our 50 States, students will complete their own Atlas Workbook. For each state, they will illustrate one geographic term that relates to that state. They will also complete simple map activities to reinforce what they have learned about that state. A simple Lesson Review book offers questions about the lessons and tests about each region.
Each week we also provide instructions for a family activity related to the region you are studying. These projects include crafts, recipes, and other hands-on activities.
If you already have the curriculum, our Quick Start Guide will launch you to success in using the literature, suggested supplements, and bonus downloads.