3: Unite These States (pages 10-11)
Learning the Location of America’s States

OBJECTIVE:
•	Students will learn the location of the first 13 colonies and familiarize themselves with the location of all 50 states.

MATERIALS:
•	“Colonial Shapes” work page
•	Overhead transparency of the map of the “Colonial Shapes” work page (page 12)
•	Overhead transparency of the labeled United States of America Map Template (page 28)
•	Copies of enlarged blank United States map template (page 13), several per student and one for teacher demonstration
•	One bag or envelope per student
•	Colored pencils or markers
•	Scissors
•	Book about the 13 colonies (optional)

PREPARATIONS:
•	Plan student groups.
•	Prepare overhead transparencies.
•	Write in state names on the transparency of the Eastern United States.
•	Copy the “Colonial Shapes” work page (page 12).
•	Copy the labeled United States of America Map Template (page 28).
•	Copy the blank United States map template (page 13).
•	Prepare a sample puzzle by filling in the United States map and outlining state borders.

GROUPING:
•	Whole group/small groups (2-3)

CLASS TIME:
•	2 class periods (optional: independent work time following lesson)

CONNECTIONS:
•	Social Studies
•	Geography

TERMS and CONCEPTS:
•	Landmark
•	Spatial

STEPS:
1.	Engage students in a brief review discussion about the 13 colonies and some of the important historical events and people associated with the times. You may wish to read the students a book about the 13 colonies.
2.	Explain that students will be starting the process of learning the geographic location of the original 13 colonies and, ultimately, of all 50 states. Hand out copies of the “Colonial Shapes” work page (page 12). Ask students to fill in the names of the states they know. Then place the completed transparency map on the overhead so that students can check their work and accurately complete their maps. Discuss ways of remembering the locations of states.
3.	Next, go over the directions and questions accompanying the map.
4.	Give each student a copy of the enlarged blank United States map template (page 13).  Ask them to fill in the state names as best they can. Most students will not be able to fill in many names (unless you have studied U.S. geography before!), so you may want to remind students that you are aware of this and that this is an exercise for them to later measure how much they have learned.
5.	When students have done as much as they can, show them the completed version and allow them to complete their maps. Ask students to use a thin marker or colored pencil to go over the outline of each state (teacher’s discretion on how students should handle the smaller Atlantic seaboard area). Make sure that all maps are accurate before beginning the next step.
6.	Tell students that they will now make puzzles out of their maps. Model for them the process of cutting the map along state lines. Students can cut their map into as many pieces as they like. Remind them that the more pieces they cut, the more difficult their puzzles will be.
7.	When students have completed their puzzles, ask them to take a moment to recreate the map with the puzzle pieces. Then hand out bags or envelopes for puzzle storage.
8.	During independent work times, encourage students to work on their own and with other classmates’ puzzles to familiarize themselves with U.S. geography.
9.	Periodically ask students to complete a map of the states from memory. You may want to ask students to chart their progress so that they will be able to see how much they have learned since this project began.

ENRICHMENT/EXTENSIONS:
•	Begin a class collection for the U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters™ Program and collect one coin for each state.

Colonial Shapes (page 12)

1.	Label the states that made up the first 13 colonies.
2.	Color the first state to be ratified green.
3.	Color yellow the state that was home to Jamestown, the first settlement.
4.	Outline with black marker the states that at one time were home to the U.S. capital (before it became Washington, D.C.).
5.	Draw a cup of tea in the state where a famous tea party took place.
6.	Color purple the states that ratified the Constitution in 1788.
7.	Draw a quarter in the state from which George Washington comes.
8.	Color in red the southernmost colony, named after King George II.
9.	Write the name of the ocean the colonists sailed to reach the colonies and color it blue.