One of my favorite curriculum companies just came out with a new product! Home School in the Woods has created a new Hands-On History Activity-Pak that guides you through learning about the state of your choice – Make-a-State Activity-Pak.
When I first discovered Home School in the Woods at a homeschool convention, it was love at first site. Seriously. Their booth just drew me in with how well-made their products were and how fun they looked. I have since used many of their products and have never been disappointed. The Make-a-State Activity-Pak was no exception.
The Make-a-State Activity-Pak allows you to study any state of your choosing (plus Washington, D.C.). So perhaps you’d like to learn about the state you live in, or one you used to live in, or one that is the setting of your current read aloud. You get the idea – choose a state that interests you and that is related to your current studies. You’d could even eventually work through all 50 states if you’d like.
As you work through the 20 projects in the Activity-Pak, you will create a lap book that is specifically tailored to the state you have chosen to study. The end result is a beautiful lap book full of all your findings, studies, and activities on that state. These definitely go in the ‘to keep’ pile – they are great to pull out for future reference and learning.
The 20 projects in the Activity-Pak incorporate creative writing, illustration, coloring, research, mapping, and more. Some of the ones you’ll find are:
- Key State Facts
- State Timeline
- State Landmarks
- Famous People From…
- State Industry/Agriculture/Climate
- Origin of State Names
- And more!!
The Make-a-State Activity Pak provides clear Project Directions on what to print and how to assemble each of the lap book components. It also provides instructions on how to assemble the lap book once you are finished with all of the projects. Another nice feature is that the instructions include images of all of the steps; so if you are a visual person like me, you won’t have a problem putting it all together.
While the Activity-Pak does not include lesson text, it does have bonus State Pages that give some brief information on each state that will get you started with your research. You’ll also find suggestions for other books, resources, and websites you can use to find additional information on the state you are studying. We used National Geographic Kids United States Atlas, Don’t Know Much About the 50 States, and the internet to get the information for our lap book on Texas.
Another bonus you’ll find is the “Name That State!” File Folder Game. There are several ways to play the game, accommodating multiple levels. You can have your student learn or review state names, state capitals, state placement, and more.
The Make-a-State Activity-Pak is recommended for grades 3-8 (although I used it with my late second grader just fine) and is available on CD ($19.95) or as a download version ($18.95).
Home School in the Woods products are very user-friendly. Once you have downloaded the file, all you have to do is click ‘Start’ in the file and it takes you to a page with all the directions and printables you will need. The first thing I like to do is read over the introduction. Then I print out the Project Directions (this is optional; you don’t have to print out the directions; you can just refer to them on your computer or device if you prefer). From the printed directions, I look at the supplies listed for each activity and make a list of anything I might need to buy or find around the house and print out the masters I need for each activity as well. The supplies needed are minimal and are things you likely already have (cardstock, printer paper, file folder, double-sided tape, glue, etc.). Once I have all the supplies needed, we are ready to go. Here is a screen shot of the main page. You can see that all of the activities are right there with all of the links to the printables you need for the activity with a link to a photo of what the completed lap book component should look like (an image is also provided with the Project Directions).
For this Activity-Pak we did 2-3 activities a day (some take longer than others). Being that it is summer and we don’t have as much school work to do, we were able to work on this several days a week, finishing it up in roughly 2 weeks. After finishing each lap book component, we place it in a Ziploc bag and then assemble the lap book at the end. Here’s a look at how ours turned out –
I used the Make-a-State Activity-Pak with my two oldest girls – they are 2nd and 4th graders. We chose to study Texas because we moved to Texas just over two years ago and there was so much about our new state that we didn’t know and wanted to learn. They loved doing this lap book. They would ask me if we could do ‘history’ (we were doing this in our history slot) almost everyday, and my kids hardly ever ask to do school. They enjoyed the hands-on aspect of it and being able to record all that they learned in one convenient place, resulting in a beautiful end product that they were proud of.
I loved this lap book because the quality of it is amazing. Home School in the Woods does such a superb job with putting together their products and making them easy for homeschool moms to use and implement. I also loved it because my kids loved it! It’s always a good thing when your kids enjoy the curriculum and resources you choose for them.
Home School in the Woods not only offers Activity-Paks, but they also sell Timeline Materials (the best I’ve ever seen), U.S. History Studies, World History Studies, Map Sets, Lap-Paks, Activity Studies, and now they even offer items A La Carte (individual projects/activities from their products).
Renee Schuhmacher says
This is such a fun way to learn about the states! Thanks for hosting the giveaway. The first state I’d like my daughter to learn about is of course our home state of Indiana.
Jamie-Lynn Stammer says
We’ll be studing Wisconsin, our home state, if we win. ?
Kayla Rowden says
We would begin with Louisiana. My kids are the first in our families (both mine and my husband’s ) to be born in this state.
Machell Duke says
Alaska
Kerry Fritz says
Texas
Sarah J says
Hawaii
Julie says
California
Dandi D says
I would want them to learn about our home state of Kansas.
Laura Stephenson says
We would learn about our beautiful sunshine state of Florida!
Kasey says
This would be awesome for my littles! I am planning to do a different state or two each week or so with them. This would help so much!!
Rachel Janssen says
Connecticut
courtney wright says
This looks amazing!!!!! My kiddos would have so much fun learning with this!
NT says
Probably Hawaii or Alaska!
Miranda A says
West Virginia!
Barbee says
We would do the states in the order in which they became states 🙂
Melissa says
Tennessee please ?
Andrea says
Most definitely the great state of TEXAS!! 🙂
September West says
This would be a fun way to study Missouri, our home state.
Leela says
Alaska.
Michelle says
South Carolina!
Rachel B. says
We would start with Utah – our home state.
Serena says
We would begin with Vermont.
Leona says
Texas
sandra says
we would study maryland first
Dana Ogle says
Texas
Patti Sampson says
This is awesome!!!! My daughter wants to homeschool.
Lindsey says
Michigan
Cindy P says
My girl says Hawaii first. Thanks so much for the chance!
Barbie Null says
We want to do our state, West Virginia.
Beth says
We love hands on learning!
C M Hambrick says
I cannot wait to study TEXAS! This looks like a blast! Amy Pak has got to be one of the best and most creative home school curriculum designers on the planet. I have several of her other products, and I am eager to use this one as well.
Bridget says
Pennsylvania since it’s it’s our home state and we will be learning early American history this fall!
Christy B. says
I’d start with my home state of Idaho. I’ve been wanting to find a good resource that gives an overview!
Jackie says
I would start with Ohio and Tennessee. My husbands and my families live in these two states and we live in New Mexico so I would love to teach him more of our home states.
Stephanie H. says
Alaska sounds like a fun and wonderful state to study with my child.
Denise Naugler says
wiuld start with our home state – Colorado!
Carol says
Texas
Jennifer Wedemeyer says
We love to study the states so it’s a hard one but Washington or Alaska!
Tracey M. says
In 4th grade, children learn about the History of Texas which is our home state so we would start there and I would encourage her to love and become more familiar with her state. Then, I would teach her about New York where I was born.
Tracey M. says
The Make-a-State Activity Pak would provide us with a hands-on , fun way to learn Texas History and the history for many other states. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Traci says
Texas
Christi Brogan says
Well I’d like us to study Texas first of course! 🙂 But followed by Ohio, where all my family comes from…
Alexandra David says
Our home state of North Dakota would be studied first.
Jessica Boivin says
God bless America
Tandy says
We would like to study our home state of Oklahoma. What a fun way to study the states !
Kari says
This is the second time I’ve seen this advertised. It looks very well done. The only thing holding me back from buying it is my ability to follow through.
Trena says
Indiana
Cathy Hall says
We would want to learn about our home state, Virginia and our current state, Arizona but I love introducing all the states. We have already visited Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, and California.
Sarah P says
Pennsylvania then Michigan
Sarah H says
Our home state of Missouri.
Jill Miller says
Our home state: Pennsylvania
Heather G says
We are starting a study of the States and US history in September and these would be great for that! Thanks for sharing!
Jessica Justice says
I would pick where we live Kentucky, everyone should know about their home state.
Jessica says
I think we would start with our home state, Illinois…although it would be hard to decide!! My daughter just told me she would like a “states and capitals” birthday party; maybe this will be a good resource for planning that?!?!
Michelle says
We’d start with Massachusetts!
Wendy says
Hawaii – who does not want to go there- or RHode Island – We play a license plate game and have not seen a car with aRhode Island license plate in 3 years!
Andrea Jones says
Ohio
Tabatha M. N. says
My daughter wants to learn more about Hawaii or Alaska. I want her to learn more about her birth state, Arizona, where we no longer live there.
Julia Cosgrove says
We would love to try Pennsylvania first.
Julie says
Nevada
Kati says
Thanks for sharing pictures of your completed lap book! I noticed you had an actual miniature flag of Texas in yours. Did you do that for each state? If so, where did you get the flags?
Sarah says
Hi Kati – all the state flags are included in the Make-a-State Activity Pak. We just did Texas, so we didn’t use the other flags. But everything you need to make the lapbook for any state is included. I just added the wooden dowel. 😉