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State Nicknames

Why is Missouri called "The Show Me State"? Why is New Mexico "The Land of Enchantment"? Students will learn about the states and their nicknames, then design a welcome sign for one.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    The United States is home to a vast array of cultures, ecosystems, and environments, and each state has something unique that distinguishes it. Have students research the states' nicknames and how they got them. For example, Alaska is The Last Frontier because of its wilderness and distance from the contiguous states, and the naming of New York as The Empire State is credited to George Washington who called it the "seat of the Empire." 

  • Step 2

    Have students decide how to choose the states they will work on, either individually or as small groups. They will create a welcome sign for each state they research. Have them write the nickname on the sign and illustrate it using images that represent what the state is known for.

  • Step 3

    When their signs are done, have them present them to the class and explain the reason for the state's nickname. Then display them on a large wall arranged as if the signs formed a US map.

Standards

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Draw upon experiences in neighborhoods, towns and cities, states and nations, as well as peoples and places distant and unfamiliar to explore geographic similarities and differences. 

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities. 

Adaptations

Have students research features about their own state or region and come up with a new nickname for it. Have them write a paragraph about why they decided on the name

Have students create a diorama that depicts features of their state. For example, Arizona could include the Grand Canyon, and Georgia might include peach trees.