Books in Nebraska Experience series

The All About My State-Alaska FunPack (Pack of 30) is a 4-page booklet that includes 30 activity sheets. The front of the booklet includes state maps where students identify major cities, rivers and create physical symbols for physical features. The 11” x 17” inside includes drawing the state symbols including the state flag, animals, flower, and bird. Students will write the super state stats including statehood date, capital, governor, population and more. Students will write or draw three events for your state history to create a timeline. On the back, students will draw important crops, businesses, sports, thoughts about Alaska and more.

The Wheel of Fortune GameBook is reproducible and allows kids to guess on geography, hypothesize on history, explore economics, speculate on civics and bet on biographies. The Wheel of Fortune GameBook can be used by an individual or by teams who tally their own scores. Having a wheel to spin to establish point values for questions adds a fun element to the game. This book covers fascinating state facts and meets state standards. The book includes game instructions, a pattern for making a Lazy Susan Wheel and prize suggestions.

Exploring Nebraska through Project-Based Leaning includes 50 well-thought-out projects designed for grades 3-5. In assigning your students projects that dig into Nebraska’s geography, history, government, economy, current events, and famous people, you will deepen their appreciation and understanding of Nebraska while simultaneously improving their analytical skills and ability to recognize patterns and big-picture themes. Project-based learning today is much different than the craft-heavy classroom activities popular in the past. Inquiry, planning, research, collaboration, and analysis are key components of project-based learning activities today. However, that doesn’t mean creativity, individual expression, and fun are out. They definitely aren’t!Each project is designed to help students gain important knowledge and skills that are derived from standards and key concepts at the heart of academic subject areas. Students are asked to analyze and solve problems, to gather and interpret data, to develop and evaluate solutions, to support their answers with evidence, to think critically in a sustained way, and to use their newfound knowledge to formulate new questions worthy of exploring.While some projects are more complex and take longer than others, they all are set up in the same structure. Each begins with the central project-driving questions, proceeds through research and supportive questions, has the student choose a presentation option, and ends with a broader-view inquiry. Rubrics for reflection and assessments are included, too. This consistent framework will make it easier for you assign projects and for your students to follow along and consistently meet expectations.Encourage your students to take charge of their projects as much as possible. As a teacher, you can act as a facilitator and guide. The projects are structured such that students can often work through the process on their own or through cooperation with their classmates.