Delaware Homeschool Unit Study
This year, our family is studying the 50 states in the order in which they joined the Union. We may not make it through them all in one year, because I am not one to rush learning. The unit studies that I create for my kids cover all of the required subjects except for math and grammar. I have found that tying all the subjects into what you are learning helps children retain information better and get more involved in the learning process. I also believe in combining all five of our senses into their learning. Therefore there will be visual, audio, foods to taste and smell, and lots of hands-on experiences with each lesson. Due to COVID 19, I am trying to pick some books that are on YouTube, in case you can't check them out or purchase them. These lessons are geared towards 5th and 6th-grade boys, but can easily be modified for other ages as well. When I know of a book or activity for a young child, I will include that. Please know that this is what I put together for my kids. Every parent knows what is best for their own kids. Use what you like, skip what you don't. I share in hopes that it will be of help to others during these times where a lot of people find themselves as new homeschool moms. I also will be reading many books to my children and having them read some during this time and I will include those throughout this post.
The first state that we will be studying is Delaware. The state motto is "Liberty and Independence." The state nickname is "The First State," and the "Diamond State." Its current population is 995,764 people. The capital city is Dover, Delaware. The biggest cities are Wilmington, Dover, and Newark.
Watch this video about Delaware's State Symbols. Read aloud or silent reading ideas:
Delaware (A True Book: My United States)
Read about Famous Firsts that happened in Delaware.
Bible:
Read Isaiah 41:18-20 from the Holy Bible and compare these verses to the information about the Great Cypress Swamp located in Delaware.
Geography:
Watch this Introduction to the State of Delaware and then color in the state of Delaware on this United States Map.
Listen to this read-aloud book called, "F is for First State" by Carol Crane or purchase it here to read yourself.
Color this picture of the Delaware State Flag or if you are feeling artistic, watch this video and learn How to Draw The Delaware State Flag.
Science:
Take a tour of Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge to see what types of wildlife you can see at these places. Tour Cape Henlopen State Park and its great sand dunes and marshy lands.
Read about the Delaware State Bird and color this picture of the Blue Hen Chicken. If you have young children, you may enjoy reading Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman.
Listen to this book being read called, Red Knot: A Shorebird's Incredible Journey by Nancy Carol Witness and write a paragraph about what you learned from this story.
Read about the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
The state insect is the ladybug. Watch this video to learn some Fun Facts About Ladybugs. See art projects for painting ladybugs below. Make the Ladybug Life Cycle Wheel. Young children will enjoy Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons.
The state fish is the weakfish. Watch this video to watch a family Catch and Cook a Weakfish.
The state butterfly is the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Read about the life cycle of the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly here. Try your hand at Tiger Swallowtail Origami.
The state marine animal is the Horseshoe Crab. Watch Do Horeseshoe Crabs Sting? by Brave Wilderness. Color this picture of a Horseshoe Crab. Read Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds: The Story of a Foodweb by: Victoria Crensen. Watch this incredible video on the Delaware Horseshoe Egg Feast.
The Delaware state wildlife animal is Grey Fox. Watch this Creature Feature all about the Grey Fox.
Watch this video about the Channeled Whelk which is Delaware's state shell. Watch this live cam of Rehoboth Beach for 15 minutes and write about the things you see.
Delaware's state dog is the Golden Retriever. Watch this video that shares the Top 10 Facts about Golden Retrievers. Read the book Golden Retrievers by Katie Lajiness.
Delaware's state macroinvertebrate is the Stonefly.
Learn about Annie Jump Cannon who was an astronomer who categorized thousands of stars. Read Annie Jump Cannon, Astronomer by Carole Gerber.
Learn about Wallace Carothers, a chemist, from Delaware, who invented nylon.
Health:
The state beverage is milk. Watch this video on Why do we drink milk in school? Then drink a glass of milk while reading Milk (A True Book: From Farm to Table) by Ann O. Squire.
Read about Henry Heimlich who was born in Delaware and invented the life-saving technique called the Heimlich Maneuver which is used for saving people who are choking. Watch this video on How to Help a Choking Child or Adult to learn how to properly use the Heimlich Maneuver.
The state herb is sweet goldenrod. Read about some of the Health Benefits of Goldenrod. Try making the tea recipe on this site using goldenrod.
History:
Download the First Contact Workbook to learn about the Lenape Native Americans and Sweeden Immigrants that first settled in Delaware. Read and complete the activities in the workbook.
Read about The history of Old Swedes Historic Site which is the oldest Protestant church in the United States of America.
Watch this video about the DuPont Family History. Take a tour of the Hagley Museum and Eleutherian Mills which is the home of the Du Pont family then visit the Hagley Museum website for more virtual tours. Do some or all of Hagley's Field Trips From Home and complete the accompanying worksheets. Complete the COVID 19 Time Capsule. Learn about the Winterthur Museum which was once the home of Henry Francis du Pont. Watch this tiny clip about what you can see at Winterthur Museum.
Tour Historic Odessa a historic village that played an essential role in the 18th-century commercial life of the state. Complete some of the History at Home activities.
Take a virtual tour of the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover, Delaware.
Take a tour of the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, Delaware and see a replica of a Dutch town hall and learn the history behind this place.
Tour Newcastle by watching the video on this page.
Do some of the Ship Activity Sheets from DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum. Watch this video about Henry Hudson and Englishman explorer who sailed into the Delaware Bay. They were the first Europeans to reach this site.
Take a virtual tour of the Nanticoke Indian Museum to learn more about this Native American Tribe. Read Red Bird by: Barbara Mitchell.
Watch this documentary on the Lenope Indians. Read The Light in the Forest by: Conrad Richter and Delaware (Lenape) (Spotlight on Native Americans) by: Joseph Stanley.
Watch Journey to Freedom: The African American Experience in Delaware.
Download the Underground Railroad in Delaware workbook. Read and complete the worksheets.
Watch this video about Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom to learn about a civil rights leader that led his people peacefully.
Watch this video about Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler who was born in Delaware and became the very first black woman to become a doctor in the United States of America and is considered the most famous author in Delaware having written: "Book of Medical Discourses" which was a book of medical advice for women and children. Read about Dr. Crumpler in the book, Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM.
Watch this video about the August Quarterly Festival held in Wilmington and celebrates the first African American church in the USA.
Joe Biden, former Vice President under Barack Obama and the current Democratic nominee for the President of the United States of America is from Delaware.
Take a tour of Fort Delaware State Park.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution. Memorize the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Watch this video about John Dickinson who was a Revolutionary War leader. Visit The John Dickinson Plantation.
About 1638, near the mouth of the Delaware River, the first log cabins in North America were built by immigrants from Sweden and Finland. Watch this video on how to build a Lincoln Log cabin and then use your Lincoln Logs to build your own log cabin. Read The Delaware Colony (True Books) by: Kevin Cunningham.
Take a virtual tour of the Delaware State Capitol Building then do the worksheets in the Student Activity Book.
The state tall ship is the Kalmar Nyckel. Watch this Virtual Tour of the Kalmar Nyckel. Watch this video about the Legends of Eastern Shore Pirates and this video about Captain Kidd who hid treasures in Delaware Bay.
Watch Drive Through History - Crossing the Delaware and watch Liberty's Kids Episode 19, Across the Delaware.
Watch Discoveries America: Delaware.
Listen to When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynne Cheney or read it yourself and write a paragraph about what you learn. Read The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution by Jim Murphy.
Read Caesar Rodney: American Patriot by: Susan Melchiore.
Spelling/Vocab/Grammar:
Play some of the Delaware Learning Games to learn even more about this great state.
Art:
Follow these instructions to make an Origami Peach Blossom which is Delaware's state flower.
Paint some ladybug rocks to put in the garden to remind yourself of Delaware's state insect.
The state tree is the American Holly. Learn to Draw Holly Leaves by watching this video.
Complete these at home art lessons from the Delaware Art Museum. Let's Explore Shapes, Let's Explore Close Looking, Let's Explore Lines.
Print off and complete some of the lessons in the Biggs Museum of Art Kids Workbook.
Watch this video about N. C. Wyeth an artist from Delaware. Look through some of his paintings. Pick your favorite one and write either a fictional story based on the painting or write about how the painting makes you feel. Read N. C. Wyeth's Pilgrims by: Robert D. San Souci. Read Wondrous Strange: The Wyeth Tradition by: N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Howard Pyle.
Watch this video about the Rehoboth Beach Sandcastle Contest. If you feel inspired, try building a sandcastle for your art project.
Watch this video about the Great Delaware Kite Festival.
Literature:
Read about Howard Pyle, watch this video to see his artwork, and read "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" which was written by him.
Girls may rather read A Light in the Storm: The Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin by: Karen Hesse
or
Music:
Learn to sing Delaware's State Anthem.
Read about Charles Albert Tindley, a gospel hymn writer from Delaware. Watch this video to learn more about him.
Learn to sing, Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There by Charles A. Tindley.
Learn to sing, Stand by Me by Charles A. Tindley.
Learn about Cab Calloway who lived in Delaware during his later years. He was a jazz singer and songwriter and there is a performing arts high school in Delaware that is named after him.
Listen to some of Cliffford Brown's Greatest Hits. He was a jazz trumpeter from Wilmington, Delaware.
Listen to the Delaware Symphony Orchestra on Spotify while working on art projects or while reading.
Cooking:
For dinner make Delaware Bay Crab Cakes with a side of Delaware's state fruit, the strawberry, and then try your hand at making Delaware's state dessert: Peach Pie, Look through The Peach Truck Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes for all things Peach by: Stephen K. Rose and pick out a recipe to try.
The Kraft plant is in Dover, Delaware, making such things as pudding and jello, Kool-aid, Stove Top Stuffing and Panko bread crumbs. See some of their production by watching Kraft Dover 50th Anniversary Video.
Physical Education:
Delaware's state sport is bicycling. Read Kid's Cycling Handbook by Moira Butterfield. Take a bike ride and then write a paragraph about things you saw on your bike ride and collect a few things from nature to bring home and explore.
Delaware's state dance is the maypole dance. Watch this Maypole tradition video to learn more about the history of the maypole dance.
Next up, check out my Pennsylvania Unit Study.
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