Pennsylvania Unit Study

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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.

If you missed the first state Delaware - you can click here.  The second state to sign the Declaration of Independence was Pennsylvania.  Come along as we learn all about this great state full of history and fun.

 

Geography:

Watch Pennsylvania's Flag and Its Story, then print a copy of the Pennsylvania State Flag and color it.  Print out these Pennsylvania State Fact Files worksheets and complete them.

Watch this video on Pennsylvania and then color in Pennsylvania on your map that you printed from the last lesson.

Read about these Famous Firsts of Pennsylvania.  Read K is for Keystone: A Pennsylvania Alphabet by Kristin Kane.

Read Mrs. Millie goes to Philly! by Judy Cox.

Bible:

Read this document entitled:  Biblical Quotations in the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Science:

Watch this video to learn about the state bird of Pennsylvania, the Ruffed Grouse, and then enjoy this amazing video of a Ruffed Grouse Drumming.  Print out this picture of Pennsylvania's state bird,  a Ruffed Grouse, and color it.  

Take a virtual tour of Cherry Springs State Park, one of the best places in the United States for stargazing.

The state insect is the firefly.  Read these Facts about Fireflies and then watch Fireflies: Nature's Baffling Blinkers.  Use these instructions to make a Glowing Firefly Craft. Read:  Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe. Read Firefly Hollow by Allison McGhee.

Watch State Amphibian: Eastern Hellbender.

Watch this video about the Life Cycle of the Brook Trout, which is the state fish of Pennsylvania.  Print this picture of a Brook Trout and color it to look like a real one.  Watch Live the Stream: The Story of Joe Humphreys, a legendary fly fisherman, teacher, and conservationist from Pennsylvania, as he catches Brook Trout.

Watch this video about the Mountain Laurel then print and color this coloring page of Pennsylvania's state flower, the Mountain Laurel.  

Watch Explore! White-Tailed Deer and then watch The Secret Life of Whitetail Deer on Amazon Prime.  There is a brief mention of evolution that you can discuss with your children.  Whitetail Deer is the state animal of Pennsylvania. Color this picture of a whitetail deer while you watch this movie.

The state tree is the Eastern Hemlock.  You can color that page while watching Eastern Hemlock ID.

Watch this video to learn about Pennsylvania's state dog The Great Dane.  Read Kingston The Great Dane by Debbi Florence.

Tour Falling Water a home in PA built by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Take a tour of Pennsylvania's state ship, the U.S. Brig Niagara.  Take a virtual tour of the Erie Maritime Museum.

Pick one or more of these science projects from The Franklin Institute in Pennsylvania to do yourself.

Take a virtual tour of the Simeone Automotive Museum.

Take a tour of The National Clock and Watch Museum. Read What's inside a clock? by Arnold Ringstad.

Watch Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Jene Barretta

Watch What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin, by Jean Fritz.

Watch Ben and Me by Robert Lawson to find out where Benjamin Franklin got his ideas.

Print off this Ben Franklin Notebooking Page and write down some things you have learned about Benjamin Franklin.

Watch The Boy Who Drew Birds: The Story of John J. Audubon by Jacqueline Davies then complete this Artist Study Worksheet.  Watch some of the virtual field trips by Audubon Pennsylvania.

Watch Pennsylvania Train Stations, Restored, and Revitalized on Amazon Prime.  If you were going to design a train station, what would it look like? Pick a train to color from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  Take a tour of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Zoo was the very first zoo in the USA.  They have activities that you can do from home on their website. Read On the Loose in Philadelphia by Sage Stossel.

Take a virtual tour of Crystal Cave located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.

Watch this video on the Allegheny National Forest.

Watch this video about Robert Fulton, inventor of the Steamboat.  Read Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat by Morris A. Pierce.

Watch this video about the Johnstown Flood of 1889.

History:

Listen to the reading of Saving the Liberty Bell by Megan McDonald.  Read Leviticus 25:10 to see the words inscribed on the Liberty Bell.  Watch this video on How to Draw the Liberty Bell and then draw your own Liberty Bell and write the section of words from Leviticus 25:10 on your bell. Read The Liberty Bell (American Symbols) by Mary Firestone.  Read Saving the Liberty Bell  by Marty Rhodes.

Watch this video about the French and Indian War. Read Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars 1689-1763 by Betsy Maestro.  Take a virtual tour of Fort Ligonier, which was used during the French and Indian War.

Watch Just a Few Words Mr. Lincoln: The Story of the Gettysburg Address by Jean Fritz.  Print off this copy of The Gettysburg Address and practice reading it out loud.  When you can read it with no mistakes, read it out loud for someone in your family.  Watch this video about Gettysburg National Military Park Museum.  Then visit their website for more virtual tours.  Read The Gettysburg Address in Translation What it really means.  Color this picture of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Take a tour of the Dobbin House Tavern. It overlooks the site of the Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Watch The Declaration of Independence then listen to the Declaration being read aloud by Max McLean.  Watch The Making of the American Constitution.  Read Constitution Translated for Kids by Cathy Travis.  Listen to:  We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow.  Read The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence by Judith St. George.

Take an online tour of Eastern State Penitentiary then watch this Travel Through History about the Penitentiary.

Take a virtual tour of the Pennsylvania Lumberman's Museum.

Take a virtual tour of Independence Hall.  Take a tour of Washington Crossing Historic Park.

Watch Who is Betsy Ross? and then watch Betsy Ross Makes a Flag on Amazon Prime.  Learn how to Make a 5 Point Star in One Cut.  Color The American Colonial Flag then write the original 13 states using this example.  Read The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh.  Read Betsy Ross and the Silver Thimble by Stephanie Greene.

 

Watch A Brief History of the Amish and take a tour of an Amish House.  Watch Who are the Amish?  Read Wanda Brunstetter's Children's Series:  School's Out, Back to School, Out of Control, New Beginnings, A Happy Heart, Just Plain Foolishness, Jumping to Conclusions, and Growing Up.  Read Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polacco.  Color this picture of an Amish Horse and Buggy.

Watch this video about William Penn.  Read The Story of William Penn by Aliki.  Print off and complete William Penn's Guide to Pennsylvania.

Watch this History of James Buchanan who was the 15th president of the USA.  He was from Pennsylvania.

Take a virtual tour of Pennsylvania's State Capitol Building which has a very rich, Godly heritage.  Color this picture of the State Capitol Building.

Take a tour of Valley Forge National Historic Park.  Read Washington at Valley Forge by Russell Freedman.  Download the Valley Forge Reading Comprehension worksheets and complete them.

Take a virtual tour of the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in Lancaster, PA.

Take a virtual tour of Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle.

Watch this video about Andrew Carnegie, a man who lived his life for others and not himself. Read Andrew Carnegie: Captain of Industry by Dana Rau.

Take a virtual tour of The Fort Pitt Block House, remains of one of the largest British forts in North America.

Literature:

Read The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh or listen to it being read

Chapters 1-2

Chapter 3

Chapters 4-5

Chapter 6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-10

Art:

Crayola Crayons are made in Pennsylvania.  Listen to this story The Crayon Man - The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons. Try making this Optical Illusion Art Piece using your crayons.

Watch this video about Alexander Calder, a famous artist from Pennsylvania who invented the mobile and follow the instructions in the video to make a mobile. Read Sandy's Circus: A Story about Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone.

Watch this video about Mary Cassatt then color this picture of Mary Cassatt's artwork.  Read Mary Cassat: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter by Barbara Herkert.

Watch this video about Thomas Eakins.

Watch this video about Keith Haring, a graffiti artist from Pennsylvania.  Then try drawing a Keith Haring inspired piece of art using that video as an instruction guide. Read Drawing on Walls: The Story of Keith Haring by Matthew Burgess.  Read Keith Haring: The Boy Who Kept Drawing by Kay Haring.

Watch this video about Jeff Koons and try making the balloon dog following the instructions in the video.

Watch this video about Andy Warhol and then follow this Andy Warhol inspired art video to complete this art project.  You can take a virtual tour of the Andy Warhol Museum.  Read Who Was Andy Warhol? by: Kirsten Anderson.  Read Uncle Andy's: A Faabbbulous Visit with Andy Warhol by:  Puffin Books.

Learn about Violet Oakley, the artist who made many murals for the State Capitol Building.

Take a virtual tour of the Brandywine Museum of Art and maybe do one of their craft projects.

Complete some of the at home art projects from the Carnegie Museum of Art and explore some of the Carnegie Museum of Art at Home.

Do some of the Penn Museum at Home Activities.

Try some of the Pittsburgh Children's Museum at-home activities.

Try some of the art at home activities from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Music:

Learn to sing the Pennsylvania State Song

Watch this video about Philip Bliss - a hymn writer from Pennsylvania.  Learn to sing Hallelujah! What a Savior! (Man of Sorrows) by Philip Bliss.

Watch this video about Marian Anderson, the first black woman to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. Read When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by: Pam Ryan.

Physical Education:

The very first baseball stadium in the USA was built in Pittsburgh.  Read all about Forbes Field and then practice some baseball skills using this video on How to Improve Your Baseball Skills At Home.  Read Baseball History for Kids: America at Bat from 1900 to today with 19 activities by: Richard Pancyk.

Take a tour of Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then go on a bike ride with your family.  Read Cycle City by:  Alison Farrell.

Cooking:

Watch this video about Milton Hershey, The Chocolate King  Take a virtual tour of Hershey Chocolate World Factory Tour. Read Milton Hershey: Hershey's Chocolate Creator by JoAnne Mattern.  Read Milton Hershey's Sweet Idea by Sharon Katz Cooper.  Watch The Hotel Hershey Virtual Tour.

Watch this video about the History of the Banana Split which was invented in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.  Make this delicious dessert for the family.  Watch How to Make a Banana Split at Home.

The ice-cream soda was invented in Pennsylvania in 1874.  Watch this video that explains the History of the ice-cream soda and sundaes.

Read about the history of the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches and make these sandwiches for dinner.

Pennsylvania's state foods are Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk.  Listen to How the Cookie Crumbled: The True (And Not So True) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie by:  Gilbert Ford.

Listen to Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum by: Meghan McCarthy.  

Watch the story of Leclerc Foods, which has a processing plant in Montgomery, PA.

Watch the story of Keystone Foods from West Chester, PA.