The Fifty States of America is a popular notebooking topic. It can be the basis of a unit study, or it can be a supplement to your American history curriculum. When you're finished, you have a wonderful, homemade reference book.
American Symbols
Mount Rushmore
The Liberty Bell
The Statue of Liberty
The Lincoln Memorial
Bald Eagle
Uncle Sam
What to Put in Your State Notebook
Your notebook will be at least 50 pages -- one for each state. But what exactly will you put on that page? Look at the list below for ideas.
You may want to have two, three, or even more pages per state after you see all the great, free resources on the Internet.
For more ideas on planning your 50 states study, see this State Unit page.
If you're planning for an independent learner (middle or high school), Accelerated Christian Education's PDF state study may be the perfect guide for him to create a state notebook on his own.
- State Map -- Consider if you want a simple outline map, a physical map detailing the geography of the state, or a political map labeling the major cities.
- State Motto
- State History Overview -- Do you want a simple list of events? Should you include the date of statehood?
- State Tree, Bird, Rock, Fish, Flower, and more-- Do you want just the name or also a picture?
- Famous People from the State
- Important Places and Tourist Attractions
- State Flag
- Origin of the State's Name -- many have very interesting stories behind them. Check an almanac for the stories.
- State Nickname(s) and signifigance
50 States Books
a foundation for your study
Our 50 States: A Family Adventure Across America
Amazon Price: (as of 07/03/2009) 
Used Price: $8.10
The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States
Amazon Price: $10.10 (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price: $5.61
State-by-state Guide (United States Of America)
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price: $2.44
State-by-State Atlas
Amazon Price: (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price: $0.66
National Geographic Our Fifty States
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price: $4.96
Online Examples & Products
Visit these links to see what a 50 States Notebook can look like or to buy some notebooking pages.- 50 States Notebook at Academia Nut
- This teenage blogger shares her 50 States notebook. She has incorporated items from collected from her travels as well.
- 50 States Notebooking Pages Set
- This retail set is beautiful. Visit this page for samples and you'll see for yourself! Although it's priced at a bit under $20, you may find the price well worth the effort of creating your own or hunting resources online.
- Marine Corp Nomads -- Our United States Lapbook
- This family used a lapbook format for their 50 states study. Beautiful!
- Learning by Living Blog
- This homeschooling family has put a twist on the 50 States Notebook -- it's a combination lapbook/notebook. To see an example of a specific state's section, see their TN lapbook.
- Notebooking Nook's State Pages
- Here is a set of photos that show off Notebooking Nook's State sets. These are sold at CurrClick by individual states.
Online Reference
- 50 States.com
- From the main menu list of the states, you can reach a massive list of other links particular to each state. There is enough information here to create multiple notebooking pages on each state.
- Our 50 Great States Email Newsletter
- Our 50 Great States is an email course. Sign up for the program and learn about all 50 states in the order they were admitted to the Union. At the end of 25 weeks (2 states per week), you'll have a United States Notebook filled with information about each state; and, if you're up for the challange, you will try recipes from all 50 states.
State Flowers
These lovely images come from Flickr's State Flowers group.
For a list of each state's official flower, see the flower page at 50 States.com.
Lilac -- NH
Magnolia - LA and MS
Showy Lady's Slipper -- MN
Columbine -- CO
Poppy -- CA
Dogwood -- NC and VA
Free Printables
- State Notebooking Page -- PDF
- This blank template from Notebooking Nook is hosted at mediafire.
- My Own State Notebooking Page Template
- I custom made this notebooking page (letter size) for our own fifty states notebook. It's a two page document which you can print front and back. Or you can do as we did and print it onto two pages of sturdy cardstock. On the blank backs we attached state postcards.
This same template in A4 size is here. - Crayola's State Pages
- These coloring pages are very well designed. Each one has the state flag, the name of the state, the state bird, and one other distinguishing symbol.
Crayola also offers a flashcard template with each state's outline and some facts. - State Reports
- This site gives most of the state information in the form of attractive printables. Each one is offered in PDF format or HTML format. I especially like the state stamp images which come from the USPS Greetings from America postcard and stamp series.
- 50 State Quarters Program
- The US Mint offers these free educational lessons, including reproducibles! What a great addition to a state notebook!
If you want one download that has images of all 50 coins, use this PDF link. - Notebooking Pages Freebies
- Free outline maps for each state, a list of states and abbreviations, and an entire set of US Geography pages which go along with the popular audio recording Geography Songs.
- Homeschool Share US Geography Resources
- Homeschool Share is a fabulous site for notebookers or lapbookers! This page has printable templates for State Symbols Tab Books, and Where is....? Shutterfold Books. You can also find State Flower and Bird Coloring Pages.
- School Express
- Although this site is not very attractive with its overabundance of ads, there may be something worth printing here. Each state has a cover sheet (outline map), fact sheets, a wordsearch puzzle, a comprehension question worksheet, etc.
- State Flags
- Click on the LARGE link to the right of each state. That will result in a simple, black and white outline of the state flag.
- Friends Across America
- A coloring page for each state's bird and flower as well as other American symbols and places.
- Worksheet Works
- This worksheet generator site is in its beta stage. I suspect that later this will be a for cost site. But it's free right now! Look for states and capitals pages, state maps, and regions of USA.
- State Stickers
- Print these full color pages onto adhesive paper for DIY stickers! These are very attractive circular stickers with the outline of the state and its year of statehood.
- Fact File -- Patriotic Symbols
- This attractive PDF has simple line drawings and easy to read explanations for several American symbols -- Uncle Sam, the Great Seal, and more. This would make a great notebooking page for your 50 States Notebook.
- State Automobile License Plates
- This website features color images of each state's standard license plate. These would make an interesting addition to a state notebook page!
- Homeschool Helper's Free State Lapbook Templates
- These free printable minibooks can be used to make a state lapbook. Or add some of the minibook options to your notebook by affixing them to the notebook pages. Want to see a preview of these minibooks? Visit this Picasa Web Album.
American States Lapbook
For more inspiration, visit these great photos of a States Lapbook and a 50 States Notebook hosted at Flickr.
State Birds
These images come from the State Birds group at Flickr.
For a list of each state's official representative bird, see the bird page at 50 States.com.
Cardinal --IL, IN, KY, NC, OH, VA, WV
Northern Mockingbird -- AR, FL, TN, MS, and TX
Blue Bird -- ID, NV, MO, and NY
Brown Thrasher -- GA
Quail -- CA
Chickadee -- MA, ME
State Birds
State Birds Stickers and Seals: 50 Full-Color Pressure-Sensitive Designs
Amazon Price: (as of 07/03/2009)
I own this very lovely book. The stickers are attractive and realistic drawings. There is one for every state, even multiple versions of the cardinal, a very popular state bird.
Learning the 50 States with the Little Man in the Map
The Little Man In the Map: With Clues To Remember All 50 States
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/03/2009)
For lots of reviews of this product, visit Homeschool Crew. In the Mr. Linky there are dozens of reviews.
The Little Man in the Map
Living Books
for each state
- 50 States Book List
- This is a great list of living books to go with each state. According to the website, "books were selected based on story setting or author's home (past or present)."
- State by State Booklist
- Another book list, this one offered by the National Education Association.
Maps
Ready-to-Go Super Book of Outline Maps (Grades 4-8)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/03/2009)
See Google Books for a preview of this book.
Mail Projects
of the 50 states
Incorporate some writing into your study by requesting printed materials or by exchanging postcards with other families. When the mail starts coming to your home, your children will be thrilled! The full color materials will add interest to your state notebook.- Travel and Tourism Sites for the 50 States and U.S. Territories
- This official US government page has a link for every state's official tourism office. Visit each site and request free information! The free brochures, maps, postcards, and posters can be used in your notebook.
- Postcard Kids Yahoo Group
- This group is especially for homeschoolers who want to trade postcards. Many collectors here are looking for a postcard from each state. Then those postcards can be used in a state notebook. Some people ask for map cards; others ask for state capitol houses. Still others don't care; they just want something representative from your state.
Online Fun and Games
- Ben's Guide
- Benjamin Franklin is a cartoon guide on this interactive games page. Play Place the State, a map game or color some American symbols.
- Sheppard Software
- Enjoy these online geography games while you review the placement of the 50 states.
- Explore the States
- More information than games, but this would be a great site for an upper elementary child to do some online research about each state.
- 50 States Puzzle
- From Jigga-Jigga.com. Drag states where they belong with your mouse.
- States & Capitals Mnemonics
- Click on a state and see a drawing and explanation of a silly mnemonic for remembering the capital city of that state.
Scrambled States Game
Scrambled States
Amazon Price: $12.31 (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price:
This game is GREAT! It's the perfect combination of fun and learning. My daughter and I have learned so much from this game -- geography, state nicknames, and capitals.
Games and Puzzles
The 50 Great States Game
This card game will teach your family about the states as you play.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price: $31.31
The 50 States Book and Magnetic Puzzle Map
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 07/03/2009)
Used Price: $5.00
Hands on State Projects and Games
- Salt Dough Maps
- Choose a state or two and make a salt dough map. Creating the landforms with his own hands really helps to cement the geography into your child's mind. We made one of Alabama. This link will show you how we did it.
- States and Capitals Memory Card Game
- This is a free printable matching game to help you learn the states' capitals.
- Spectatular State Studies
- This Scholastic article has some great ideas for hands-on projects that would fit any state! There is even a free printable to go along with one of the ideas.
Reader Feedback
I hope that you found what you wanted for your American States unit study.
Feel free to leave a comment.
KonaGirl wrote...
Jimmie, this is a fabulous lens! I love what you have done here. It is not only educational, but beautiful too. 5 stars for a job well done. I can tell that you are an excellent home school Mom!. Two of my daughters in Hawaii home school also and I believe it is the best way to go.
I lensrolled this lens to all of 6 of my Big Island of Hawaii lenses since it is part of the 50th state. I also joined your Fan Club and added you to my Faves.
Thank you for stopping by my Surviving On a Tight Budget lens. Unfortunately when you were there I had just started it and their wasn't much to see. I just added some more, but it is not done yet. Stop by again when you have the time.
Posted June 19, 2009
Kari C in SC wrote
Thank you for putting all of this together. We are planning to study the states next year and I couldn't find a curriculum that really did what I wanted. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! You are amazing!
Posted June 05, 2009
tristan jones wrote
thank you,
now i have a good idea on how yo do my social studies project.
Posted May 16, 2009
Betsy wrote
Hi Jimmie,
Thanks for adding the pics of my kids finished state notebooks. Unfortunately, the link expires on those facebook pages, I guess. Here's a link to the finished notebooks on my blog.
http://notebookingnook.blogspot.com/2009/05/completed-state-notebooks.html
Great job on all your squidoo pages, I LOVE them and refer to them frequently... such wonderful resources!!!
Thanks for all your hard work!
Betsy
Posted May 14, 2009
MsSnow4a wrote...
I love this lens, I want to make a 50 states notebook for me hehehe
Posted May 12, 2009
ChineseKitesforKids wrote...
what a great idea for a lens, were all so lucky to live here in the good ol' USA. nice job
Posted April 22, 2009
Kim wrote
Thank you for all of these links and resources!
Posted April 16, 2009
mbrownauthor wrote...
Another fantastic teaching lens. What a cool idea!!!!!! Love it!
Posted March 13, 2009
MarniR
Great stuff! We are to make state notebooks for our curriculum- A New World of Adventure, and this information works perfectly. Thanks!
~marni
www.buildingthishouse.blogspot.com
Posted February 19, 2009
Lisa wrote
Thank you thank you thank you!!
Its snowing outside and I decided to waste time on the computer and start planning next years state study.
All the info you have provided in one place is invaluable!!
Thanks so much!!
Posted January 28, 2009
by Jimmie
Hello! I am a homeschooling mom who loves to teach and learn. I love the flexibility of Squidoo lenses for showing off our homeschool projects. Bloggi...
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