Illinois

 We find ourselves on a long journey through the prairie with the I-states, but in Illinois there is no shortage of famous people to learn about, and our focus is more urban.

Books:

• Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade

• Dropping In On Chicago

• Who Is Michelle Obama? by Megan Stine

• L is for Lincoln: An Illinois Alphabet by Kathy-jo Wargin

• W is for Windy City: A Chicago Alphabet by Deborah Dover Layne and Steven L. Layne

• The Great Fire by Jim Murphy

• Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire

• Who Was Abraham Lincoln? By Janet B. Pascal

• Coming on Home Soon by  Jaqueline Woodson

• Hog Music by M.C. Helldorfer

• Popcorn at  the Palace by Emily Arnold McCully

• Illinois (My United States: True Book) by Josh Gregory

• What Was the Great Chicago Fire? By Janet B. Pascal

• Fiona’s Lace by Patricia Polacco (maybe I’m just getting this for the material culture angle ;)

• Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Davis or

• The Fantastic Ferris Wheel by Betsy Kraft

• Prairie Boy: Frank Lloyd Wright Turns the Heartland into a Home by Barb Rosenstock

• The House that Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams by Tanya Lee Stone

• Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells: The Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist by Phillip Dray

Art project:

Navy Pier, Chicago

For the art project the kids wanted to depict a Ferris Wheel in honor of the original Ferris Wheel which debuted at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, but rather than depict the old wheel they chose to represent the current wheel at Navy Pier. The art was completed using sharpies for the details and water color for the water and sky.

Idaho

 Before we started this unit, I could've told you that Idaho is known for potatoes. Full stop. And while we did enjoy learning of the existence of the Potato Museum, learning about native peoples and the natural wonders of Idaho (including Shoshone Falls, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and a corner of Yellowstone) was eye opening.

Books:

• The Skydiving Beavers, Susan Wood

• Can talk about Yellowstone

• The Nez Perce, Stefanie Takacs

• Seeking Freedom, Heather Schwartz

• Kaya American Girl book is about a Nez Perce girl

• Best Friends, Loretta Krupinski

• P is for Potato: An Idaho Alphabet by Stan and Joy Steiner

• Sacagawea by Liselotte Erdrich

• Idaho (A True Book: My United States) by Melissa McDaniel

• Yellowstone National Park (Rookie National Parks) by Audra Wallace

• The Nez Perce by Viriginia Driving Hawk Sneve

• The Nez Perce by Petra Press

• Shoshone by Katie Lajiness

Art Project:

Shoshone Falls, ID

The kids decided to depict Shoshone Falls for their Idaho art project. The falls apparently are actually taller than Niagara Falls and the photos and images we saw were very impressive. They especially loved how frequently a rainbow appears in the foam at the bottom of the falls. Projects were completed with a combination of oil pastels (the hills and plants, the rocks, the rainbow, and the wavy white lines in the water) and then watercolor added for sky and various bodies of water.