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.