Massachusetts

We had a seemingly endless supply of books about Massachusetts, so it took longer than most other states (other than CA), perhaps because we adults already have enough background to know what to look for since we lived there previously. The kids were likewise delighted to study a place they remember fondly. Some favorite activities included baking a Boston Cream Pie, watching this video of a modern Wampanoag recreation of ocean canoeing from the mainland to Martha's Vineyard, and a virtual field trip video from Plimoth Plantation.

Books:

• M is for Mayflower: A Massachusetts Alphabet by Margot Theis Raven

• Massachusetts (A True Book: My United States) by Cody Crane

• Clambake: A Wampanoag Tradition (We Are Still Here) by Russell M. Peters

• Colonial Voices: Hear them Speak by Kay Winters

• Paul Revere’s Ride: The Landlord’s Tale (the poem by Longfellow, illustrated by Charles Santore)

• Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride by Stephen Krensky

• Leaders Like Us: Rebecca Lee Crumpler by J.P. Miller

• A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phyllis Wheatley, Slave Poet by Kathryn Lasky

• On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne

• Leave It To Abigail: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams by Barb Rosenstock

• What Miss Mitchell Saw by Hayley Barrett 

• Dropping In On Boston

• Who Was Clara Barton? By Stephanie Spinner

• Clara and Davie by Patricia Polacco

• Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

• Here Come the Humpbacks! By April Pulley Sayre

• A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy by David Adler

• The Brothers Kennedy: John, Robert, Edward by Kathleen Krull

• Who Was John F. Kennedy? By Yona Z. McDonough

• Windows by Julia Denos

• Dario and the Whale by Cheryl Lawton Malone

• Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon by Annette Bay Pimentel

• The Boston Tea Party  by Russell Freedman

• Emily Writes by Jane Yole

• Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson

• The Midnight Ride of Flat Revere by Kate Egan

• The Salem Witch Trials by Kristin Marciniak

• Sarah Morton’s Day by Kate Waters

• She Caught the Light by Kathryn Lasky

• Squanto’s Journey by Joseph Bruchac

• You Wouldn’t Want to Sail on the Mayflower! By Peter Cook

• The Book Rescuer: How a Mensch from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations to Come by Sue Macy

• Dumpling Dreams: How Joyce Chen Brought the Dumpling from Beijing to Cambridge by Carrie Clickard

Art Project:

Boston Duck Pond / Public Garden

While there were lots of potential art ideas for MA, the kids had no question - they were sure they wanted to do the duck pond in the Public Garden. Oil pastel, sharpie, and water color, as usual.

Maryland

 For our Maryland studies we really enjoyed learning about the biodiversity of the Chesapeake Bay and also learning about some really important historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglas, and Thurgood Marshall.

Books:

• Voices from the Underground Railroad by Kay Winters

• A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley, Amy Nathan

• Maryland (A True Book: My United States) by Vicky Franchino

• B is for Blue Crab: A Maryland Alphabet by Shirley C. Menendez

• Assateague: Island of Wild Ponies by Andrea Jauck and Larry Points

• Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

• The Flag Maker by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

• By the Dawn's Early Light: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner by Steven Kroll

• Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth by Robert Burleigh

• Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares

• Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome

• Who Was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Z. McDonough

• Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome

• Who Was Frederick Douglass? By April Prince

• Thurgood by Jonah Winter

• Aunt Flossie’s Hats by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

• Ticktock Banneker's Clock by Shana Keller

• Sweet Dreams Chesapeake Bay by Adriane Doherty

• Chesapeake Bay Wetlands by William Rice

• Miss Etta and Dr. Claribel: Bringing Matisse to America by Susan Fillion

• Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas by Gwendolyn Hooks

Art Project:

Baltimore Orioles

The kids decided to depict Baltimore orioles (the state bird). on a white oak tree (state tree) branch. Multimedia: sharpie outlines, oil pastels, plus watercolor for the oriole's orange ombre and sky background.