Minnesota

 For Minnesota we really enjoyed learning about the native peoples and culture of the region (which we started a bit in Michigan which is conveniently geographically as well as alphabetically proximate). We also enjoyed listening to music of Bob Dylan and Prince, and reading about Charles Schulz (Peanuts creator). 

Books:

• V is for Viking: A Minnesota Alphabet by Kathy-jo Wargin

• Minnesota (A True Book: My United States) by Martin Schwabacher

• Secrets of the Loon by Laura Purdie Salas

• When Bob Met Woody: The Story of the Young Bob Dylan by Gary Golio

• The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering (We Are Still Here : Native Americans Today) by Gordon Regguinti

• Sky Sisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose

• Morning on the Lake by Jan Bourdeau Waboose 

• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

• A Different Pond by Bao Phi

• Hannah’s Way by Linda Glaser

• A Library Story by Jennifer Vogel

• Kirsten American Girl books

• The Sioux by Donna Bowman

• Prince by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vergara

• Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz and the Creation of Peanuts by Ginger Wadsworth

Art Project:

Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

For Minnesota, the kids chose to depict the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. They really enjoyed exploring the sculptures online. The media used are sharpie, oil pastel, and water color as usual. 

Michigan

 For Michigan we really enjoyed learning about the Great Lakes, and also had a lot of fun learning about and listening to Motown music. 

Books:

• Hammerin’ Hank by Yona McDonough

• Magic Trash: The Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art  by J.H. Shapiro

• Melody American Girl books

• We’ll Race You, Henry by Barbara Mitchell

• Rhythm Ride by Andrea Davis Pinkney

• The Making of Motown by Rebecca Rowell

• Great Lakes by Annalise Bekkering

• The Ojibwe: The Past and Present of the Anishinaabe by Alesha Halvorson

• The Chippewa (The Ojibwe) by Tamra B. Orr

• Rosie: A Detroit Herstory by Bailey Sisoy Isgro

• M is for Mitten: A Michigan Alphabet by Annie Appleford

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

• Jam and Jelly by Holly and Nellie by Gloria Whelan

• Bernida: A Michigan Sailing Legend by Gloria Whelan, Al Declercq, Tom Ervin

• A wizard from the start : the incredible boyhood & amazing inventions of Thomas Edison by Don Brown

• Who Was Thomas Alva Edison by Margaret Frith

• Little Stevie Wonder by Quincy Troupe

• Who is Stevie Wonder by Jim Gigliotti

• Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz

• Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly by Walter Dean Myers

• Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling’

• We Are The Supremes by Zoë Tucker

• The Great Lakes by Patricia Kummer

Art Project:

Lake Superior Coastline, Michigan

Since Michigan is surrounded by Great Lakes, they were an obvious source for art work but that still left lots of options. Ultimately the kids decided to depict the forrested coastline of Lake Superior. They were inspired by images from Isle Royale National Park and Pictured Rock National Shoreline. Materials: Oil pastel, sharpie, and lots of water color.