| Lesson Type(s) | Grade(s) | Description |
|
Language Arts, Leadership, Holiday, Social Studies |
3rd, 4th, 5th |
Explore the impact of one state on the history of the United States in honor of its 250th birthday |
| Activity Prep | Materials | Heart Badges |
|
None |
My State in America 250 Workbook, pencils, stapler (optional) |
N/A |
PURPOSE OF THIS WORKBOOK
This workbook invites students to explore their state’s unique contributions to the United States as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026. Through writing, drawing, reflection, and research, students learn:
- When their state joined the Union
- Important places, people, and inventions connected to their state
- How their state has shaped America’s history and growth
- How they can use their talents and hearts to make a difference, inspired by Global Game Changers’ Superpower Equation: MY TALENT + MY HEART = MY SUPERPOWER!®
This guide will help you introduce, teach, and extend the activities in the workbook.
TIPS FOR USING THE WORKBOOK
Use the workbook in full or pull out individual pages that align to your goals.
- To reflect on a field trip
- To reinforce a history lesson
- To focus on America’s 250th birthday
Plan 3–5 days for full completion or 1–2 days for key pages. There is a page-by-page guide included below.
Use this project either to learn about your own state, or to assign each student a different state to profile.
Print double-sided in landscape mode with short-edge binding. Then you can fold along the line to create your booklet.
GETTING STARTED: INTRODUCING AMERICA 250
ASK: Do you know how old our country is? EXPLAIN: The United States will turn 250 years old in 2026. Each state has helped shape America in important ways — including ours! READ: Page 1 to introduce the Declaration of Independence and the nation’s growth from 13 colonies to 50 states.
- You may wish to display a U.S. map and briefly highlight how the country expanded from east to west, or review what a “colony” and “state” are.
EXPLAIN: • MY TALENT + MY HEART = MY SUPERPOWER!®
- Just as people use their Superpowers to help others, states also contribute unique strengths to the country.
- We will be exploring our state’s part in America’s history and what its Superpowers have been.
DISCUSS:
- What does independence mean?
- How has the U.S. changed over 250 years?
- Why do we celebrate big birthdays as a country?
OTHER TIPS:
- Read a kid-friendly version of the Declaration of Independence.
- Tie to an American Revolution unit or Civics introduction.
PAGE-BY-PAGE TEACHING GUIDE
If you’d like to teach each page as a separate activity, we’ve provided a guide for you.
PAGE 2: STATE PROFILE
TIPS:
- Explore map skills.
- Connect to the bigger picture of U.S. History.
DISCUSS:
- When did our state join the union?
- Who was President?
- What might the country have been like when our state joined?
- Where was it in the list of 1-50? Does that surprise you? Why or why not?
- Do you think the order matters? Why or why not?
PAGE 3: MY STATE’S IMPACT — PLACE
STUDENTS choose an important place in their state. TIPS:
- Have all students complete using the same place OR have each student choose for themselves
- Consider offering a menu of options (landmarks, historical sites, national parks, etc.)
- Connect to a field trip (or do a virtual field trip)
DISCUSS:
- What important places in our state help tell America’s story?
- Why do certain places become landmarks or historical sites?
- How does this place connect to a national event or idea?
PAGE 4: MY STATE’S IMPACT — PERSON
STUDENTS choose a noteworthy individual from their state TIPS:
- Have all students complete using the same person OR have each student choose for themselves
- Connect to a history lesson or pair with a women’s history, Black history, or inventors unit
- Complete individually to create a “State Heroes Gallery”
DISCUSS:
- What makes someone an important historical figure?
- How did this person’s talents and heart shape America?
- What challenges did they overcome?
PAGE 5: MY STATE’S IMPACT — INVENTION
STUDENTS research a meaningful invention from their state •
- Optional extension: Create invention posters or Host a “State Innovation Fair”
TIPS:
- Have all students complete using the same invention OR have each student choose for themselves
- Tie into a STEM lesson on problem-solving.
- Tie into a growth mindset lesson about failure (many inventions were the products of failures).
DISCUSS:
- What invention from our state has helped the United States?
- How do inventions change people’s lives?
- What might YOU invent someday?
PAGE 6: STATE TRIVIA
STUDENTS complete basic state facts
TIPS:
- This can become a fast early finisher activity or a fun fact scavenger hunt.
DISCUSS:
- Why do states have their own symbols?
- What does our state motto mean?
- Which trivia fact surprised you the most?
PAGE 7: IMPORTANT EVENT FROM AMERICAN HISTORY
STUDENTS identify a major U.S. historical event and how it is remembered locally (memorials, plaques, sites, celebrations).
STUDENTS list ways to be good citizens of their state and country.
TIPS:
- Connect to local monuments, museums, or commemorations. Also consider historical markers and cemeteries.
- Have students create their own memorial design on scrap paper.
- Pair with a field trip (virtual or in-person) to a local historical site.
- Discuss the meaning of citizenship on a national level versus in school.
DISCUSS:
- What major event from American history impacted our state?
- How do communities choose to honor important events?
- Why is remembering history important?
- What does it mean to be a good citizen?
- How can kids make their state or country a better place?
- How does the Superpower Equation apply to citizenship?
PAGE 8: WHY WE’RE THE BEST STATE & STATE STAR
STUDENTS express state pride and decorate a star to represent their state.
TIPS:
- Let students create state pride posters or a class quilt of decorated stars.
- Tie into art lessons about symbolism and design.
DISCUSS:
- What makes our state special or unique?
- What contributions does our state make to the United States? (Food, music, natural resources, arts/artists, companies, etc.)
- Why do you think states each have their own symbols and culture?
PAGE 9: AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY — PERSONAL CELEBRATION
WRITE how they celebrated the 250th birthday or how they will plan to celebrate the 4th of July moving forward. TIPS:
- Look up your state’s America 250 website.
- Identify local community celebrations around July 4th.
- Consider how students traveling for July 4th might celebrate.
DISCUSS:
- How do we normally celebrate the 4th of July?
- What does it mean to show pride in your country?
- What special activities could we do to celebrate 250 years?
REFLECTION: CLOSING THE WORKBOOK
DISCUSS: How has our country changed over 250 years? COMPARE: America past (1776–2026) and America’s future (2026–2276). Optional ideas:
- Create a class anchor chart of “Past, Present, Future.”
- Use as a creative writing warm-up (“A day in 2276”)
DISCUSS:
- If you had to explain why your state is important to America in just one sentence, what would you say?
- What do you imagine the U.S. might be like in 2276?
- How can YOU help shape the future?
INSTRUCT:
- Complete the final prompt.
- Share your answer.
