[litprof]

Okay, I've seen requests for other themed ideas. Please help me. In Grade 4, our social studies is a study of US regions and of our state, Pennsylvania. I have been thinking about a road trip theme. Lend me some creativity for this. . .thank you in advance!

[StephSAL]

Check her out...she did a very involved regions study...check under Social Studies...

[Tatum]

I have toyed with this idea a few yrs in a row...this is what I have done:

*On the bb put old maps as a background. Title it "On the Road to Success" I had the kids design their own car and put thier name on it, I stapled these to the bb. This served as a place to display good work all year.

* End of Year idea: "It's Time to Hit the Road!" I have the kids write about how they are looking forward to middle school and memories of being in 4th grade.

*I had each student keep a Region Scrapbook similar to Beth Newingham's (check out her site). I actually used hers as a model, but we use a different program for ss, so I created my own pages. Kids added embellishments such as stickers, posrtcards or other cool stuff they could find.

*On a map of the US, we put pushpins to mark where the latest book we are reading has taken us, I title this bb "Reading Takes us Places!"

I am also in need of ideas for this theme...anyone else ever do this?

[teacherchar]

Please, please, please will someone who has done this theme share their ideas! I've posted a few times and just got a few responses. Tatum, your ideas sound great so far. If you go under Classroom themes, I posted a few of my ideas under Road Trip or Need help with theme - something like that. I'd love to hear more from you as you go along.

Hope to hear from lots of others with all your creative ideas and maybe even photos! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

[litprof]

How's this for answering your own question. . .

*Highways To Adventure--student book reviews

*Plan Your Route--goal setting for the beginning of the year

*Map It Out!--goal setting

*Side Trips--for a regions study, what vacation areas (national parks, museums, etc.) are in each state OR create a webquest for the kids to discover what points of interest are in each state

*Travel/Traveling the Reading Highway--for each state, find children's authors who grew up there--how did growing up in that area influence his/her writings?

*Interstate Travel-Each student uses a US map to tell what states you would travel through to get from point to point--what different routes are there to get there--what is the fastest?

*Book A Flight--students choose from a list of books to do buddy reading or lit circles

*Daily Transportation--list/graph of how each student gets to school each day

*Safe Travel Tips--show students how walking in the hallways is like driving. . .stay on the right; show students places that are "No Passing Zones" (stairs, for example); running in hallways earns a speeding ticket (go back to place of origin and do it again safely)

*Rest Area/Stop--spot in the room where students can work, read, think, chill out quietly

*Construction Zone--project area of the classroom, supply areas

*Drivers' Licenses--kids bring in photos to create a driver's license at the beginning of the year; student info sheet can be the application for the license

*License Plates--each student creates a nametag for her desk; create a glyph for students to follow in creating each plate

*Vehicle Inspections--inspecting desks; students need a "tune-up" if desk needs reorganization

*Travel Guides--students search classroom library for books about a certain place, state in US to create a book basket/display

*Mystery Destination--coop team creates clues/directions for finding a certain state on the map

*I Have. . . Who Has" game about the states or cities in your state. Example question: "I have Pittsburgh. Who has the "City of Brotherly Love"?"

*Travel Games--games that can be played in the car adapted to the classroom

What other ideas can you map out?

[Tatum]

Wow...awesome ideas! I am saving your response! I would love to hear more from pt members on this theme.

[Tatum]

For your vehicle inspections, they could turn their desk into a car or truck? You could have them bring in the supplies, cardboard, paint? It may be too over the top, but could be cute. The inside of the desk could be the trunk.

I also saw from Kermit, a pt member, that she uses tires stacked up with pillows for a reading spot. That's a cute idea, too.

I also really like the Mystery Destination!

[hescollin]

http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=9522 stamps for each country.