Kindergarteners Go Around the World: Week 1 – United States
This post is part of the series “Around the World in 28 Weeks: Art, Literature & Geography Lessons for Kindergarten.” For an introduction, overview of the entire course, and links to more lesson plans, please click here. Thank you for visiting Cotton Ridge Homeschool!
Introduction to Week 1
This week you will be introducing the children in your class to the concept of traveling around the world to visit different countries. Let them know that you will be pretending to travel to distant lands and finding out about many different peoples through their stories, art, food, and more!
For a Printable Lesson Plan Schedule for the entire 28 weeks, please see the Around the World introductory post.
You can do the lesson plan activities in the order that you prefer. Below is a free printable lesson plan for week 1 in PDF format. Just click on the thumbnail below to open and view. For best results, download to your computer before printing.
Prep Work
- Gather book and supplies (see checklist)
- Buy or make apple pie (or cut up apples)
- Print handouts and 3-hole punch them for notebooks (see below)
Check back during the year, as I will be adding pictures of completed projects and let you know if the kids enjoyed the lesson and any changes I would make for next time. Thanks for joining us!
Disclosure: The books and supply links below lead to products on Amazon. I am an affiliate and will receive a small commission if these links are used to make a purchase.
Week 1 Lesson Plan
Date and Destination
Date: Last week of August**
Continent: North America
Country: United States
Reading (10 – 15 minutes)
Story: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Discussion: Ask questions to determine reading comprehension; tailor these to your children’s ages and abilities. Depending on the size of your class and as time permits, try to allow each child to participate. Don’t drag this part on too long or your kids will lose interest. Here are a few to get you started:
- Did you like the story? Why or why not?
- What was your favorite part?
- Questions based on the Who?, What?, Why?, When?, and How? of a story are great for getting kids thinking.
You may want to have your discussion time while you eat apple pie! (See below.)
Geography (5 – 15 minutes)
Globe or Wall Map Activity: With your class,
- find the Continent of North America
- point out the different countries on the continent, including the United States
- find your State
- find your City or Town (or approximate location).
U.S.A. Map Handout*: Pass out the World Traveler Notebook Cover Page and U.S.A. Map Handout to your class (free printables below) and allow them to color the pages as time permits. You may want this to be the last activity of your class so they can be kept busy until the next class starts or until their parents pick them up. Have the kids place their handouts in their World Traveler Notebook (3-ring binder) before they leave.
Following are three free printables in PDF format. Just click on the thumbnails below to open and view. For best results, download to your computer before printing.
- World Traveler Notebook Cover Page – Color (print one for each child) OR
- World Traveler Notebook Cover Page – Black and White (print one for each child)
- U.S.A. Map Handout (print one for each child)
Other Activities (10 – 15 minutes)
Pretend Passport: You can buy a Bulk Pack of 12 Passport Books
- Hand one to each child and have them write their names in them.
- Explain that when people travel to different countries, a passport is required, and that it is stamped upon entry and exit of each country.
- Give them a U.S.A. passport stamp (see printable below), and let them know that next week, they will be receiving a passport stamp when they visit India!
- Have them keep their passports in their World Traveler Notebooks (3-ring binders).
U.S.A. Facts & Flag Handout*: Pass out and read this handout to your class (free printable below) and allow them to color the pages as time permits. You may want this to be the last activity of your class so they can be kept busy until the next class starts or until their parents pick them up. Have the kids place their handouts in their World Traveler Notebook (3-ring binder).
Following is a free printable U.S.A. Facts & Flag Handout in PDF format. Just click on the thumbnail below to open and view. For best results, download to your computer before printing.
Culture (10 – 15 minutes)
Eat apple pie or apple slices.
Check with parents/guardians for any food allergies or issues.
*If there is not time in class, provide these as handouts for the kids to do at home. The pages can go in their World Traveler Notebooks as a record of their journeys.
**Our homeschool coop begins during the last week of August, but the Around the World course can be started at any time of year. Some re-arranging of the weekly plans may be necessary due to holidays, but with a little planning ahead of time, this should be very manageable.
Supply Lists
General Supply List
- Globe
or large World Wall Map
- 3-Ring Binder
for each child for handouts, 1-1/2″ size
- 3-Hole Punch
- Date Stamp
- Markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils
- Roll of paper towels and/or wet wipes
- Computer and Printer (color printer
Week 1 Supply List
- Book: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
- Apple pie, knife and pie server OR
- Apple slices
- Small plates and napkins
- Small cups and water (optional)
- Bulk Pack of 12 Passport Books
- Printables from this post: Week 1 Lesson Plan, World Traveler Notebook Cover Page, Passport Stamps, U.S.A. Map Handout, and U.S.A. Facts & Flag Handout
Copyright 2014 Kathryn Depew
Image from flickr.com used under the Creative Commons license. Image credit: Cameron Russell.
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Disclosure: The books and supply links on this page lead to products on Amazon. I am an affiliate and will receive a small commission if these links are used to make a purchase.
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