United States Geography and Landmarks | Fall

The United States is a big country, full of natural wonders and historic monuments. We often learn a lot about the region in which we live, but few of us have the privilege of traveling throughout the entire country. In this semester-long geography survey course, students will encounter many of the features that make the United States unique, as well as memorize the capital city of each state and learn to draw the US map for themselves! We will explore the diverse regions of the country, familiarizing ourselves with famous landmarks, discovering the wonders of the National Parks, and encountering what makes different regions and states distinct. We will also touch on various aspects of American history as it relates to the growth and development of the nation. Students will complete several projects, including a creative rendition of the American flag, an artistic rendering of one of our country’s landmarks, and a presentation about their own home state. My hope is that this course will kindle an interest in the parts of the country (and the world at large!) that students have not yet had the opportunity to experience, cultivating both an appreciation for the Creator and His creation and a heart for adventure!

Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.

Draw the USA (Draw the World series) ISBN: 1492278955
Personal whiteboard (at least 11"x14") and dry erase markers
Art Supplies from around the house

Catherine “Cat” Wise has loved to read since before she started school. Raised in a military family, she attended public school in Italy and then was homeschooled before obtaining a BA in elementary education with a Spanish minor at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Texas and becoming a bilingual kindergarten teacher. When her oldest child was a toddler, Cat discovered classical education and fell in love with the idea of cultivating wisdom and virtue through great books, fascinating histories, and the beauty of language. Cat has been classically homeschooling her own three children for nine years and is honored to learn alongside them of the Creator and His magnificent works. She loves talking about books and reading with anyone who will listen, but also enjoys working jigsaw puzzles and baking yummy desserts, and is currently trying to visit as many National Parks as she can, attend live theater performances at every opportunity, and teach herself to crochet. [email protected]

Quarter 1

Drawing US Map
Eastern & Northern State Capitals
Origin Story (how current map came to be)
Geographical Features
National Parks
US Flag
Home State

Quarter 2

Drawing US Map
Middle & Southern State Capitals
Famous Landmarks
Regional Distinctives
Time Zones
Landmark
Wish List

Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.

High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.

Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)

Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm

Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:

Visit zoom.us/download.
Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
Open and run the installer on your computer.
In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.

Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.

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