Do your students write state reports? I just love the organization and structure of a good old-fashioned state report. The research is predictable, the facts are easy to check, and students are especially engaged when they get to research the state of their choice!
Over the years, however, I started to realize that not all students share my excitement about state research. So I decided to create a project that’s a new twist on the classic report. These fact fans still give students the opportunity to research and organize their writing, but they are able to publish their notes in a whole new way!
Benefits to the student
- These 3 page fans are packed full of information but with less writing than the classic state report. This is especially helpful if research is still a developing skill for students. They can focus on researching the state and accurately reporting their findings, rather than on structured paragraphs.
- The included note-taking sheets match the fan pages exactly, which makes the publishing process quite simple.
- Students are given the opportunity to color, cut, and paste. Each fan is a unique and colorful finished product!
- The fan becomes a resource they can use again and again.
Benefits to the teacher
- The download includes templates and answer keys (!) for all 50 states.
- A note-taking sheet and a list of recommended books and websites is included.
- One less bulletin board to think about! The fans make an engaging bulletin board display.
- You can build up your classroom library! I like to save the students’ fans until the end of the year and store them in our classroom library. I’ve found that an accordion folder works well for storing the fans (and – bonus – it allows them to be organized alphabetically!) Can I get an Amen from my fellow organization-lovers??
How the fan project works:
- Students choose a state to research.
- Pass out the note-taking sheets.
- Give students time to research. I have included some suggested websites and recommended books in the download.
- Students turn in their notes to be fact-checked using the answer key. (Or, share the key with students to check their work on their own. You know your students best!)
- Finally, students publish their notes directly onto the fans! Simple as that!
