We are going to begin working on our Highlights Which Way USA and Top Secret Adventures. Should we do one series before beginning the other? If so, which one? Does there need to be a specific order? Can I just throw all the states or all the countries or all of both in a hat and draw as we go? I have both sets hoarded minus 2 of the Top Secret countries so we do not need to wait on them to arrive.
I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do those. I have two thoughts as to how I would use them. I would probably start with my home state and then other nearby states that we have been to. In my opinion that builds on knowledge and exposure the kids already have. My other thought is to let the kids pick which they want to do. I would probably do all of the states or all of the countries first and then move on, but that is just the way my brain works. What ever way you do it it sounds like a fun way to learn
I think I'd do Which Way USA first, only because it's much easier reading than Top Secret Adventures. We are doing our WWUSA in alphabetical order, but that's not necessary. Picking one randomly each time would be a fun way to do it....my dd always loves a surprise. Hmmm....maybe that's what we'll do now.
I think you are right on the reading, and we all know how much my kids love books... so the WWUSA is first for sure! I suddenly wish I had a wall I didn't mind destroying, I would hang a big US map and we would throw darts at it... if I has darts in the house that is.
Thaaaat sounds a bit dangerous. Back away from the darts Sommer. But, I like your way of thinking. :lol: Maybe put each state on a slip of paper and take turns drawing one. But that doesn't sound nearly as fun as the darts. Hmmm....there's got to be some other neat creative way to do this....
I'm doing dishes right now.. haha yeah right, I'm supposed to be doing dishes right now so I can make dinner, anyway I'm thinking I wonder if we could do like Hawaii then Alaska then Washington and then they have to go from state to state by going to states they can drive to without going through any others.... or starting in Maine and doing the same thing. I need to look at a the map good and hard and see if that is possible.
That's clever. And, guess what?....I need to be washing dishes right now too. My dinner is already in my crockpot (na na na boo boo!)...but boy is my kitchen full of dishes that need to be washed. It's much more fun to be on the computer though. But, I guess......
My dishes are done I also made a tea and baked a cake on top of all this blabbering in the last half hour...lol Now to find the table before I look at the map.
You inspired me to get off my tush and wash my dishes. Took me 45 minutes. In which time you made tea, baked a cake, and made a plan for all 50 states. Show off!! Seriously though, I'm looking forward to hearing your plan. I may just steal it since we recently started WWUSA (I think we've only done two states).
Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Rhode Island Conneticut New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Deleware Maryland Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Georgia Florida Alabama Mississippi Tennessee Kentucky West Virginia Ohio Michigan Indiana Illinois Wisconsin Minnesota Iowa Missouri Arkansas Louisiana Texas Oklahoma Kansas Nebraska South Dakota North Dakota Montana Wyoming Colorado New Mexico Arizona Utah Idaho Nevada California Oregon Washington Alaska Hawaii Now of course there is probably a million other ways to go, I basically went up and down.
I'm still not sure this is what I want to do.... The drawing from a hat sounds fun. Starting at home and heading out to nearby states sounds fun too... Why are there so many options?
Wow, I have missed out on the fun of the rest of the conversation, but I also spent a good long time doing dishes and trying to find the counter that I am sure is somewhere under the dishes and junk in my kitchen. Got to get this house clean before my in-laws get here next Friday! Your lists looks like a great way to organize the states.
I love them all!!! My sister gave us a nearly full set of the WWUSA, and my kids have slowly worked through them over the years. We had subscribed to the Top Secret Adventures, but had to stop. So I ended up slowly collecting the informational books, which are AMAZING. I think I only had to buy one or two directly from Highlights to finish the collection. I love them. My kids love to read them. Sigh. I only have one elementary kid left. Boo hoo hooooooo!
I am loving this thread! I am missing a few of the books but I have most of them...I think I might just pick them up and have my kids start using them again!
I thought about the ratification date idea too. Way too many good options when you aren't waiting on them to come one by one or well two by two. I got a huge box of Puzzlemania about a year ago that are all unused as well... maybe I will get them out too shortly. I have seen such a jump in Rylee this year, she still isn't schooly but she has come to enjoy math and puzzles. OMG, did I just say she enjoys math???? I love you TT!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can find them on eBay. I got an entire WWUSA set, without any writing, for crazy cheap (seems like it was under $20 including the shipping). You might be able to pick up the few stray ones you don't have by checking there. Oh my goodness...get those Puzzlemania books out! We have one (yes, 1). After Rylee does a book and exclaims how fun it was and wants another one...just casually mention how cool it is that these are actually math books and how fun math can be. My dd just spotted my set of I Love Math on the shelf (which had been covered up by a big US map thing leaning against it). She thought those were so cool....I better start those soon with her. It's sad when you're on your last kid (like what Krista said). It's like....if you don't ever get to something you never will.
I have never seen the I Love Math books.... great now I have to go look. I may hate you come payday...lol
