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MaryM
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Shepherd software has been recommended here many times as a great geography education tool and most recently mentioned in the mapping skills thread. We have been using it for years. My youngest hadn't done it for awhile so we have spent a few days playing with it and really getting his US geography down.
I found it interesting to place the states in light of a great book I got from a friend this summer - How the States Got Their Shapes. The book covers each state and the reasons behind the borders - why they are the shapes they are. It was really interesting. And now looking at an activity like this and placing states I'm making connections to things I learned in the book. Highly recommended.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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teachingmyown
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Thanks Mary. Just put it on hold. 
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Molly
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Mackfam
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Mary,
We've loved that book ever since you shared it with us when you were here!! There is some really interesting information in there!
The History Channel is airing a program by the same name, How the States got their Shapes and it is really GREAT!!!! I'm sorry I didn't post about it sooner!!!!! It's halfway over as I type (during a commercial ).
According to the History Channel, the only air date as of right now is tonight, but hopefully they will re-air. I can't find much on the program on the History Channel, but I did find this little blurb:
History Channel wrote:
How the States Got Their Shapes
We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. This special examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America. |
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I did find that you can sign up to be notified when the DVD of the program will be available through Amazon. Sadly, it's new enough that it isn't available at Netflix either, but maybe soon...hopefully soon!
If I hear of this great program airing again, I'll definitely update! It has been so great!!!!  I really think it is based on the book by Mark Stein, but I can't find that confirmed anywhere.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Mimip
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Jen,
I'm watching the same program!!!
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 06 2010 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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Rats...missed it!
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MaryM
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Mackfam wrote:
| I'm sorry I didn't post about it sooner!!!!! It's halfway over as I type (during a commercial ). |
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Oh, great I hear about it when it's already over!!!
I do hope they air it again. I'll have to keep my eyes open. So glad you're enjoying the book, too.  Hope soon you get a chance to visit our very SQUARE state.
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Mary M. in Denver
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cathhomeschool
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teachingmyown wrote:
| Thanks Mary. Just put it on hold. |
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Me too!
And someone please post if you hear of the tv program again. We don't have netflix so we'd love to see it on tv.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Mackfam
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cathhomeschool wrote:
| And someone please post if you hear of the tv program again. We don't have netflix so we'd love to see it on tv. |
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I'm very interested in finding out more about this program so I just emailed the History Channel! I'll let you know what I hear!
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Jen Mackintosh
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DianaC
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Our library doesn't have it. What ages do you think it would fit best?
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Mackfam
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How the States Got Their Shapes is available now as a DVD through the History Channel's site.
You might also be interested in the History Channel's free online interactive states game.
DianaC wrote:
| Our library doesn't have it. What ages do you think it would fit best? |
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I'm betting that if you have a good library system this will probably be available soon. It was *just* released for purchase through the History Channel so it's brand new.
As far as age level - my 4th grader (9yo) really enjoyed it. I'd guess 4th grade and up for the program.
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Jen Mackintosh
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stacykay
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cathhomeschool wrote:
teachingmyown wrote:
| Thanks Mary. Just put it on hold. |
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Me too!
And someone please post if you hear of the tv program again. We don't have netflix so we'd love to see it on tv. |
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It's on this evening, right now, but will repeat at midnight, on the History channel. I just saw it and ran to the computer. I hope you catch this in time to record it!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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MaryM
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stacykay wrote:
| It's on this evening, right now, but will repeat at midnight, on the History channel. I just saw it and ran to the computer. I hope you catch this in time to record it! |
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THANK YOU THANK YOU, Stacy. I saw this after the board closed on Saturday, but it was still in time for the midnight (ET) showing - which was only 10 PM here. So we got to see it. It was very good. I certainly appreciate the heads up!
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Mary M. in Denver
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cathhomeschool
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We caught a few minutes. That was the night before our son's First Communion, so we couldn't stay up late. The bit we caught was really good! I hope it comes on again. We caught a bit of The History of the US last night (I think that's what it's called) and it was good too.
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DianaC
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I received a copy of "The Idea Book for Educators" from A&E today and there is a section about this Program with activity ideas, related websites and books.
The Program is scheduled to re-play in October:
Part 1: Monday, Oct. 4 at 7am ET
Part 2: Monday, Oct. 11 at 7am ET
We'd like to see it, but isn't that is a very early time for this type of program?
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Mackfam
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Bumping this great thread to update and say that this fantastic program will air again on the History Channel on May 3.
I've been hunting around on the History Channel's website, but can't find anything to confirm this (we just saw it as a commercial on the History Channel)...BUT....very intriguing....they implied that it was to air as the beginning of a SERIES on the states!!! Wouldn't that be fantastic??!!!
I'll update again as I hear more so that hopefully everyone that wants to has time to catch this! History Channel updates their episode/program listing 2 weeks at a time....so hopefully I'll be able to update after we re-open after Easter Sunday.
Just for background/extra fun -
History Channel information on states
DVD program and book for How the States Got Their Shapes
pdf to download the idea book for How the States Got Their Shapes
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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Thanks for the pdf link. My 7 yo son just loves this show. We recorded it on a dvd and he has watched it over and over.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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Oh, Jen, that's exciting news. While there doesn't seem to be info on the History Channel site I did find several press releases on some network info sites. Definitely a new series, sounds like a different format than the original, but intriguing.
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Mary M. in Denver
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MaryM
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So, did anyone else watch this last night? I thought it was very interesting. For each episode it seems they will be taking a "theme" and visiting several states to show how that influenced the borders. This episode was on water (and how it influenced the borders of Georgia Maine and Nevada).
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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MaryM wrote:
| So, did anyone else watch this last night? I thought it was very interesting. For each episode it seems they will be taking a "theme" and visiting several states to show how that influenced the borders. This episode was on water (and how it influenced the borders of Georgia Maine and Nevada). |
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We missed it! But I have set my DVR to catch the repeats and further episodes! Thanks for posting this.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Mimip
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We set our DVR to tape it and will be watching it tomorrow afternoon!
I also set up to record all the episodes for the whole family.
My husband and I love this geography stuff and last time we watched a special we even pulled out the maps and analyzed
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: How the states got their shapes
