Thank You!

    Thank you to all of the wonderful schools, educators, and students that joined us our our journey.  We would also like to thank all of our readers around the globe!

St. George, Utah

    On our trip, we went by a really friendly town called St. George in Utah. When we got there, we asked a couple questions to learn about their state to see what will convince us to come back.

    They came up with a bunch of great reasons. First, they told us about all of the beautiful national parks. Then, they told us about snakes in their state, which they mentioned often. They added after the snake part that their nature was exquisite. If you were wondering about winter, they said they went skiing for fun. I wouldn’t be bored if I was skiing down a hill in the middle of winter, would you?  Utah is famous around for its fantastic weather that attracts many people from around the states.

    We discovered many interesting facts about their state also. We learned that the California gull was their state bird, which was interesting since it only had lakes but no oceans. Speaking of animals, the people said they had many diverse ones, such as deer and snakes (as mentioned before). There was also a creature that had not four, not six, but 100 legs, the centipede. The children wouldn’t like to leave that part out!

    Giving the animals a break from the spotlight, the Olympics were held in Salt Lake City in 2002. After that, they told us about the Olympic torch, which was carried through their town. When we asked if they saw the Olympics, they pointed out the fact about being six hours away from Salt Lake City. One teacher and her family had seen the torch but not the games. It might have been fun for those living close to Salt Lake, but, like I said, St. George wasn’t that close.

    If you were interested about the land forms, Utah is said to be promontory. Promontory Point is a point of high land that juts out of a sea or lake, in Utah’s case, a lake.  This is where the Golden Spike was driven through to join the railroad in the east and west.

    Anyway, we, being kids, wanted to learn about the fun things to do in a state like ours. They liked to do what we liked to, no surprise. They loved to swim, boat, hike, and camp, and one thing that we didn’t do very often was rock climb.

    But in the recess case, it is an entirely different story, giving time to explain that the kids didn’t do homework they don’t play outside. The kids in a certain school pay if they play when they should’ve been doing their homework. If they do, they like to play four square, run, kickball, and basketball, which are a lot of things we like to do. We would’ve stayed and played with them, but we had to go home and tell others about the wonders we’ve seen on our adventures across the states.

Pocatello, Idaho

    We finally reached our last stop across the the U.S. in Pocatello, Idaho.  While we were stopped in Idaho, we went to a small classroom and they started telling us some facts about their state.  Favorite activities include fishing, hunting, rock climbing, camping, and skiing.

    After they told us, some reasons to visit their state, they told us some facts about their state.  Did you know that Idaho is the 43rd state?  The state nickname is the geothermic capital.  Their major crop is the potato.  They have silver mines, and the Lewis and Clark Expedition was there.

    When we were finished with the history, they told us some fun things to do, including boating, ice fishing, sledding, snowboarding, and snow shoeing.  If you just want to relax, you should at the beautiful landscape of the lush, green trees and the towering mountains.  That's the end of our journey across the United States, perhaps...

Casper, Wyoming

    Our last stop was in Casper, Wyoming, where we asked the five famous What questions? The first question was what are the top 5 reasons to visit your state. They talked about hiking, hot springs, the very famous Yellowstone National Park with its glorious camp sites with moose and buffalo and the wagon trail west. When they replied to our question, we were surprised that they were the least populated state and that they have 23 governors, a lot of coal mining, and their state had their first woman governor! The third question they replied by saying that some fun things to do in their state were going to the Monument, college sports, hunting, rodeo and frontier days.

    There were many answers in question number four. Here are some of them. They said that they did sports, tag, hide-and-go-seek, swings, slides, and little dolly walker, which the girls like to play. The last things that they wanted to tell us was that they were called the Equality State, rivers are high, Wyoming is close to the shape of a square, and they have over 23 mountains. This was all from the beauty of Wyoming.

Ozawkie, Kansas

    While we were travlin' down the U.S. road, we drove through the interesting state of Kansas. We decided to collect some facts about the state so we could tell you. So, we went on a hunt for answers. We found some reasons you should go to Kansas, like the Kansas River, the Legends that contain the Yellow Brick Road, and the Kansas Museum. We also thought you would like to know some facts, too. Dodge City is the windiest city in America, the population is about 2 million, and they have so much wheat that they are called the Bread Basket of America.

    If your family is planning to go there, you should know some fun things to do there, like cooking, going to museums, going to the park, going to the zoo, and playing sports. Since it wasn't summer break yet, we decided to ask some kids what they liked to do at recess. They said they liked to play soccer, tag, swings, slides, and imaginary games. We all wanted to stay in Kansas, but we all had to return to Tucson, Arizona (our home base) for summer break.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Join us as we stop at the famous state of Las Vegas, Nevada. We learned some really cool, new facts and hopefully you do to. We learned some wonderful reasons why you visit their state. You can go to the Titanic Museum, the Hoover Dam, Shark Reef, a wax museum, the Lion King play and more.

We also found out some cool facts and things to do in Nevada, like their state bird is the mountain blue bird. They like to visit the springs reserve, Red Rock National Park, zip lining, and the shark exhibit.

Next, we found some useful games that kids play in Nevada. Basketball, knock-out, five square, 2 square, and football. Lastly, we found out some awesome things that people might what to now about their state, like the inventor of the ferris wheel lived there, and they have lots of fun activities to do. That’s all we found out about the great state of Nevada.  

Seattle, Washington

    On our trip across the US, we took a stop in Seattle, Washington.  If you happen to go there, the kids said that you should keep your eyes out for the Space Needle, the Puyallup County Fair, and the beautiful lakes. Some things you want to do there are to play in the rain and go snowboarding. Don’t those seem fun?

    When you’re planning your trip to go there, you should know a little about that state.  Here are 5 facts about Washington: 1.They are the Evergreen State. 2.The state is named after George Washington. 3.They export lots of seafood. 4 They export the most apples. 5.They have the biggest parking garage in the entire country. Those are some facts about Washington.

    When you go there, you want something fun to do. Here is what the kids came up with: there are lots of festivals and events, museums, Mount St. Helens, Family Fun Center, and the State Works Exhibit.  They also like to play outside they play games like tag, kickball, dodge ball, base ball, Pac-man tag, and copy cat. They didn’t tell us what Pac-man tag and Copycat were, but they sound interesting

     Some extra things they want you to know are that Starbucks and Amazon were founded there. Rain shadows and double rainbows are also common, and the water sheds use hydroelectric power to help the state. That’s why you should go to Washington.

Missoula, Montana

    Whew, we've almost Skyped all the states.  The next city we stopped in is Missoula, Montana.  We stopped into a small classroom where they told us lots of things about their state, including five reasons to visit their state.  First, there are tons of mountains, many animals, a national park, large lakes, and a lot of friendly people.  When they finished their astounding reasons, they gave us a few facts about their state.  Helena is their capital.  The state was founded in 1889.  It also contains the shortest river in the world, the Roe.

    When you are bored of facts, just listen to these fun things they do.   They go to football games, camp, ski, fish, and play many sports.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  Also, there are many cows, low population, a state dinosaur, many birds, 95 towns, the state's nickname is the Treasure State.  There are many water parks.  We wish we could stay in Montana, but there are other states to visit.

East Windsor, Connecticut

    Today we stopped for lunch in East Windsor, Connecticut. While we were there, we learned about some reasons to visit their state. They told us that they had beautiful fall leaves, the Mystic Aquarium, their fantastic beaches, and the mouth-watering seafood.

We also came across some of their facts, such as their state flower is the Mountain Laurel, their state bird is the robin, their state insect is the praying mantis, their state tree is the white oak, and, last but not least, there is 186 towns in the state.

    A few more things we learned were some fun things to do there such as their famous theme park, the Nomak, the Trolly Museum, Go-carting, and mini-golfing. We learned that they like to play football, tag, jump rope, four-square, hop-scotch, and basketball. The very last things that we learned were that they have lots of snow, the have all four seasons, and they have famous beaches.

Owensboro, Kentucky

    “Come and get your Kentucky Fried Chicken!” Just kidding!  We are here in Owensboro, Kentucky where the Kentucky Derby was held. In case you didn’t know, Kentucky “loves” to barbecue! They love barbecuing so much they even have a festival for it!  Kentucky has a a museum called the Louisville Slugger Museum. Kentucky was actually Lincoln’s birth place! They have a famous set of caves called Mammoth Cave.  Kentucky has many wonderful tourist spots to visit.

    Their nickname is the Blue Grass State. Their state bird is the cardinal.  If you are a big fan of Johnny Depp, go to Kentucky because he was born there! Some of their favorite things to do is go to the Louisville zoo, horse racing, and the Corvette Museum. The kids in Kentucky like to play for recess is football, hangout with friends, do jump rope, soccer, basketball, and tag. That’s all the time we have today because the race is over and I finished my chicken. I’m off to a new state in my new Corvette!

Edmond, Oklahoma

On our next stop, we pulled over in Edmond, Oklahoma.  While we were there, we found a nearby classroom.  As we entered, they greeted us with a warm welcome and told us about their state.  The first one was the reasons to visit their state.  These include beautiful landscapes, spending the night at a museum, or going to a very cool water park.  If you like doing things outdoors, Edmond has fishing, summer camp, tornado season and lots of snow.  If your done with having fun outdoors, you can go see many famous actors, cool wildlife like buffaloes, famous singers, colleges, and Indian territories.  Last but not least, they told us what they like to do at recess.  Check out these cool things like zip lines, four square, football, running, and soccer.  If you like adventure, sight seeing and history, come to Edmond, Oklahoma!

Wilton, North Dakota

We were just about to head home when North Dakota gave us a call and told us they wanted to talk to us. We talked to a school in Wilton, North Dakota. We interviewed them for one of our blog posts and here is what they said. . .

Q: What are the top 5 facts to visit you state?

A: 1. We get a lot of snow and like to go sledding in it.  2. Medora is a part of the Badlands, and President Roosevelt built a national park there. It still has wild buffalos and a lot of other different wildlife, too. 3. Dickens has a lot of cool dinosaur museum with cool dinosaur skeletons. 4. The Peace Garden is a huge garden that North Dakota shares with Manitoba and Canada; it is also our state nickname.  5. Rugby, ND is the geographical center of the world.

Q: What are the top 5 fact someone should know about your state?

A: January is the coldest month here the low is -6*F and the high is 21*F. 2. The coldest it ever got in Wilton is -45*F. 3. The hottest it ever got in the history of Wilton is 114*F. 4. The most snow we ever got is 93.7 inches. 5.  Wilton has 800 people and is north of Bismarck their capital.

Q: What are some fun things to do in your state?

A: 1. We like to fishing, and some people even ice fish.  2. A lot of people go hunting. 3.  We like to go ice skating, snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobiling.

Q: What do kids in your state like to do at recess?

A: 1. We like to build snow forts in the snow and snow man. 2. We also to play soccer and on the play equipment.

Q: What else would you like people to know about you state?

A:  Right now, it is flooding in Fargo because of all the snow. Our state is a huge producer of our country’s oil. They have a coal power plant that produces electricity to a lot of other states.

And now were heading home unless someone calls us!

Washington, District of Columbia

    We took a tour in the good ole US capital, the District of Colombia! While we were there, we learned that their flower was the beauty rose. Did you know that DC was named after the famous explorer, Christopher Columbus? Neither did I! We learned a lot, including the fact that when it became capital of our country in 1800, it had no voting representative, and about how we have the three branches of government.

    Of course, DC is known for its many historical sites, but most students visit other parts of the city since they are so familiar with the places.  DC has many professional sports teams like the Nationals (baseball), Capitals (hockey), and Freedom (soccer).  They also have delicious restaurants like Ben’s Chili and the Hole.  Although it’s known for its part in our government, the District of Columbia has so much to offer.

    We stayed a bit to witness the theater plays, Anime Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival, rallies, musical concerts, and so much more! DC is a very festive district, don’t you think? While we were running around, we saw a lot of kids playing chase, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, field hockey, football, lacrosse, track & field, talking, and climbing. A couple of them were even swimming! We would have loved to stay and talk, but we had to hurry on to our next state.

Loveland, Colorado

    Our adventure continued as we entered colorful Colorado.  It was a scenic drive through the state.  We saw the Rocky Mountains, which are the longest chain of mountains in North America, the sandy dunes, and other beautiful scenery.  We also observed much of the state’s varied wildlife.  Colorado’s scenery may have been fascinating, but we hear the weather is crazy.  It is sunny about three hundred days of the year, but that doesn’t always mean it’s warm.  The nice thing is that you don’t have to worry about hurricanes in Colorado, because it’s not close enough to the coast.

    Because of the state’s varying climate, Colorado’s residents have activities for all types of weather.  On warm days, they will hunt, fish, raft, camp, or climb mountains.  Children also play football, dodge ball, tag, soccer, racing, or swinging at recess.  In the winter, the people of Colorado turn to winter sports like snow boarding, skiing, and snowball fights for entertainment and exercise.  To Colorado sports teams, playing at home can be a huge advantage, because most teams aren’t used to the state’s higher elevation.

    Colorado’s elevation is well known to everyone, not just athletes.  In fact, Denver, Colorado’s capital, is known as “The Mile High City”.  I think that from the mountains to the cities to the winter sports, Colorado is a pretty amazing state.

Magnolia, Texas

    Today we decided to take a little trip to Magnolia, Texas. As we were driving through Magnolia, we visited lots of places and saw lots of things and sorted out the top 5 reasons to visit Texas, like battlefield sites such as The Alamo and Battlefield Texas, their wonderful texan BBQ, the excellent weather, the friendly people, and the world’s biggest rodeo.

    If you've been reading this blog, you will know that after top five reasons comes the top 5 facts so here they are! Texas is the only state that has been owned by six countries: Spain, France, Mexico, republic of Texas, Confederate States and the United States. They have a ranch bigger than Rhode Island that is called King Ranch. Did you know that Austin is the live music capitol of the world? Texas comes from the Native American word, friend. The first word spoken on the moon was Houston due to the fact that NASA Command Center is there.

    After top 5 facts is fun things to do in the state. In this state, some fun things to do are go to San Antonio, walk down River Walk, go to Fiesta Texas theme park, visit to beaches, explore museums, and relax by the lakes.  We loved seeing all the beautiful water!

    Since there were 11 kids and 1 teacher, we persuaded our teacher to drive us right to a Texan school so we could see what they like to do at recess. We asked 6 kids and they told us that they liked to play basketball, kickball, football, tag, sugar rush tag, and spider tag. Another good thing about Texas is that they are a big, friendly state. Here is something you should know if you are going to Texas. People in Texas are not that cowboyish, although they love their cowboy boots!

Orangeburg, South Carolina

    Our trip had a major backfire when we ran out of gas and our bus came to a stop at Orangeburg, South Carolina. But we still had internet connection, so we searched for a school and there was one right in town. When we walked in, they looked like they were prepared, so we asked are first question. Boy! They really made our mouths water when they described their BBQ outings, and for the sea food lovers, they talked about their succulent crab. Then, they changed the subject and started talking about Civil War sites. Did you know that they were the first to succeed in the Civil War? Their state even has Civil War reenactments!

    Encouraged to find out what else they have in the Palmetto State? They talked about Fort Sumter and that Columbia is their capital. They said that the first woman governor was Nikki Haley. They even talked about a river called Edisto River. Speaking of rivers, they have a zoo called Riverbank Zoo, a theme park named Carowinds, water parks, and baseball as their amusement places.

    Then, they talked about what they do at recess, like basketball, football, monkey bars, and play on the swings. Then, we asked them if there is anything else they would like us to know about their state, and they replied by saying that parts South Carolina used to be underwater and that it is cold at night and hot in the day.  They also told us about their beaches, like all of their beaches are touching the Atlantic Ocean. That was a fantastic time with South Carolina!

East Windsor, Connecticut

    Today, we went to East Windsor, Connecticut, and learned some exciting new facts. First, we learned some reasons why we should visit their state. We found out that they have beautiful fall leaves, Mystic Aquarium, beaches, and seafood. Those are some reasons why you should visit the great state of Connecticut.

    Next, we found out some cool facts about their state, such as the state flower is the mountain laurel, the state bird is the robin, the state insect is the praying mantis, they have 186 towns, and lastly, their state tree is the white oak. That is all we got about Connecticut and their facts.

    We also found out some fun things to do in Connecticut, like go to the theme parks, Nomak, a trolly museum, go-carts, and mini golf. We also found out some things to do at recess, like football, tag, foursquare, hopscotch, and basketball. That is all we learned about Connecticut and what kids like to do at recess or at home.

St. Louis, Missouri

    As we were finishing up our tour around the United States, we visited St. Louis, Missouri. Since there were lots of amusement parks there, we went to one. It was closed, so we went to the Mississippi River. We met someone there. She really like Missouri, so she told us everything there is to know about Missouri. She told us so much we just had to share it.

    She said we have lots of amusement parks, and they have two rivers called the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. They have about forty-nine state parks, and they have the two biggest hot air balloons. They have lots of facts, and we knew three of them. We asked for some more facts. She told us that there are two big cities, their state was named after a Native American tribe, and the first ice cream cone was eaten there.

    Some of the fun things we didn’t know about were that they have the St. Louis Arch, fishing, the Universal Circus, Kansas City barbecue, and great baseball games. The kids there love playing basketball, jump rope, monkey bars, and kickball. Some other things she told us about her state of Missouri was that it is called the Show-me State. They have all four seasons and their state bird and insect are the blue bird and the honey bee respectively.

    Well, that’s all the time we can spare on this state! Bye!

Honolulu, Hawaii

    On our adventure across America, we decided we needed to take a break, so our teacher told us that we should go to Hawaii and we did. Well, she tricked us! We ended up navigating our way to a school in Honolulu, Hawaii. We found out that we had to come because we can swim with dolphins, Wet ‘n Wild water park, and we experienced wonderful landscapes, to hike Diamond Head Mountain, the Honolulu zoo, Sea Life Park Aquarium, 50TH State Fair, and Ice Palace, an ice rink. So far, Hawaii sounds good.  Let’s move on to more islands of Hawaii.

    When we were there we went out to recess with them, so we found out that they play kickball, volleyball, and basketball. They are banned from football and dodgeball. They are banned from football because one of their vice presidents got hit with the ball. You know that there is more than just recess in Hawaii, so let’s move on to history class.

    Okay, if everyone is seated, we will start history class. Did you know that President Obama calls Hawaii his home? We also learned that the Hawaii state bird was the Nene, or in our language, the Hawaiian goose, the marine mammal is the humpback whale, the fish is the Humuhumukunukuapua’a, which means reef triggerfish, and the state insect is the kamehameha butterfly. Okay, enough of history, my brain hurts.  Let’s go to fun facts.

    Welcome to online fun facts.  Today’s topic is Hawaii. Did you that Hawaii moves 4 inches towards Japan each year? Hawaii has no NBA or NFL teams. Well now, we’re ready for a real break.  See you soon!

Ellicott City, Maryland

    When we located this school, they said that we could Skype with each other.  When we called them, we asked them why people should go to their state. They said there are professional sport teams, like the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles. They have all four seasons, which is different from here. They have the water park called Ocean City, which sounds like a fun place to play. The Chesapeake Bay is beautiful, and they have wonderful landforms. They also have Old Ellicott City, which reminds us of the fact that they are a colonial state. Did you know Babe Ruth was married there too, and they have Triple Crown races?

    After all those reasons to go there, we asked them some facts and they said their nickname is the Old Line State. They also have many civil war battlefields, but they don’t have any natural lakes. Edgar Allen Poe, a famous poet, died there, so the Ravens, the football team, took their name from his poem. Their state drink is milk, and the state food is the Smith Island Cake.

    Next, they said that you should go crab catching, polar bear plunge, which is to jump into a lake in the winter, and go to the Science Aquarium. They also have historical things in Annapolis. When we asked them what kids like to do at recess, they all were raising their hands. When they were picked to come up, they said they like to play basketball, kickball, four square, and jump rope. That was our big adventure in Ellicott City, Maryland. I hope you join us next time. We enjoyed having you!

Laguna Nigel, California

    Along our way around the United States, we stopped for gas in the beautiful and populated state of California. In California, we learned about some fun things to do such as Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, Soak City, which is a water park, Legoland, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the beautiful beaches. We also learned some facts about California. They don’t have tornadoes, a lot of governors and presidents came from California, and many movie stars come from California.

    We also overheard some fun things to do in California, such as going to Angel’s games, surfing, shopping, skateboarding, and finally, going to fun and entertaining water parks. They even mentioned what they like to do at recess, and those activities included ball tag, running, wall ball, which I’m sure you’ve heard before, jumprope, four-square, and playing in the soft, cool sand.

    Unfortunately, we had to leave, but before we did, they mentioned that they have good food and the Gold Rush was in California. We had to leave after they told us those facts, but we had such a good time!

Huntington, West Virginia

    The adventure continues as we travel through West Virginia.  On our way across the state, we noticed some really beautiful scenery.  We saw the Great Creek Mounds, the Appalachian Mountains, and many majestic waterfalls.  The great outdoors have loads of fun things to see, but they also have many fun things to do, like whitewater rafting and mountain climbing.  Other fun activities include the state fair and the pumpkin festival.  But West Virginia is known for more than these fun activities.  They are also the top producer of coal and the golden delicious apple was first grown in West Virginia.  Mother’s day was also invented in West Virginia. 

    Another thing you should know about West Virginia is that many famous people were from West Virginia like Brad Paisley, Jennifer Garner, and Mary Lou Retton.  The movie We are Marshall was also filmed in Virginia. 

    Virginia’s state animal is the black bear and the state fish is the brook trout.  Kids in West Virginia schools are lucky that they get to learn all of these fun facts.  But when they need to take a break, the children enjoy spending recess playing kickball, tetherball or another activity that they like.  West Virginia sounds like a pretty cool state.  I sure want to visit, don’t you?  I bet anyone would have a great time there.

New Prague, Minnesota

    On our trip, someone had to make a bathroom stop, so we stopped in a city southwest of St. Paul called New Prague. Something that Minnesotans like to do are to go to Mall of America, which is the biggest mall America! Did we mention that Mall of America has an amusement park in it?!? They also like to visit to the Valley Fair and the State Fair, go camping, and play in the snow. The Minnesota Zoo is another popular place to visit. On the playground, they like to play kickball, football, play on the playground equipment, Chinese jumprope, and walk and talk.  They were the first school to tell us about a merry-go-round on their playground! In their PE class, they just started softball.

    Some other fun facts are that their baseball team, the Twins, got a new spring training girl, and she is a pitcher. Speaking of sports, the Metrodome, their football stadium, had its roof collapsed because of the immense snowfall. Did we tell you that they beat their snowfall record this winter? While we are in the weather business, we will tell you that they are a warm and cold state, unlike us who are able to swim all year round. (It is sweltering hot here!) Something else we want to tell you is that they are called the North Star State.  Minnesota was an interesting place to visit, but we’re off to tour another state!

Falmouth, Maine

    Whew! I’m tired. While we’re here, let’s go grab a bite to eat. When we got there, I asked the waitress what the MAINE dish was. Wait a second! That’s the wrong kind of main! Just kidding. We are in Maine, and let me tell you, they have pretty awesome stuff here. Come check it out! They have the Baxter State Park, breath-taking mountains, Arcadia National Forest, and stunning beaches. Doesn’t that sound fun?

    Now its times to get down and dirty diggin’ up all the facts about Maine. Did you know that Maine speaks a bit of French, because French was the group of people who got there first? They have tons of pine trees and moose, and lavender lolly-pops, they have lobster!  That’s a MAINE course!

    Now we’re done with the smarts, and it’s time for the sun things! Maine loves to go skiing, pick blueberries, and swim when its sweltering outside.  When it’s bone-chilling outside, they play in the snow!  That is some fun in the sun!

    Recess time! Let’s go see what Maine loves to do. They play football, tag, oo-oo-ah-ah monkey bars, foursquare, kickball, and chomp-chomp sharks and minnows! Here’s a fun fact for you: 90% of the US toothpicks are made in Maine! Well I’m done with my Maine course now, so adios or au revoir. (That’s goodbye in French!)

Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Our next destination we set was to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Along our journey there we stopped and saw the Rio Grande River, visited the Balloon Festival, traveled on the Sandia Mountain tramway, drove on Route 66, and visited the National History Museum. It was a wild adventure, and I was happy to learn about it a little bit more without having to travel it.

    We learned that their state tree is the pinon, and the flower is the yucca. The bird is the speedy roadrunner, Santa Fe is their capital. Their nickname was “The Land of Enchantment.” I saw that it was very gorgeous when we took that trip. The chilis there were delicious also.

    We stopped by a school and saw some kids playing their favorite games, such as kickball, tag, basketball, football, mystery games, and soccer. Boy, those kids sure were active! When school got out, they loved to do things like going to the zoo, see the blinding, white sand dunes, play and see sports, and eat at a wonderful pizza restaurant. We wished we could stop by and taste it, but we needed to go and see the rest of the states!

Burlington, Massachusetts

    Our next stop was to Burlington, Massachusetts. When we got there, we asked them why people should visit their state, and they said that there are history museums and zoos.  They also told us about Martha’s Vineyard, a popular summer tourist destination.  The sandy beaches of Cape Cod are another beautiful site to see.  Massachusetts sounds like a wonderful place to visit.

    After all of those wonderful reasons to visit their state, we asked them about some facts.  They told us that they had a state cookie, the chocolate chip cookie!  That is a state fact we haven’t heard before. They also told us that there state flower was the Mayflower.  Do you know why it’s their state flower? The Mayflower, the ship, landed in Massachusetts. They have some other interesting state facts like the Morgan Horse as their state horse and the cranberry as the state berry.  Those are some very clever state facts.

    They told us some fun things to do when you visit. You can take a swan boat ride, explore to the Boston Children’s Museum, and visit to the Museum of Science, Boston.  They also told us that the Boston Tea Party took place there.  Many historical events have taken place around the Boston area.  Can you believe all of those places are in Massachusetts?

    When we asked them what they like to do at recess, all of the kids wanted to answer.  When some of the kids came up, they said that they like to jump rope, play tag, play hopscotch, and to go on the swings.  Massachusetts loves their sports teams, too.  Go, Red Sox!  See you in New Mexico!

Monroeville, Indiana

    As we were on our way to our next state, we wanted to stop by and say hello to some of our friends in Monroeville, Indiana. They wanted us to lodge in their state, so they told us some reasons to stay. They have great sports teams like the Pacers and the Colts.  They were very proud of their sports, particularly basketball, because they are known as the Hoosier state.  Vacation spots like Jones State Park also sound like a great place to visit.  They also told us about the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.

    They told us facts, too.  They have a minor league baseball team named the Tin Caps, after Johnny Appleseed.  David Letterman is also from Indiana.  They even mentioned that they have a goldfish farm in their state.  (The pictures from Google were awesome!)  These facts made us green with envy!

    They told us kids there at recess  play volleyball, football, basketball, frisbee, jump rope, hang out, and sometimes dodgeball. We insisted that they tell us more, so they did. They mentioned something about a climate that it is constantly changing.  The best part? In 1972, money fell from the sky and landed on a big field of crops!  We truly wish we could stay longer but there are 26 states waiting for a call.  See you again on our next adventure!

Fredericksburg, Virginia

    On our next stop across the United States, we found shelter in Fredericksburg, Virginia due to the snow. While we were there, we stopped in a classroom close by, and they told us a few reasons why we should stay in their state. First, they told us that we could visit historical sites and see the beautiful scenery like the Blue Ridge Mountains. While we were there, they said we could also go to the beautiful Virginia beaches.

    If you like history, you will love the fact that we are going to tell you. First of all, Virginia was actually named after a queen and it was one of the first thirteen colonies. It was also first English settlement along with being the birth place of America. If you are bored of history, here are some fun things to do. Virginia has tons of amusement parks along with sailboats, ski resorts, and lots of hiking.

    Virginia also has battlefields, the Pentagon and strange mix of animals. It has deer, birds, rabbits, moles, frogs, horses, and squirrels. If you like wildlife, history and adventure come to Virginia.

Williston, Vermont

    Today we went to Williston, Vermont and learned some new and exciting facts. First, we learned some cool reasons why we should visit their state. Vermont is home to Ben and Jerry's famous ice cream. They make delicious maple syrup.  They have great skiing, and many people fish in Lake Champlain.  Last but not least, they have Lake Iroquois. Those are some reasons why you should visit the great state of Vermont.

    Second, we learned some wonderful facts about their state. The first fact is that Montpelier is their capital.  They told us about the legend of a monster in Lake Champlain.  They have great skiing resorts, and last, they are called the Green Mountain State. If you want know some more facts, you should visit Vermont.

    Third, we learned some thrilling things to do in their state. They include making snow forts, diving in the lakes, swimming, fishing, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, biking, playing baseball, and visiting museums. Those are just some fun thing to do in Vermont.

    Last, we learned about what kids in Vermont like to do, and we found out that they play soccer, play in the snow, play wall ball, tag, and swing. Before we left, we learned a couple more things about their state, and we found out that Snowflake Bentley was born there. That is all we found out about Williston, Vermont, so stay tuned to hear more about the next state!

Sandy Springs, Georgia

    On our way across America, we took a breather in Sandy Springs, Georgia.  We learned some historic facts.  Georgia was named after King George II.  Margret Mitchell, the author of Gone with the Wind, lived there.  Atlanta was also the headquarters of the civil rights movement and 1996 Summer Olympics.  They also told us that the Fox News Headquarters.  Those were some historic facts about their State.

    We figured that we should give you a little break from history class and tell you about some fun things.  The world’s biggest aquarium is in Atlanta, Georgia.  The Coca-Cola museum lets you try different types of coke from all over the world. They have lots of sports teams, like the Falcons and the Braves.  They can alsovisit six flags.  There is also a place where they can go mine for gold. Those are a little portion of some fun things to do in their state.

    Those are some fun things and historic facts but now its time for some stunning outside animals and landscapes. Here is what we found out. They have rabbits, deer, and turtles. They have granite mountains and gold mines.  (You should take a peek at Stone Mountain!  The Confederate leaders are carved on the side.)  That’s all we found, but I'm sure there is more animals and outdoor stuff.

    We wished we could stay but we have lots more states to visit, so see you in the next state!

New Hyde Park, New York

    Our next stop was in a cute city called New Hyde Park in New York. The kids there like to hike, play sports, ski, and go fishing in the great outdoors. Some other activities include movie theaters and shopping.  The movies in New York come out in theaters earlier than other cities. At recess, they play board games, computer games, and dominos due to the fact that they must stay inside if it is cold out.  For a couple months of the the year, they do go outside to play outdoor sports and swing.  New York sounds like a pretty snazzy city!

    New York is a vacation destination because of the shopping centers and museums, like the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The beaches in Nassau County and the boardwalks like Coney Island were also some of our favorite destinations!  The Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building are other popular venues to visit. New York City is over-populated.  Did you know that over 9 million people live on Long Island alone?  That is 3 million more than the entire state of Arizona!  When Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, they could see the smoke from their school.  New York is also known for its varying landscapes of cities, mountains, and farms.  And who can forget the famous Broadway plays!  Doesn’t New York appear to be fantastic?

     Something else that we thought was pretty cool was that the kids over there can speak eleven different languages including English.  Some of the languages include Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Arabic, Greek, Farsi, and Punjab.  We can barely speak one and a half! They’re basically telling us is that New York is a great place to visit.  Stay tuned for more adventures!

Medford, Oregon

    Our very next stop was Oregon, Medford, Oregon to be exact, which is a hour and a half from the ocean. There are only 30 miles from California. This was the very first state that we interviewed in the west, so we were very excited. We found out that this state is quite historic with Crater Lake, which is the deepest lake in Oregon, Mt. Ashland, Table Rock, and their beaches, rocky and cold.

    After all of that information, we were inspired to let them go on and continue. The next facts were very fascinating, like, in 1859, their state became part of our country. With the Douglass Fir as their state tree and the Western Meddler as their state flower and their nickname is the The Beaver State, Oregon is  a beautiful piece our western states.

    Then, they explained some fun things about their state, such as hunting, fishing, hiking on table rock, camping, ice-skating, and hokey. They are definitely a sporty state! We would vote “yes” in agreement with their sporty description, because they were really prepared when we asked them about what they enjoy doing at recess. When they replied that they play board games, two square, four square, wall ball, and jumprope. They have the University of Oregon, and they said that it is really rainy with animals like moose, elk, deer, antelopes, bunnies, and snakes as their animals. That was are superb trip to Oregon!

Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

    Here we are at Pennsylvania also known as the Keystone State, because it is the middle of the thirteen colonies. In case you didn’t know, the fifteenth President, James Buchanan, was born there! Also, the Liberty Bell is in Pennsylvania right at this minute! That is one old bell. Did you know that Pennsylvania actually means Penn’s Woods because it was founded by William Penn? Then after that, here is some more history for you. Ben Franklin was born there and supported Pennsylvania in the very first courthouse.  Pennsylvania has some fascinating history, don’t you think?

    Now that we are done with telling you all the history that makes you smart, now it is time for you to go and see their exquisite mountain views and hiking trails. If you want to know what people in Pennsylvania do in nature, well, you have come to the right place. They love to take nature walks, go camping and hiking, and they love to ski.  The outdoor scenery of Pennsylvania is breath-taking!

    This is some things they are known for. We found out that they have a Hershey Park and Ski Resorts! Okay, enough talk about Hershey chocolate, because it is making me jealous. Would you like to know what Pennsylvania does in their spare time? They like to play basketball, four square, soccer, and “by bally,” they play volleyball! That is all for Pennsylvania, because we have all kinds of other states to pen.

Petal, Mississippi

    Along our journey around the United States, we made a pit stop in Petal, Mississippi. We learned about some fun things to do and some reasons to visit their state, like the good southern food, the great school districts, shopping, swimming, fishing, and finally, mud riding. Mud riding is when you take something motorized, (obviously not a car) and go riding on the slimy, disgusting mud. We also learned some more things like the entertaining water parks, go-cart racing, and the famous Mardi Gras festival. The Mardi Gras festival is when you can go eat fantastic food and celebrate the beginning of Lent.

    We also overheard some historical facts, like Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.  It was one of the states that was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Coke and Pepsi were both invented in Mississippi, and finally, a lot of their beaches closed last year because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

     The final things we learned from Mississippi were the things they like to do at recess. We learned that they play football, amazingly, the boys do flips, and when their homework is not completed, they get recess detention. Unfortunately, that’s all we had time for in Mississippi, so we had to leave and head back to our home in Arizona. That’s all until next time.  Bye!

P.S. Thank you for the post on your website!

New Orleans, Louisiana

    We have traveled all across the states, and we have finally reached Louisiana.  One of the first things we noticed while we were there were the animals.  Some of the ones we saw included alligators, swamp animals and a variety of birds including the brown pelican.  I’ll bet that some of those animals were also lucky to live by Florida’s beautiful golf coast.  Others might have seen some of Louisiana’s lush white magnolias.

    The animals probably see some pretty neat things, but so did we.  We saw everything from basketball, football, hunting, fishing and horse racing to music festivals and jazz parties.  We also went sailing and hot air ballooning.  But I have to say, the most interesting thing of all had to be Mardi Gras.  There was a huge parade with a ton of floats.  I t was so amazing!

They also had a lot of food.  Louisiana is even famous for some of its food, including jambalaya and gumbo.  Jambalaya and gumbo are similar because they are both spicy soup-like dishes, but gumbo is thinner and usually has seafood as a meat, while jambalaya is thicker and can have almost any kind of meat.

The great state of Louisiana is not known only for its food.  It’s also known for its sugar cane, cotton, and swamps.  Another thing it is famous for is the oil spill that affected the state.  Something else I bet you didn’t know is that Louisiana is divided into parishes instead of counties.  This comes from its French background.  I thought that was pretty interesting.

Another thing we learned is that children in Louisiana enjoy playing many games at recess.  Some of the games included basketball, football, Chinese jump rope, and sharks and minnows.  Chinese jump rope is sort of like regular jump rope only you have to do different jumps in a certain order with a rubber band-like rope.  Sharks and minnows is a tag game.  One person is a shark who tries to tag all of the minnows.

That sure sounds like fun, doesn’t it?  We sure thought so.  I bet you want to go, too.  Maybe you will some day.  If you ever do, I guarantee you will have a blast!

Chicago, Illinois

    Our next stop was Chicago, Illinois, the third biggest city in the U.S. Since we are talking about what they are known for, we might as well start our story there. The first thing we discovered was that there is a tower called the Sears Tower with is over 1,000 feet.  It has been renamed as the Willis Tower.  (You should try to find a picture of the glass lookout deck.  So cool!) You can see Lake Michigan from the top because it borders Illinois. The very last famous fact we unearthed from the class was that the president Barack Obama was from Illinois.

    Speaking of presidents, Abe Lincoln was born in Springfield, IL. They have a zoo  called Lincoln Park Zoo, which was named after Lincoln himself. Then, to give us a little more information, they let us know about a fire that happened from October 7th through the 10th in 1871.  The Great Chicago fire destroyed four square miles.

    We found it very interesting that this school did not have any recess.  We discovered that they have a shorter school day to make up for it.  Despite that, students in Chicago still love their sports.  Their favorite team was the White Sox, but Chicago is also home to the Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks.

    Finally, the students told us about several museums and tourist attractions in the city of Chicago.  The Museum of Science and Industry hosts many exhibits about outer space, farming technology, and other science related topics.  The Shedd Aquarium, one of the biggest in the US, is home to dolphins, sharks, and turtles.  The Field Museum has exhibits in chocolate, gold, and early Americans.  It is also home to Sue the Dinosaur, their most famous exhibit.  If you want to learn more about Chicago, stop by to see for yourself!

Lakeland, Florida

    On our way around the United States, we stopped at Lakeland in the humid state of Florida.  Speaking of humidity, Florida’s weather is around 75 degrees with many mid-day storms that help keep everything emerald-green.  The water that is not used for the plants finds its way into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  Another body of water near Florida is Florida Keys.  The pictures of it are breath-taking with blue-green water all around.  Not only is Florida known for its beautiful oceans, but also for the citrus fruit and sugarcane that grow plentifully there.  We found out that another thing the state of Florida is known for is the Everglades that take up most of the south part of the state.  The Everglades are a swampy area with 10,000 islands!  There sure are a lot of interesting things in Florida.

    Not only are there interesting things to see, but there are also a lot of fun things to do.  Some places to visit are Fort Myers, Disney World, the Daytona 500, museums, and the Space Center.  Other pleasurable activities include surfing, beach volleyball, swimming, snorkeling, and water parks.  Kids in Florida like to play many types of tag at recess like zombie tag, tree trunk tag, and freeze tag.  They also enjoy playing a variety of sports all year long.  We’d love to stay in Florida, but after all, we do have fifty states to visit.

P.S. A big thanks to the students in Lakeland, FL for providing props and screen-sharing pictures to help us get a better view of their state!

Lansing, Michigan

   We took a pit stop in the cold snow in Lansing, Michigan, the state’s capital.  While we were there shivering, we learned about many facts that Michigan is known for.  Did you know that Michigan has been owned by four different countries?  They include Spain, Great Britain, France, and the United States.  Detroit was also known as the automobile capital of the world.  If you want to see natural beauty, visit one Michigan’s 133 state parks.  Finally, we learned that Magic Johnson, a famous basketball player, went to Michigan State University.  Wow!

    Speaking of sports, kids like to play in 6 feet of snow hills and go sledding. I’m getting cold just telling you about it, so lets move to some warmer things to do. They also like to go fishing, camping, and hunting. At recess, they like to play basketball, soccer, swings, and football.

     In Michigan, there isn’t just wonderful things to do, but wonderful things to see. Michigan has many beautiful forests and gorgeous waterfalls.  Did you know that anywhere you stand in Michigan, you are never more than 85 miles from the Great Lakes.  You can also visit the famous Mackinac Island and its bridge for some fabulous fudge.  If you can’t make it that far north, check out the world-famous Bronner’s Christmas store.  Isn’t that amazing!  Head over to Michigan to see those wonderful sights and delicious foods.

Omaha, Nebraska

   Our upcoming trip took us to Omaha, Nebraska. Did you know that Nebraska has a Hall of Fame with famous football players? Since we are talking about famous people, the founder of the Boys and Girls Town was born there. In addition, they also have a Lewis and Clark museum. Did you know that the Mormon Trail and the Oregon Trail both cross through Nebraska? Along with that, they have the longest foot bridge that crosses to the next state, Iowa. And did you know that the bridge is 4,200 feet long?!

    Nebraska has many exciting things to do. Omaha is home to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, which has the famous pumpkin-eating dragon. They have been blessed with movie theaters and a children’s museum. The Omaha Children’s Museum has a cool room full of balls that get sucked up through tubes that run through the room and are dumped every few minutes in the middle room.  Since they have all these fun things to do, sometimes, they just want to relax and go to football games. If they are not feeling up for football and relaxing, they can play soccer, basketball, and in the winter, they can sled. Did you know that they have these humungous slides in downtown Omaha?  They are 30 feet long and can be used in the summer and in the winter!

     Would you like some fun facts about their state? Their first fun fact would be that they produce a lot of corn.  They love corn so much that they named a sports after it, the Corn Huskers!  Second, Omaha has the been the biggest city in Nebraska with over 450,000 humans (pets not included).  Not too much in Nebraska besides corn and people, but they were very kind! 

    Would you like to know anything else? If you do, here is some more information. Nebraska is scorching in the summer and chilly in the winter. Did you know that Omaha used to be the capital? Now, the capitol is Lincoln. Omaha, Nebraska is a great place to visit, but too bad; we have to move on to the next state.

Kenton, Ohio

   Along our journey, we stopped in a small town of only 5,000 people called Kenton, Ohio. We pulled up to the home of the Wildcats, Hardin Central Elementary.  The fifth grade language arts classroom had clocks for the different United States time zones.  How helpful for us!

    Hardin Central Elementary is not just a cool school, but its home is in a cool state!  First of all, eight presidents call Ohio their home.  Speaking of famous people, Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, and the Wright Brothers, the inventors of the first airplane, also come from Ohio.  The capital, Columbus, originated from Christopher Columbus, the legendary explorer from Italy.  Finally, we learned that the Ohio was very important to the historic Underground Railroad.  Ohio seems to be a very historical state!

    Ohio isn’t just known for its history.  It also has some charming scenery, like Lake Erie and the Ohio River.  You can visit these places at many times of the year.  The warm summers, where temperatures reach an average of eighty degrees, or the snowy winters (These kids have already had seven snow days!) make Ohio a temperate place to visit!

    In conclusion, we wrapped up with some fun things to do in their state.  Ohio is known for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and many amusement parks, such as Cedar Point, King’s Island, Mad River Mountain, and the Kalahari Water Park.  Awesome!  They also like to play kickball, basketball, football, tag and walk ‘n talk with friends (a wonderful “game” that you can’t do in class).  That was our wonderful trip Kenton, Ohio!

Stratham, New Hampshire

   On our trip, Skype Across America, we filled up for gas in New Hampshire. While we were waiting, we interviewed a class in Stratham. Luckily it took awhile to fill up, so we could ask them a couple questions about their state. Our very first question we asked them was, “What are some superior reasons why we should drop by your state?” They replied, “You should visit because we have spectacular skiing resorts on Old Man Mountain.  If you don’t like snow, we also have some unique beaches on the other side of the state.  The last thing they told us for this question was that they have four seasons, witch means that they have different weather for all seasons.

    While we were there, they gave us some facts about their state, like David Thomson explored New Hampshire in 1523, and in 1986, Christa McAuliffe died in space because of the Challenger accident. A space shuttle blew up in the outer atmosphere 73 seconds after the launch. The highest peak in New Hampshire is Mount Washington, which also holds the record wind speed at 231 MPH.  The capital of New Hampshire is Concord, but it was located in Exeter before that.

    They recommended some fun things to do while we were there.  They said Water Country water park, fishing and ice fishing in winter, playing in lakes and other outside activities.  We decided to do a little ice fishing before we left.  Can you believe that people drive their cars out onto the lakes?!?

    Since they were youngsters, we asked them what they enjoy at recess. They responded by saying they play kickball, swing on the swings, soccer, and in the winter, they play on the snow piles.

    For our final question, we asked what else they would want us to know about their state. They told us that you can go across their state in less than 3 hours and their population is only 1-2 million peeps. Did you know Alan Shepherd, the first American in space, was from New Hampshire?

    “The gas tank is full! Time to hit the road!” someone yelled. We’re off on another adventure!

Tuscumbia, Alabama

   Along our journey around the United States, our next stop was Tuscumbia, Alabama. We learned some historic facts, like Montgomery is their capital, and it is Helen Keller’s birthplace.  The first rocket to the moon was built in Alabama.  Therefore, the US Space and Rocket Center is also in this state.  Finally, Mardi Gras is a festival that is celebrated in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, etc.

    We also learned about some pretty outdoor scenery, like their beautiful beaches, their fantastic Spring Park, and their historical Dismals Canyon.  It is a very beautiful place with a stunning waterfall lush, green vegetation. That is what we learned about the marvelous scenery.

    Because of their gorgeous weather, they can incorporate sports all year round.  Here are some entertaining things to do in Alabama, like Pick It Up and Get Busted, which is a game that is similar to dodgeball, football, hide and seek, and tag. Birmingham Zoo, Point Mallard Water Park, hunting, and camping are all fun things to do in the great state of Alabama.

Memphis, Tennessee

    Our next stop on our journey around the United States was Memphis, Tennessee.  We thought we would try a new format today to keep our readers’ interest.   

Q: What are some reasons to visit Tennessee?

A: We are known for their mouth-watering Memphis barbecue, the Grand Ole Opry, a concert hall for country music, the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, the home of Elvis, and blues music.

Q: What are the top five facts about your state?

A: First, Fed Ex was found in Tennessee, and the headquarters are still there.  Second, Reelfoot Lake was created by an earthquake in 1811 and is famous for eagle sightings.  Third, it is bordered by eight states.  Fourth, Tennessee is called the Volunteer State becuase of all the people that volunteered for the Civil War.  Finally, three presidents, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson call Tennessee home.

Sidenote: This last fact about the presidents threw us through a loop after learning about North Carolina the previous day.  Both classes from these states claimed these three presidents.  After further research, we discovered that these three presidents were born in North Carolina but eventually moved to Tennessee before presidency.

Q: What are some fun activities in your state?

A: We like to camp, hike, and fish.  We also love to visit Dolly wood, a theme park created by Dolly Parton.

Q: What do you like to do at recess?

A: We have a life-size chess set and a climbing wall on our playground.

Q: What else would you like people to know about your state?

A: We have excellent colleges and universities like the University of Tennessee.  Memphis has a famous hotel called the Peabody with the phenomenal marching ducks.  Finally, you can visit Mud Island along the Mississippi River to see a model of the famous river that is big enough for kids to wade in.

We’ll see you later in Alabama!

Lenoir, North Carolina

    After we went to New Jersey, our next stop was Lenoir, North Carolina.  North Carolina is known for their stunning lighthouses, which are humungous towers that warn ships where the shore is located.  The town that we talked with is recognized for their beautiful furniture made there.  The state of North Carolina has this enchanting college called Duke University.  We were intrigued by the photos we saw.  Finally, the people of North Carolina are known for their friendliness.  We agree.

    North Carolina is also known for a couple historical facts.  First, two presidents, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson call this state home.  The Wright Brothers also took their first flight at Kitty Hawk.  Isn’t that interesting?

    Would you like to hear about the great outdoors of North Carolina?  They have beautiful mountain ranges, level plains of piedmont, and astonishing beaches.  They also have four seasons!  That is amazing!  In the summer, it is steaming hot, and fall is a beautiful time because of the colorful leaves.  Do you want to know how many snow days they had?  Okay, I’ll tell you.  They had 5 snow days so far!

    Some entertaining activities to do in the state include camping, visiting lakes, fishing in the streams, and hunting.  They also told us they like to play soccer, baseball, and basketball in their gorgeous weather.  At recess, they like to talk to friends, play on swings, and participate in relay games.  Prepare to have fun if you ever visit North Carolina!

Monmouth Beach, New Jersey

On our way across the United States, we stopped in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey.  An enthusiastic class told us that water parks, farms, the beach, snow, and seasonal landscapes attracted people to their state.  They also said that their state produced large amounts of apples and corn.  Their class told us that some celebrities call New Jersey their home.  Then, they explained that New Jersey has twenty-one counties, was one of the thirteen colonies, has a population of 8,707,739 people, and has its capital in Trenton.  Chris Christie is the governor of their state.

    The students in New Jersey gave us a rundown of popular recreation activities in their state.  They said that playing at the beach is a popular attraction, along with boating, surfing, tubing, and water skiing.  Sledding, biking, basketball, soccer, and baseball are some popular sports in New Jersey.  People also travel to New Jersey for its amusement parks, including the boardwalks in Atlantic City, and of course, Six Flags.  At recess, New Jersey kids enjoy playing football, soccer, baseball, jump rope, four square, and Nuke ‘Em, which is like volley ball.  They also have two playgrounds at their school.  Wow, that sounds like fun!

    We had the opportunity to speak with two classes in New Jersey, and the second class told us all about the state facts.  Animals found in New Jersey include whales, dolphins, and fish.  The state tree of New Jersey is the red maple, its state bird is the gold finch, their state nickname is the Garden State, and the state flower is a violet.  Our friends in New Jersey told us about a national park in their state called Pine Lands National Reserve.  It must be truly beautiful.  We wish we could stay there, but we have to move along to the next state.

Waukesha, Wisconsin

On our journey to across the US, the next stop was Wisconsin! They gave us five reasons to visit their state. They included the parks, the lakes, the Dells, the famous Milwaukee Art Museum, and Discovery World.  We learned that the Dells is a water park  north of the capital, Madison. They mentioned the top five facts about their home state. They are a Great Lake state, which means that they are one of the eight states that touch the Great Lakes. Did you know that Wisconsin produces more cheese then any other state? They are leading cranberry producers.  (If you visit the Ocean Spray website, you can see some awesome videos of cranberry bogs!) Finally, they are home to the Green Bay Packers, and if you didn’t pay attention to the Superbowl XLV, they won!

    We also learned about some exciting things to do in their state. They familiarized us with the sport of tailgating, or picnicking before Brewer and Packer games.  It is a little warm in Arizona to do that here.  They also like to swim on the lakefront, snowmobile, sled, camp, and ski. Awesome! The last thing we asked them was what they enjoyed to do at recess. They gave us a lesson on how to play King of the Hill on 15-foot snow hills.  That is the conclusion of our adventure to Wisconsin.  See you in New Jersey soon!

Sioux Rapids, Iowa

Our next stop on our road trip across the United States took us to Iowa.  We went to a small town in northwest Iowa with a population of only eight hundred people.  That is small in comparison to our town of Tucson, Arizona.  Since it is so small, the primary industry is farming.  Iowa is the number one producer of corn.  We also learned about combines.  Most of us have never even seen one, but most of the Iowa students have ridden in them before.

    Iowa also has a new type of farming on the horizon.  They have large windmills that produce energy for the citizens to use.  They are also famous for the world’s largest strawberry ever grown, located at Strawberry Point.  They built a large statue in its honor!

Find a link to the city below to learn more:

http://www.strawberrypt.com/

    Since farming is such an important part of this state, they told us about a local field trip destination called the Living History Farm, a working farm from the past.  Some other popular sites include the Allee Mansion and the home of Herbert Hoover.  Iowa is also known for Dubuque, a lake made from glaciers.  West Okoboji is also a famous lake, because it is the largest, natural, blue-water lake in the world.

    As we were chatting, they asked if we wanted to see all the snow from the recent blizzard.  We were jealous of the glistening snow but were surprised to see very few trees.  Before we left, they also told us about a favorite sports team, the Hawkeyes.  Just like us, they enjoy sports, both watching them and playing them at recess.

    Stay tuned for our next stop in Waukesha, Wisconsin!

Jonesboro, Arkansas

    Our journey has begun!  Our first stop along the Skype trip across the United States was Arkansas.  Here are the top five reasons that third graders in Jonesboro, Arkansas think you should visit their state.  First, did you know that they can find and keep diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds National Park?  Second, they have many hot springs located in their state.  Hot springs are created when water in the earth is heated by the core of the earth.  Third, they have many mountains to hike, including Mt. Magazine, the highest point in Arkansas.  Finally, it is also a good place to hunt for rabbits and ducks and fish for bass, catfish, and bluegill.  Those are the top five reasons to visit the great state of Arkansas!

    Would you like to know five interesting facts about Arkansas?  Check out the list below:

1. 1.Wal-mart was started in Bentonville, Arkansas.
2. 2.Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, calls this state home.
3. 3.Arkansas is known growing cotton.
4. 4.Rice and beans are also two popular cash crops.
5. 5.Arkansas is known as “The Natural State,” because of its outdoor landscapes.

    Finally, we asked the third graders about some fun things that they do in their state in order to compare and contrast what life is like in different states.  They play dodgeball, volleyball, and tag at recess.  They like to watch college basketball games like we do, but they told us that they don’t have as many options to choose from when going out to eat at restaurants.  That’s the end of our virtual trip to Arkansas.  49 states and the District of Columbia to go!

P.S.  We learned a valuable lesson in culture and weather today.  Our trip to Iowa has been delayed due to heavy snow.  Lucky!  Snow days are scarce in the Arizona deserts.

We Need Your Help!

We are looking for classrooms around the country to meet up with students through Skype.  We hope to gain information about the diversity of the United States that cannot be gained from a textbook.  We have a list of questions to get you started, and we would like to share a 30-minute conversation with you.  Let us know if you are interested!

Last Updated: April 8, 2011

We have decided to leave states on this list unless we have scheduled a date and time with a state.  Here is a list of states we are still looking for:

Alaska

Delaware

Idaho

Kansas

Montana

Nevada

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Utah

Washington

Wyoming