KICK OFF INFORMATION

We are so excited to have your family join us this school year for our States Showcase: Discover America experience as a True North community! One of many fun learning adventures with True North Homeschool™!

** We will be emailing out information and next steps, throughout our preparation, so keep your eyes out for those email messages along the way! We will also be posting these on this resource page to streamline communications. ** 

• Nation Showcase Kick-Off & Parent Orientation Zoom Replay on ??, ?? from ???)

• If you are on Facebook, join our related online Colorado Homeschool Civic-Minded Families community as well!

• Save the Dates:

  • In-Person: Thursday, November 13th from 12:30-2:30pm at the Castle Rock Library (Event Hall A & B)

    • NOTE: Bring a snack to share! Can be something fun from your state or anything you prefer to give out to travelers learning about your state.

  • Online (via Zoom): Thursday, November 20th from 2:00-3:30pm

OUR GROUP’S PREPARATION PLAN

Research Fair Guidelines

• Create a visual presentation, on a tri-fold board, of your selected state to share with other students. You can share anything you think is interesting about the state as well as general facts, pictures, etc. Aim to share at least 5-15 facts for each state depending on your child’s age. Get creative and use the table space to include items like food, culture, sports, diorama, saltdough geographic information, etc.

Preparation Steps

• Step 1: Choose a Nation

  • Pick a country in the world from our list that interests you. First come first serve so grab a country quick

  • Sign up for your country:

• Step 2: Research Your State

  • Gather information on:

    • State Name & Nickname

    • Capital City & Major Cities

    • State Flag & Symbols (Bird, Flower, Tree, etc.)

    • Geography (Location, Borders, Landforms, etc.)

    • Climate & Weather

    • Famous People & History

    • Popular Attractions & Fun Facts

• Step 3: Organize Your Trifold Board (see examples below)

  • Title Section – Write the state's name in big, bold letters at the top

  • Left Panel – Geography, Climate, and State Symbols

  • Middle Panel – State Flag, Capital City, and Major Facts

  • Right Panel – Famous People, History, and Attractions

• Step 4: Gather Materials

  • Trifold board

  • Scissors & glue

  • Printed pictures/maps

  • Markers & colored paper

  • Folding table (NOTE: We may need more, if library doesn’t have enough)

• Step 5: Create the Presentation

  • Arrange your information neatly

  • Add pictures, maps, and drawings

  • Use colorful borders or fun fonts

• Step 6: Practice Presenting

  • Read your board out loud

  • Make sure you can explain each section

  • Have fun sharing what you learned

Bring a snack to share! Can be something fun from your state or anything you prefer to give out to travelers learning about your state.

Examples of State Showcase Trifold Boards

STATE RESEARCH IDEAS:

General Facts

• What is the population of the state?

• How many miles from my home state?

• How long would it take to drive there?

• What is the capital city?

• What are the major cities in the state?

• What is the state nickname?

• What is the state motto?

• What is the state bird?

• What is the state song?

• What is the state animal?

• What is the state flower?

Geography Questions

• What region of the United States is it in?

• What is the natural environment like?

• What types of landforms are present in the state?

• What are the weather patterns or general climate of the state?

• Where is the state located on a U.S. map?

• How big is the state (area)?

• How does the state compare in size to other states or other countries?

• Is the state mostly urban or mostly rural?

Historical Information

• When did it become a state?

• Who was president when it became a state?

• Who were the native populations in the state?

• Who settled the state?

• What did the state produce economically?

• What were some important political decisions in the state’s history?

• Who were some influential people in the state’s history?

Visitor Information

• What are the most famous or popular sights to see?

• How many visitors does this state receive annually?

• What are some unique places in this state that go overlooked?

• What types of activities do people visit this state to do specifically?

• What is the state’s travel or tourism slogan? What have been past slogans?

• How much money is generated by tourism annually?

Additional Research Questions or Topics

• Who are some well-known people from this state and what are they famous for?

• What is the name of a children’s book set in this state?

• Who are the state’s largest employers?

• What is the oldest known business in the state?

• What products or services are produced in the state?

• Which foods is the state known for?

• How did the state get its name?

• What is the median household income?

• What are the public transportation systems like?

• What do the state and local park systems look like?

• Which, if any, presidents lived in the state?

• What important bodies of water are part of the state?

• What natural disasters have occurred in the state?

• Which is the oldest known building known in the state?

• What are some well-known universities or museums in the state?

• Which major highways run through the state?

• What is the average age and life expectancy in the state?

• What does the education system look like in the state?

• What is the tax structure—sales tax, property taxes, gas taxes, etc.?

MORE STATES & NATIONS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

Join us of our upcoming World Showcase: Discover the Nations learning experience on Monday, February 2, 2026 from 10:00am-12:00pm at the Castle Rock Library (Event Hall). For more detailed information: States & Nations Exploration Educational Track.

**We have two options: In-Person and Online.**

PREPARING FUTURE LEADERS & BECOMING ACTIVE CITIZENS: REAL-LIFE LEARNING EXPERIENCES

For Colorado homeschool families that want to build their basic civic knowledge and understand their role as active citizens in a fun and engaging way.

Through real-life, civics-based learning experiences such as:

• Election / Ballot Processing Tour

• Meet Your Legislator Day (CHEC Event) - February

• How Bills Are Passed & Attending Public Hearing on Important Issue Affecting Homeschoolers (Legislative Session runs from January - May)

• Homeschool Day at the Capitol (CHEC Event) - April

Learning to be a productive and involved citizen of our United States is critical to our country’s future. For K-12th grade.

Join our online Colorado Homeschool Civic-Minded Families community as well!

Age Range: K-12th grade

Drop-Off (Yes/No): No. Parents will be participating in the classes.

2025-2026 Program: Running August - April on various days throughout the school year.

Registration*:

Rolling registration as we get them scheduled.

*Registration always opens first for Members and then to the public if have spots left.

USA MAP PUZZLE - LEARN STATES, CAPITALS & FUN FACTS

Engaging and educational resource that helps students learn U.S. states, capitals, and fun facts through hands-on activity. Featuring 50 state-shaped foam pieces, flag stickers for capitals, and pictorial fun facts, it turns U.S. geography into an interactive and memorable experience. Perfect ages 5+.

*True North earns a small commission from Amazon if you buy through this link—thank you!

WORLD MAP PUZZLE - INCLUDES COUNTRY FLAGS & CAPITALS

Engaging and educational resource that helps students learn countries, capitals, and country flags through hands-on activity. Featuring country-shaped foam pieces, capital stickers, and world flags, it turns world geography into an interactive and memorable experience. Perfect ages 5+.

*True North earns a small commission from Amazon if you buy through this link—thank you!