As we travel around the United States in our homeschool studies, next up on the list is Maine! Use these resources to learn a few Interesting Facts about Maine and the rich culture, wildlife, and atmosphere that it offers.
Check out the rest of the states at the 50 states unit study that’s full of ready-to-go lesson plans so you and your kids can start learning.
Maine is the northeastern-most state in the United States. Despite its rich history, no one knows where Maine got its name. When you think of Maine, you might be thinking lobsters and lighthouses, but there is a lot more exciting things to this little state!
Five Maine Facts:
Over one million people call Maine home. Maine is known for its beautiful landscapes, lighthouses, and its diverse wildlife. Maybe it’s because of those picturesque landscapes that Maine is home to several famous authors and poets! Let’s explore this state with five facts about Maine.
Fact One: Maine is the Pine Street State.
Maine is known for its beautiful wilderness that covers about 89% of the state. Throughout Maine, you can see a variety of pine forests. You can find a pine tree on Maine’s flag, seal, and even the state quarter. (they really love pine trees!)
Learn more about pine trees with these resources:
Give back to the birds by creating a classic pine cone bird feeder. This one is easy to make and only requires a few materials.
Learn about how pine trees change throughout the seasons with this collaborative art project. You can use your senses to discover the different components of pine trees with this one.
For younger kiddos, grab rubber bands for this fine motor activity with pine cones. This idea can be expanded for older students by having them make certain patterns with their rubber bands.
How does a cone turn into a pine tree? Find out with the book From Cone to Pine Tree.
Why do pine cones open and close? Find out with this science experiment! Grab some jars and pine-cones for this experiment.
Fact Two: Maine’s state insect is the honeybee.
Along with pine trees, Maine is known for their honeybees. The state insect is the honeybee, since it plays such an important role in agriculture and help pollinate about 75% of crops around the world. With Maine’s landscapes, it’s no wonder honeybees are so celebrated. In fact, the personal care company Burts Bees was founded in Maine in the 1980s!
Here are some ideas to learn more about honeybees:
Grab these life cycle bee flashcards to learn about the different stages of life for bees.
Turn This Book Into a Beehive by Lynn Brunelle dives into the incredible world of bees, while offering activities, illustrations, and more to bring this knowledge to life.
What would the world be without bees? What If There Were No Bees by Suzanne Slade asks this question in this informative picture book.
The Bee Movie is a fictional movie, but it’s a fun film from the perspective of bees. Plus, it shows us what the world would look like with no bees!
Help bees with this DIY bee house STEM project. Along the way, learn about a bee’s life cycle and home.
Try origami with this 3D paper origami honey bee craft. Because of the complexity, it’s best for upper elementary students, but younger students will love this heart bee paper craft!
Fact Three: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine.
Maine has been home to several famous authors and poets, including horror novelist Steven King (most of his books are set in Maine) and Harriet Beecher Stowe, known for her highly influential “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” that instantly became an American classic.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a classic poet who was born in Portland, Maine. At the time, it was still part of Massachusetts. He’s known for his poems like “Paul Revere’s Ride” and “The Song of Hiawatha.”
Here are some resources to learn more about him and his works:
Create these lanterns that were inspired by Paul Revere’s ride to go along with Longfellow’s famous poem.
The illustrated book Paul Revere’s Ride brings Longfellow’s poem to life through rich, engaging pictures.
Another one of Longfellow’s most famous works is the bittersweet Christmas song, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, which he wrote during the American Civil War. Make a bell and listen to the song. Older kids can learn more about the history behind the song.
Longfellow told stories through poetry. In this activity from NASA, combine STEM with poetry.
What legacy did Wadsworth leave us? This English Language Arts activity examines how meaningful classic literature could be.
Fact Four: Maine’s state bird is the black-capped chickadee.
Black-capped chickadees can be found in North America. These birds get their name for one of their calls (they have about 15 different calls!)
Here are some ideas to learn more about chickadees:
Make little chickadees with this fun craft.
Learn more about all different types of birds with the American Museum of Natural History’s Birds of North America book.
Learn about the behaviors and traits of the black-capped chickadees with these activities and their vivid videos. Use the maps to track behaviors and patterns.
Get craft with mixed media! Try different birds, including the chickadee.
Fact Five: Maine is famous for lobsters.
Did you know that Maine is responsible for the majority of lobsters in the US? Lobsters can be found all around the maritimes, but they’re most common in Maine.
Here are some ideas for learning more about lobsters:
Make a lobster with this fun printable lobster craft.
The Who Would Win? series has a Lobster vs Crab book. This nonfiction series compares both species in an engaging way.
With popsicle sticks and handprints, create this cute lobster!
More Maine Resources:
14 Pages: Maine State Unit Study