Students will launch the U.S. states investigation by testing what they already notice about a blank map, using songs and compass words to build shared vocabulary, and recording first evidence about where states may belong.

Students will investigate an unlabeled U.S. map mystery, ask focused questions about how to learn state names and locations, and co-design a simple method for gathering evidence from songs, books, and shared maps. They will practice using north, south, east, and west language, record what they notice with pictures and words, and test whether their planning tools help them place and explain states more accurately.

Students will collect evidence about U.S. state names and locations by using songs, chants, shared maps, and directional language. They will document what they learn in notebooks, test state placements on blank maps, and build a draft map product with captions that explain north, south, east, and west clues. Through peer feedback and a performance checkpoint, they will improve accuracy before moving into analysis and final revision.

Students will analyze draft map evidence, revise state placements and captions with feedback, create simple visual explanations about location patterns and common errors, and prepare polished gallery pieces that lead into the final showcase.

Students will present their U.S. states map gallery to an authentic audience, explain state placements with north, south, east, and west evidence, complete an individual blank-map performance task, and reflect on how feedback helped improve their final work.