Hidden Ohio can be used to address many of the Fourth Grade Social Studies Academic Content Standards!  Have fun with your students with these creative activities for each of these standards, as well as general learning fun for the younger set.

Cover it Up!
Discuss Ohio's State Symbols with your students.  How many do we have? (15) How many are represented on the Hidden Ohio cover? (8: Animal: White Tailed Deer, Bird: Cardinal, Ohio State Flag, Flower: Scarlet Carnation, Invertebrate Fossil: Isotelus, Reptile: Black Racer Snake, Tree: Ohio Buckeye and Wildflower: Large White Trillium)
How many can they remember if you cover the picture up?

For the older students, discuss what symbols are currently being considered by the Ohio House of Representatives.  (Amphibian and Children's Book.)
Standard addressed: Government/Role of Government

In Training
Study the importance of railroads in Ohio's development.  Make a simple train and have children draw pictures of cargo, based on their research.
Standard addressed: History/Settlement
(Book reference: inside jacket)

Make a Fort!
Supply students with Popsicle sticks and glue and let them create their own fort, symbolic of Fort Meigs.  Discuss the War of 1812 and its role in Ohio's history.
Standard addressed:  History/Settlement
(Book reference: Holy Toledo!)

Glass Act
Encourage students to find all the glass objects in the room.  This serves as a great introduction into a discussion on resources and production of goods, citing the glass industry in Toledo.
Standard addressed: Economics/Scarcity and Resource Allocation
(Book reference: Holy Toledo!)


Where the Boys are!
Search for the portraits of all the Presidents throughout Hidden Ohio!

For older students, research former Ohio Presidents and stage a mock election for who would be the best President if elected currently.
Standard addressed: Citizen Rights & Responsibilities
(Book reference: Vacationland/photo of Rutherford B. Hayes


Man, I look like a stick!
Have students bring in a rock and using chalk, have them draw an image of themselves, as the Erie Indians did on Inscription Rock, Kelley's Island.
Standard addressed: Geography/Human Environmental Interaction
(Book reference: Vacationland)


Read all about it!
Form teams and create a newspaper with features on Ohio through the ages.  Include sections on Ohio sports history, entertainment, obituaries, comics (think Superman!) arts, etc. even editorials (maybe from Brutus the Buckeye)
Standard addressed: Social Studies Skills and Methods
(Book Reference: Cleveland Rocks!)


It was an accident…honest!
Share stories of accidental discoveries, including the vulcanization process of rubber by Charles Goodyear.  A great reference book is With a Little Luck: Surprising Stories of Amazing Discoveries written by Dennis B. Fradin.
Standard addressed: Geography/Places and Regions
(Book reference: Rubber Meets the Road)


For Summit County teachers:
Contact the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Education Department and obtain a "History on the move" trunk, chock full of lesson plans, CD's, photographs etc.  Call 330-315-3261 or email, education@hywet.org
Standard addressed: Economics/Production Distribution and Consumption
(Book reference: Rubber Meets the Road)


Made in Ohio!
Ask students to bring a food product from Ohio and have a picnic!
Older students can research the Amish in Ohio and make a quilt of their reports using plastic page covers hole punched and bound using yarn.
Standard addressed: People in Societies/Cultures
(Book reference: Amish Country)

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