{Updated 12/10/2021}
The Instructional Technology Team has gathered some resources for those teaching about Michigan. You are encouraged to view the resources prior to using them in class. Please note, the list is only current as of the date listed at the top of this page.
Informational Resources
Michigan Kids: State Symbols and Facts (Resource) – Maintained by Michigan.gov, this list contains links to different links about Michigan’s state symbols.
Michigan Kids: Michigan in Brief (Resource) – A brief overview of the state of Michigan from Michigan.gov.
Michigan Kids: Government & Laws (Resource) – This site is maintained by Michigan.gov and has resources about Michigan government and laws.
Mackinac Historic State Parks Lesson Plans and Educational Resources (Resource) – This site includes lesson plans, activities, reading, games and more aligned with Michigan GLCE’s all about Mackinac and Michigan History. There is also a possibility of renting an Artifact for a low fee to use with students. (Artifact Loan Request Form)
Wildlife Classroom Curricula (Resource) – Lesson plans from the Michigan DNR that concentrate on the habitats and animals of Michigan. Free to educators after a request form and separated by grade level.
Building Detroit (Lesson plan suggestions) – Lesson plans with resources to teach about the evolution of the City of Detroit. (Via the Detroit Historical Society) Note: Activities do not currently work because Flash has been discontinued.
Videos
How Michigan Became a State (Video) – From the Michigan History Center, this short video talks about the road to statehood and how a disagreement with Ohio could have cost Michigan statehood.(via Seeking Michigan)
How Lansing Became the Capital (Video) – From the Michigan History Center, this short video talks about why Michigan’s state capital moved from Detroit to Lansing. (via Seeking Michigan)
Digital Activities
Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes (Virtual Connection) – Did you know you can video chat with the rangers of Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes? You can sign up on the National Park Service website and view their different program offerings. We have connected with them in the past and they have been excellent! At the time of this post, they are currently updating their conferencing equipment and may not be able to connect.
Virtual Trip of the Michigan State Capitol (Digital Activity) – students can pan around the capitol building and see the rooms that houses the Michigan state government.
Example Lesson Ideas created by the Instructional Technology Coaches
(Linked material currently only available to WWCSD)
Create a Tour of Michigan – A visitor from another state/country/planet has come to Michigan. They only have a few days to visit the state and learn why it’s so amazing – what are the Top 10 places you would recommend they visit to show off your state pride?
- Google Earth Project (View Google Earth) – This resource allows the students to create a virtual “tour” using Google Earth and Street view. Students are in charge of the content, including text, pictures and locations for their tours. This application requires a Google account and can be shared via link in Google Classroom.
Map the Mitten! (Digital breakout game) – In this Digital Breakout, students will have to help Oscar retrieve his family’s tickets for their next adventure in Michigan by solving Michigan geography themed clues!
- Breakout Game – Similar to an “Escape Room”, Breakouts challenge students to work under a time limit to solve clues to open a locked Breakout Box (or in this case, fill out a Google Form). The game focuses on cooperation, collaboration, and creative thinking while giving a different twist on how students demonstrate knowledge of content.
- Topics covered in this Breakout: the Great Lakes, major Michigan Bridges, state geography, and cardinal directions.
- Required to play: 1 web-enabled device per group/student, some prior knowledge is recommended.