Journey Across America - Delaware

This post is part of a 50 state Journey Across America. For information on the basics of this project check out this post. I wasn't planning on documenting this project until we were six states in, so the first five states are a bit lacking in original photos, but the next 45 will be full of them!

No better place to start than with our 1st state to enter to union, Delaware! Delaware, what's in Delaware? (Wayne's World, yes it was a part of my childhood experience... probably won't be a part of my kids' however.)

The Books:

We began by reading F is for First State and then Bean used the information she learned to make a notebook page for the first entry in her United States scrapbook. Some of the answers we did have to look up online, but most of them were in there, along with other fascinating facts and history.

We also read two picture books: When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots and When the Shadbush Blooms. And Kevin taught the kids about Delaware using the Our United States of America: Catholic Social Studies textbook.

The Food:

Photo from myrecipes.com

We tried out The United State's Cookbook's gingerbread squares, a dessert that the Germans brought with them to Delaware, but they were not a hit. Molasses is such a strong flavor, and I even cut it down in this recipe! If you go for the gingerbread squares, serve them with Delaware's official state drink, milk!

If we could do it over again I think I would opt for a broiler chicken, whose industry was established in Delaware by Cecil Steel. According to some, Cecil ordered 50 chickens for her family and accidentally received 500. Not begin able to keep them all, she butchered and sold them while they were young and, jackpot, the broiler chicken was born!

The Activity:

Per the idea of Confessions of a Homeschooler, we made a Delaware Memorial Bridge using grooved craft sticks. Making the bridge was fun, but it didn't take long for the kids to tear it apart for new and different creations. I consider the addition of grooved craft sticks to our craft/building repertoire a worthy investment.

Check back soon for the Pennsylvania wrap up!