Each state in our country has its own unique fun facts that kids will love to discover. For this activity, students will create a 3 cell storyboard that depicts some interesting facts they have learned about Illinois. Here are some examples of fun facts:
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that describes and illustrates 3 interesting facts about Illinois.
Student Instructions:
Guide students to use kid-friendly resources like library books, trusted websites (such as state government or museum pages), and educational videos. Show them how to look for interesting, reliable facts about Illinois that aren't already in your examples.
Model creating a simple chart or graphic organizer with columns for 'Fact,' 'Summary,' and 'Illustration Idea.' This helps students sort their ideas and plan their storyboard scenes efficiently.
Remind students to read and rephrase each fact in a way they understand. This deepens comprehension and helps avoid copy-pasting from sources.
Review each student's facts and summaries together to ensure they're correct and interesting. This helps prevent misinformation and keeps the project meaningful.
Lead a quick class brainstorm for each fact, inviting students to share ways to visually represent it. Encourage use of symbols, characters, or settings unique to Illinois for more engaging storyboards.
Illinois has many fun facts for kids, such as the Willis Tower being one of the tallest buildings in the U.S., the Chicago River turning green on St. Patrick’s Day, and Illinois being the first state to abolish slavery by ratifying the 13th Amendment.
To create a storyboard, have students pick three interesting Illinois facts, write each as a heading, summarize them in the description boxes, and draw illustrations for each using scenes or characters that match the facts.
A simple lesson plan is to introduce Illinois fun facts, then assign students to make a three-cell storyboard where they write, summarize, and illustrate their favorite facts about the state.
The Chicago River is dyed green each St. Patrick’s Day as a festive tradition to celebrate Irish heritage and the holiday, making it a famous and unique event in Illinois.
Examples include the Willis Tower, the green Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day, Square Dancing as the state dance, and the Chicago Public Library as the world’s largest library.