Discover Michigan Fun Facts: A Storyboard That Lesson Plan

Q: What are some fun facts about Michigan for kids?

Michigan has many fun facts for kids, like being bordered by four of the five Great Lakes, inventing the Popsicle, and having a haunted lighthouse. It’s also known as the “Motor City” because of Detroit’s car history, and snowboarding is its unique state sport!

Q: How can I create a simple storyboard about Michigan for my class?

To make a storyboard about Michigan , choose three interesting facts, write a heading and a short summary for each, then draw or select pictures that match each fact. Use three cells to organize your content clearly for students.

Q: What is Michigan’s connection to the Great Lakes?

Michigan is bordered by four Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie—making it unique among U.S. states and offering lots of beaches and water activities for residents and visitors.

Q: Who invented the Popsicle and what’s Michigan’s role?

The Popsicle was invented by Frank Epperson, an 11-year-old boy in Michigan City, Michigan, in 1905 when he accidentally froze a soda mixture with a stick in it, creating the first frozen treat on a stick.

Q: Why is Detroit called the Motor City?

Detroit is called the “Motor City” because it was the center of the early automotive industry. Innovators like Henry Ford developed the assembly line there, making cars affordable and changing transportation worldwide.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Student Rubric

Lesson Plan Overview

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 Michigan. Here are some examples of fun facts:

Great Lakes Galore: Michigan is uniquely bordered by four of the five Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie—making it a haven for beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts.
Popsicle Origin: The Popsicle was invented by an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson in 1905 in Michigan City, Michigan, when he accidentally left a mixture of soda and water outside overnight with a stick in it, creating the first frozen treat on a stick.
Haunted Lighthouse: The Big Bay Point Lighthouse on Lake Superior is rumored to be haunted by its first lighthouse keeper, Will Prior, who died in a shipwreck while attempting to rescue stranded sailors.
State Sport Quirk: Michigan is the only state with a designated state sport that isn't played in the Olympics—snowboarding. It reflects the state's love for winter sports and its pioneering role in popularizing snowboarding culture.
Motor City Moniker: Detroit, Michigan, earned the nickname "Motor City" due to its pivotal role in the birth and growth of the automotive industry, led by innovators like Henry Ford, whose assembly line revolutionized car manufacturing worldwide.

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Due Date:

Objective: Create a 3 cell storyboard that describes and illustrates 3 interesting facts about Michigan.

Student Instructions:

Click “Start Assignment”.
Write a fun fact in each heading.
In the description box, write a short summary of each heading.
Create an illustration that represents each heading using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Save often!

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-6

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Switch to: Common Core • Arizona • California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Iowa • Kansas • Maryland • Massachusetts • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Texas • Utah

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Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Conducting Research

Present information after conducting research.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Organization	Examples are accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand.	Examples are somewhat accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand.	Examples are inaccurate, incomplete, disorganized, and difficult to understand.
Illustrations	Illustrations depict the written description with clear visuals of appropriate scenes, characters, items, etc.	Illustrations depict the written description but are unclear or incomplete.	Illustrations do not make sense with the written description.
Spelling and Grammar	Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding.	Spelling is inaccurate and hinders full understanding.	Text is difficult to understand.

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Lesson Plan Overview

Great Lakes Galore: Michigan is uniquely bordered by four of the five Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie—making it a haven for beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts.
Popsicle Origin: The Popsicle was invented by an 11-year-old boy named Frank Epperson in 1905 in Michigan City, Michigan, when he accidentally left a mixture of soda and water outside overnight with a stick in it, creating the first frozen treat on a stick.
Haunted Lighthouse: The Big Bay Point Lighthouse on Lake Superior is rumored to be haunted by its first lighthouse keeper, Will Prior, who died in a shipwreck while attempting to rescue stranded sailors.
State Sport Quirk: Michigan is the only state with a designated state sport that isn't played in the Olympics—snowboarding. It reflects the state's love for winter sports and its pioneering role in popularizing snowboarding culture.
Motor City Moniker: Detroit, Michigan, earned the nickname "Motor City" due to its pivotal role in the birth and growth of the automotive industry, led by innovators like Henry Ford, whose assembly line revolutionized car manufacturing worldwide.

Copy Activity

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Due Date:

Objective: Create a 3 cell storyboard that describes and illustrates 3 interesting facts about Michigan.

Student Instructions:

Click “Start Assignment”.
Write a fun fact in each heading.
In the description box, write a short summary of each heading.
Create an illustration that represents each heading using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Save often!

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-6

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Copy Activity

Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Conducting Research

Present information after conducting research.

	Proficient	Emerging	Beginning
Organization	Examples are accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand.	Examples are somewhat accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand.	Examples are inaccurate, incomplete, disorganized, and difficult to understand.
Illustrations	Illustrations depict the written description with clear visuals of appropriate scenes, characters, items, etc.	Illustrations depict the written description but are unclear or incomplete.	Illustrations do not make sense with the written description.
Spelling and Grammar	Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding.	Spelling is inaccurate and hinders full understanding.	Text is difficult to understand.

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How Tos about Fun Facts About Michigan

Organize a Michigan Fun Fact Scavenger Hunt

Engage students by turning Michigan research into an interactive scavenger hunt! Divide the class into small teams and provide lists of Michigan-themed clues (e.g., 'Find a fact about a Michigan invention'). Teams explore resources, share findings, and celebrate discoveries together—boosting collaboration and curiosity.

Set clear research rules and resources

Guide students to use age-appropriate websites, library books, or videos for their hunt. Offer a few trusted sources to keep research focused, safe, and accessible for all learners.

Assign roles to promote teamwork

Encourage every student to participate by designating roles such as researcher, note-taker, and presenter. Rotating jobs ensures everyone contributes and develops new skills.

Celebrate findings with a class showcase

Let teams present their favorite Michigan fun fact in a creative way—skit, poster, or digital slide. Applaud each group and highlight unique discoveries to foster pride and engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fun Facts About Michigan

What are some fun facts about Michigan for kids?

Michigan has many fun facts for kids, like being bordered by four of the five Great Lakes, inventing the Popsicle, and having a haunted lighthouse. It’s also known as the “Motor City” because of Detroit’s car history, and snowboarding is its unique state sport!

How can I create a simple storyboard about Michigan for my class?

To make a storyboard about Michigan, choose three interesting facts, write a heading and a short summary for each, then draw or select pictures that match each fact. Use three cells to organize your content clearly for students.

What is Michigan’s connection to the Great Lakes?

Michigan is bordered by four Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie—making it unique among U.S. states and offering lots of beaches and water activities for residents and visitors.

Who invented the Popsicle and what’s Michigan’s role?

The Popsicle was invented by Frank Epperson, an 11-year-old boy in Michigan City, Michigan, in 1905 when he accidentally froze a soda mixture with a stick in it, creating the first frozen treat on a stick.

Why is Detroit called the Motor City?

Detroit is called the “Motor City” because it was the center of the early automotive industry. Innovators like Henry Ford developed the assembly line there, making cars affordable and changing transportation worldwide.