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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for buying Sportime GeoSpots. Like many other Sportime �brain compatible� products, GeoSpots is designed with the �Kinesthetic learner� in mind. GeoSpots are indispensable tools that provide virtually unlimited activities, in order to teach U.S. geography through movement. In addition, you can use GeoSpots as you would our Utility/Sequencing Floor Spots. Their no-slip formulation keeps them where they�re put, on wood and smooth floors. The set�s color breakdown (8 each of the 6 primary and secondary colors, plus 2 dark blue) provide for maximum program flexibility.

TWO-LEVEL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

GeoSpots is designed to give you the choice between 2 difficulty levels for state identification.

• Level One: This side of a GeoSpot provides students with 5 clues to a state�s identification: (1) border outline, (2) 2-letter postal abbreviation, (3) star size (see �Understanding GeoSpot Stars�) (4) placement at the location of the state capital and (5) capital�s name.
• Level Two: The opposite side of a GeoSpot provides students with 3 clues to a state�s identification: (1) border outline, (2) star size (see �Understanding GeoSpot Stars�) and (3) placement at the location of the state capital.

UNDERSTANDING GEOSPOT STARS

ACTIVITIES TO GET YOU STARTED

It�s one thing to learn the states by the juxtaposition of the states around them, but it�s another to identify them, when they�re geographically displaced. Some states, like Wyoming and Colorado, are so similar in shape and size, that they are indistinguishable from each other, except for the locations of their capitals; in this case, Denver and Cheyenne. In the following activities, your students will be challenged to reconstruct the country.

1. Divide the class into 6 teams; 1 for each geographic region (North East, South East, Mid West, South West, Pacific South West (including Hawaii) and Pacific North West (including Alaska).
2. Randomly distribute GeoSpots around the gymnasium, except for one state from each region. That state is placed on the floor next to each group.
3. Objective: To retrieve all the states in their region and place them in their proper position, related to the original state given to them. The first group to do this wins.

Jumpin� Geography Tasks
GROUP RELAY:

1. Divide the group into 2 relay teams.
2. One group will organize the states East of the Mississippi while their opponents organize the states West of the Mississippi into one large map!
3. The first group to complete their half wins.

INDIVIDUAL TASKS:

1. Balance on one foot in the great state of Arkansas. Now hop to a state that joins Arkansas then back home, continue until you have visited each state that borders Arkansas.
2. Hop quickly onto all the states smaller than Indiana is. Count them. How many states are smaller than Indiana?
3. Can you do a coast-to-coast cartwheel? Can you do a forward roll from North to South?
4. Start in the Gulf of Mexico and Hop up the Mississippi River, hopping in all the states that the river touches. Count the states as you go. How many states will you hop into? Yes, it goes all the way to Minnesota � 10 states in all!
5. Can you follow the other tributaries of the Mississippi River?
6. Can you begin in Washington, D.C. and travel west � changing from a hop�to a leap�to a jump�with each time zone and end in Washington State?
7. Can you place a foot in each state having a North and South, and jump to another set of states having a North and South? Keep the same foot in North!
8. Hop onto all states beginning with an �I.�
9. Plan a trip from New York to Arizona. Hopping in no more than 5 states.
10. Plan a trip from Boston to Las Vegas by jumping onto no more than 4 states on your trip.
11. Can you place your right foot in New Mexico and your left foot in Arizona, jump into the air making a full turn and land on the same states without losing your balance? Change directions.
12. HOP on all the states that border with Canada! Now jump to a state that borders Mexico. Hop all the states that border Mexico.
    
13. Can you go from Georgia to California on 3 jumps? Try leaping back on 2 leaps.
14. Plan a trip from Los Angeles to Miami by leaping onto no more than 3 states!
15. Hop onto all states that begin with an �M.�
16. Can you go from Florida to Washington State on 3 jumps?
17. Hop out the states in alphabetical order. Look before you begin and, yes, some letters will be missing!
18. Leap on all states beginning with an �A.�
19. Can you jump onto 3 states that have a square shape?
20. Beginning in the largest state, jump quickly to the 10 largest states.