Skill Builders: Geography Challenge Questions, Week 1

Week 1: Geography questions to help students learn research skills and discover fun facts.
Grades:
6
7
8
Subjects:
Social Studies and History
Geography
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Geography Challenge

Week 1

Discover fun facts with three levels of geography questions.

Level 1 (Grades 3-5)


A part of the state of Florida extends into the ocean. It is called the Florida Keys. The first undersea park in the continental United States was John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Can you find the park on a map?

Level 2 (Grades 5-7)


The nickname for the state of Florida is the Sunshine State. "Full of flowers" is the meaning of the Spanish word florida.

What is a nickname for your state?

Level 3 (Grades 6 and up)


The highest temperature ever recorded in the United States was in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913: 134°F (57°C).

What is the highest recorded temperature in your state?
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Geography Challenge Answers

Week 1

Level 1


Have students locate John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on a map.

Hint: This park is located near Key Largo.

Level 2


Have students use text books, encyclopedias, Internet sites, or other resources to discover the nickname of their state.

Here's a list of all the states and their nicknames.
State Nickname
Alabama Yellowhammer State
Alaska The Last Frontier or Land of the Midnight Sun
Arizona Grand Canyon State
Arkansas Natural State
California Golden State
Colorado Centennial State
Connecticut Constitution State (official, 1959); Nutmeg State
Delaware Diamond State; First State; Small Wonder
Florida Sunshine State (1970)
Georgia Peach State, Empire State of the South
Hawaii Aloha State (1959)
Idaho Gem State
Illinois Prairie State
Indiana Hoosier State
Iowa Hawkeye State
Kansas Sunflower State; Jayhawk State
Kentucky Bluegrass State
Louisiana Pelican State
Maine Pine Tree State
Maryland Free State; Old Line State
Massachusetts Bay State; Old Colony State
Michigan Wolverine State
Minnesota North Star State; Gopher State; Land of 10,000 Lakes
Mississippi Magnolia State
Missouri Show-Me State
Montana Treasure State
Nebraska Cornhusker State (1945); Beef State
Nevada Sagebrush State; Silver State; Battle Born State
New Hampshire Granite State
New Jersey Garden State
New Mexico Land of Enchantment (1999)
New York Empire State
North Carolina Tar Heel State
North Dakota Sioux State; Flickertail State; Peace Garden State; Rough Rider State
Ohio Buckeye State
Oklahoma Sooner State
Oregon Beaver State
Pennsylvania Keystone State
Rhode Island Ocean State
South Carolina Palmetto State
South Dakota Mount Rushmore State; Coyote State
Tennessee Volunteer State
Texas Lone Star State
Utah Beehive State
Vermont Green Mountain State
Virginia The Old Dominion; Mother of Presidents
Washington Evergreen State
West Virginia Mountain State
Wisconsin Badger State
Wyoming Equality State

Level 3


Have students use text books, encyclopedias, Internet sites, or other resources to discover the highest recorded temperature in their state.

Temperature highs and lows vary tremendously from state to state. Here are the highest recorded temperatures listed by state.
State Temp.
°F 		Temp.
°C 		Date Station
Alabama 112 44 Sept. 5, 1925 Centerville
Alaska 100 38 June 27, 1915 Fort Yukon
Arizona 128 53 June 29, 1994 Lake Havasu City
Arkansas 120 49 Aug. 10, 1936 Ozark
California 134 57 July 10, 1913 Greenland Ranch
Colorado 118 48 July 11, 1888 Bennett
Connecticut 106 41 July 15, 1995 Danbury
Delaware 110 43 July 21, 1930 Millsboro
D.C. 106 41 July 20, 1930 Washington
Florida 109 43 June 29, 1931 Monticello
Georgia 112 44 Aug. 20, 1983Greenville
Hawaii 100 38 Apr. 27, 1931 Pahala
Idaho 118 48 July 28, 1934 Orofino
Illinois 117 47 July 14, 1954 E. St. Louis
Indiana 116 47 July 14, 1936 Collegeville
Iowa 118 48 July 20, 1934 Keokuk
Kansas 121 49 July 24, 1936 *Alton (near)
Kentucky 114 46 July 28, 1930 Greensburg
Louisiana 114 46 Aug. 10, 1936 Plain Dealing
Maine 105 41 July 10, 1911*North Bridgton
Maryland 109 43 July 10, 1936*Cumberland & Frederick
Massachusetts 107 42 Aug. 2, 1975 New Bedford & Chester
Michigan 112 44 July 13, 1936 Mio
Minnesota 114 46 July 6, 1936 *Moorhead
Mississippi 115 46 July 29, 1930 Holly Springs
Missouri 118 48 July 14, 1954*Warsaw & Union
Montana 117 47 July 5, 1937 Medicine Lake
Nebraska 118 48 July 24, 1936 *Minden
Nevada 125 52 June 29, 1994 Laughlin
New Hampshire 106 41 July 4, 1911 Nashua
New Jersey 110 43 July 10, 1936 Runyon
New Mexico 122 50 June 27, 1994 Waste Isolat. Pilot Pit
New York 108 42 July 22, 1926 Troy
North Carolina 110 43 Aug. 21, 1983 Fayetteville
North Dakota 121 49 July 6, 1936 Steele
Ohio 113 45 July 21, 1934*Gallipolis (near)
Oklahoma 120 49 June 27, 1994*Tipton
Oregon 119 48 Aug. 10, 1898 Pendleton
Pennsylvania 111 44 July 10, 1936*Phoenixville
Rhode Island 104 40 Aug. 2, 1975 Providence
South Carolina 111 44 June 28, 1954*Camden
South Dakota 120 49 July 5, 1936 Gannvalley
Tennessee 113 45 Aug. 9, 1930*Perryville
Texas 120 49 Aug. 12, 1936 Seymour
Utah 117 47 July 5, 1895 Saint George
Vermont 105 41 July 4, 1911 Vernon
Virginia 110 43 July 15, 1954 Balcony Falls
Washington 118 48 Aug. 5, 1961*Ice Harbor Dam
West Virginia 112 44 July 10, 1936*Martinsburg
Wisconsin 114 46 July 13, 1936 Wisconsin Dells
Wyoming 114 46 July 12, 1900 Basin

* Also on earlier dates at the same or other places.
Back to Geography Challenge

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