THE PEACH PIT
SENTINEL
Missy Bain’s
2nd Grade Class
Mt. Bethel Elementary N e w s l e t t e r V ol u m e 1 , I s s u e 1 Georgia on OUR Minds
Social Studies Update
This year we will be learning almost
everything there is to know about Georgia.
The first thing we do is to review cardinal
directions using the compass rose on our
maps. Think about putting yourself in the
middle of the compass rose and face the
direction we want to travel. From here you
can figure out if you are going North, South,
East, or West. We will also learned some
new intermediate directions – Northeast,
Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. All
this will help us as we travel around our great
state.
Capitol vs. Capital
Do you know the difference between
Capitol spelled with an ‘ol’ and Capital
spelled with an ‘al’?
Capitol spelled with an ‘ol’ refers to the
building in which state legislators meet
both in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
Atlanta’s ‘Gold Dome’
The Compass Rose was first used to
find wind direction in 1300, it was
known back then as a ‘wind’ rose.
The U.S. Capitol Building
Capital spelled with ‘al’ refers to a city
serving as a seat of government. Atlanta
is the capital of Georgia and Washington,
D.C. is the capital of the United States
of America.
Fun FACTS about Georgia:
Georgia is known as the Peach State and the
Empire State of the South.
Georgia is the largest state east of the
Mississippi River in terms of land area,
although it is the fourth largest in total area.
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in
Georgia at 4,784 feet; the lowest point is sea
level.
We learned if you travel from the capital
city of Atlanta to the capitol building in
Washington, D.C. you have to travel
Northeast.
Mrs. Bain’s Unit Study Newsletter Page 2
Vocabulary Words
To help us along our way we will be
learning some new vocabulary words.
We will learn that a ‘Ridge’ is a long
narrow strip of high land. We will learn
that a ‘Plateau’ is an area of fairly flat
land. We will learn that a ‘State’ is a
part of a country and a ‘Region’ is an
area that has some shared natural or
human feature that sets it apart from
other areas. We will talk about
different regions in our classroom that
have shared features and have named
them after Georgia’s five geographic
regions.
Georgia’s FIVE Regions
Appalachian Plateau – in the N.W. corner
of the state, this is the smallest region
Valley & Ridge – this region is known for
its textiles and carpet industry
Blue Ridge – in the N.E. corner of the
state this region has the highest and
largest group of mountains
Piedmont – this region includes the state
capital of Atlanta / half the state’s
population lives here
Coastal Plain – in this region farmers
grow peanuts, corn and pecan trees
More Fun FACTS about GA
State Flower – Cherokee Rose
State Tree – Live Oak
State Insect – Honey Bee
State Fruit – PEACH
State Bird – Brown Thrasher
State Fish – Largemouth Bass
State Song – ‘Georgia on my Mind’
Georgia’ Seven Major Rivers
We will be learning about Georgia’s seven
major rivers. We will be able to locate them
on a map. We will learn how the Altamaha
River starts where the Ocmulgee and
Oconee rivers come together. Our studies
will find us tubing through Atlanta on the
Chattahoochee, sailing down the Savannah,
fishing the Flint and finally wading through
the St. Mary’s on the Georgia / Florida
border.
Why are rivers so important? Rushing
waters of rivers provide power to make
electricity.
Using What We Learn!
At the end of our first unit on Georgia we
will be using what we have learned to
create a travel brochure. Our goal will be
to let everyone know why they should come
to our beautiful state to visit and live.
If you have any Fun FACTS about Georgia
you think we should include, please send
them in so we can share with the class.