Fun Usa Educational Activities with Herkimer and the Stat Pack

By Steven M. Solano and Sanderson M. Smith

This is the third book in a series of adventures involving Herkimer and a group of ten students who call themselves the Stat Pack. The first two books related to two very practical and useful mathematical subjects, statistics and finance. They were not written to be textbooks; each consisted of a series of easy-to-read vignettes involving conversations and interactions between the fantasy character Herkimer and the Stat Pack students who had a genuine desire to learn mathematical concepts that would be important and valuable as they progressed into adulthood. The statistical adventures of this group can be found in

THE STATISTICAL ODYSSEY OF HERKIMER AND THE STAT PACK

and the financial explorations in

HERKIMER AND THE STAT PACK VENTURE INTO MONEY MATHEMATICS.

Both books represent AuthorHouse publications. A reader of these books would learn much about statistics and finance as they shared the experiences and activities Herkimer created for the Stat Pack. In this book the students actually join Herkimer in creating a series of fun activities designed to help readers gain a better understanding of the wonderful country known as the United States of America. It is designed to be of interest to all age groups. Adults can enjoy the book as well as children. In this period where geography is infrequently taught in schools the activities herein represent a potential source of educational family fun and enjoyment. The book should serve as a reminder that useful and meaningful educational adventures can take place outside of the school classroom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467876889

Steven M. Solano

SANDERSON SMITH taught mathematics at the Cate School in Carpinteria for forty years. He is the recipient of numerous state and national education awards including the California Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching. The author of numerous mathematically related books and articles, he remains active in mathematics education as a part time instructor at Santa Barbara City College. He is a frequent speaker at mathematics conferences and makes a very popular humorous mathematics history presentation multiple times each year. He and his wife of 49 years, Barbara, reside in Carpinteria where they are actively involved in community service activities. STEVEN SOLANO worked in radio broadcasting for 22 years and served as Advertising Production Director for most of those years. His pleasant narrative baritone voice has been heard on many industrial videos and commercials. An avid singer, he sings in his church choir. He has a great affinity for technology in all related forms, including audio production, sound recording and editing. He is an IT computer support specialist in the Carpinteria School District and freelances as a computer tech. He also works with elementary school children in after-school programs. He is married with two children and very active in the local Carpinteria community.

Book preview

Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

U.S. ACTIVITY #1

Created by Brenda and Wayne

BEGINNING LETTERS OF STATE NAMES

U.S. ACTIVITY #2

Created by Valarie and Darren

NUMBER OF LETTERS IN STATE NAMES

U.S. ACTIVITY #3

Created by Carolyn and Stephen

NUMBER OF STATE NAMES CONTAINING SPECIFIC LETTER

U.S. ACTIVITY #4

Created by Valarie and Darren

NUMBER OF STATE NAMES CONTAINING SPECIFIC LETTER MORE THAN ONCE

U.S. ACTIVITY #5

Created by Janice and Roger

BEGINNING LETTERS OF STATE CAPITAL CITY NAMES

U.S. ACTIVITY #6

Created by Frances and Wayne

ATTAINMENT-OF-STATEHOOD YEAR FOR EACH OF THE 50 STATES

U.S. ACTIVITY #7

Created by Glen and Janice

UNSCRAMBLE LETTERS TO YIELD STATE AND CAPITAL CITY

U.S. ACTIVITY #8

Created by Brenda and Carolyn

CREATE WORDS FROM LETTERS IN A STATE NAME

U.S. ACTIVITY #9

Created by Darren and Roger

ANOTHER ACTIVITY CREATING WORDS FROM LETTERS IN A STATE NAME

U.S. ACTIVITY #10

Created by Stephen and Valarie

ORDER THE STATES BY POPULATION RANK

U.S. ACTIVITY #11

Created by Brenda, Carolyn and Wayne

ORDER CAPITAL CITIES BY POPULATION RANK

U.S. ACTIVITY #12

Created by Darren and Frances

ORDER OF STATEHOOD FOR THE 50 STATES

U.S. ACTIVITY #13

Created by Valarie and Glen

ORDER OF STATES BY SIZE (SQ. MILES)

U.S. ACTIVITY #14

Created by Janice, Roger and Stephen

ORDER OF STATES BY PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE

U. S. ACTIVITY #15

Created by Herkimer and the Stat Pack

THE SEPARATOR STATE CHALLENGES

U. S. ACTIVITY #16

Created by all members of the STAT PACK

STATE IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE FROM SEPARATOR STATE HISTOGRAMS

SOLUTIONS FOR SELECTED ACTIVITIES

APPRECIATION PAGE

This book is dedicated to the Solano family:

My lovely wife, Susan Elizabeth,

the love of my life;

to my great kids,

Sarah Elizabeth,

all grown up now and so incredibly talented;

and Michael Andrew,

now ready to take on the world.

Steve

Lines from

AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain.

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PREFACE

This is the third in a series of books involving Herkimer and a group of ten students who call themselves the Stat Pack. Their first educational adventures occurred in the AuthorHouse book

9196.jpg

THE STATISTICAL ODDYSSEY OF HERKIMER AND THE STAT PACK.

The fantasy character Herkimer provided activities and guidance for the students as they worked their way through an introductory statistics course. It was here the students adopted the name Stat Pack.

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Following their satisfying statistical journey the Stat Pack asked Herkimer to guide them through an educational series of activities that would help them learn how money works in a capitalistic society. Given the lack of financial literacy that contributed to the financial crisis that began in 2008 Herkimer was delighted to take on this assignment. The story of their adventures is told in the AuthorHouse publication,

HERKIMER AND THE STAT PACK VENTRUE INTO MONEY MATHEMATICS

In this book Herkimer and the Stat Pack have combined their talents and efforts to produce a series of activities to help people of all ages gain an understanding and an appreciation of their wonderful homeland, the United States of America. They hope that you, the reader, will find enjoyment and educational excitement by accepting the fun challenges they have created.

Herkimer expresses his thanks and gratitude to Barbara and Susan, wives of the authors, for their contributions and patience during the creation of this book. Appreciation is also extended to multiple web sources offering free patriotic clip art that has been used on many pages. A listing of these sources appears on page 320.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,

do more and become more,

you are a leader.

(John Quincy Adams)

Lines from

AMERICA (My country, ‘tis of Thee)

My country, ‘tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty

Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From every mountain side

Let Freedom Ring.

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INTRODUCTION

While previously working with the Stat Pack in statistical educational activities, Herkimer presented many exercises that enhanced the group’s knowledge about the geography and history of the great country known as the United States of America. Upon reflection on their statistical studies, Pack members realized how little they knew about the U.S. before Herkimer appeared to them, and then how much they knew when they had completed the activities and exercises he had created for them.

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It was after the Pack completed working with Herkimer on financialliteracy that they came up with the idea to create a series of fun activitiesthat would help people of all ages increase their knowledge of each ofthe 50 states that make up the United States of America. Herkimer agreed to help them outwith thoughts and ideas but he told the students they were smart enough to create educationalactivities with very little guidance from him. This was fine with the Pack. They met as agroup and started to make plans