Ostara: Spring Equinox & U.S. Geography
Explore the physical geography of the United States—rivers, mountains, plains, and coasts—as spring awakens the land.
UU Principle Focus
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
🎯 Learning Goals
- • Learn U.S. physical geography: major rivers, mountain ranges, plains, and coastlines
- • Develop map-reading skills: scales, symbols, compass directions
- • Understand how geography shapes history and culture
- • Practice measurement and calculation with geographic data
- • Create detailed maps and geographic illustrations
- • Connect spring themes to the awakening land
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: U.S. Geography: The Land We Call Home
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Our country spans from sea to shining sea. What makes a place feel like home? (4th Principle: Search for truth)
📚 Language Arts
Introduction to U.S. geography writing. Read about early explorers. Vocabulary: continent, region, landform, climate.
📐 Math
Map scales and distance calculations. How far is it from coast to coast?
🗺️ Geography
Physical geography overview: mountains, plains, rivers, coasts. Major landforms of North America.
✏️ Form Drawing
Map-making basics: symbols, compass rose, scale
🧶 Handwork
Begin spring garden planning; Ostara egg decorating
📖 Story
Stories of the land: Native American origin stories
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- U.S. geography overview
- How maps work
Shows:
- America's National Parks
Audio:
- Native American legends
Week 2: Rivers and Waterways
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Rivers have shaped our nation's history and geography. How does water shape the land and our lives?
📚 Language Arts
Write about a major U.S. river. Research its history and importance. Create a river profile.
📐 Math
Measuring river lengths. Compare and order large numbers. Calculate travel times.
🗺️ Geography
Major U.S. rivers: Mississippi, Colorado, Columbia, Ohio. Watersheds and drainage basins.
✏️ Form Drawing
Draw river systems with tributaries
🧶 Handwork
Continue Ostara crafts; seed planting
📖 Story
River stories: Mark Twain's Mississippi, Lewis and Clark
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Mississippi River documentary
- How rivers form
Shows:
- America's Rivers
Audio:
- Adventures of Tom Sawyer excerpts
Week 3: Mountains and Highlands
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Mountains challenge us to climb higher. What mountains (real or metaphorical) are you climbing?
📚 Language Arts
Write about a U.S. mountain range. Compare Appalachians and Rockies. Vocabulary: peak, range, elevation, erosion.
📐 Math
Elevation and altitude. Reading topographic information. Compare mountain heights.
🗺️ Geography
U.S. mountain ranges: Appalachians, Rockies, Sierra Nevada, Cascades. How mountains form.
✏️ Form Drawing
Mountain landscapes with perspective
🧶 Handwork
Nature walks; collect spring specimens
📖 Story
Mountain stories: John Muir and the Sierra Nevada
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- How mountains form
- Rocky Mountain wildlife
Shows:
- Mountain: Life at the Extreme
Audio:
- Mountain adventure stories
Week 4: Plains and Prairies
🕯️ Hearth Circle
The Great Plains fed our nation and the world. How do we care for the land that feeds us?
📚 Language Arts
Write about life on the prairie. Read Laura Ingalls Wilder excerpts. Descriptive writing about landscapes.
📐 Math
Area calculations: How big is a farm? Acres, square miles, and large-scale measurements.
🗺️ Geography
The Great Plains: grasslands, agriculture, the Dust Bowl. Prairie ecosystems and restoration.
✏️ Form Drawing
Horizon lines and prairie landscapes
🧶 Handwork
Plant prairie flowers; continue spring projects
📖 Story
Prairie stories: Little House on the Prairie, pioneer tales
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Great Plains documentary
- Prairie wildlife
Shows:
- The Dust Bowl (Ken Burns)
Audio:
- Little House excerpts
Week 5: Coasts and Oceans
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Our coasts connect us to the wider world. How are we connected to people and places far away?
📚 Language Arts
Write about coastal regions. Compare Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Research a coastal city.
📐 Math
Tide calculations. Time zones across the country. Distance from coast to coast.
🗺️ Geography
U.S. coastlines: Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf. Coastal ecosystems, tides, and marine life.
✏️ Form Drawing
Coastal landscapes with waves and shorelines
🧶 Handwork
Beach-inspired crafts; shell collections
📖 Story
Coastal stories: lighthouses, fishing communities, maritime history
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Ocean ecosystems
- Coastal wildlife
Shows:
- Blue Planet: Coasts
Audio:
- Island of the Blue Dolphins excerpts
Week 6: Ostara Celebration & Geography Review
🕯️ Hearth Circle
At the spring equinox, day and night are equal again. How do we find balance between exploring and staying rooted? (4th Principle)
📚 Language Arts
Create a U.S. geography book or poster. Review all vocabulary and regions.
📐 Math
Review map skills and calculations. Geography games and challenges.
🗺️ Geography
Review U.S. physical geography. Complete map with all major features labeled.
✏️ Form Drawing
Complete a decorative map of the United States
🧶 Handwork
Finish Ostara crafts; prepare celebration
📖 Story
Spring celebration stories from across America
📺 "Just Can't" Day
Videos:
- Spring equinox traditions
- U.S. geography quiz
Shows:
- America the Beautiful
Audio:
- American folk tales
🌸 Ostara Celebration
- 🟡 Decorate eggs as symbols of new life
- 🟡 Plant seeds in the garden
- 🟡 Display U.S. geography maps and projects
- 🟡 Take a nature walk to observe spring awakening
- 🟡 Balance eggs on end (equinox tradition!)
- 🟡 Feast with spring foods: eggs, greens, sprouts
📚 Recommended Resources
Read-Alouds
- • Little House on the Prairie excerpts
- • Island of the Blue Dolphins
- • My Side of the Mountain
Reference
- • National Geographic U.S. Atlas for Kids
- • DK Eyewitness: North America
- • Rand McNally Children's Atlas