Summer/Fall Series: 50 States - Maryland

MARYLAND

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One of two states to give up land for the capital city, Washington, D.C., Maryland became the 7th state on April 28, 1788.  The postal abbreviation is MD (remember that Maine was ME).  Maryland is the 42nd largest state in the Union.  It was named in honor of the wife of Britain's King Charles I, Henrietta Maria.  The capital of Maryland, Annapolis, was once the capital of the United States and was named in honor of Princess Anne who would later become the queen of England in 1702.  Washington, D.C., became the nation's capital on July 16, 1790.

Maryland's nickname is the "Old Line State."  It dates back to the Revolutionary War and is said to have been given by George Washington himself after viewing the bravery and steadfastness of the Maryland Line at the Battle of Long Island.  The state motto is "Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine" and means "Manly Deeds, Womanly Words" or "Strong Deeds, Gentle Words."  It is written in Italian and stems from the Italian roots of the Calvert Family, the Lords Baltimore, who governed Maryland for 42 years.

The flag of Maryland was adopted in 1904 and is based on the coat of arms of the Calvert family.  It is the only U.S. flag that contains British heraldry.

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The state symbols of Maryland include the Baltimore oriole as the state bird, the striped bass as the state fish, and the Maryland blue crab as the state crustacean.  The state dog is the Chesapeake Bay retriever.

The state flower is the black-eyed Susan, and the official state tree is the Wye Oak which is a white oak that is more than 450 years old.  Milk is the state beverage.  (This isn't the first time we've heard this.)  Maryland also has a state boat: the Skipjack, which is a boat used for oyster dredging.

Seafood contributes a great deal to the economy of Maryland.  Blue crabs, oysters, striped bass, soft clams, and flounder are some varieties which are caught and sold.  Maryland contributes nearly half of the nation's blue crab supply.  Other top industries are corn, soybean, and tobacco farming; coal mining; and steel production.

Maryland holds the honor of having the first school in the nation.  In 1696, King William's School was established.  It also had the first dental school at the University of Maryland.  The United States Naval Academy was founded on October 10, 1845, in Annapolis.  It was called the Naval School until 1850.

People from Maryland are called Marylanders.  Some famous Maryland-born Marylanders are politicians such as Spiro Agnew, Charles Carroll who signed the Declaration of Independence, John Dickinson who was one of the writers of the Declaration of Independence, and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.  Authors Tom Clancy, Upton Sinclair (The Jungle), and Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon) were both born here.  Other people include Francis Scott Key, the writer of the Star Spangled Banner; Johns Hopkins, philanthropist who founded the university and hospital which bear his name; sports' stars Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, Michael Phelps, and Pete Sampras; Benjamin Banneker, astronomer who helped plan Washington, D.C.; Stephen Decatur, the youngest captain in the Navy; Frederick Douglass, former slave who became the first black citizen to be a high-ranking government official; John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin; Harriet Tubman; and Frank Perdue of chicken fame.

Maryland has hundreds of events year round and tourists attractions.  Like most other states, there are aquariums, amusement parks, and zoos.  There are national parks and old war forts.  Antietam National Battlefield is part of the National Park Service and commemorates the Civil War battle along Antietam Creek.  Visit the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore and the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo which details the life of the founder of the American Red Cross.  The Charles Carroll House of Annapolis is open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays from June through September.

Try your hand at some of these Maryland puzzles and quizzes.

The following list of products is available at christianbook.com.  I am an affiliate of christianbook.com.  If you purchase through my blog, I will receive a commission.

A Primary Source History of the Colony of Maryland - Unabridged Audiobook on CD By Liz Sonneborn & Eileen Stevens / Brilliance Audio Learn all about the colony of Maryland through primary source documents! On November 22, 1633, two small ships sailed from England with about 150 people on board, mainly men, though there were some women and children. All were leaving their homes and setting sail for a strange land. They dropped anchor in Chesapeake Bay and landed on an island they named St. Clements, which they found to be too small, and moved to a larger area that they called St. Mary's City.  From these humble beginnings emerged Maryland, one of the thirteen colonies of America. From the colonists' early years, to political and religious upheaval and disease, this audiobook recounts the history of the colony. Unabridged audio CD; approximately 1 hour 12 minutes; 1 CD.

Voices from Colonial America: Maryland 1634-1776 By Robin Doak / Random House, Inc

13 Colonies: Maryland By Roberta Wiener & James Arnold / Heinemann Raintree

Maryland My First Book, Grades K-5 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International An "early bird" intro to basic state facts. Covers state basics such as state nickname, seal, song, bird, motto, flag, regions, industries, neighbors, and weather, plus an intro to state history, people and more. Includes: drawing, mazes, matching, coloring, and more! Reproducible. Available for all 50 states. Grades K-5; ages 5-10.

Harriet Tubman By Marion Dane Bauer & Tammie Lyon / Scholastic Trade Introduce young children to the important life that Harriet Tubman led with this illustrated picture book. Simply written and brightly illustrated, children will learn about Harriet's early life as a slave in the South, how she managed to run away to freedom, and her long and dangerous fight for freedom for slaves and rights for women.

Harriet Tubman: Freedom's Trailblazer By Kathleen V. Kudlinski / Aladdin

Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent: How Daring Slaves and Free Blacks Spied for the Union During the Civil War By Thomas B. Allen / Random House, Inc Readers discover that Harriet Tubman--well known to them as an ex-slave who led hundreds of her people to freedom along the Underground Railroad--was also a spy for the Union Army. More specifically, she worked behind Confederate lines in South Carolina getting information about troop movement and Rebel fortifications from slaves whom she was leading to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The report on her raid to Lincoln's Secretary of War stated: "This is the only military command in American history wherein a woman, black or white, led the raid and under whose inspiration it was originated and conducted."192 pages, hardcover.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself - eBook By Frederick Douglass / Simon & Schuster Fredrick Douglass' account of his life as a slave, and finally as a freedman, is one of the most dramatic tales in American history. First published when the author was only 28, after just achieving his freedom, he presents us with a vivid portrait of the harsh injustices and dehumanization that slavery had upon African Americans. His refreshing and eloquent prose popularized his autobiography and helped him launch his career as a minister and abolitionist. This Enriched Classic edition also contains and outline of key themes, detailed explanatory notes, critical analysis, discussion questions, and more. 182 pages, softcover.

Frederick Douglass By George E. Stanley / Aladdin Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass was separated from his family, beaten, and was forced to work constantly-all because of his skin color. How could anyone overcome such odds? But overcome he did, as Frederick eventually became a famous abolitionist, author, statesman, and reformer. Read about how one of the most prominent figures in African American history paved the way for others to achieve their own freedom! 192 pages, paperback. Ages 8-12.

For You They Signed: The Spiritual Heritage of Those Who Shaped Our Nation By Marilyn Boyer / Master Books Can you identify all the men who signed the Declaration of Independence? They were men who risked everything to bring our modern United States of America into being, yet we've largely forgotten their names, states, and their lives. For You They Signed features the stories of the 56 signers-perfect for a year's worth of week-long studies as a family devotion or independent study. Each entry features an original illustration, sidebar with quick statistics, close-up of their signature, quotes timeline, chapter text on their lives, and questions for discussion. A family activity guide Companion Book is available at the publisher's website. 342 pages, hardcover.

The Star Spangled Banner By Peter Spier / Random House, Inc Illustrated by favorite children's author/illustrator Peter Spier, his iconic images are set to all three verses of "The Star Spangled Banner." With a historic note at the end, this is an excellent way to introduce children not only to the words of the song, but also to the background it was born out of, and the meaning of the lyrics. Music also included on the last page.

Union 1812, audiobook on CD By A.J. Langguth / Tantor Media A gripping narrative of the second and final war of independence that secured the nation's permanence and established its claim to the entire continent, by the author of the enormously successful and acclaimed Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution. This dramatic account of the War of 1812 fills a surprising gap in the popular literature of the nation's formative years. It is this war, followed closely on the War of Independence, that established the young nation as a permanent power and proved its claim to Manifest Destiny. Full of fascinating characters-Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, and the future President Andrew Jackson, as well as Dolley Madison, Sam Houston, the great Indian chieftain Tecumseh, Francis Scott Key, Davey Crockett, and Oliver Perry, among others-Langguth's riveting account covers a vast panorama of battles, from the American sacking of Toronto and the British burning of the White House and the Capitol, to the thrilling war at sea and on the Great Lakes and the final spectacular American victory at New Orleans. Unabridged. 13 hours. 11 CDs. Read by Grover Gardner.

The Star-Spangled Banner: The Story Behind Our National Anthem By Liz Sonneborn / Facts On File In 1814, a young American lawyer named Francis Scott Key watched through the night as British troops attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore. As the smoke cleared and dawn broke, he lifted a small telescope to his eye and saw the American flag waving above the fort. America had endured. Filled with emotion, Key wrote the first lines of "The Star-Spangled Banner" - the song that would become our national anthem. Elementary students can learn what each part of this song means, and better understand this national song. Colorfully illustrated with timeline, glossary, and index; 32 pages.

Benjamin Banneker By Coughlan Publishing A "Fact Finder" Biography, this short biography features short sentences and archival illustrations that give children a good idea of who Benjamin Banneker was and what he accomplished. His education-both by Quakers and himself-is discussed, as well as his creation of a wooden clock, published almanacs, and surveying skills. 32 pages. Ages 7-10.

What Are You Figuring Now?: A Story about Benjamin Banneker By Jeri Ferris & Amy Johnson(ILLUS) / Carolrhoda Books

The Bloodiest Day: Battle of Antietam By Larry Hama / Random House, Inc Relive the terrible story of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history. As Union and Confederate armies met, ordinary men and women showed extraordinary courage as they fought to decide the future of their county. In this Osprey Graphic History book, you'll meet John Gordon and Francis Barlow, who faced each other in the "bloody lane," in a desperate struggle for survival. Then use the extra information packed inside to learn about why they fought.

The President is Shot! The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln By Harold Holzer / Boyds Mills Press It was only one moment in history, yet one of the most significant and tragic. Author Harold Holzer explains the context for the assassination, including Lincoln's dreams about his death, Mary Lincoln's fears and phobias, his unpopularity in the South, and the ways in which John Wilkes Booth's life led him to the assassination of the president. Period etchings, momentos, and photographs included. Ages 10 & up.

Heroes of History: Clara Barton, Angel of the Battlefield By Janet & Geoff Benge / Emerald Books The Heroes of History series chronicles the true stories of fascinating men and women who changed the course of history. Known during the Civil War as the "Angel of the Battlefield," remarkable Clara Barton risked everything to save countless lives on the frontlines of battle. Once a painfully timid child, Clara was as bold as a lion when it came to helping others, whether wayward schoolboys, natural-disaster victims, or dying soldiers. For ages 10 and up.

Edgar Allan Poe By Edgar Allen Poe / Sterling Publishing Beautiful, commissioned illustrations accompany a number of Edgar Allan Poe's most beloved poems. A fantastic way to introduce children to poetry, the included vocabulary and context notes help make the art form more accessible to beginners. A biography of the poet is also provided at the beginning of the book. Ages 8 & up. 48 pages, hardcover.