Activity Overview
Webs are an excellent tool to help students organize facts in a systematic and visual manner. Students will research Illinois and use the blank template provided to show what they have learned. They will then create a 6 cell web that includes the state motto, flower, tree, and bird, capital and other major cities, a famous citizen, date of statehood, nickname, and an interesting tourist spot for Illinois. This activity could be used as part of a Regions of the United States unit, or as part of an informational research unit.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a 6 cell web that includes the state motto, flower, tree, and bird, capital and other major cities, a famous citizen, date of statehood, nickname, and an interesting tourist spot for Illinois.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write the state name in the middle space.
- Create an illustration that represents each heading (Cities, State Motto, etc.) using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short summary of each heading in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | All five cells have thorough information about the state. The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | Three or four of the cells have information about the state. The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | Two or less cells have information about the state, or information is inaccurate. The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
Activity Overview
Webs are an excellent tool to help students organize facts in a systematic and visual manner. Students will research Illinois and use the blank template provided to show what they have learned. They will then create a 6 cell web that includes the state motto, flower, tree, and bird, capital and other major cities, a famous citizen, date of statehood, nickname, and an interesting tourist spot for Illinois. This activity could be used as part of a Regions of the United States unit, or as part of an informational research unit.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a 6 cell web that includes the state motto, flower, tree, and bird, capital and other major cities, a famous citizen, date of statehood, nickname, and an interesting tourist spot for Illinois.
Student Instructions:
- Click “Start Assignment”.
- Write the state name in the middle space.
- Create an illustration that represents each heading (Cities, State Motto, etc.) using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short summary of each heading in the space below the illustration.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 5 Points | Emerging 3 Points | Beginning 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | All five cells have thorough information about the state. The descriptions are clear and at least two sentences. | Three or four of the cells have information about the state. The descriptions can be understood but it are somewhat unclear. | Two or less cells have information about the state, or information is inaccurate. The descriptions are unclear and are not at least two sentences. |
| Illustrations | The illustrations represent the descriptions using appropriate scenes, characters and items. | The illustrations relate to the descriptions, but are difficult to understand. | The illustrations do not clearly relate to the descriptions. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
| Conventions | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are somewhat correct. | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are mostly incorrect. |
How Tos about Facts about Illinois Activity
Plan a collaborative Illinois facts web as a whole-class project
Engage your entire class by creating a large Illinois facts web together on chart paper or the whiteboard. This builds teamwork and helps students brainstorm facts before individual work.
Assign specific research roles to students
Divide your class into small groups or pairs and give each group a unique Illinois topic (such as state motto, famous citizens, or major cities). This ensures every student has a clear focus and promotes deeper research.
Guide students to use graphic organizers for note-taking
Provide students with simple graphic organizers or webs to record their findings in a structured way. This helps students visually connect facts and prepares them for creating their final web.
Model how to create an illustration for a fact
Demonstrate drawing a quick, meaningful illustration for one Illinois fact, like the state bird. Show how visuals can represent information and encourage students to be creative but accurate. This gives students confidence to illustrate their own facts.
Facilitate a gallery walk for peer feedback
Have students display their completed webs around the room and lead a gallery walk where classmates leave sticky note compliments or suggestions. This builds a community of learning and encourages pride in their work.
Frequently Asked Questions about Facts about Illinois Activity
What is a spider map activity for learning about Illinois?
A spider map activity is a visual organizer where students research facts about Illinois and fill in a web with key information, such as the state motto, flower, tree, bird, major cities, a famous citizen, date of statehood, nickname, and a tourist spot. It helps students structure their findings in a creative and systematic way.
How can I teach Illinois state facts with a web template?
To teach Illinois state facts using a web template, have students place the state name in the center and fill surrounding cells with illustrations and summaries for categories like cities, state symbols, important dates, and famous people. This approach makes learning interactive and organized.
What are some important facts to include in an Illinois state project for grades 3–6?
Key facts for an Illinois state project include the state motto, state flower, state tree, state bird, capital and major cities, a famous citizen, date of statehood, nickname, and a notable tourist destination.
Why use graphic organizers like webs for state research projects?
Graphic organizers such as webs help students visually organize research, making it easier to understand relationships between facts and recall information about states like Illinois. They support systematic thinking and creativity.
What is the best way to help students summarize Illinois state information visually?
The best way is to use a spider map or web diagram where students illustrate and briefly summarize each category, such as symbols, places, and people, making the information both visual and concise for deeper learning.
More Storyboard That Activities
Illinois State Guide
- 1080400 • Felix Mittermeier • License Free To Use / No Attribution Required / See https://www.pexels.com/license/ for what is not allowed
- 2872966 • JillWellington • License Free for Most Commercial Use / No Attribution Required / See https://pixabay.com/service/license/ for what is not allowed
- 327188 • Anelka • License Free for Most Commercial Use / No Attribution Required / See https://pixabay.com/service/license/ for what is not allowed
- 5886518 • Trace Hudson • License Free To Use / No Attribution Required / See https://www.pexels.com/license/ for what is not allowed
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
