Getting to Know New Hampshire
(Again!)

A NEW HAMPSHIRE TREASURE HUNT
Designed by Deb Weissman
D.Weissman@sau47.k12.nh.us


You probably haven't studied New Hampshire since fourth grade - a LONG time ago, by your standards.  This activity has been designed to refresh your memory, review our state's history, and perhaps to learn something new about the Granite State in which we're living.  You may work on this by yourself or with a partner.  You don't have to finish the whole thing at one time.  You can pass in each piece as you finish, or if you are the type of student that can hang on to  "Works in Progress", you can keep all your work in your reading folder until you're completely finished.
DIRECTIONS:
  • First, read through the questions below. 
  • If your teacher hasn't provided you with an answer sheet, you can create your own!
  • Using the copy and paste functions, copy the questions for each section to Wordpad. 
  • Format your Wordpad file so that there is space after each question to write your answers.
  • Put your name at the top of your document.
  • Print out your questions.
  • Read through the questions again and then read through the list of resources.
  • Choose an appropriate resource for the question(s) you're working on.  You may have to use more than one resource for each section of questions.
  • Go to that website and read the information there carefully.
  • Write your answers on your printed answer sheet.  Remember to use complete sentences!
  • Continue through the questions until all answered.  Remember, you don't have to do all of them in one session!
  • After you've completed ALL the questions, be sure to pass your answer sheet in. 
  • Now you're ready for the FINAL PROJECT!   
 
HISTORY QUESTIONS: 
1.   Why was NH first colonized?
2.   Where were the first English settlements in NH?
3.   How was the purpose of NH's first English settlers different from English settlers in other colonies?
4.   Where does the name 'New Hampshire' come from?
5.   Identify these famous people: 
          • John Cutt
          • John Mason
          • Benning Wentworth 
          • Sir John Wentworth
          • Robert Mason
          • John Langdon
6.  Why was it difficult to explore and settle NH's north country during between 1740-1765?
7.  What other natural resources beside fish were important exports during NH's colonial period?
8.  How did the NH colony benefit under the leadership of Sir John Wentworth?
9.  Who from NH signed the Declaration of Independence? 
10. What is Peterborough's claim to fame? 
ECONOMIC QUESTIONS
1.   How has NAFTA affected NH's economy?
2.  Which country is NH's most important trading partner?
3.  Which countries in Europe are most important to NH?
4.  Which country bought more products from us in 1999, Mexico or Japan?
5.  Which country in Europe buys more from us, Germany or Ireland? 
6.  What was our biggest export in 1999?
NH FACTS AND FIGURE QUESTIONS
1.  When was the state motto adopted?
2.  Which cities in NH served as the state capital?
3.  When was Concord settled?
4.  How was the white birch used by Indians and settlers?
5.  How is the white birch used now?
6.  Why do you think skiing is the state's official sport?
7.  What is unique about our State House?
8.  The State House has lots of interesting exhibits. In which room can you see a mural of the Battle of 
     Bunker Hill?
COUNTY QUESTIONS
1.  Which county has the biggest area?
2.  Which county has the biggest population?
3.  What county do you live in?
4.  When was Cheshire County formed? 
5.  Where did Cheshire County get its name?
6.  Which is the smallest county in area?
7.  Where does our county rank in area and population?
NH GOVERNMENT QUESTIONS
1.  How many state representatives and state senators are there?
2. What is the state legislature called?
3.  How long are the terms of office for our state legislators?
4.  Who makes up the executive branch of our state government?
5.  What is unique about NH's executive branch of government?
6.  How many courts does the state judicial branch have? What are these courts called? 
7.  Who are the US Senator(s) and Congressman from our state?
GEOGRAPHY QUESTIONS
1.  What are NH's borders?
2.  What's the area of NH?  Where does it rank in size with other states?
3.  How many geographic regions does NH have?  What are they called?
4.  In what geographic region is JRMS located?
5.  What are the names of three rivers in NH?
6.  What other landforms are important to NH?
7.  What climate force is mostly responsible for what NH's land looks like?
8.  What is our climate like?  (temperature, precipitation, weather patterns)
9.  Print the outline of NH and locate the following:  Concord, Manchester, Portsmouth, Lake Winnipesaukee, Merrimack River, Connecticut River, Jaffrey or Rindge
10.  What is the approximate latitude and longitude of the state capital?
FINAL PROJECT
Now that you've reviewed and refreshed your memory, you are ready to complete your final project.    Your task is to answer this question:
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE NEW HAMPSHIRE?

Your answer will be in the form of a POEM!   Using the knowledge you've collected and any other information you may have, write a poem describing NH! You may use any poetry format you enjoy.   To get some ideas for different types of poems check out the ideas at POETRY PALS.  To help you plan your poem, you will use a cluster web.  Think about each aspect of NH you've investigated and try to come up with some images or phrases that capture something about that aspect.  Combine and/or rearrange your ideas! You will probably have to write several drafts of your poem before you get it just the way you like it.   Your final poem will be published on our classroom publications page.
ASSESSMENT
This is how your work will be evaluated:
 
0 1 2 3
Questions Not attempted Not complete Complete and mostly accurate Complete and totally accurate
Cluster Web Not attempted Not complete Complete Complete and thoughtful/original
Revision Not attempted Minor revisions, mostly mechanics Revisions include mechanics and content Significant revision in content/word choice/style
Final poem Not attempted Complete, many mechnical errors Complete, few errors Complete, error-free, originality

 
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Questions?  Email D.Weissman@sau47.k12.nh.us