Pennsylvania

Summary
This is an introductory lesson about Pennsylvania.

Objectives
• to identify and discuss some of Pennsylvania?s key cities;

• to describe and discuss Pennsylvania?s history.

Suggested Grades
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade

Excerpt
In 1681, King Charles II granted a land charter to William Penn. He granted the charter in order to repay a debt owed to William?s father. This land was called Pennsylvania, which meant ?Penn?s Woods.? The name was meant to honor William?s father, Admiral Penn.

Pennsylvania is a commonwealth. The abbreviation for this state is PA. Some people still use the older abbreviations for Pennsylvania, Penn or Penna. In the south, Pennsylvania borders Delaware and Maryland. It borders West Virginia in the southwest. It also shares borders with Ohio, New York, and New Jersey. It even has a water border with Canada.

Pennsylvania is one of the original thirteen colonies. It has been known as the Keystone State since 1802 because of its central location amongst the original thirteen colonies. In addition, Pennsylvania was a keystone state economically because it had both industry and agriculture. The state industry consisted of manufacturing things like rifles and Conestoga wagons. Agriculturally, Pennsylvanians grew feed, fiber, tobacco, and many other things.

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