A great gift for young school kids, or moms and dads

[Smallpatch]

Too bad I didn't have something like this when I was in grade school...

 I found a picture of the original 48 US states and posted it then enlarged it with Rapid Resizer to about 20 inches wide.Then printed a pattern and using two 1/4" Baltic Birch pieces of plywood I used one as a backer board and the other I cut out the states.

  I then glued the outline of the states on to the backer board and since I had lots of states to color I decided to use kids water colors...This one I made in 2000 . I think the next ones I make will have the names of the states on the back side along with the capitals of each state also..I doubt if anyone out there can name all of these 48 states in about 10 minutes and for sure would never be able to name the capitals of each state in a life time...

   

[Gene Howe]

That's a very nice piece, Jesse. Are the states all inset and removable like a puzzle? 

You're right, it would make a wonderful gift...next year.

[lew]

Really nice!

 

Name the capitols? Sadly I cannot name them all.

[DAB]

ahem: the capital of Texas is....T.

 

what do i win?!

[Gene Howe]

18 minutes ago, DAB said:

ahem: the capital of Texas is....T.

 

what do i win?!

That one was easy but, what about Utah? 

[Smallpatch]

Dump them out and try to put them back in their places...Same goes for the 4 great lakes!!

[DAB]

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

That one was easy but, what about Utah? 

U!

 

i can do this all day....

[DAB]

2 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

Dump them out and try to put them back in their places...Same goes for the 4 great lakes!!

5 great lakes?

 

Superior

Huron

Michigan

Erie

Ontario

[Grandpadave52]

Very cool Patch; not as many red & blue states as we're led to believe

 

Just thinking about smaller children, you could also place small, headed, short axle pegs (or similar) in each piece at the approximate location for the state capitols. The peg would also serve as a small handle for little fingers to insert in place.

[Smallpatch]

Thanks Dab, I'm always curious if anyone ever reads all of what anyone writes here..  One good way to find out!

[John Moody]

That’s a very cool map, and I like @Grandpadave52‘s idea about the peg handles for the capitals.

 

[Cal]

Very good idea Jess.  I like it a lot!

[Smallpatch]

Funny for when I started cutting out the states I didn't even know Michigan had an upper???? I learned it just in time to make all of that state the same color.

[Smallpatch]

Dave I made Cal. in bright red for it is really nice to drive all over that state if you don't have to talk to anyone!!  Some of the wildest sights a person can ever see.  

[John Morris]

6 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

I made Cal. in bright red

One can only dream. I helped try this past November but failed miserably.

[Gene Howe]

Well, ya lost two comrades to KY.  

[Cal]

On 12/2/2018 at 2:21 PM, Smallpatch said:

Dump them out and try to put them back in their places..

Thanks for this timely post Jess...

Over the weekend I cut out a couple puzzles for a niece's boys - they are 1 1/2 & 2 1/2 y.o.

Would you outline these shapes on the backer board for young one's?  I am thinking no, that they might "out grow" them too soon if I did that.  I also think without the outline drawn in that it might help them to see the patterns and learn to follow the wood grain.  Have you made any puzzles for real young kids?

 

 

[Smallpatch]

Cal they don't need an outline on the backer board. Those pieces are big enough they will learn where where they go real quick. These are good learning tools.. I would suggest just slightly sanding the edges so they won't get splinters.

  Yes I have and you will be surprised how fast they will learn...... Good projects.....

[Cal]

Thanks Jess - they are headed for the Wrapper today...