Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our geography units? You’re in the right place! From how the units work to what’s included in each bundle, we’ve gathered answers to the questions we hear most often. Take a look below — and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, don’t worry! You can always reach out to us directly for help.
Hit the Road Geography FAQs
What is Hit the Road Geography?
Hit the Road Geography is a 180-day elementary curriculum divided into four units, each with a story-based Journals book and a companion Activities book. Together, they take students on a playful road trip through all 50 states—led by Thaddeus, a hilariously charming traveling cat. Through vivid journal entries and engaging activities, learners explore landmarks, landforms, and natural wonders as if they’re visiting each place in person. (See Appendix C for the list of states in Units 1-4.)
Blending rich storytelling with activities, writing, and comprehension questions, this curriculum helps students:
- Understand U.S. geography, landforms, and ecosystems
- Explore cultural history, early settlers, and Indigenous peoples
- Strengthen listening, speaking, and writing skills
- Practice critical thinking through open-ended prompts
- Reinforce concepts with fun, hands-on activities
By traveling alongside Thaddeus, students gain key knowledge and grow a lasting curiosity about the world around them.
What makes Hit the Road Geography special?
With all the choices out there, choosing a homeschool geography curriculum can be daunting. That’s why Storylark Road created a unique approach to geography that stands out from the crowd!
What’s our secret? Story-based learning! Our Hit the Road Geography US geography curriculum turns United States geography into a subject your student will love!
Learn more about what makes the best United States geography curriculum and what sets Hit the Road Geography apart from the rest.
What age range is Hit the Road Geography geared towards?
Hit the Road Geography is geared towards grades 2-6. Younger students may need a bit more guidance reading the journal entries and completing the activities whereas the older grades could possibly do it more independently.If you haven’t seen them yet, each unit includes sample pages right on the product page, so you can get a feel for what’s inside. You can even try out a full day’s lesson from our California unit here. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions!
Are you going to write a story and activities about traveling to {STATE}?
Yes, we will be! Thaddeus, our traveling cat, will be exploring all 50 states following a specific route. We're working hard to get new products (either state units or free downloads) out as quickly as we are able. We can’t wait to share our units with you!
How many days of activities are there for each state?
Each state features around 3-4 journals and accompanying entries. The complete curriculum will cover 180 days, aligning with a typical school year, so some states will have a slightly shorter lesson span while still offering a rich learning experience.
Do you have to complete the states in any particular order?
Our digital individual state units can be used either independently or in story-order. Since many families like to study just their home state or use them as individual unit studies, we chose to continue to include these states individually. After a unit bundle is complete, they are offered digitally at a discounted bundle price.
What is the route being taken through the states?
Thaddeus, our adventurous traveling cat, explores the states in a thoughtful order—visiting neighboring states in a way that follows a real road-trip route. This approach helps make connections in the brain, making learning about geography easy and memorable.
To view the full route and see the state listed in order, visit this page.
How can I be notified when new states or printed units are posted?
We would love to have you subscribe to our newsletter! We post infrequent emails when about new products and units, freebies, giveaways, and sales.
Storylark Road FAQs
Who is the team behind Storylark Road?
Storylark Road was founded by Shanna Behrens and Renée LaTulippe. Read all about us here.
What is the premise behind Storylark Road?
Our goal was to build a whole world where all kinds of animal characters live as neighbors—like Thaddeus, a cat who loves to travel, or Wendell, our neighborhood baking walrus. We wanted to craft a special setting that kids could fall in love with. Each character has their own unique personality and leads unit studies that match their interests (for example, Wendell takes the reins in our doughnut history unit!).
Will you be expanding into other subject areas / mini units?
Yes! We have so many ideas and can't wait to venture into each one after our Hit the Road Geography collection is complete.
Will you be adding new characters to Storylark Road?
Yes! We already have a few unique personalities drafted who are itching to star in their own unit study.