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Hit the Road Geography Unit 1

Hit the Road Geography Unit 1

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Hit the Road with US Geography!

Hit the Road Geography: Unit 1 has everything your child needs to explore the first 10 states in our U.S. geography curriculum. With engaging stories, hands-on activities, and writing prompts, these state units make geography fun, memorable, and easy to teach. It's the perfect fit for families who want a complete, ready-to-go program!

In Unit 1, kids will:

  • Explore 10 states: Hawaiʻi, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas
  • Complete 36 days of lessons with journal entries, reflection sheets, writing assignments, and comprehension questions
  • Dive into hands-on learning with science experiments, games, recipes, and make-your-own booklets
  • Track their journey with a printable US map and progress chart
  • Reinforce knowledge with a unit review


Take a story-based road trip across the U.S.!

Hit the Road Geography: Unit 1 Journals guides young learners on a story-driven road trip through the West and Southwest United States. Students will discover the states through the humorous journal entries of Thaddeus, our traveling cat, as he ...

  • Climbs extinct volcanoes and snorkels coral reefs in Hawai‘i
  • Explores California’s coastline, deserts, and towering redwoods
  • Skis the slopes of Utah and floats in its salty lakes
  • Travels across the Kansas plains to explore what makes a prairie unique
  • Learns geography terms like plateau, basin, dune, and mesa
  • And much more!

With rich storytelling and diverse terrain to explore, Unit 1 offers the perfect mix of facts and fun to spark a lifelong curiosity about geography.

Take learning on the road!

Hit the Road Geography: Unit 1 Activities bring the journey to life through fun, hands-on learning. From science experiments and creative writing to games, recipes, and map skills, each activity deepens understanding of key geography concepts in a playful, memorable way.

Students will ...
  • Dig into Nevada’s mining history and discover how different regions produce different minerals
  • Build models of Arizona’s four desert biomes
  • Prepare a traditional New Mexico recipe
  • Complete science experiments to explore how limestone helped shape Oklahoma’s landscapes
  • Strengthen reading and writing skills with comprehension questions and creative writing assignments
  • And much more!
Note: This Unit 1 product includes both the Unit 1 Journals and the Unit 1 Activities. For families with more than one child, consider adding an additional copy of the Unit 1 Activities per student.

Specs and Samples

  • Unit 1 Journals

    Pages: 120
    Color: Full Color
    Binding: Perfect Bound
    ISBN: 979-8-9996336-0-6

    Sample Pages 

  • Unit 1 Activities

    Pages: 192
    Color: Full Color
    Binding: Spiral Bound
    ISBN: 979-8-9996336-1-3

    Sample Pages 

About Hit the Road Geography

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 Thaddeus's Travel Route 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.

Will you be including all 50 states in your units?

Yes, we will! Thaddeus, our traveling cat, will be exploring all 50 states following a specific travel route. There will be a total of four units. We're working hard to get these completed as quickly as possible while still maintaining our high quality standards. We can't wait to share them with you!

How many days of activities are there for each state?

Each state features 3 or 4 journal entries with paired activities, reflection questions, and writing prompts for each day. The complete curriculum is designed to cover 180 days, aligning with a typical school year.

What order are the states taught in?

Thaddeus, our adventurous traveling cat, begins his journey in Hawai'i and then continues across the United States in a thoughtful order just like a real road trip. By moving from one neighboring state to the next, students can see how geography fits together in a connected way, making it easier to understand and remember.

For a map of the full route and a listing of states by unit, see Thaddeus's Travel Route.

Can you notify me when new units are available?

YES! Just subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop! We send infrequent emails about new products and units, freebies, giveaways, and sales.

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?

Storylark Road is a story-based learning world filled with animal characters who live as neighbors—like Thaddeus, a cat who loves to travel, and Wendell, the walrus who loves to bake. We created this setting so kids can connect with the characters, follow their adventures, and fall in love with learning along the way. Each character has a unique personality and leads unit studies that match their interests (for example, Wendell guides our doughnut history unit!).

Learn more about story-based learning here!

Will you be expanding into other subject areas or mini units?

YES! We have so many ideas and can't wait to venture into each one after our Hit the Road Geography curriculum is complete. You can subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop!

How We Make Geography a Subject Your Child will LOVE

  • Fun Journal Entries

    Join a hilariously charming cat as he leads you through 3-4 days of engaging journals in each state unit. Along the way, he’ll guide you to iconic landmarks, fascinating points of interest, and unique geographical features—all sprinkled with plenty of humor!

  • Reflection Sheets

    Daily lessons include reflection sheets with prompts designed to spark recall, critical thinking, and creativity. Each sheet includes a speaking portion related to the student's experience, listening and comprehension questions, and unique writing assignments.

  • Hands-On Activities

    Hands-on activity sheets include booklets, science experiments, crafts, and more! These activities are designed to reinforce what was learned in the journal entries, offering both new insights and fun opportunities for review to help the material truly stick.
Map Skills Mini Unit

FREE Map Skills Mini Unit

Want to see what story-based learning is all about? Try this free unit! Learn map skills and all about the compass rose with Ambrose! Can you help him get his invitations safely in the mail and delivered to the correct houses?