Spring is when most Virginia teachers begin thinking about their SOL test prep. Below, you can find my Virginia Studies reading list and activities that provide a unique, fun twist on preparing for SOL testing. Whoever would have thought that bunnies and Easter eggs could be a part of your review lessons?
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Tiny the Virginia Easter Bunny
Tiny the Virginia Easter Bunny by Eric James is sure to get your students laughing! And yes, if you’ve seen my Virginia Studies reading lists for October and December, this is the same Eric James who has written several of my favorite books about Virginia.
When the Easter Bunny is unable to fulfill his duties, Tiny (a full-grown elephant) dresses up as a bunny and takes over, delivering eggs throughout Virginia. The only problem is that elephants do not have the same adaptations as bunnies, and Tiny quickly discovers that delivering eggs is much harder than he thought. However, with some encouragement, Tiny learns that elephants have their own talents. The things that make Tiny special help him deliver all the eggs from Bristol to Virginia Beach on time.
Of the three books listed here on my Virginia Studies reading list for spring, this one is my favorite. Why? Because not only is it a fun story that incorporates Virginia geography, but it also discusses how everyone has unique talents that make them special.
As you read this picture book, be sure to have your students think about and share their unique talents.
The Easter Bunny is Coming to Virginia
The Easter Bunny is Coming to Virginia is also by Eric James, who might just be the king of holiday books about Virginia.
In this picture book, the Easter bunny has finished delivering her eggs and decides to travel around Virginia to experience different holiday activities. While visiting each city, she finds a child who is in need of help and spreads her love and cheer. For example, in Alexandria, she comforts a scared child during an Easter parade. And, in Norfolk, she helps a little girl find her teddy bear.
One thing I like about this book is the emphasis on helping others. As you read, encourage your students to look for ways they can help others today.
The Littlest Bunny in Virginia
In The Littlest Bunny in Virginia: An Easter Adventure by Lily Jacobs, May and Joe adopt a pet rabbit after moving to Virginia. Little do they know, they adopted no ordinary rabbit. They adopted Virginia’s Easter bunny. At night, when they sleep, the bunny sneaks out and delivers eggs to all the cities of Virginia, including Arlington, Richmond, and Chesapeake (just to name a few). The bunny also visits some of Virginia’s most popular attractions, such as the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach and a Lynchburg Hillcats game.
One thing that’s different about this book on my Virginia Studies reading list for spring is that the eggs are numbered. Readers are encouraged to find all 20 eggs hidden throughout the pages of the picture book as they read.
The Easter Egg Hunt in Virginia
In The Easter Egg Hunt in Virginia by Laura Baker, Little Bunny and his mom travel throughout Virginia to find hidden Easter eggs. They find eggs hidden at a pig farm in Alexandria, on a hay ride in Fredericksburg, in a chicken coop in Roanoke, and throughout many other Virginia cities.
Of all the books on my Virginia Studies reading list for spring, this one covers the most cities and geographical features of Virginia. More than 10 Virginia cities are featured, and it also mentions the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia as the “Old Dominion” state.
Pre-Reading Activities
All of the books on this Virginia Studies reading list for spring are great for covering the SOLs related to Virginia’s geography. Not only do these books mention more than 15 Virginia cities, but they also illustrate well-known attractions and landmarks throughout the state.
Before reading, take a picture walk through the books. Stop on each page and discuss what places, symbols, or images they recognize. Some of the sites they see include:
- Mont Vernon
- Monticelly
- Colonial Williamsburg
- The Virginia Aquarium
- Virginia’s Botanical Gardens
- Amazement Square
Also, look for other symbols of Virginia, such as the Virginia state flag and the Virginia Tech logo.
Discuss if they have visited any of these places and how they relate to history, geography, and economics they have already learned about in their Virginia Studies lessons.
Post-Reading Activities
The books listed here can help form the basis of your Virginia Studies SOL test prep this spring. Here are a few ways to use these picture books about Virginia to create review lessons.
Map Virginia’s Regions and Cities
One thing I like about these picture books is that each one lists at least 8 Virginia cities.
After reading, have students identity each city, place, or body of water on a map of Virginia. Discuss which region each place is located in and if the city/body of water has any major significance in Virginia’s history and/or economy.
You can also combine math with this Virginia geography activity. After mapping each location from the books, create a bar graph showing how well each Virginia region is represented. Why might some regions have greater representation than others?
Create a Virginia Studies Review Egg Hunt
Most of the books on this Virginia Studies reading list for spring are about Easter eggs being hidden or found. You can create a similar game as part of your Virginia Studies SOL test prep. To do this:
- Get 20 Easter eggs. Using a Sharpie, number the eggs 1 to 20 on the outside. (You can use more Easter eggs, but be sure to number them accordingly if using more.)
- Get 20 slips of paper. On each piece of paper, write a question related to the Virginia Studies SOLs. Put one question in each egg.
- Hide the eggs around your classroom or outside.
Now for the fun part… send students on a Virginia Studies egg hunt! Students will search for each egg, read the question, and write the answer on a piece of paper. When students are finished, they should put the egg back where they found it. The first student to find all of the eggs and answer the questions correctly is the winner.
Create an Easter Egg Hunt Throughout Virginia
In The Littlest Bunny in Virginia, the Easter Bunny uses a map to find all the places where he should hide eggs. Have students create their own Virginia Easter egg hunt using Virginia maps.
Each student should label at least 10 places on a Virginia map where their eggs are hidden. Then, they should write clues to help the other students determine where the eggs are hidden, incorporating the Virginia Studies SOLs into their clues. Students can trade maps and clues, taking turns to find each other’s hidden eggs.
This lesson can also be made virtual using digital mapping tools, such as Google My Maps. They can drop pins on the places where their eggs are hidden and type out their clues.
Combine ELA Skills
Interestingly, all the books on my Virginia Studies reading list for spring use rhyme throughout. I’ve heard many teachers say that the ELA SOLs related to poetry are among the most challenging to work in throughout the school year. However, these picture books provide a fun way to discuss rhyme and poetry.
After reading, have students write poems that incorporate the Virginia Studies SOLs.
More Virginia Studies Activities…
Did you enjoy my Virginia Studies reading list and activities for spring? If so, I have similar posts with Virginia Studies picture books and activities for fall and winter.
My website is full of Virginia Studies resources. Not only will you find Virginia Studies lessons for spring, but you’ll find tips for teaching Virginia Studies for the entire year.
You can also find activities for everything Virginia Studies SOL in THIS BLOG POST.
Remember to save your favorite Virginia Studies blogs, so you can easily find them again later!
