Race Across The USA -Review, Curriculum Highlights, Learning Suitability

Finding the best geography curriculum for your student is as individual as each. Race Across The USA covers geography for grades 3-8. There are a few things to consider and decide whether this is the best choice for your student.

Race Across The USA covers geography for grades 3-8. This curriculum is best suited for social and kinesthetic learners. Race Across The USA may be a good choice for your student if they need social and interactive ways of learning.

Curriculum details from those who have tried it and have hands-on experience are vital. I have tried out Race Across The USA with my own children and looked through it myself to see what type of learner would benefit from it based on my experiences.

You can view the walk-through video of Race Across The USA here:

What To Know About About Race Across The USA

Before we get into the details about Race Across The USA , here is a breakdown of important information:

Quick Description:

A game for 2-4 players covering grades 3-8 for US geography. Players take turns reading cards and answering questions about US geography. The board game has information on it to help answer the questions. There are two levels of questions, grades 3-4 and 5+. Players win by correctly answering questions and filling up their game cards.

Overall Impressions:

Educational Standards Race Across The USA Covers

It is important to watch what standards children may not be covered when using alternative curricula. Below you will find the Common Core Curriculum, Next Generation Science Standards, and others that Race Across The USA covers. Links will take you to a page on this website with further information about this standard.

There are no nationally recognized standards for geography. However, you could also use this for decoding work and reading comprehension. Scholastic has not made any claims about what educational standards they cover.

What To Know About Race Across The USA Delivery Methods

When selecting any curriculum, the student’s learning style must be understood. CURRICULUM could work for different learning styles if you make accommodations during teaching. Below is a summary of learning styles and considerations for each type when selecting Race Across The USA.

Race Across The USA With Visual Learners

Other things to consider: The answers are highlighted on the cards, so cannot be fairly read by the person answering the question, so if the visual learner has auditory processing dysfunction, it may be a frustrating experience.

Race Across The USA With Auditory Learners

Other things to consider: If your auditory learner struggles to read, they may not do well with this game. If there are more than two players, the other player may read the questions to the person answering them.

Race Across The USA With Kinesthetic Learners

Other things to consider: A states puzzle game might be what kinesthetic learners need to learn the location of the states, but this game should work very well.

Race Across The USA With Online Learners

Other things to consider: If the online learner has fine motor deficits, having another student move their pieces on the board might be a good solution.

Race Across The USA With Independent Learners

Other things to consider: If the independent learner struggles with social skills, they may need extra support when playing this game.

Race Across The USA With Social Learners

Other things to consider: There are decoding, reading, and comprehension skills needed for this game; if the student struggles in this area, you may want to consider accommodations to allow equal access.

Race Across The USA For Learners That Need To See And Hear

Other things to consider: Most other students learn by hearing the other student’s questions, but if they can’t absorb it solely by the auditory method, this might not work well. Using speech-to-text software for all the questions might not be as much of a barrier.

Race Across The USA With Interactive Online Learners

Other things to consider: The interactive aspect of this game may make this a perfect learning tool for a student who usually learns best online. So don’t discount this game for learning because it isn’t online!

What Subject(s) and Grade(s) Race Across The USA Covers

Race Across The USA can be used for US Geography. However, there are some things to consider.

This does not teach the exact location of each state. If your goal is to teach where the states are, this may not be the best game. However, by having the states listed on the game board and finding different states to move to, the students learn the states’ locations naturally.

Some questions may feel like they are too difficult. Some questions are quite hard, and others that may seem too easy. I suggest using the difficult questions to explore how to find the answers. I always tell my son that it is more important that he knows how to find the answer than memorizing the facts.

How Race Across The USA Addresses Disability Needs

Things to consider about Race Across The USA for specific disabilities:

For autistic students, you may want to consider how the social aspects of this game will impact them. It can be a great way to explore socially, or it could cause them to freeze and not get any educational value out of it. The deciding factor is the student and their individual needs.

For dyslexic students, you need to consider how reading the questions will impact their ability to participate in this game.

For blind or low-vision students, you should consider assigning another student to read the questions or using speech-to-text software.

Deaf students may need additional support with the amount of verbal and auditory elements of this game.

Students with dyspraxia may need assistance handling the cards and moving their pieces across the board. This will largely depend on how affected they are by their disability.

You may consider using the higher-level game cards for twice-exceptional students before they are in those grades.

For intellectually disabled students, consider using the lower-level cards and have the other students offer hints and help.

For students with an auditory processing disorder, you may want to consider using speech-to-text so they can fully participate.

For students with nonverbal learning disabilities, they may need accommodations to access this game.

For students with motor deficits they may need help moving game pieces around the board and handling the cards.

For students with emotional disabilities (formerly “emotional disturbance), you may want extra support due to the social nature of this game, especially if they have social triggers or are triggered when they don’t know an answer or lose a game.

Who Should Use Race Across The USA

Race Across the USA is a great game for most students. Most students will be able to use this game, especially if provided their appropriate accommodations.

This game is great for homeschoolers, especially homeschoolers with multiple students in grades 3-8, as the level can be varied quite easily. It is fun and social. It may even be a great option for social get-togethers during school time.

Public school classrooms are appropriate as well. This could be used as either a small group activity or by putting students into up to four groups and having them compete together as a team and give answers.

Who Should NOT Use Race Across The USA

It may not be the best learning tool if the student experiences behaviors when they lose and need help navigating this. On the other hand, it may be a great option for practicing this skill in a controlled environment.

Another consideration may be when students struggle with reading or reading out loud. If this is a hard skill for them, putting them in a social situation may make it more difficult and create demand avoidance.

Students who struggle with auditory processing may also find this difficult, but using speech-to-text software should help. You, as the teacher, need to consider how to accommodate the student before introducing the game, but it doesn’t mean that it won’t work for that student.

More Information About Race Across The USA

More information can be found on the publisher’s website.

You can find more information in the video embedded above or browse through these photos of Race Across The USA in action.

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