Tennessee

Tennessee entered the Union on June 1, 1769, as the 16th state. Tennessee’s capital is Nashville and it is nicknamed the Volunteer State. Many of the American Civil Wars were fought in Tennessee. Nashville is the center of country and western music. Memphis is Tennessee’s largest city and was an important place for the development of blues and jazz music. More than 8 million people visit Tennessee every year. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited park in the Southeast. Tennessee has 48 state parks.

Do you need a topic for a state report? Here are some ideas from Challenge magazine, Issue 84, to show what you have learned about Tennessee.

	Design a Tennessee souvenir and write TV ads to sell your new product.
	Plan a Grand Ole Opry day at your school. Dress in typical country clothes and sing country songs.
	Do a news report from the capitol building in Nashville.
	Set up a recording studio and have your classmates record their favorite country music.
	Watch an old Davy Crockett movie and compare it to movies made today.
	Learn how to waltz and teach a classmate.
	Research the life of Dinah Shore, a famous resident of Tennessee. Write a story about her life. Don't forget the famous ending to her TV show.
	Make a bulletin board-sized map of Tennessee. Add cities, rivers, roads, and tourist attractions.
	Research Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. Tell of its history and the life of Elvis at Graceland.

Tourism is an important industry for Tennessee. Design a brochure to invite tourists to your favorite tourist attraction.

Visit Tennessee's kids site for more facts and activities.

If you have any activities or additional sites send us your information through our comments box on the home page.