STATE & NATION EDUCATION
Teachers Resources.
Practical, shareable lessons for elementary and high school classrooms and learning at home. Explore Halloween kindness, Veterans Day and service, healthy eating, joyful movement and money skills. Our illustrated books and teaching guides stay pinned here so they are easy to find as daily coverage changes.
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Free books. Big ideas.
Help a teacher, parent or school discover our free classroom materials. This graphic stays pinned here.
PINNED · ELEMENTARY TEACHER RESOURCE
Maya and Friends: The Halloween Kindness Parade
By Bob LePage · Free · Ages 5–9 · Kindergarten–grade 3 · 16-page illustrated PDF
Join Maya, Leo and Emma as they prepare costumes and a Welcome Wagon for a community Halloween parade. When they meet a shy new child named Sam, they discover that the sweetest part of Halloween is helping someone feel that they belong. A windy surprise gives the friends a chance to work together and solve a problem.
Friendship, inclusion and teamwork
This gentle story includes colorful illustrations on every story page, discussion questions, a printable Welcome Wagon drawing activity and guidance for teachers and families. Use it for an elementary read-aloud, a friendship lesson or family reading at home.
Classroom refrain: “Make room, make friends, make Halloween kind!”
Ask students how Sam feels, how Maya welcomes him and how the group repairs the wagon. Invite children to draw their own float and describe one way they can include someone. Families who do not celebrate Halloween can use the autumn friendship activity without costumes.
Teachers and families may print and share the complete book for educational use, retaining the State & Nation name and Bob LePage author credit.
PINNED · ELEMENTARY TEACHER REFERENCE
Why Veterans Day Matters
By Bob LePage · Free · Ages 6–10 · 16-page illustrated PDF
A story about service and appreciation
Join Maya and her classmates as a question about November 11 leads to a lesson with Ms. Lee and a visit from Mr. Rivera, a Navy veteran. Colorful illustrations show the children taking part in the story: asking questions, listening, learning together and making thoughtful thank-you messages.
This elementary book helps children understand who veterans are, why Veterans Day matters, the different branches of the U.S. military and ways to show respect for people who have served. It also explains the difference between Veterans Day, which honors all veterans, and Memorial Day, which remembers those who died while serving.
How to use it in the classroom
- Read aloud with younger students, or invite older elementary students to read independently. Pause at the “Think and talk” prompts.
- Discuss what service and appreciation mean. Ask how listening, kindness and helpful actions can show respect.
- Use the vocabulary page and printable thank-you activity to let students explain what they learned through words or pictures.
The final page includes a teacher and family guide with learning goals, discussion questions and sources for adults. The book fits a Veterans Day read-aloud, an elementary social studies lesson or family reading at home. Maya, Ms. Lee and Mr. Rivera are fictional characters.
Welcome children from every family background; no student needs to identify a military relative or share a personal experience. Let visiting veterans choose what they wish to discuss, and coordinate cards or service projects through trusted adults. Teachers and families may print and share the complete book for educational use, retaining the author credit and sources.
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Grow, Munch, Move!
By Bob LePage · Free · Ages 5–9 · 16-page illustrated PDF
A garden-to-playground adventure
Join Maya, Ben, Ruby and Leo as they discover where food grows, wash fresh produce, explore colorful meals, drink water and enjoy running, jumping and classroom movement breaks. Full-color illustrations feature boys and girls gathering vegetables, eating together and playing in ways that welcome every child.
Designed for elementary read-alouds, health lessons and family reading, the book encourages food variety, exploring new tastes at each child's pace and finding enjoyable ways to move.
Ready for the classroom
The teacher pages include ten call-and-response chants, a 20-minute lesson plan, guidance for inclusive activities and a printable “My Grow, Munch, Move Plan” drawing sheet.
- “More colors, more to explore!”
- “Run, roll, or sway—move your way!”
- “Grow, munch, move—find your happy groove!”
Use the chants at lunch, recess and movement breaks. Teachers, parents and youth programs may print and share the complete book for educational use, retaining the author credit and sources. This permanent resource stays here as daily news updates change.
PINNED · ELEMENTARY TEACHER REFERENCE
What Is Money
Free · 32 pages · Actual U.S. currency pictures · Activities & answer key
Who it is for
Designed for elementary school children and the teachers, parents and caregivers who help them learn. Younger children can enjoy the pictures, counting games and read-aloud lessons with a grown-up. Older elementary readers can explore the history and money math independently. No previous financial knowledge is needed.
Book summary
This illustrated State and Nation book explains what money does, dollars and cents, and the value of each U.S. coin and current bill. Actual pictures of the fronts and backs help children recognize currency. Readers meet the people pictured on the money and learn why they were chosen.
The book also explains savings accounts, deposits, withdrawals, balances and interest, and shows why saving for a goal matters. A story about Maya saving for a book, counting games, a savings-goal worksheet, a glossary and a parent and teacher answer key turn the lessons into practice.
Use a short section for a classroom lesson or read together at home. Practice with pretend money, then help children choose a small savings goal. Teachers and families may print and share the complete book for educational use while keeping the State and Nation name and source references.
PINNED · TEACHERS RESOURCES
Personal Finance Student Handbook
A free, illustrated 70-page guide for grades 9–12, written for students with no prior finance knowledge. Learn accounts, credit, loans, mortgages and investing through definitions, guided examples and practice.
Expanded beginner edition · Printable PDF · Glossary & practice answers · Rate examples checked October 5, 2026
Using the high school handbook
The expanded edition starts with basic vocabulary and assumes no prior knowledge. Use the whole handbook or choose a lesson about a decision students are approaching: a first paycheck, a bank account, borrowing for college or building a savings habit.
- Share this page or the complete PDF through your class learning platform, school newsletter or parent group.
- Print copies for a class or read the illustrated lessons on a device.
- Practice with fictional budgets and sample offers, then use the action plan and quiz to check understanding.
Teachers, parents and youth programs may share and print the complete handbook for educational use. Please retain the State & Nation name and source references.