Welcome to the Eight For Each State US Geography tour. I am so glad you are joining us.
Arizona, the last state to enter the contiguous United States in 1912, is full of natural and man-made wonders. You don’t have to look far to find amazing sights such as the Grand Canyon, the Kitt Peak National Observatory, Meteor Crater, and many more!
Be sure to check out all of our US Geography resources to help you plan a complete study of the USA.
1. G is for Grand Canyon by Barbara Gowan
Your US Geography study will have no better start than this book. Sleeping Bear Press also offers teacher guides for each of the Discover America State by State books for free. Be sure to check them out!
We also use these two sets of books for our notebooking and maps.
2. Arizona Introductory Videos
Videos are always a great introduction as long as they are short and interesting. Both of these are excellent choices.
Arizona – 50 States – US Geography
Arizona – US Embassy Vienna – Pre watch, you may want to skip the part about the Katsina dolls.
3. Cheese Quesadilla Lunch
In our favorite US Geography cookbook, The United States Cookbook, we found this tasty recipe to celebrate Arizona. We made it for lunch one day.
We also found a recipe in Arizona Hello U.S.A. by that highlighted Arizona’s citrus trees. Grapefruit salad seemed a bit out of the ordinary, but we decided to give it a try and serve it with our quesadillas for lunch.
4. Hopi Home Craft
The Hopi Indians are one of about 40 recognized tribes in Arizona. Before you start your craft, enjoy one or more of these books to inspire you.
- If You Lived With The Hopi Indians by – The If You Lived… series is a popular one in our house. We enjoy the natural make believe that comes with the phrasing of the title and the interesting facts inside.
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The Magic Hummingbird: A Hopi Folktale by – Folktales are always interesting. This one may be best for children who are a bit older.
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The Butterfly Dance by – Another folktale for the younger crowd. This book has information about the Hopi and photographs in the back.
5. Grand Canyon
When you think Arizona, chances are the Grand Canyon comes to mind. One of the world’s natural wonders, the Grand Canyon is a must visit on any trip out west. It is beautiful, stunning, and awe inspiring.
Where Is the Grand Canyon? by Jim O’Connor – An informative book in the Where Is… series. If your children enjoy the Who Was… series, then this one is sure to be a hit as well.
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry – All books by Marguerite Henry are favorites here. Enjoy this one as a read aloud or on audio.
The Grand Adventure: A True Story of Survival and Determination on an Amazing River Journey into the Grand Canyon and Other Canyons of the West by – What an amazing story! In the spirit of Lewis and Clark, Civil War hero John Wesley Powell sets out to explore and discover the region of the Grand Canyon.
Build your very own Grand Canyon! – This project can be modified to fit your view point on earth’s history. The activity will still look a bit like the Grand Canyon when you are done.
Painted Paper Grand Canyon Art – These art projects look lovely. They would be perfect for adding a bit of color to your US Geography study.
6. The Goat in the Chile Patch by Lada Josefa Kratky
This is a fun quick read about a goat who just won’t leave the chile patch. With repetitive lines, kids love to begin saying the words with you before the book even ends. In the end, a very small solution to this big problem shows up and saves the day.
I chose this book for Arizona because of the desert and chile theme. It will probably stay on our shelf because it is funny and enjoyable even outside our US Geography study.
7. The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
Another just for fun book that introduces the desert landscape very well. A retelling of the three little pigs that is both different and fun. We loved the pictures, the reference to magical, tricky coyote, and of course the happy ending.
This book was also featured in Booking Across America for the state of Nevada, but I think it fits Arizona just as well. Be sure to check out the activity that goes with the book.
8. Arizona Coloring Book
This is a fun resource. Print all of the pages or just a few. Enjoy coloring while you read and learn about the amazing state of Arizona!
G is for Grand Canyon: An Arizona Alphabet (Discover America State by State)Arizona (Hello U.S.A.)Arizona: The Grand Canyon State (Exploring the States)The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 StatesIf You Lived With The Hopi IndiansThe Magic Hummingbird: A Hopi FolktaleThe Butterfly Dance (Tales of the People)Where Is the Grand Canyon?Brighty of the Grand Canyon (Marguerite Henry Horseshoe Library)The Grand Adventure: A True Story of Survival and Determination on an Amazing River Journey into the Grand Canyon and Other Canyons of the WestThe Goat in the Chile Patch (BookFestival)The Three Little Javelinas (Reading Rainbow Book)The Three Little Javelinas (Reading Rainbow Book)
Have you been to Arizona? What would you add to our list of resources?
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