Summer Series: 50 States - Kentucky

KENTUCKY

Kentucky (KY) became the 15th state on June 1, 1792.  It is located in the south central US.  The name, Kentucky, comes from the Iroquois word, Ken-tah-ten, meaning "land of tomorrow."  The state's nickname is the "Bluegrass State" because this type of grass is prevalent in the lawns throughout Kentucky, especially in the northern part of the state.  The motto is "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."  The motto was chosen in 2004 by a popular vote of four choices.

The capital is Frankfort.  It was named for the pioneer, Stephen Frank, after he was killed by Indians in the 1780s.  The area where he was killed was originally named Frank's Ford but was later changed to Frankfort.  This city became the capital in 1792.

Kentucky is the 37th biggest state and the 25th most populous.  The major industries are agriculture with the growing of tobacco, corn, peanuts, and wheat; mining of anthracite coal; whiskey manufacturing; and automobile manufacturing.

Folks who live here are called Kentuckians. Abraham Lincoln was born here, as well as Muhammad Ali, Kit Carson, George Clooney, Rosemary Clooney, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jefferson Davis, Johnny Depp, Lionel Hampton, Josh Hutcherson, Loretta Lynn, John Scopes, Adlai Stevenson, Mary Todd Lincoln, as well as many civil rights activities, politicians, actors, and musicians.  If you aren't familiar with who these people are or their significance in history, look them up.  You might find it very interesting.

Kentucky's flag was originally adopted in 1918 and was changed in 1962.  The state seal is displayed in the center of the dark blue background, and it says "Commonwealth of Kentucky" and "United We Stand, Divided We Fall."  The seal contains a pioneer and a statesman shaking hands, and the yellow flowers at the bottom of the seal are goldenrods.

The state bird is the cardinal. We've seen this before.  What other states have the cardinal as their state bird?  The state wild animal is the gray squirrel, and the state fish is the Kentucky bass.  The state insect is the Viceroy butterfly, and the state horse is the Thoroughbred.

The state flower is, of course, the Goldenrod (as seen on the flag), and the state tree is the tulip tree.

Here are some interesting facts about Kentucky (from http://www.50states.com/facts/kentucky.htm#.UkGTLoaTjEY):

-The song, "Happy Birthday," was created by two Kentucky sisters in 1893.
- The first Kentucky Fried Chicken opened in Corbin, Kentucky.
-Mother's Day was first observed by teacher Mary S. Wilson in 1887.  It was made a national holiday in 1916.
-The Kentucky Derby is the oldest racehorse, held every year on the first Saturday in May.
-Pikeville, Kentucky, drinks more Pepsi every year than any other place in the nation.
-Post-It Notes are made in Cynthiana and no place else.
-Edison introduced his light bulb at the Southern Exposition in 1883.
-Middlesboro is built within a meteor crater.
-Fort Knox holds more than six billion dollars in gold.
-The Hatfield-McCoy feud took place in Pike County.
-Mammoth Cave is the world's longest cave system.

The following is a list of places to visit while in Kentucky:
-Churchill Downs (home to the Kentucky Derby)
-Mammoth Cave National Park
-Creation Museum (see below for more information)
-Newport Aquarium
-Louisville Zoo
-KFC Yum! Center
-National Corvette Museum
-Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
-Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace
-Lost River Cave
-Kentucky Derby Museum
-National Quilt Museum
and many beautiful state parks.

The Creation Museum is a 70,000 square foot museum created by Answers in Genesis.  It provides an answer to the usual natural history museum by providing history from a Biblical point of view, including dinosaurs, the flood, insects, and dragons.

Go here for some online activities to test your knowledge of Kentucky.

The following is a list of resources about Kentucky and things you will find there.  They are from christianbook.com.  I am an affiliate, so if you purchase any of these items through my blog, I will receive a commission.

Kentucky Big Activity Book, Grades K-5 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International This BIG activity book has a wide range of reproducible activities that will entice any child to learn more about their state! Activities touch on history, geography, people, places, fictional characters, animals, holidays, festivals, legends, lore and much, much more! Reproducible. Available for all 50 states! Grades K-5; ages 6-12.

Let's Discover Kentucky CD-ROM, Grades 2-8 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International Interactive CD-ROM with lots of fun facts for kids to learn about their state. Includes: government, state symbols, a timeline, geography, civics, nickname, landmarks, parks, schools, historical places, and more. Each of four sections is completed with a quizzing game and rewards. Also includes a FREE printed reproducible quiz. Grades 2-8

Heroes of History: Daniel Boone, Frontiersman By Janet & Geoff Benge / Emerald Books The Heroes of History series chronicles the true stories of fascinating men and women who changed the course of history. In search of open spaces and land to call his own, Daniel Boone fearlessly led a band of brave settlers into the bountiful Kentucky wilderness. Daniel's expert hunting ability, incredible outdoor survival skills, and courage under fire helped his companions stay alive in a dangerous and unknown land despite threatening encounters with soldiers, Indians, and even other settlers. For ages 10 and up.

Kids' Book of Horse Games & Puzzles By Workman Publishing Test your horse sense--in 102 zany ways! Fill in the blanks to create funny pony poems Solve this riddle: "What's a horse's favorite hairstyle?" Find all the lost horses in the pasture Track down a smorgasbord of horse treats Compete a Horse Lover's Crossword Puzzle Pair up the famous horse this its rider Draw four horse faces Match the Cantering Chef's horses to the foods he named them after Sort out a corral of letters to spell hours breeds Draw a perfect horse, in 6 easy steps Run for the roses in "The Kentucky Card Derby" Plus a whole lot more!

Storey's Horse-Lover's Encyclopedia By Deborah Burns / Workman Publishing The horse world has many different "arenas," and even many professionals don't know the terms used outside their areas of expertise. Here, finally in one place, is a complete guide to everything horse-related - a guide that will be equally useful to a seasoned professional, a novice equestrian, and someone who just wants to know everything there is to know about horses. This hefty, fully illustrated, A-to-Z compendium is an indispensable answer book addressing every question a reader might have about horses and horse care. Covering breeds, tack, facilities, equine care and management, health and safety issues, riding styles and disciplines, shows, horse professionals and what they do, and much more, this book is a reference that will be turned to again and again. From stable design to practice lessons to choosing a riding instructor to loading a trailer, the information is presented in an easily accessible and easily understood manner and is accompanied by clear line drawings throughout.

Drawing Horses: Project Book for Beginners [With Blending Stump, Acetate Grid, Sandpaper Block and 7 Pencils and Paint Brush and Paint and Era By Patricia Getha & Michele Maltseff / Walter Foster

Horses: The Ultimate Treasury By DK Publishing Inc. Horses is a lavishly illustrated collection of all you could ever want to know about the wonderful world of horses. Packed with information and stories that will entertain and enthrall, this is the ultimate read for horse lovers. Throughout the book, breed portraits feature stunning photography and vital statistics, allowing you to see what makes each breed unique and compare it with images of similar breeds. A fascinating section at the back of the book tells you everything you need to know about keeping your own pony and what equipment you will need.

The Old West: Villains and Avengers -Unabridged Audiobook on CD By Joe Loesch / SpringWater Experience the rugged frontier as you encounter villains and avengers in legendary locations. Featuring: The Saga of Frank and Jesse James - These two brothers began their reign of terror during the last days of the Civil War in the no-man's land of Missouri. Billy the Kid - In the late 1870s, this skinny young boy vowed to live above the law with other criminals in the sparsely populated territory of New Mexico. Tombstone - The colorful western town was home to the O.K. Corral, the Crystal Palace, the Bird Cage Theater and the notorious Earp brothers. The Hatfield McCoy Feud - For years these two families in the mountains of Kentucky and West Virginia took justice into their own hands with the barrel of a gun. The Valley of the Greasy Grass - When General Custer and his men rode into this valley, they launched the Battle at the Little Big Horn. Unabridged. 5 CDs. Read by various artists.

Journey Through the Creation Museum DVD By Answers In Genesis Beginning with a brief welcome from Answers in Genesis and museum founder Ken Ham, this documentary overflows with commentary about the amazing features found throughout the museum and grounds. Watch animatronic dinosaurs move and roar, hear the "inside story" about the exquisitely handcrafted Tree of Life, and take a chronological walk through history--including the worldwide flood of Noah's day and the amazing geological and climate changes that followed. As the events of the Garden of Eden and Noah's Flood are related before your very eyes, you will understand as never before the effect of sin on our world. And you will look forward as never before to the soon-coming consummation of this part of eternity. Watch visitors as they experience the 80-seat Stargazer's Planetarium, 200-seat Special Effects Theater, a full-scale section of Noah's Ark, plus the beautifully landscaped museum grounds, delightful petting zoo, and so much more! 22 minutes, plus over an hour of intriguing facts and other bonus material. All Ages.

Journey Through the Creation Museum By New Leaf Publishing Group Imagine having a true-to-scale Noah's ark or the tree of life in your classroom! Take your students on a photographic learning expedition to the Creation Museum with this gorgeous book that "tours" the faith-inspiring facility. They'll view animatronic exhibits, life-sized dinosaur models, a breathtaking planetarium, and more---all designed to reveal the biblical history of God's creation. 80 pages, hardcover.

The Complete Creation Museum Adventure: A Field Trip in a Book By Master Books Take your kids on a "field trip in a book" to the exciting Creation Museum! You'll discover answers to important biblical questions---and learn that we're all designed with a purpose and a plan. Includes an adventure map; fact-finder, creature feature, eyewitness, and challenge cards; case files; devotions; teacher guides; and reproducible activity sheets. 160 pages, spiralbound hardcover from Master Books.

Mammoth Cave [Music Download] By Buddy Davis / Syntax Distribution