These interesting facts about Louisiana for kids include the Mardi Gras, Special Olympics, Superdome, and the longest bridge over water.
This is part of the 50 states unit study as we travel around America, learning about each state’s history. Check out these Arkansas facts for kids below! Find some fun crafts, activities, and books for each state that will engage kids of all ages.
5 Interesting Facts about Louisiana
Louisiana has a subtropical climate and is on the eastern coast of the United States. It’s known as The Pelican State and became a state in 1812 as the 18th state to enter the nation in the Louisiana Purchase. The capital is Baton Rouge and is home to a diverse population of people.
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Fact One: Mardi Gras is held in New Orleans
Mardi Gras is celebrated for two weeks every year before Lent. There are festivals, parades, and wild nightlife during Mardi Gras. It began in 1699 as a Catholic festival and grew into a major national holiday. People come from all over the nation to celebrate in New Orleans every year.
Here are some fun crafts and activities that you can do with your kids:
- Make these Mardi Gras handprint masks.
- This Mardi Gras playdough is fun to make and play with.
- Read about Mardi Gras with Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize.
- These fun king cakes are great for kids.
- This gooey Mardi Gras slime is so much fun to play with.
Fact Two: Baton Rouge hosted the 1983 Special Olympics
The Special Olympics World Summer Games were hosted in Baton Rouge in 1983 at Lousiana State University. The events included swimming, softball throwing, running, jumping, throwing, and walking (known as athletics).
Here are some fun crafts and activities that you can do with your kids:
- Make these Olympic rings with your kids.
- These Olympic handprint medals are easy to make.
- Read She’s Got This about the Olympics.
- These Olympic laurel wreath crowns are perfect for toddlers.
- Make an Olympic torch with paper streamers.
Fact Three: The Superdome is in New Orleans
The Superdome in New Orleans is the largest steel-constructed building unobstructed by posts. It’s 273 feet long, 680 feet in diameter, has a roof covering 9.7 acres, and has a floor of over 269,000 square feet. Major sporting events are held here all year long.
Here are some fun crafts and activities that you can do with your kids:
- These tissue paper pom poms are so much fun to play with.
- Make this coffee filter basketball craft with your kids.
- Read A Buck and a Puck all about hockey.
- These simple basketball cups and balls are so fun to make.
- These tasty soccer cupcakes are fun to make and eat.
Fact Four: The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge over water in the world
This bridge was built in 1956 and is 24 miles long. It took $46 million to build and connects Metairie with St. Tammany in Louisiana. It’s the longest bridge over water in the world.
Here are some fun crafts and activities that you can do with your kids:
- Make this fun bridge with paper cups and plates.
- Build this strong popsicle stick bridge with your kids.
- Use this paper model kit book to help your kids build a bridge in How to Build a Bridge.
- This bone bridge made out of Q-tips, skewer sticks, and clothespins is a blast.
- This STEM engineering bridge is a fun activity for older kids.
Fact Five: The tallest state capitol building is in Lousiana
This building is 450 feet tall and has 34 floors making it the tallest skyscraper in Baton Rouge and the tallest capitol building in the United States. It was completed in 1931 and is now a National Historic Landmark.
Here are some fun crafts and activities that you can do with your kids:
- Make this United States toothpick map with your kids.
- This states and capital game is a great way to learn about the states.
- Read There Ought to be a Law: A Bright Day at the State Capitol.
- Play United States bingo with this easy printable game.
- Learn how to draw the US capital.
