Interesting Facts about Missouri
As we continue our homeschool unit study, traveling around the US, here are some interesting facts about Missouri.
As we’ve explored several other states in our 50 states unit study series, up next is Missouri! Missouri’s known for a lot of things: caves, mountains, the Gateway Arch, and its history in the entertainment industry.
Explore more about Missouri with these five facts and activities for your homeschool or classroom unit study.
Missouri is in the midwest and is a diverse state: you can see mountains and beautiful landscapes, or see a country show. From entertainment to nature to sports history, Missouri has a little something for everyone to enjoy.
Five Missouri Facts:
Known for its country music shows, the gigantic Gateway Arch, Missouri has an interesting history with and continues to be a major force in mining and agriculture. Here are some facts so you can explore Missouri.
Fact One: Missouri’s state nickname is the Show Me State.
Missouri’s unofficial state nickname is the Show-Me State for over a hundred years. No one quite knows where the statement came from.
People call Missouri The Ozark State, the Lead State, and the Cave State. It sure has many nicknames!
Learn more about Missouri’s nicknames with these activities:
Inspired by the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little Farm in the Ozarks is set in the Ozarks.
The Ozarks are known for their beautiful mountains. Create a textured mountain landscape using inspiration from the Ozarks.
Missouri has about 6,000 caves, earning it the nickname the Cave State. Crystals can often be found in caves. Make your own crystals with this science experiment.
Along with caves, Missouri has a rich variety of mountain peaks. Grab some paints to create some beautiful watercolor snowy mountains in this craft.
If you can’t explore Missouri’s caves in person, try this free virtual online tour.
Fact Two: Missouri’s state bird is the eastern bluebird.
Blue birds are one of the most easily recognized birds. Their beautiful blue coats with red-orange bellies have vibrant colors. You may have seen one of their baby blue eggs in a nest before.
Learn all about bluebirds with these activities:
Turn little blobs of watercolor with this bluebird art craft.
Grab items you already have in your house to make this pop up bluebird! You’ll need half of a paper plate, paper, and paint.
Build a bird’s nest with simple supplies and document your process!
Make a textured bluebird with this plate craft.
Learn more about all of the different types of birds in North America with the National Geographic Bird Guide of North America.
Fact Three: Missouri’s state insect is the honeybee.
Honeybees help pollinate crops, and you can find honeybees all around Missouri. In 1985, this little creature was named the state insect of Missouri.
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Learn about all bees with these activities:
Celebrate bees with this simple bumble bee craft.
Learn about a bee’s life cycle with this creative activity.
Grab some popsicle sticks for this bumblebee craft, which can be used for a variety of age ranges.
Tell a story using this bumble bee puppet. The options are endless with this idea!
The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall is filled with beautiful, vivid illustrations about honeybees.
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Fact Four: Maya Angelou was from Missouri.
Maya Angelou was a poet and Civil Rights Movement activist. She has had several different roles in her life including singer and actress and has received over 50 honorary doctorates. Plus, she is one of my most favorite women!
Here are some ideas to help you learn about her life:
Who Was Maya Angelou? is part of the Who Was series and is a beginner chapter book about Angelou’s life.
Maya Angelou: Little People, Big Dreams is part of a picture book series inspiring children to dream big.
Try this weaving craft inspired by Angelou’s book Kofi and His Magic.
Create a collaborative poster of Maya Angelou with this art project.
Dress up like Maya with this book report costume.
Use some of these Inspiring Quotes from Maya Angelou as talking points, handwriting practice, or memory & recitation practice.
Fact Five: The Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made national monument in the US.
At 630 feet tall, the Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made national monument in America. It’s also the world’s tallest arch. You can find the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO.
What is the Gateway Arch? Learn more about it with this early reader, The Gateway Arch.
How do you make an arch? Find out with this YouTube tutorial!
What’s That Arch? is a picture book that explores the significance of the Gateway Arch and its importance to Missouri.
Learn more about the Gateway Arch by recreating a replica with plastic cups.
More Missouri Resources:
- 14 Pages: Missouri State Unit Study
- Missouri Crafts for Children
- Free Missouri State Fact File Worksheets
