This year, my family is planning a grand road trip down the West Coast from Washington State to Arizona and back via the Grand Canyon. As many homeschoolers do, we're planning ahead to make the most of our anticipated new experiences and adventures. That includes tips for hiking with young children.
In a previous article, I explored Washington State history via printable activity books and online resources. I've collected a similar group of resources for this journey.
Arizona Coloring Pages and Activity Sheets
My favorite free printable so far is Gila Ben's Fun & Facts Coloring Book. Also on the Gila Ben website, you'll find convenient lists of Arizona facts and other information of interest on topics such as petrified wood and the cactus wren.
Next, I found several official Arizona coloring pages on the website of the Office of the Arizona Governor, including state map, state quarter, state flag, state seal, saguaro cactus, cactus wren, saguaro blossom, and capitol building.
You might also enjoy learning more about the Arizona flag symbols and how Arizona got its name.
Geology and Grand Canyon Coloring Pages, Activity Sheets, and Lesson Plans
I decided to introduce some general geology rock and mineral learning activities before focusing specifically on the Grand Canyon. First, I picked out several geology activity sheets nestled within a larger Grand Canyon geology lesson plan provided by the National Park Service. The geology lesson plan included
- a fill-in rock cycle activity sheet,
- a Grand Canyon color by layer,
- a glossary of geological terms, and
- a Grand Canyon fact worksheet.
In addition to those printable pages, I found a geography picture dictionary for kids to illustrate (right click on the dictionary to print). The picture dictionary was listed along with many other useful resources on Geology Rocks: A Homeschool Unit Study. My elder two daughters are going to craft these sheets into a lapbook.
For multiple grade levels, National Geographic provides Grand Canyon lesson plans for multiple grade levels. For my preschool-age daughter, I found a simple Grand Canyon coloring page, although she will also have a go at the rock cycle and Grand Canyon layers diagrams for use in her own lapbook.
More Grand Canyon Learning Resources
On the Bobs Pixels website, I found mnemonic sentences for Grand Canyon rock layers to help kids remember the rock layer names. You'll also find a diagram of the rock layers.
I also found a free printable teacher's guide (pdf) for G is for Grand Canyon by Barbara Gowan.
Make a trip to the Grand Canyon and Arizona if you can. If not, the National Geographic lesson plan page listed above offers a virtual alternative.
You might also enjoy:
- Using the Scientific Method with Kids
- Online Science Games and Interactive Simulations
- Climate Change and Conservation Games for Kids
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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