As begin planning out your state studies, be sure to include a wide variety of books in your lessons. Choose a mixture of fiction and nonfiction books for a thorough look at the state and its culture.

Select some picture books or a chapter book to read aloud. Add others to an independent reading basket.

Kentucky Books for Kids

From classic folktales to creative works from modern authors, Kentucky Books for Kids offers a diverse range of stories and activities perfect for introducing young readers to the fascinating culture and history of the state.

With captivating stories about the people of Kentucky, these books will inspire curiosity, a sense of adventure, and a love for reading in children of all ages.

Tiny the Kentucky Easter Bunny

With the Easter Bunny trapped, it's up to Tiny to save Easter in Kentucky!

But being a bunny isn't as easy as it looks, especially for an elephant.

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The Easter Bunny Is Coming to Kentucky

What happens when the Easter Bunny is done delivering eggs? She joins in the fun, of course!

Hopping through places you know and love, the Easter Bunny helps children enjoy the day, and wiggle and giggle their worries away!

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D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet:

Following the alphabet, D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet uses poetry and expository text to explain this world-famous event.

Topics include famous jockeys, legendary horses, fabled Bluegrass farms and owners, as well as offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing.

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That Book Woman

Cal is not the reading type, but that book woman keeps visiting.

This is the moving story of the Pack Horse Librarians, whose bravery and commitment helped rural children find something wonderful in books.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in Kentucky

Merry Christmas from the Bluegrass State! Come along on a wild ride through Kentucky as Marybeth introduces her cousin Martin to all her favorite places, activities, and foods.

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Night-Night Kentucky

It's bedtime in the Bluegrass State! Say goodnight to all your favorite locations!

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Santa's Sleigh Is on Its Way to Kentucky: A Christmas Adventure

It's a magical Christmas Eve, and all of the children in your town are sleeping. Well, all of the children but you!

How could you possibly fall asleep when you know Santa and his sleigh are on their way?

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Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby

The Last Black King of the Kentucky Derby brings to life a vivacious hero from a little-known chapter of American sports history.

Readers are transported trackside to witness the heart-pounding story of a vibrant young man chasing down his dream.

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The Littlest Bunny in Kentucky: An Easter Adventure

It's Easter morning, and the littlest bunny has a big secret: he's actually the Easter Bunny!

He has a lot of work to do! Join him as he hides eggs high and low, with a final stop at your house!

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Honey, the Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln

One day, young Abe found a stray dog with a broken leg and named him Honey.

He had no idea that the scruffy pup would find his way into Abe’s heart, become his best friend, and—one fateful day—save his life.

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The Mystery at the Kentucky Derby

When Mimi and Papa get invited to the most famous horse race in the world, Grant and Christina tag along.

They meet up with a couple of horsy friends and start to have some fun!

But then, mysterious things begin to happen: first a horse disappears, then two jockeys...

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B Is For Bluegrass: A Kentucky Alphabet

Readers, young and old, take a horseback ride through the rich history and beautiful landscape of the Bluegrass State.

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Kentucky

From the gentle hills of the Bluegrass Region to the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, Readers will explore this Southern state and find out what it is like to live there, from what people like to eat to what kinds of jobs are common.

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Blue Grass Boy: The Story of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass Music

Bill Monroe loved many things: playing music, his big family, and his home in the bluegrass state of Kentucky.

Even though his eyes were crossed and didn't work right, Bill's ears worked hard, picking out all sorts of sounds around his treasured home: rushing streams, wailing winds, and sundown jamborees with his family.

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The Spooky Express Kentucky

In this thrilling read aloud, join the passengers of the Spooky Express for an exciting adventure that takes you across Kentucky!

You'll work with witches, ghouls, ghosts, spiders, and more as you try to save Halloween!

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Which of these books about Kentucky will you read first?

Round Out Your Unit with These Activities

This challenging Kentucky-themed word search book is perfect for those who want to improve their knowledge and have fun during free times,road trips, waiting times and more.

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The Kentucky Derby is America's most famous horse race, and it is just as much fun for kids as it is for adults. Whether you’re attending the popular two-minute race in person or watching from home, there are plenty of activities that will make the day special for your little ones.

From derby-themed crafts and games to creating their own hats and betting pools, your kids can join in on all the fun while celebrating with you! Here are some great ideas for Derby Day activities for kids – so get ready to have a blast together!

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with your kids! With derby-themed crafts and games, as well as homemade hats, you can make this iconic American horse race a fun event for everyone in your family.

From creating their own personalized hat to playing exciting races of their own at home, there are plenty of activities that will ensure an unforgettable day together – get ready to have some serious Triple Crown fun!

Kentucky Derby Activities

If you’re planning a Kentucky Derby theme, there are many opportunities for incorporating meaningful educational activities into your theme.

With all these fun and educational activities, homeschoolers can really take part in the excitement of the Kentucky Derby – no matter where they are.

These are just a handful of the concepts kids can focus on during a Kentucky Derby-themed unit:

• all about horses
• all about roses and/or the color red
• all about the state of Kentucky

Before you begin preparing your Kentucky Derby theme, you should look gather a few supplies including but not limited to: 

• books about horses
• books about Kentucky
• red roses to smell and explore
• mint leaves to smell and explore

Before beginning your unit about the Kentucky Derby, introduce your kids to the Derby with a book full of fun facts such as D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet.

Following the alphabet, D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet uses poetry and expository text to explain this world-famous event.

Topics include famous jockeys, legendary horses, fabled Bluegrass farms and owners, as well as offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing.

Now that you've introduced your kids to the basics of the Kentucky Derby, how about adding some fun Kentucky Derby activities for kids: 

• You can find a large collection of downloadable Kentucky Derby activities over on the Kentucky Derby Museum website. Choose from vocabulary, suggested reading, coloring sheets, and more.  

• Make a Derby pie from scratch (leaving out the bourbon if you'd like). 

• Try making Mint Juleps to serve at your party. Again, leave the alcohol out for kids. 

• Download and complete this free Kentucky Derby lapbook which is perfect for ages 7-9.

Teach your kids all about horses with these awesome resources: 

• Download and print these Horse Breed cards featuring twelve breeds. 

• Assign (or read) one or more of these chapter books for horse lovers! You'll find both fiction and nonfiction selections on this list. 

• Little learners can create this cute H is for Horse letter of the week craft. 

Take some time to learn about the great state of Kentucky – the home of the Kentucky Derby. 

• Download and print these Kentucky State Fact File worksheets on which kids can record many facts about the state of KY. 

• This Kentucky Unit Study is a comprehensive list of facts, history, famous people, and more. 

Books to Add to Your Unit

Fill your book basket with a great collection of books to add to your Kentucky Derby unit study. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

B is for Bluegrass – Mary Ann McCabe Riehle offers readers, young and old, the opportunity to take a horseback ride through the rich history and beautiful landscape of the Bluegrass State. 

H is for Horse – From basics such as mucking out the stall and how to judge a horse's qualities to historical facts on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mike Ulmer relays the fun and fundamentals of the world of horses. 

D is for Derby – Following the alphabet, D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet uses poetry and expository text to explain this world-famous event. Topics include famous jockeys, legendary horses, fabled Bluegrass farms and owners, as well as offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing.

Round Out Your Unit with These Activities:

These little stick horses will please any little jockey with hours of play. They're perfect for hosting a horse race of your own! 

The post Kentucky Derby Activities for Kids appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.

State studies are a fun way to dive deep into a state's history, customs, and other fun facts. The crafts on the list below focus on famous people, Kentucky customs, and state symbols. There are craft ideas for preschool through elementary aged students.

Kentucky Unit Study Crafts

The Kentucky state insect is the honeybee. During your Kentucky state study, let your kids create this fun painted rocks Easy Bee Craft! There are so many ways you can use them in your preschool lessons! Homeschool Preschool

The state butterfly is the Viceroy butterfly that is often mistaken for a Monarch. I can't find a craft specific to the Viceroy, but this paper streamer butterfly craft has the same coloring. No Time for Flashcards

The Kentucky state bird is the Northern cardinal. Kids will enjoy making this fun handprint cardinal keepsake craft. The Best Ideas for Kids

The blackberry is Kentucky's state fruit. You can mash blackberries and use the juice to paint with blackberries. Create a unique art project for your Kentucky study. Sunny Day Family

The Kentucky state gemstone is the freshwater pearl. Little ones can create their own clam with “pearls”. Things to Share and Remember

The grey squirrel is Kentucky's state game animal. These DIY squirrel puppets can be made in just 15 minutes with some used cardboard and a little fake fur. This squirrel is brown, but with a little paint you can have a grey one in no time. Ruffles and Rain Boots

Kentucky's state horse is the Thoroughbred. This H is for horse craft comes with a free printable template making it easy to assemble. Homeschool Preschool

These tissue paper bees are so cute, and they're great for helping preschoolers polish fine motor skills. Add them to your spring and summer craft list. Homeschool Preschool

This flapping butterfly craft is an interactive craft as kids have it flap its wings. It's easy to color it with the same markings as a Viceroy butterfly. Teach Beside Me

The free printable template makes this 3D cardinal craft a breeze to assemble! The Classroom Creative

Bundle some q-tips together, and your kids can paint blackberries with q-tip “brushes”. The Gingerbread House

No bake horse cookies are perfect for a Kentucky state study or a Kentucky Derby celebration. Savory Experiments

You should be able to pick up some cheap supplies at a Dollar Tree to make Kentucky Derby hats. Polka Dot Chair

Make an Abraham Lincoln paper plate craft in honor of our 16th president who was born in Kentucky. Surviving a Teacher's Salary

Little ones can create this fun footprint horse craft in honor of the  Kentucky Thoroughbred. Crafty Morning

This adorable toilet paper roll bee craft for preschool is a fun hands-on activity for preschoolers to create when you study bees this spring.

Here's another paper plate fluttering butterfly craft that can be decorated to resemble a Viceroy butterfly. I Heart Crafty Things

Gather some craft sticks and feathers so your kids can make this craft sticks cardinal craft. You can put a magnet on the back to display it on your fridge. The Resourceful Mama

Mash some blackberries, and use the juice to make a batch of homemade blackberry playdough. Rainy Day Mum

Kentucky Books for Kids

Fill your book basket with a great collection of Kentucky books for kids. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Kentucky – Merry Christmas from the Bluegrass State! Come along on a wild ride through Kentucky as Marybeth introduces her cousin Martin to all her favorite places, activities, and foods.

That Book Woman – Cal is not the reading type, but that book woman keeps visiting. This is the moving story of the Pack Horse Librarians, whose bravery and commitment helped rural children find something wonderful in books.

Honey: The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln – One day, young Abe found a stray dog with a broken leg and named him Honey. He had no idea that the scruffy pup would find his way into Abe’s heart, become his best friend, and—one fateful day—save his life.

Related Posts

The post Kentucky Unit Study Crafts appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.

This free printable bingo game is a fun activity to add to your state studies. It's a good way to have students review the state symbols of Kentucky. The best part is that this activity is print-and-go!

Kentucky State Symbols Bingo

Add these free printable bingo boards to your geography lesson plans. They're perfect for your state studies for kids. Of course, you should also add them to your Kentucky activities for kids.

Print the bingo boards on cardstock and laminate them for durability. Print the calling card page and laminate it, as well. You can leave it intact and use a dry erase marker to mark the symbols you've called. Or, you can cut it apart so that you have calling cards you can set in a pile and draw one at a time.

Variations:

When playing this game with younger children, you should hold up the card and say its name. Have children look for the matching picture on their bingo board and cover it with a button or penny or other small object.

With older children, you can call out the name of the symbol (cardinal, Tulip Poplar, etc) and have children identify the symbol on their bingo card. Again, have them cover the object with a small object.

Because there are only nine squares on the board, I suggest playing “cover all” instead of just filling in a row. But, the choice is totally yours.

Kentucky Books for Kids

Fill your book basket with a great collection of Kentucky books for kids. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Kentucky – Merry Christmas from the Bluegrass State! Come along on a wild ride through Kentucky as Marybeth introduces her cousin Martin to all her favorite places, activities, and foods.

That Book Woman – Cal is not the reading type, but that book woman keeps visiting. This is the moving story of the Pack Horse Librarians, whose bravery and commitment helped rural children find something wonderful in books.

Honey: The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln – One day, young Abe found a stray dog with a broken leg and named him Honey. He had no idea that the scruffy pup would find his way into Abe’s heart, become his best friend, and—one fateful day—save his life.

Download Your Printables

This Kentucky State Symbols bingo game is only available to my readers. Click the button below, enter your information, and download your printables.

The post Kentucky State Symbols Bingo appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.

Whether you live in Kentucky and are looking for a unit to fulfill your state study requirement or you're working your way across the United States, this resource list is an awesome place to start your research.

This state unit study (and the free state study printable) is perfect for students in grades 3-8! They'll research state facts and symbols, famous Kentuckians, and more.

Kentucky Unit Study Resources

In addition to the State Studies Pack I'm sharing below, you may also want to check out The Big Kentucky Activity Book which is available on Amazon.

Kentucky became a state in 1792 becoming the fifteenth state and the first state west of the Appalachian Mountains. 

Ideas for Notebooking Pages

Whether you purchase notebooking pages or create your own, there are many things about Kentucky that your kids can add to those pages. 

They can draw an outline of the state marking its capital and some of its biggest cities. They can also draw the state flag, the state bird (Northern Cardinal), the state flower (Goldenrod), and the state tree (Tulip Poplar). 

Great Books

I have a much more extensive list of books about Kentucky that you can peruse, if you'd like. But for the sake of being concise, I'm only listing a few of my favorite books about Kentucky here. 

• The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills | This is a tender story about a resourceful mountain girl's special coat that will touch readers with its affirming message of love and friendship.

• Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds by Cynthia Rylant | Lyrical prose and warm watercolor illustrations bring a “certain part of the country called Appalachia” alive for young readers. 

• That Book Woman by Heather Henson | That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that honors a special part of American history—the Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers of children see the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus made them into lifetime readers.

Field Trip Ideas

If you live nearby and have a chance to visit Kentucky, there are a few places you should see.

• Mammoth Cave | I remember touring Mammoth Cave when I was a child. I vividly remember Fat Man's Misery (a skinny passageway) and Tall Man's Agony (a shorter passageway). You and your kids can tour the underground cave trails or stay above ground and wander through the acres of forest the park has to offer.  

• Louisville Slugger Museum | Baseball fans will love touring the Louisville Slugger Museum to see how baseball bats are made. They'll love bringing home their very own personalized bat, too!

• Kentucky State Capitol | Tour the beautiful Kentucky State Capitol Building to see the Kentucky Supreme Court room, the Senate Chamber, and more!

• Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace | See the log cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born. 

Famous People

No state study is complete without a look at some of the famous people that were born there. Kentucky has its fair share of important people. 

• Abraham Lincoln | Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin in Hodgenville, KY. He was elected the 16th President of the United States in 1861. 

• Daniel Boone | Daniel Boone was born in Pennsylvania in 1734. In his adult years, Boone spent much time exploring the land of Kentucky before it became a state. He made the Wilderness Road which ran through the Appalachian Mountains from NC through KY to TN. 

• Muhammad Ali | Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, KY in 1942. He grow up to be a famous American boxer. 

Science

There's plenty of science to be incorporated into a state study. Kids can research animals and/or plants native to the state. One animal that is frequently associated with Kentucky is the horse. That would be a fun animal to study alongside a study of KY. 

More Teaching Resources

This challenging Kentucky-themed word search book is perfect for those who want to improve their knowledge and have fun during free times,road trips, waiting times and more.

Related Posts

The post Kentucky Unit Study Resources appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.