What do you know about the state of Arkansas? Are you a native or have you more recently became an Arkansan? What do you know about the economy that provides jobs for our current and future workers who are your current students? What do festivals tells us about our heritage and the people who settled the state? As a native northwest Arkansan and a curious teacher, I have been amazed as I traveled and explored the state! In my class for future teachers I present a session titled Arkansas Pride. When I finished the presentation students commented on learning so many new things even if they have lived here for a long time. And those new to the state were totally surprised and had new ideas for making family visits more interesting. My favorite story was a student who asked me to help select a wedding site after seeing the Arkansas information. I am happy to report we found an inexpensive quaint place in the rural outdoors that made her totally happy!!!
This summer, I worked with two education majors to create an amazing website filled with curricula and activities to make learning about the state engaging for students grades two to twelve. The activities are interactive and have relevance in many subject areas. Learning about and taking pride in your state can have lasting value. Content includes learning about people and places; resources and recreation; industry; diversity; and entrepreneurs and education. The favorite section for many is the food and restaurants. Though exploring parks and outdoor adventure is fun too.
As a few teasers. How many can you answer? Email the number you get correct to me! 🙂
- Which cave, with five caverns and an underground river, is the only cave administered by the National Forest Service and was discovered by a CCC planner in 1934? Hint: Search Stone Country.
- What is Arkansas’ largest lake? Hint: found in the Ouachita Mountains.
- What well known country music singer is from Arkansas? Hint: you can actually find several who are introduced in the presentations.
- Is Rodger Bumpass, Squidward from Arkansas? If so, which region?
- Who is the African American Hope native pursuing her PhD who has published children’s books to help students as they begin kindergarten?
- What crop, besides cotton, grows in the Delta region of the state? Hint: They are listed in the presentation of this region. Some may be a surprise to you.
- Dr. O. Keith Baker, a physicist who helped with discovery of Higgs boson and is in the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, is from McGehee. Did his parents passions and careers influence his interests? Where does he teach now?
- Arkansas is a water rich state but there are issues in the production of one crop? Learn about this production and the uses of water in the state. Is water as valuable as oil in the future?
- What companies in the state have developed supply chains that provide more income to people in developing countries? These are included and provide great examples for business classes.
- Where does the lumber produced by the state originate? Does the soil affect the production? How is the soil different in each region of the state?
- What ethnic group was brought to the state to take the place of the slaves? How did this change the demographics of the state?
- Where can students learn about the Native Americans who were here long before Europeans?
- Why are Marshallese or LatinX in Arkansas? Why are so many Indians in Northwest Arkansas?
- Are spudnuts the best donut? Where can you find them?
- What Delta farmers chose to produce vegetables rather than industrial farm crops? They built a large family run business producing vegetables for stores and farmers’ markets.
- Who was the first woman to own a construction/manufacturing business and railroad in the state? Hint: Who is Garvan garden’s named after?
- Did Tacos for Life and Slim Chicken’s really start in Arkansas? What is unique about their business models?
- What HBCU’s are in the state?
- Where can students to go get skills for their future careers?
Begin the year with an introductory Kahoot quiz to see what your students know. Who knows, you might learn a thing or two also!
- If you want to teach more about the state, you will find presentations for each region of the state on the main page.
- A presentation describing the history of economic development in the state is particularly relevant for Arkansas history classes.
- Explore the regions of the state through ghost stories!!!
- Check student learning through categorization of facts about each region.
- Younger students can develop an Arkansas A to Z coloring book.
- Older learners can make a human timeline of the economic activities that developed the state throughout time.
- Explore products made in Arkansas. Play Jeopardy to sum it all up and assess student learning. All resources needed are provided digitally or have easy to assemble printouts for in class interaction.
- For a sampling of the content, check out this sampler where we took information from each region and integrated it into this overview.
I must give GREAT appreciation to two students, Mattie Boyett and Mackenzie Anderson. They were amazing! They learned new tech skills and did lots of research to learn more about the state. They spent many hours developing curricula for students grades two to twelve. Here is the link that shows their work and the activities you can use with your students. If you are an administrator, I would grab these students.
I invite you to share with me through email or comments on the blog, ways you use this information. It will encourage others to use the activities.
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