Eight for Each State - Colorado | Your Morning Basket

Welcome to the Eight For Each State US Geography tour. I am so glad you are joining us.

Colorado is an exciting state for us because we have visited family there several times. The girls even spent two weeks alone last year with their grandparents — what an adventure!

Even with all our trips, there were plenty of new things to learn about Colorado as a state. All of our visits have centered around Colorado Springs, but there is a whole state out there. From the flat east, to the mountainous west, Colorado is simply beautiful and intriguing. Check out the resources below and see what I mean.

1. C is for Centennial by Louise Doak Whitney

PinWe love the Discover America State by State set of books. Each one is a state study in and of itself. With fun rhyming couplets, gorgeous illustrations, and more information in the side bar, there is something for everyone in these books!

If you have a set of notebooking pages, check out the set of books you enjoy most from your library to fill in the information. Below are a few more fun Colorado books.

Little Colorado by Denise Brennan-Nelson Pin – This is a board book, but it isn’t just for little ones. My older daughters love guessing the riddles and my younger daughter loves that this books is “hers.” We have Little North Carolina from this series.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Colorado by Linda Ashman – To change things up a bit, I ordered the Christmas themed book when we did South Carolina. It is written in story form and gives the highlights of the state
Weird Colorado: Your Travel Guide to Colorado’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Charmaine Ortega Getz – If you have one who enjoys the odd, this book is for you. Interesting, funny and absurd facts and fascinating places are all here for you to enjoy.

2. Colorado Videos

When our book is read, the girls always clamber for a video. If I cannot find a good overall state video, we choose a topic or person to learn a bit more about.

Colorado – Visit the 50 States

Colorado

3. Pike’s Peak – America’s Mountain

Pike’s Peak, named for Zeb Pike is certainly an attraction in Colorado. Zeb Pike explored and mapped the region, but never climbed to the top of the mountain named for him. To him it seemed impossible. However, today, hikers from all over climb and enjoy a 14,000 ft. doughnut at the top.

If you are not up for hiking, you can travel by car up the Pike’s Peak Highway. However, after watching these cars, I am not one to choose this option. Every year, racers compete on this twisty-turvey, guardrail-less road to reach the top in record time.

The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

2015 PPIHC Helicopter Highlight Reel

4. Denver Omelet

Every single book we looked at for Colorado, including The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From All 50 States by Joan D’Amico suggested making a Denver Omelet. So, I guess when in Colorado, eat Denver Omelets.

5. NORAD

I have to admit, the far away antenna looking things on top of one of the mountains in Colorado Springs never excited me very much. That is until my husband showed me one Christmas Eve what exactly they are tracking.

Santa! They track Santa! Bookmark this one for next Christmas.

The history behind this is fun to read and enjoy. One small phone number mix up way back in 1955 and some good-natured military folks began a tradition that has endured several generations of Santa Trackers.

6. Rocky Mountain National Park and Enos Mills

Exploring the National Parks has been a highlight for us on our US Geography tour. We are continually amazed at the beauty of our country. Here is a very nice video of the park we found.

Ken Burns: Secrets of Rocky Mountain National Park

Enos Mills loved the area that is now Rocky Mountain National Park. He was a famous mountain guide who worked to preserve this piece of the country as a national park.Pin

Enos Mills: Rocky Mountain Conservationist by Steve Walsh
High As A Hawk by T. A. Barron – The youngest person to ever climb Long’s Peak led by Enos Mills, encouraged him to work to preserve Rocky Mountain National Park.

7. Garden of the God’s Sculpture Project

We love the beauty of the Garden of the God’s red rocks. The girls were excited to try their hand at sculpting their own with Crayola Terra Cotta Air Dry Clay. Try your own!

8. Mesa Verde

Next to natural land forms, Mesa Verde is one of the most fascinating places in Colorado. An entire abandoned city, left for us to discover and wonder about.

Here is a great introduction to the area.

Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Dwellings: The Beauty, The History, The Significance

There are several YouTube versions of Ranger Talks at Mesa Verde.

For a fun read, try The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers: An Isabel Soto Archaeology Adventure by Terry Collins and Barbara Schulz. My daughter loves these graphic nonfiction books.

C Is for Centennial : A Colorado Alphabet (Alphabet Series)Pin Little Colorado (Little State)Pin The Twelve Days of Christmas in Colorado (The Twelve Days of Christmas in America)Pin Weird Colorado: Your Travel Guide to Colorado’s Local Legends and Best Kept SecretsPin Enos Mills: Rocky Mountain ConservationistPin High As A HawkPin The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellers: An Isabel Soto Archaeology Adventure (Graphic Expeditions)Pin

What are your favorite things about Colorado?



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Jessica

Contributor at pambarnhill.com

Jessica Lawton is a homeschool mom to five fantastically fabulous children. Her hobbies include book collecting, knitting, reading, and birdwatching. While teacher or writer were never on her list of Things to Be When I Grow Up, she curiously finds herself doing both, and enjoying it. This only strengthens her firmly held belief that God has better plans for us than we have for ourselves.