Arkansas State Symbols Book List and Field Trip Guide

This year field trips are covered under the Educational Freedom Account funds and I am ready for it! I developed several unit studies so our family could focus our studies on Arkansas History and Science, while including literature, art, STEM, and even some math. Our first month we will be studying Arkansas State Symbols. I uploaded our unit study, Arkansas State Symbols (Read, Write, Draw, Create) to TPT. The unit study is super engaging and can be done together as a family. I always recommend reading the books aloud together (I have included my booklist below). You can simplify the writing and drawing assignments if you have little ones, or raise your expectations and require lengthier writing assignments and more detailed drawings if you have older ones. When your time and schedule allows, you can add GO! to your Read, Write, Draw, Create assignment. There are so many education field trip opportunities here in our state! I included a list of field trips to go with each of the state symbols, but please, if you know of a fun trip idea that I am missing, send me a message! You can find me on Instagram @pocketful_of_treasures. I also recommend contacting the location before you go to check their hours and availability. 

DISCLAIMER: Affiliate links included. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you.

“N is for Natural State: An Arkansas Alphabet” by Michael Shoulders (https://amzn.to/4kmpFiD)

“It’s Official: The Real Stories behind Arkansas’ State Symbols” by David (https://amzn.to/44dkv3K)

STATE BIRD: NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

“Birds of Arkansas Field Guide by Stan Tekiela (https://amzn.to/44b7Myq)

*You can birdwatch from anywhere! Spend some time birdwatching in your backyard, a park, or along a nature trail.

*Visit Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in Little Rock.

*Contact the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas. They host field trips throughout the year. For more information visit wp.ascabird.org or contact the ASCA Field Trip Coordinator, Karen Holliday, at ladyhawke1@att.net or (501)920-3246.

*Participate in the Wings Over Arkansas birding program by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. More information can be found about the program, as well as educational outreach programs, at agfc.com.

*25 Arkansas State Parks have been selected for inclusion in the Watchable Wildlife Program by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Check out the Arkansas State Parks website (arkansasstateparks.com) for upcoming events, which may include programs such bird hikes, nifty nests, bird beak buffet, sunrise symphony, wings over the water, and more!

STATE FLOWER: APPLE BLOSSOM

“The Apple Tree – A Modern Day Cherokee Story Told in English and Cherokee” by Sandy Tharp-Thee (https://amzn.to/4nKbBm2)

*The first weekend of October the Arkansas Apple Festival is held in Lincoln, AR.

*Rogers Historical Museum has a field trip program titled "Land of the Big Red Apple"

*Visit a U-Pick Apple Farm!

    -Rivercrest Orchard in Fayetteville, AR

    -Vanzant Fruit Farms in Lowell, AR

    -Drewry Farms & Orchards in Dover, AR

    -Cadron Crest Orchard in Greenbrier, AR

  

STATE MAMMAL: WHITE-TAILED DEER

“Go Whitetail Deer Hunting!” by Lisa M. Bolt Simons (https://amzn.to/401lrph)

“Birthday Buck: A First Deer Story” by Jimmy Tidmore (https://amzn.to/4koszmN)

*You won't have trouble finding deer in Arkansas, lol. Visit just about any state park or wildlife management area and you will see deer! You may even see them in your backyard!

*Go on a Guided Whitetail Deer hunt (https://deltaheritagelodge.com/trophy-whitetail-hunts).

*Contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for educational opportunities (https://www.agfc.com/education/education-outreach/)

STATE TREE: PINE

“From Cone to Pine Tree” by Emma Carlson-Berne (https://amzn.to/4nwisPC)

“The Tree Book for Kids and their Grown-Ups” by Gina Ingoglia (https://amzn.to/3GsMJhC)

*2 of the 4 Shortleaf Loblobby Pine trees that were propagated from seeds on  the Apollo 14 Mission in 1971 stand today. One of them you can find at the 1836 Hempstead County Courthouse at Historic Washington State Park. The other one is at the Sebastian County Courthouse in Fort Smith. 

*Arkansas Outdoor School has a program on Forest Ecology

STATE BUTTERFLY: DIANA FRITILLARY & STATE INSECT: HONEYBEE

I included these together because they are both pollinators and your study of each can be combined in many of these field trips.

“My, Oh My – A Butterfly! All about Butterflies (The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)” (https://amzn.to/3I8UQk4)

“National Audubon Society Pocket Guide: Familiar Butterflies of North America” (https://amzn.to/3I3Hndo)

“The Life and Times of the Honeybee” by Charles Micucci (https://amzn.to/3I91RkW)

*Mount Magazine State Park is a premier butterfly location, but many of the state parks host butterfly, bee, and pollinator programs, so be sure to check their events tab!

*Botanical Garden of the Ozarks has several butterfly field trips to choose from. 

*Arkansas Outdoor School has a field trip program titled "Plants and their Pollinators" as well as one on "Investigating Insects"

STATE GRAIN: RICE

“Everybody Cooks Rice” by Norah Dooley (https://amzn.to/3GaIHdU)

*Plantation Agricultural Museum in Scott, AR

*Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Harrisburg, AR has a rice discovery program for grades 2-12.

*Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart, AR

*Arkansas Rice has curriculum on their website and an Events Tab

STATE FRUIT & VEGETABLE: VINE RIPE PINK TOMATO

“Tomato: History, Growing, Cooking, and Fun for Kids” by Guilhem Wall (https://amzn.to/3ToImY2)

*Arkansas Culinary Herb and Produce Farm in White Hall, AR

*Dunbar Community Garden in Little Rock

STATE BEVERAGE: MILK

*Howard Farm in Durham, AR

*White River Creamery in Elkins, AR

*Rabbit Ridge Farms in Bee Branch, AR

*Dogwood Hills Guest Farm in Harriet, AR

STATE NUT: PECAN

“My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me” by Roxanne Troup (https://amzn.to/3Icpo4q

*Creekside Farm in Morrilton, AR

*Attend Arkansas Pecan Festival in December in Keo, AR

*Nut House in Keo, AR

*Baucum Nut House in North Little Rock, AR

*Hiland Dairy (multiple locations in state)

STATE ROCK: BAUXITE, STATE MINERAL: QUARTZ CRYSTAL, STATE GEM: DIAMOND

“The Rock Factory: The Story About the Rock Cycle” (https://amzn.to/45Zc6SO)

“Dig and Discover Quartz” by Melissa Mayer (https://amzn.to/3GA23ZV)

“The Rock and Gem Book: And Other Treasures of the Natural World” by DK (https://amzn.to/46DCRwd)

 “What are Diamonds and How do they Form?” by Judith Hubbard (https://amzn.to/3Imvyz7)

*Ron Coleman Mining

*Crater of Diamonds State Park

*Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines in Mt. Ida, AR

*Prairie Creek Campground

*Board Camp Crystal Mine in Mena, AR

*Bauxite Historical Association Museum

STATE DANCE: SQUARE DANCING, STATE FOLK INSTRUMENT: FIDDLE, STATE SONG

“Dance at Grandpa’s (Little House Prequel)” by Laura Wilder (https://amzn.to/3TDKmvw)

“A Fiddle for Angus” by Budge Wilson (https://amzn.to/3GFCgQ4) 

*Ozark Folk Center

*ASSDF Club Events

For more on homeschooling in Arkansas, be sure to check out my Quick Start Guide to Homeschooling, as well as the Homeschooling tab for all my homeschool related articles.