When you hear the state of Utah what is the first thing you think of? Can you locate the state on a map? Do you know any fun facts about Utah?
As part of our homeschool, we have been learning about the 50 states and it has been so much fun. There are so many fun things to learn about each state and to be honest it makes me want to visit each one.
As we learn about the states we have done a simple unit study complete with videos, worksheets, books, and activities.
Today I’m sharing our Utah Study and all the fun things we did as we learned about this state.
As you put together your lesson plan for the State of Utah I hope you find these ideas helpful and use as many of them as you can.
Utah Unit Study
Our Utah unit study was so much fun we did it in about 2-3 hours over a couple of days. You can decide if you want to keep the unit simple and do it in a day or you could easily spread it over a week.
We started learning about Utah by watching a Utah homeschool pop youtube video that shares basic Utah Facts for Kids.
I love this channel’s videos about the states because it shows not only the shape of the state but where it is located on a map of the USA. It also talks about basic facts like the flag, nickname, bird, flower, and more.
The video is a great place to start the unit because it gives a great overview of the state. After watching the video you can then talk about the information that was shared and dig deeper if you want.
After watching the video we talk more about Utah’s basic facts along with some fun facts. We use the worksheet and mini-book (found at the bottom of this post) as we continue talking about the state.
And of course, we included some fun activities, crafts, and yummy food to finish off our study of the State of Utah.
Utah Facts for Kids
For each of the 50 states, we learn about the basic facts including the name and where it came from, the capital, the location of the state, and more. Below are Utah’s basic facts.
- Nickname: The Beehive State – this nickname comes from the hardworking pioneers who settled the state. They were said to be as busy as bees.
- Statehood: 45th state – Utah became a state in 1896 and has 29 counties.
- State Capital: Salt Lake City
- Abbreviation: UT
- State bird: California gull
- State flower: sego lily
Where did the name Utah come from?
Some people say that the name Utah comes from the nickname Yuta used by the Spanish for the Ute Native Americans Tribe. Other experts suggest that the name comes from the Ute tribe word Yutas which means “people of the mountains.”
Where is Utah located?
Utah is a western state and is located in the western part of the United States. It shares borders with Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada.
How did Utah get its nickname the Beehive State?
The Beehive State nickname comes from the early Mormon pioneers that settled in Utah.
These early pioneers chose the beehive as a symbol of hard work and industry. The beehive symbol is shown on the Utah flag and the state seal.
Interestingly in 1849 the pioneers sought recognition from the federal government and proposed they be called the “state of Deseret”. Deseret means honeybee. It didn’t become a state until 1896 as “the state of Utah” not “the state of Deseret”.
Interesting and Fun Facts About Utah
There are so many interesting facts about the state of Utah I picked some of my favorites to share with my kids. You can share all of these facts or just pick your favorite it’s up to you.
- Utah is the 2nd driest state in the United States. Mountains near Salt Lake City average 500 inches of snow.
- Utah is the only state to have a cooking pot (Dutch Oven) among its state symbols.
- Utah is named after the Native American tribe “Ute” which means people of the mountain.
- The Great Salt Lake is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River and it’s saltier than the ocean.
- The Spiral Jetty is an earthwork sculpture created by Robert Smithson along the shore of the Great Salt Lake in 1970.
- Utah is one of the Four Corners states. It meets up with Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona at a single point in the southern part of the state.
- The US Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, at Promontory, UT when the last spike (a golden one) was placed connecting the Central Pacific & Union Pacific Railroads.
- Founded in 1903, Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine, (Kennecott Copper Mine) is the world’s largest man-made open-pit excavation mine. Located west of Salt Lake City, it is so large that it is visible from space (photo in links).
- Utah has 5 National Parks, 7 National Monuments, and 6 National Forests.
- Located in Arches National Park, Landscape Arch has a 290-foot span, making it the nation’s longest natural rock arch.
- Pioneer Day on July 24th is a state holiday commemorating the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. It’s celebrated each year with community celebrations, fireworks, and family barbecues.
- Lee Redmond set the record for the longest fingernails in 2008 at a total length of 28 feet, 4 inches! A year later she broke her nails in a car accident.
- Fry Sauce a mayo and ketchup dipping sauce was created in Utah in the 1940s at what would become Arctic Circle Restaurants. Fry sauce is now a staple condiment in Utah and has been personalized by many different people.
- In 2001 Jell-O became the official state snack of Utah. People in Utah eat more jello than in any other state in the country.
- Utah hosted the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics. Utah Olympic park is located in Park City, 25 miles east of Salt Lake.
- Philo Taylor Farnsworth was born in Beaver, Utah, and was an American inventor and television pioneer. He developed the first all-electronic television systems.
Virtual Field Trips Videos and Printables about Utah
There are a lot of great videos and virtual field trips you can use to learn about the state of Utah. These are the ones we used:
Utah Facts (video)
The Utah homeschool pop video gives a great overview of the State of Utah. It’s a great way to start your unit about Utah.
My kids love watching these videos while coloring the state coloring pages I’ll share below.
Arches National Park (video)
The Arches National Park video we watched is a short 3-minute tour of the park with some basic information. While my kids did the arches activity I share below we watched this short video.
Fry Sauce (video)
Fry Sauce is a big deal in Utah and this video which is less than 2 minutes long shares a little bit about the creation of fry sauce in Utah.
Spiral Jetty (video)
The spiral jetty video is really interesting but might be a little dry for younger kids. We didn’t watch the whole thing since my kids lost interest.
I visited the Spiral Jetty in college so I was able to share a few things about my visit to the Jetty with my kids. They enjoyed doing a fun and easy Spiral Jetty craft that I share below.
Kennecott Utah Copper Mine (virtual tour)
The Bingham Canyon Kennecott Copper Mine virtual tour was probably the coolest part of our Utah unit study.
You can do the virtual tour on a computer, tablet, or phone. We used my phone and the kids had so much fun moving around and using the phone to really experience the mine (from across the country.)
We loved learning about it so much we can’t wait to be able to go on a tour when we visit Utah sometime.
Utah Cut and Paste Worksheet
The cut and paste workshet is filled with fun and interesting facts about Utah. You can get it along with a mini book about the state and a lesson plan in the shop.
History of Jello in Utah (video)
This video about Jello is short and gives a few fun facts about the history of Jello and Utah.
Utah Facts Coloring Page (Free Printable)
If you want a coloring page with a few facts about Utah this is a free printable that we really like.
National Park Videos
For each of the National parks in Utah, you can enjoy videos giving you a virtual tour of the parks and some hiking trails.
- Zion National Park
- Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
Books About Utah
There are a lot of great books about Utah both picture books and chapter books. I found a lot of great options at my library which is a great option if you don’t want to purchase them all.
The book I’m using for all the U.S. states and recommend buying is The 50 States by Gabrielle Balkan. This book has a large map of each state and is filled with fun facts and information about each state.
The kids love looking at this book and pointing to their favorite pictures and then reading the facts about those things.
Picture Books About Utah
There are so many fun books that could be used for this unit study, these are the ones we read.
Bryce Canyon National Park by Jennifer Hackett – This is a short little picture book that gives a great overview of Bryce Canyon National Park. Enjoy seeing the beautiful landscape of the park and learning about its history, plants, animals, and more.
Zion National Park by Jodie Shepherd – This book is the perfect length for young learners. Enjoy learning about the beautiful landscape, plants, animals, and more that can be found in Zion National Park.
Utah by Josh Gregory – This book is a great way to get an overview of the state of Utah. It’s full of pictures and great information. We didn’t read the whole book, just those topics that interested us.
A is for Arches: A Utah Alphabet by Becky Hall – This book is part of the Discover America State By State series and is so fun. We love reading these books. They are filled with fun and unique facts and beautiful artwork. The book has fun facts or places for each letter and if you want there are additional facts and information about the topic you can read.
The Nutcracker Comes to America – Did you know that 3 brothers from Utah brought the Nutcracker to America? This book is all about the brothers and how this holiday tradition started in America.
Pando: A Living Wonder of Trees – This book about Utah quaking Aspen trees is a fun one to add to your reading about Utah.
Utah Crafts for Kids (and other activities)
Arts crafts and activities (along with the recipes and food!) are probably the best part of our study of Utah.
There are a lot of fun activities you can do as you learn about Utah I’ll include the ones we did along with a few more ideas so hopefully, you can find the best one for your kids.
Spiral Jetty Art
Do this fun Spiral Jetty-inspired craft using only a few basic craft supplies. On a piece of cardboard draw a spiral, have the kids put glue on the spiral, and then use pebbles or dry beans to make your own spiral art. You could also take this activity outside and make an earthwork art project.
Play-Doh Arch
Make arches like those found in Arches National Park using play-doh. (we did this while watching the arches national park video I shared above.)
Promontory Point Activity
Use wooden railroad tracks starting on opposite sides of the room and meet in the middle at “Promontory Point”. Use a gold paper brad as your golden spike between the last two train tracks.
This is a fun activity for kids of all ages and a great way for them to see how difficult it can be to make sure the train tracks meet at the right spot.
For my kids, I used chairs, pillows, books, and other items from around the house for obstacles they had to make their train go over, around, or through.
We talked about how these objects made it more challenging to build their train just like mountains, rivers, and other natural things made it hard for those working on the railroad.
Utah Map (coloring page)
If you want a simple coloring page with a few basic facts about Utah we really like these free printable maps from Crayola.
Stack the States
Stack the States is one of the best purchases I have made. It’s an inexpensive game you can put on your phone or tablet and kids can learn all about the 50 states.
The game is put together in a really fun way for kids to learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags, and more.
My kids love playing the game and they have learned so much from it. My oldest was able to place each of the states in the correct spot on a blank US map when he was 5 using this game. It’s definitely worth the $3-$4 to get and use as you study the different states.
Paper Plate Seagull
I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was so cute. Utah’s state bird is the California gull so a fun and easy craft could be making a paper plate seagull.
Salt Crystal Creations
The Salt Lake and the Salt Flats are two big things Utah is known for. Have fun making salt crystal creations using salt water.
Utah Recipes for Kids
For Utah, you have a couple of fun food options. Utah’s Official State Snack is Jello and Fry Sauce was invented in Utah. Of course, we decided to enjoy both of these foods.
Jell-O
You can make jello by following the directions on the box or make our favorite pretzel Jell-O dessert.
Fry Sauce
In Utah fry sauce has become an art and some places are known for their fry sauce. To make your own mix equal parts of mayo and ketchup to enjoy with some fries. You can change it up by using bbq sauce instead of ketchup or adding some dill.
Printable Utah Unit Study (Lesson Plan, Worksheet, and Mini Book of Fun Facts)
The Utah printable unit study includes the cut-and-paste Utah worksheet, a foldable mini book with facts about Utah, and a 2-page lesson plan with the basic facts, fun facts, book list, activity ideas, and recipes.
Traveling in Utah with Kids
Exploring Utah is a great way to learn even more about Utah. There are so many things you can do in Utah I have a separate post with over 50 fun activities but I’ll share a few here.
Go Hiking
With 5 national parks, part of the rocky mountains, and other mountain ranges (Wasatch range, Uinta mountains, and more) Utah has hundreds of trails for your family to explore. You can hike to mountain glaciers or you can explore the red rocks and pretty much anything in between.
Visit Salt Lake City
One of many great Salt Lake City attractions for families is Temple Square. Visiting is free and a great way to learn a little bit more about the religion that had such a big impact on settling the Salt Lake Valley.
Other activities to do in the capital city are visiting The Hogle Zoo, This Is The Place Heritage Park, Tracy Aviary, and more.
Explore St. George
The southern Utah area is a great place to visit especially during the winter months. There are so many fun things to do in the St. George area including:
- Learning about Brigham Young and the Mormon settlers by taking a free tour of Brigham Young’s Winter Home with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as your guide.
- Explore Zion National Park (don’t miss the tunnel!)
- Play at Pioneer Park
- and so much more
Related Post: National Parks Near St. George You Need to Visit!
Go Skiing
Utah is home to several large ski resorts and people come from all over the united states to Ski some of the greatest snow.
Visit the Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats cover about 46 square miles. The pristine blindingly white slat crust attracts visitors from all across the globe. The salt flats not only have beautiful views but are also an international hub for car racing.
Find even more fun places to visit in Utah here + a free Printable List.