When you think of Nevada, do you picture the bright lights of Las Vegas or vast deserts? While these are some of Nevada’s most famous features, there’s so much more to explore in this unique state! Whether you’re homeschooling, doing a state project, or just looking for ways to make U.S. geography fun, this guide will help you teach your child about Nevada in a memorable way.
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Discover Amazing Places in Nevada
Nevada is known for its stunning canyons, intriguing caves, and diverse landscapes. It also has an important history of mining, which is why it's called "The Silver State." Here are some other sights:
In Valley of Fire you'll see stunning giant red rocks that look as if they've been set on fire by the sun. Among them are unusual formations like Elephant Rock and the fascinating Fire Wave with its swirls of red, pink, and white sandstone.
You can visit the Great Basin National Park with cool creek banks and alpine meadows.
And don’t forget about Fly Geyser in the Black Rock Desert, a colorful formation that shoots hot water up to five feet into the air!
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Learn about Nevada Flora and Fauna
Nevada’s desert landscapes are home to unique plants and animals. The state flower, the sagebrush, blooms in vibrant colors across the state. You’ll also find plants like Joshua trees and yucca plants, which thrive in the Mojave Desert.
Nevada is home to wildlife like the desert bighorn sheep (a symbol of the state), lizards, and even wild horses!
Do some more digging into what types of flora and fauna inhabit Nevada. These plant and animal facts can turn into mini-research projects or creative writing prompts for your student!
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Use Hands-On Methods to Reinforce Learning
Kids remember more when they do something with what they’ve learned. Here are some ideas for taking what they’ve learned about Nevada and turning it into a hands-on activity:
- Make a desert diorama.
- Write a report or draw a poster about a Nevada animal or plant.
- Use our FREE Nevada Coloring Page to learn about the state flag, bird, flower, and tree. Coloring is another multisensory tool that can help take learning to the next level!
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Find Nevada on the Map
Take a moment to point out Nevada on a U.S. map. To make the state’s shape memorable, you can try following it up with a hands-on activity like one of these:
- Trace the state shape on paper.
- Build the borders of Nevada with toothpicks or playdough.
- Color it in on our free coloring page.
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Learn Over Several Days
Instead of rushing through Nevada in one sitting, try spreading your study over 3 to 4 days. Each day, explore a new Nevada city or natural wonder. Try splitting the state up into its regions and then exploring each one on a different day. You'll soon discover that Nevada has something special to offer no matter where you go!
This repetition helps students retain what they’ve learned and gives them more opportunities to connect with the material.
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Use a Ready-to-Teach State Study Unit
If teaching the US states seems a bit overwhelming, we have good news … we’ve already done the work for you!
Our Nevada state unit from our Hit the Road Geography curriculum includes all of the above and so much more. With writing assignments, comprehension questions, hands-on activities, and humorous journal entries, we help make learning stick. After all, our goal is to turn US geography into a subject your child will love!
