Resources for building a Texas State Unit Study

The first resource for building ANY unit study, IMO, is Google.

Below are some resources I have used.

Texas Printables:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/kids/
Free printable coloring book and activity sheets from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Approximately 25 printables, including Texas State Symbols, Outdoor Kids Journals, Masks, and more. Age ranges not given, but I have used these resources with my kids as young as 6 and as old as 12.

http://www.50states.com/flag/txflag.htm
Free, full color information sheet on the Texas state flag. Information includes adoption date and symbology.

http://homeschooling.about.com/library/pstateform.htm
State information sheet. Fill in the blanks as you learn the requested information. Printable only from web browser, does not save well.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/statesbw/texas.shtml
Texas map and quiz printout. Enchanted Learning is a user supported site, so only members get banner-free, printer-friendly pages. Most of their worksheets and coloring pages are well worth the members fee, and I encourage anyone that uses their resources to seriously consider sponsoring their continued efforts to provide these free resources. Membership is NOT required to print pages with the banners, however.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/color/color_texas_animals.phtml
Single coloring pages from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department of animals native to Texas. Sortable by the region they are found.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/maps/gis/map_downloads/map_gallery/index.phtml
Printable Texas maps. Counties, Regions, Biological, Hydrological, and projections.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/resources/publications/posters.phtml
Posters and fact sheets.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/learning/rare_species_activities/
Rare species activity packets.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/learning/project_wild/index.phtml
Project Wild and Conservation Education printables, including instructions for creating a school habitat (while geared towards public schools, this is fairly easily scaled down and adapted to use by families for their own yard).

Online Only:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/nonpwdpubs/young_naturalist/index.phtml
Online book for the Young Naturalist.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/resources/activities/
Activities and Lesson Plans from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department with suggested grade levels for each. Some of the plan titles are Pizza Supreme: Biodiversity, Texas Rare Species Activity Pages, Coastal Ecology, The Stream Game, Develope a Culture, and lots more!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/junior_naturalists/
Junior Naturalist site from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Lots of Science possibilities here!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/explore/nature_sleuth.phtml
Can you tell I like the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department resources yet? "c) This activity will show you how biologists, park rangers and game wardens investigate plants, animals and their habitats.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/explore/science_kit.phtml
How to turn your pack into a science fun kit by adding a few simple items.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/explore/night_walk.phtml
For a special treat, take a nighttime walk and see the world in the moonlight! There's a whole new set of animals, sights and sounds out there!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/explore/square_yard_habitat.phtml
Discover the world under your feet.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/explore/viewer.phtml
Build a milk carton viewer to find out what lives in a puddle.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/about_texas/regions/primary/index.phtml
Learn about Texas regions. For "little kids" (ages 4-8).

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/about_texas/regions/index.phtml
Learn about Texas regions. For "big kids (above age 8).

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/about_texas/symbols/
Facts and coloring sheets about Texas Symbols.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/
Web-based Texas Wildlife fact sheets.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/webcasts/index.phtml
Webcasts from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Approximate 24 web-based videos with subjects ranging from the Roots of Texas to SpaceShip Earth.

http://www.thealamo.org/main.html
Everything you could ever want to know about The Alamo.

http://www.rice.edu/armadillo/Past/Teach/
Texas History Lesson Plans from Rice University. Utilizes A Shared Experience by Kitty Henderson (text provided online).

Texas-themed Math ideas:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/math_fun/big_bend_4math.phtml
How much water do the Desert Big-horned Sheep need?

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/resources/activities/bison/calculations2.phtml
How much food and water do the bison need?

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/math_fun/pineywoods_4math1.phtml
Pine tree number patterns.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/math_fun/prairie_dinosaur_division.phtml
Dinosaur division.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/math_fun/prairie_multiplying_armadillos.phtml
If an armadillo has a baby, and the babies have babies...how many baby armidillos will there be?

Arts and Crafts:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/birdfeeder.phtml
Instructions for making a pine cone or milk jug bird feeder.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/claydough.phtml
Two recipes for making homemade claydough. Make the claydough and then use it to create your favorite Texas "critter."

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/hill_country_2bats.phtml
Instructions for making a Mexican Free-tail bat (lives in the Hill Country of Texas) from a toilet paper roll. Includes pdf of "body part" (wings, head, & feet) patterns.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/hill_country_2popcornbluebonnet.phtml
Instructions for making a Popcorn Bluebonnet.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/make_alligator.phtml
Make an alligator refrigerator magnet.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/make_armadillo.phtml
Make an armadillo from currugated cardboard.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/make_crab.phtml
Make a paper plate fiddler crab.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_lf_w7000_0033b.pdf
Make a short-grass prairie mobile.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/make_tarantula.phtml
Make a construction paper tarantula.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/make_trex.phtml
Make a T-Rex puppet.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/panhandle_2bison.phtml
Use coffee grounds and yarn to make a texturized bison drawing.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/panhandle_2prickly_pear_cactus.phtml
Use a toilet paper roll and toothpicks to make a prickly pear cactus.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/arts_and_crafts/pinewoods_2woodpecker.phtml
Make a toilet paper roll woodpecker.

Games & Activities:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/kids/fun_stuff/games/
Various activities including Animal Olympics, Roadrunner Relay Race, Bug Picking, and The Thicket Game.

Field Trip ideas:
Most of these will be in Fort Worth and the surrounding area since that is where I am. =c) Wherever possible, I am including the cost.

Fort Worth Courthouse
Most people from outside the DFW Metroplex may recognize this building as the "Dallas" office of the Texas Rangers from Walker, Texas Ranger. Ahhh well. I guess that's the price Fort Worth pays for not shooting J.R. "c)

http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/
On Fort Worth's north side, this national historic district celebrates the early days of the cattle industry when the name Cowtown really meant COW town. While a trip to the Stockyards itself doesn't cost money, some things (like the Texas Cowboy Museum or the Tarantula Train) that you may want to include in your trip are not free. Call the Visitors Center at 817-624-4741 to verify costs of any attractions or events you want to attend.

Fort Worth Water Gardens
Recently renovated and reopened, the Water Garden is a 4.3 acre park with sculpture and fountains located in the East End of Downtown. The Water Gardens made a brief appearance in the science fiction movie Logan's Run. Free of charge. Hours of operation are 10 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week.

Kimball Art Museum
Open Tuesday-Thursday from 10am to 5pm, Friday from Noon to 8pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from Noon to 5pm. Admission to the permanent collection is free, with variagble charges for special exhibits. The museum's website lists current and future special exhibits. Group rates available.

Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
Activities for children include Dino Dig, Kidspace, Hands-on Science, Hand-on History, Museum School, Noble Planetarium, and the Omni Theater. See the museum website for hours of operation, admission costs, special and on-going exhibits.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/calendar/index.phtml
Regularly updated calendar of events around the state. Sortable by date, region, event, and activity. Lots of good field trip possibilities here.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/index.phtml
State Parks and Destinations highlights great places to take kids. Sorted by Region, with major cities of each region having listings of State Parks within 100 miles.

Just for Fun:

http://www.rice.edu/armadillo/Texas/talk.html
Texas Talk! Learn to talk like a real Texan, or at least understand those who do. *grin* Offerings include catty whompus, conniption, et up, hissy fit, plug-ugly, and more. Worth the laugh if nothing else. LOL