Arizona - School-Age
Arizona
48th State (February 14, 1912), southwest U.S.
State Abbreviation: AZ
Capital: Phoenix
Origin of name: Arizona comes from two Papago Indian words meaning "little spring" or "young spring"
Motto: Ditat Deus (God Enriches)
Nickname: Grand Canyon State
Size: Approximately 113,998 square miles
Arizona State Symbols
Arizona State Symbols
Information Sheet and Color Pages (pdf)
In the Arizona State Symbols Information Sheet the Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake (b/w image) - Image copyrighted. All rights reserved. Mark A. Hicks, illustrator. Image Courtesy: GilaBen.com
Arizona State Bird and State Flower Printable Color Page.
Arizona: State Seal
Amphibian: Arizona Tree Frog
Bird: Cactus Wren
Fish: Apache Trout
Flower: Blossom of the Saguaro Cactus
Folk Dance: Square Dance
Fossil: Petrified Wood
Mammal: Ringtail
Metal: Copper
Neckwear: Bola Tie
Reptile: Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake
Songs: 2 - Arizona and Arizona March Song
Tree: Palo Verde
Size: 113,998 square miles
Video
Things to Know
United States Senators from Arizona.
Arizona is home to many Indian cultures such as the Apache and the Navajo. Arizona has the largest Native American population of any state. More than 14 tribes are represented on 20 reservations, including part of the Navajo Nation, which is located in the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
Spanish treasure seekers from Mexico arrived in the area in the 16th century, thus establishing Mexico's claim to the area. The area was ruled by Spain until Mexico won its independence in 1821. Mexico ceded the territory to the United States as part of New Mexico during the Mexican-American War of 1848. The Gadsden Purchase, an area south of the Gila River, was added in 1853. Arizona was organized as a territory in 1863 and became the 48th state in 1912.
The Gila Monster Lizard is named for the Gila River in Arizona.
Arizona is full of beautiful natural attractions like the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest. It is also home to the old London Bridge.
Major Rivers: Colorado River, Little Colorado River, Gila River, Bill Williams River.
Famous Arizonans
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon carved by the Colorado River is a remarkable unique landscapes. It is one of the Earth's few natural landmarks visible from space. It is one of the largest canyons in the world. The Grand Canyon is 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep.
The Geology of the Grand Canyon
Information about how the Grand Canyon was formed, what type of rock it is composed of and why it looks the way it does.
Learn about split twig figurines.
Make Your Own "Split Twig Figurine"
Grand Canyon Video
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is located in two states (Arizona and California) and two countries (United States and Mexico). It covers approximately 100,000 square miles (258,000 square kilometers).
The Sonoran Desert is the hottest of the North American deserts. the Sonoran Desert is amongst the wettest deserts in North America.
Sonoran Desert - All you ever wanted to know about the Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert Fact Sheets - Animals and Plants
Desert Animals- Find information about desert wildlife.
Desert Plants & Wildflowers - Find information on a plants and wildflowers in deserts.
Petrified Forest
Petrified Forest National Park- Geology
The 93,533 acres of Petrified Forest which contain America's largest deposits of petrified wood, a rich and colorful desert, many fossils of dinosaurs and other creatures, and more than 500 archaeological sites including amazing petroglyphs left by ancient cultures.
Petroglyphs and Ruins
Sites to See
Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona
GilaBen
A fun and informative site on Arizona history, with printouts and more for 3rd and 4th-grade students and educators. Includes a Arizona state symbols with interesting facts coloring book.
