Las Vegas is located in this state.  It is famous for its gambling casinos, entertainment and shows.  It’s nickname is “Sin City”.  Mobsters first start to come out to the desert in the 1940′s becuase gambling was made legal.  Today, it is a tourist destination.

NEvada is also home of the Hoover Dam.  It was built during the Great Depression to put people to work.  The dam made a reservoir called Lake Mead and it is the largest man made reservois in the US.  It took 6 1/2 years to fill because they needed to fill it slowly so that there would not be too much pressure put on the dam.  It contains 17 generators that can supply electricity to 17 million homes.

The Kangaroo Rat lives in the desert.  It looks like a rat but hops like a kangaroo.  It can live its entire life in the desert without a drop of water.

Capital:  Carson City

Flower:  Sagebrush

Bird:  Mountain BLuebird

Emperor Penguin

• they live on the ice pack of Antarctica
• they are the largest sea birds at 4 feet all
• they can withstand temperatures of -100 degrees Fahrenheit
• at the beginnin of the dark winter, the pwnguins gather in rookeries of thousands of birds and each female lays one egg
• the males hold the egg on their feet and keep it warm with their bellies
• for 2 moths, they huddle together and don’t eat
• baby penguins have fun in the spring
• they lie on their stomachs on smooth slopes and toboggan across them

Meatball Subs

Ingredients:

• onion, sliced
• 5 lb bag of prepared meatlballs
• 26 oz jar of spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• rolls

Directions:

1. add all the ingredients to a crock pot
2. mix well so that all the meatballs are covered
3. cover crock pot and cook on low for 8-10 hours
4. stir every couple of hours
5. serve on rolls

Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in this state.  Father Flanagan founded Boys Town in 1921.  It started as a orphanage for boys, but now is a whole town for boys and girls who are in trouble.  They can come here for school, work, play and just a chance to get away from home when things get rough for them.  Buffalo Bill Cosy’s Wild West show began in Nebraska.  He was a Civil War solider who shot a lot of buffalo and gave the meat to railroad workers.

Capital:  Lincoln

Bird:  Western Meadowlark

Flower:  Goldenrod

Nickname:  Cornhusker State

Buttered Carrots and Rotini

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked rainbow rotini pasta
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 tsp.  dill weed
• salt
• pepper

Directions:

1. cut carrots lengthwise and cross wise
2. cook pasta per instructions on package
3. add carrots for the last 2-3 minutes
4. cook until tender
5. drain
6. add back to pot
7. add butter, dill, slat and pepper
8. toss gently to coat

Make a game of this dish and call out various colors that your kids can find and eat.

Glacier National Park is more than a million acres and has over 300 lakes.  Lewis and Clark, famous early explorers of the West, went over the Continental Divide on their expedition.  They took along a translator, Sacajawea, on the  trip. 

Capital:  Helena

Bird:  Western Meadowlark

Tree:  Ponderosa Pine

ANimal:  Grizzley Bear

Slogan:  Big Sky Country

Cheesy Vegetable Risotto

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1 clove garlic chopped finely
• 1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
• 32 oz chicken broth
• 12 oz bag frozen vegetables in cheese sauce
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1. heat butter in a skillet, add onion and garlic, cook for 4 minutes, stirring often
2. add rice and cook until kernel edges are translucent -stir often
3. add 1/2 cup broth and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring, or until broth is absorbed
4. add 1 cup of broth and cook uncovered for 5 minutes or until broth is absorbed
5. add remaining 1 cup of broth and cook for 8 minutes, stirring often
6. cook frozen vegetable per instruction on package
7. add cooked vegetables, cheese, parsley and pepper
8. stir well and serve

Lots of famous people are from this state.  Mark Twain, Laura Inglass Wilder, Walt Disny and Charles Lindberg.  The ice cream cone was even invented here in 1904 at the St Louis World’s Fair. 

Capital:  Jefferson City

Bird:  Bluebird

Tree:  Flowering Dogwood

Nickname:  The Show Me State

Italian Chicken Nugget Recipe

Ingredients:

• frozen chicken nuggets
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
• 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
• 4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning

Directions:

1. put nuggets in your crock pot – spread out as much as possible without stacking
2. sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top
3. layer with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese and  seasoning
4. cover and cook on high for one hour

Better than any fast food!

Items Needed:

• sheets of construction paper
• pencil
• colored pencils
• scissors
• items for decorating such as glitter, sequins, ribbon, etc.

Directions:

1. fold the sheets of construction paper in half so that the short ends meet
2. draw animal shapes so that the top of the animal is along the folded edge
3. cut out the shape leaving the folded part uncut
4. decorate
5. open slightly so that it stands up for display

Children can create a circus train, a petting zoo, a barnyard, a safari, a seaworld or whatever their favorite animals are. 

Have fun!