Let’s dive into American History That Starts With K, starting with Kentucky and its famous horse race, The Kentucky Derby.
Learning about history becomes much more meaningful when children can connect facts and explore a topic through hands-on creativity.
As we explore the rich story of Kentucky and its most famous celebration, the Kentucky Derby, kids can record what they learn on a colorful ribbon award craft, just like the prizes given at the real race.
As kids write Kentucky facts on each ribbon strip, they connect history, geography, and culture through an art project.
Children learning about Kentucky quickly discover that horses are at the heart of the state’s identity. And they have been part of its history since the early frontiersmen came on horseback through the Cumberland Gap.
They will find famous people from modern and not-so-modern history who were born there, when it entered statehood, and so much more.
BOOKS ABOUT KENTUCKY FOR KIDS
Next, we love living books that are either set in Kentucky or nonfiction books.
Add a few of these to your reading day.
10 Books Set In Kentucky or About Kentucky
Add one or two of these books to your home library as a read aloud or for a Kentucky unit study.
Bonnie and Debbie’s desire to get rich causes them to respond to a sure-thing magazine advertisement. They are soon embarked upon an ambitious summer of selling “up and down the river.” Not that circumstances end quite in the way they had imagined! In a surprising flurry of trading, the girls somehow accumulate wealth in the form of unexpected friends, assorted animals, and unforeseen situations, even as their collection of dimes and dollars seem always to be slipping through their hands. Bonnie and Debbie Fairchild occupy center stage in this story of a summer season in the lovely hills of Kentucky of the early 1900’s.
America was at a crossroads in 1939 as they debated whether to join the Allies in their battle against Hitler's relentless march across Europe. As European immigrants the d'Aulaires felt keenly the importance of standing against injustice, and saw in Lincoln the archetypal American hero as he stood against the injustice of slavery It was this spirit they hoped to exemplify in their biography of young Abe as he grew into manhood against the backdrop of the wilderness of Kentucky, the deep woods of Indiana, and the prairies of Illinois. Camping for weeks in Lincoln country, the d'Aulaires imbibed the spirit of the man Lincoln as well as his humor and good will. From his days as a clerk, teaching himself law reading Blackstone, practicing law in Springfield, running unsuccessfully for office, debating Stephen Douglas over the issue of slavery, and ultimately becoming President of the United States, the d'Aulaires have written and beautifully illustrated the life of one of America's most remarkable citizens.
Abraham Lincoln continues to stand as America's most beloved President.
Master storyteller Rosemary Wells tells the incredible true story of a World War I nurse who brought medical care to the AppalachiansMary Breckinridge, trained as a nurse during World War I, rode on horseback into the isolated mountains of Appalachia and never looked back. Instead, she spent her life fording icy streams and climbing untracked mountains to bring medical help to those in need. More nurses on horseback joined Mary . . . and the Frontier Nursing Service was born. Mary’s story is amazing. And it is true.
In his New York Times bestselling debut novel, Silas House introduced himself as an important voice for Appalachia, and indeed, for the entire rural South. In Clay’s Quilt, now a touchstone for his many fans, House takes us to Free Creek, Kentucky, where a motherless young man forges his path to adulthood, surrounded by ancient mountains and his blood relatives and adopted kin: his Aunt Easter tied to her faith and foreboding nature; his Uncle Paul, the quilter; the wild girls Evangeline and Alma; and a fiddler whose music calls to Clay’s heart. As he struggles to stitch up the void created by his mother’s death, Clay pieces together his own life’s
quilt, all masterfully wrought by House.
From the author of the forthcoming Someone Else’s Shoes, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond in Depression-era America Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve, hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.
Awarded the John Newbery Medal 'for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children' in 1940, James Daugherty has dipped his pen and his brush into our nation's most dynamic character whose life adventures are more exciting than the shadowy legend his name brings to mind. Daniel Boone was a farmer who couldn't stay put. Something was always pulling him westward into new and mysterious lands, and when this pull got so strong that he could no longer ignore it, and his wife and children could not persuade him to stay, he just went, with his toes pointing into the West and his eyes glued to the hills
One of the WPA's great successes, the Pack Horse Library Project of Eastern Kentucky provided books to those in remote locations.
Mary Ann McCabe Riehle offers readers, young and old, the opportunity to take a horseback ride through the rich history and beautiful landscape of the Bluegrass State. From A to Z, McCabe Riehle's rhyming verse and interesting sidebar text will impart unique facts about Kentucky's spirited heritage, while Wes Burgiss' colorful illustrations are the next best thing to actually spending a week or two exploring the great state yourself.
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuous sporting event in the United States. But don't call it just a horse race.
This annual May event, known as "the most exciting two minutes in sports," is steeped in tradition and pageantry far beyond what happens on the track. Following the alphabet, D is for Derby: A Kentucky Derby Alphabet uses poetry and expository text to explain this world-famous event. Topics include famous jockeys, legendary horses, fabled Bluegrass farms and owners, as well as offering a behind-the scenes view of thoroughbred breeding and racing.
The Fairchild family is here again and this time, Bonnie is old enough to begin the great adventure—School! We join Bonnie in the excruciating anticipation of the first day, when she will wear her new dress, carry a first reader and slate, and—displaying nonchalance as she braves the swinging bridge—enter into the mysteries of schoolroom learning and playground rites in a woodland setting of the early 1900's. Bonnie's older brother and three sisters, her various classmates and Miss Cora, her teacher, add their liveliness to an eventful season of learning—on every front—in the Kentucky Hills. Rebecca Caudill's unfailing insights into a child's heart are enhanced by Decie Merwin's skillful drawings. The second of the four books in the “Fairchild Family” series.
Then, look at some facts about Kentucky history.
Kentucky is often called the Horse Capital of the World- and for good reason.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF KENTUCKY
The mineral-rich bluegrass helps horses grow strong bones and makes the region an ideal place for breeding thoroughbred racehorses.
Large horse farms stretch across the countryside, where foals are raised and trained for racing competitions, hoping to make it to the big race one day.
These horses are not only important to sports but also to Kentucky’s economy and culture. Festivals, museums, and farms celebrate the beauty and history of horse breeding.
Kentucky’s story begins long before it became a state. Native American tribes such as the Shawnee and Cherokee hunted in the region’s forests and traveled along its rivers for generations.
In the late 1700s, settlers moved west through the Cumberland Gap, drawn by fertile land and new opportunities.
Kentucky officially became the 15th state of the United States in 1792. Because of its central location and rich farmland, the state quickly grew into an important agricultural area.
Farmers raised crops like corn and tobacco, and the rolling bluegrass pastures proved perfect for raising strong, fast horses.
During the Civil War, Kentucky was a border state with citizens on both sides of the conflict. Although it remained in the Union, the war deeply affected communities across the state.
Afterward, Kentucky rebuilt and continued developing its farming, trade, and horse-breeding traditions that still shape the state today.
THE TRADITION OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY
The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in the United States and has been held every year since 1875.
The race takes place at Churchill Downs in the city of Louisville, drawing visitors from all over the world.
Often called “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the Derby features three-year-old thoroughbred horses racing one and one-quarter miles.
Spectators dress in bright spring clothing and elaborate hats, sip traditional mint julep drinks, and cheer as the horses thunder down the track.
Wearing fancy hats to horse races began in England, where horse races were considered a high-society event.
When the Kentucky Derby first took place in 1875, its founder, Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., wanted the race to feel elegant and fashionable, similar to famous European races.
Encouraging beautiful clothing and dramatic hats helped attract wealthy guests and made the Derby feel special.
Finally, the winning horse is draped in a beautiful blanket of red roses, which is why the race is sometimes nicknamed “The Run for the Roses.”
This moment of celebration connects perfectly to a ribbon award craft, helping children get a taste for the thrill of victory.
The Kentucky Derby continues to celebrate speed, beauty, and community more than 150 years after the first race.
FUN KENTUCKY FACTS FOR KIDS
- The state of Kentucky is one of the four commonwealths in the United States- others include Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
- Kentucky was the 15th state to join the United States and was originally part of Virginia until it became a separate state.
- Kentucky has more miles of navigable water than any other U.S. state except Alaska.
- Bluegrass looks blue-purple in the spring, giving the region its famous name.
- The Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously held sporting event in the United States.
- The state bird is the Northern Cardinal, the flower is Goldenrod, and the tree is the Tulip Poplar.
- Kentucky’s capital is Frankfort.
- Encourage children to choose their favorite facts, or discover new ones, to decorate their ribbons.
THE KENTUCKY DERBY ACTIVITIES
- Watch a short video of the Derby race and its history.
- Looking at photos of thoroughbred horses and farms.
- Find Kentucky on a U.S. map.
- Make a Kentucky Derby hat, the more elaborate the better.
- Read books about horses or American state history. I love this oversized picture book The 50 States, for younger and even older children to learn facts, famous people from each state, history, monuments, and more.
KENTUCKY DERBY AWARD RIBBON CRAFT
You will need:
- 12×12 cardstock or patterned paper
- Paper cutter or scissors
- Glue
- Alpha stickers
- Pens or fine markers
First, cut cardstock into 3-inch strips. For a full ribbon, I cut the entire sheet of cardstock into 4 strips.
Fold each strip back and forth every ½” like an accordion.
Use a craft stick to sharpen each fold.
Glue each piece end to end.
Create a circle with your pieces and glue the ends together.
Squeeze the center together and apply a generous amount of hot glue in the middle, hold in place until it sets.
Flip and repeat on the back.
Add a scrap of paper to the glue before it sets. This will help keep all the folds together. Press in place until the glue is solid.
Cut a circle from a complementary piece of cardstock using a glass or other round object that is smaller than your ribbon folds.
Add the state abbreviation or name with alpha stickers.
Cut ribbon tails from another piece of cardstock; be sure they are big enough for adding your facts.
Have your child write facts about Kentucky and its history on the tails.
Attach the tails to the back of the centerpiece.
Make several if you need more space to include history, facts, and other details about Kentucky.
