PALZ Newsletter: April
Welcome! This month our team is exploring Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Did you know there are 10 major military bases across these three states? Pay close attention to the riddles to see if you can guess which state they describe.
Activities
Lucky's Fun Facts
Did you know that ruby-throated hummingbirds live in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma during the summer? They fly all the way to Mexico or Central America for the winter and return to America for the summer.
In the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” Dorothy and her dog Toto live in Kansas but are swept away to the Land of Oz. At the end of the movie she uses a pair of magical ruby slippers to whisk her back to her home in Kansas.
Oklahoma University’s mascots are a pair of horses named Boomer and Sooner who pull a covered wagon. Because of the mascots, students are nicknamed Sooners.
“Home On The Range” is the official song for which state?
If you guessed Kansas – you are CORRECT! The song, “Home On The Range” became Kansas’ state song in 1947. The song refers to the American bison or buffalo that used to roam the plains in Kansas.
The “Show Me State” is the nickname for which state?
The “Show Me State” is Missouri! Missourians adopted “Show Me” as their unofficial motto because of their need to see the evidence before they believe something.
Which state has more shoreline than the East coast and Gulf coasts combined?
It’s Oklahoma. Believe it cause it’s true! Oklahoma has over 200 lakes throughout the state!
Miss Kitty’s Intel
Meow Y’all! (That’s code for “Hello!”.) Hummingbirds are amazing little birds to watch. These little flyers will be making an appearance in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma around early-to-mid-April. Feeding hummingbirds can be fun and it helps these tiny flyers as they migrate back to North America from Mexico and South America. Perhaps a pair of hummingbirds will decide to make their home in your backyard!
You and your family can make the nectar hummingbirds eat from tap water and white granulated sugar. Mix 1 cup of white sugar with 4 cups of warm water. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool and put it in a hummingbird feeder.
Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, so buy a feeder with red parts. Hang the feeder outside and wait for these dynamos to find their nectar treat!
Note: Only use white sugar and do not add red dye or food coloring. Both can harm hummingbirds.
Smilla’s Adventures
Hello everyone! Smilla here! There are tons of family activities near the military bases in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. I picked out one from each state to share with you.
Wizard of Oz Museum, Kansas
You can watch the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” and then visit this museum in Wamego, Kansas! You’ll see the yellow brick road, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.
Pony Express National Museum, Missouri
Over 165 years ago young riders on horses carried the U.S. mail from St. Joseph, Missouri all the way to California! This museum lets you experience what life on the Pony Express was really like.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
You can see all kinds of wildlife including the bison, aka buffalo! You can hike, camp,boat, climb, bike, fish, hunt…. There are all kinds of fun things to do here!