Originally a part of Virginia, Kentucky became the 15th state in 1767. Kentucky’s land includes three distinct geographical areas: Appalachian Highlands in the east, interior plains and plateaus in the center, and in the west, coastal plains along the Mississippi River.
Kentucky’s state standards for science call for students to investigate both short- and long-term changes in the environment. Use the nature and natural features of Kentucky to help your students recognize environmental change. Kentucky’s generous amount of rainfall should give you a chance to get your students outside and encourage them to notice the sudden changes caused by rain like muddy earth and puddles on the ground. If you are near one of Kentucky’s many rivers, encourage students to visit its shores at different times of the year to notice the river’s swelling or shrinking depending on levels of precipitation.
When Daniel Boone and his family arrived in Kentucky in 1767, bison grazed the interior plains, and many bears, turkeys, and deer lived in the wooded lands. Today, many of those animals are gone. The grasslands are farmed for crops, and the remaining forests lie in the eastern part of the state on land that is unsuitable for farming or pasture. Hardwood trees are harvested regularly, and foresters plant millions of new trees each year to replace those they have cut and to control erosion. Use Kentucky’s present circumstances and its history to help your students understand how the environment can change.