Best Children's Books, Videos, and Free Worksheets on Oregon
Are you looking for fun worksheets and lapbook pages, children's books, and YouTube video clips for teaching and/or learning about Oregon? Whether you're a school teacher, homeschooling parent, involved parent, librarian, lifelong learner, or a student searching for ideas and books on Oregon, look no further! This is part of a series of pages I created while teaching about the fifty states. You can find the links for my pages for each of the 50 states at Teaching the 50 States of America .
I have never been to Oregon. Have you?
Fun Trivia Bit About Oregon: Crater Lake
Crater Lake, a lake formed on a volcano bed, is the deepest lake in the United States. It is the 7th deepest in the world.
Fun Trivia Bit About Oregon: Hell's Canyon
Hell's Canyon is the deepest river gorge in the world.
Fun Trivia Bit About Oregon: Roses
Portland, known as "The City of Roses" is home to the International Rose Test Garden, which grows over 7,000 rose plants.
Fun Trivia Bit About Oregon: Sea Lions
Sea Lion Caves is the largest known sea cave in the world.
Fun Trivia Bit About Oregon: The State Flag
Oregon's state flag actually has a different picture on each side of its flag. It's the only state flag that has a different design on each side of the flag. It pictures a beaver on the other side.
Our Favorite Children's Books on Oregon
Favorite Picture Books on Oregon
Larry Gets Lost in Portland by John Skewes is part of a cute series about a dog who always wanders off from his owner when on vacation. He of course passes by the main sites of Portland including the Old Town, art museum, International Rose Test Garden, Hawthorne Bridge, and more. If you enjoy this book, you can also look for Portland ABC: A Larry Gets Lost Book by John Skewes and Larry Loves Portland!: A Larry Gets Lost Book Board book by John Skewes.
How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark by Rosalyn Schanzer was our favorite picture book among the many picture books we read on Lewis and Clark. Oregon is so rich in American history as it marked the end of the journey for Lewis and Clark before they returned back on their expedition.
Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains by Deborah Hopkinson was our favorite picture books on the Oregon Trail. It's about a girl who travels the Oregon Trail with her family and with lots of fruit trees. It includes many of the activities children might have done while they traveled along the Oregon Trail. It's fun to read and has great illustrations!
Oregon's Sights and Symbols (Kid's Guide to Drawing America) by J. Katlin and Stephanie True Peters is part of a wonderful series that combines state geography with art. Each page contains something about the state (a state artist, the state flag, bird, tree, capitol building, areas of interest, and animals.) A photograph will be included along with a brief explanation about that item. Then the page opposite of that includes step by step directions on how to draw that symbol or site. Even my 6 year old is able to follow the drawing directions, and I've been amazed at how well my 9 year old has been drawing each of the state flags as he follows the instructions in the book.
O Is for Oregon: Written by Kids for Kids (See My State) by Winterhaven School has simple text (3 lines per letter) while highlighting aspects of the state including beavers, evergreen, Mount Hood, and more. It would be ideal for kindergarten and preschoolers.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Oregon (The Twelve Days of Christmas in America) by Susan Blackaby is part of series on cousins who visit each state and have adventures in each one as they explore the main aspects of the state. While they are in Oregon, they camp near Crater Lake, ride on snowmobiles, see beavers, and more. One side of the page goes through what they see and do using the pattern of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song while the other side of the page has a letter describing what they did that day.
Love Is All Around Portland by Wendi Silvano goes through some of the main sites of Portland. It has simple text and sweet illustrations that would appeal to kindergarteners and preschoolers.
Our Favorite Board Book for Preschoolers, Toddlers, and Babies
Good Chapter Books Related to Oregon
A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary (352 pages) is the autobiography of Beverly Cleary as she grew up in Oregon during the Great Depression. Many of her personal stories were the inspiration for her many books.
To Be a Logger by Lois Lenski (162 pages) is about an Oregon boy who dreams of becoming a logger, but when he grows up he questions if that is the best use of Oregon's forests.
Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary (288 pages) takes place in the 1920's in a small town in Oregon. It is about a young girl and her big imagination -- and some of the fun she has with her big dreams.
Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart by Opal Whiteley (192 pages) is the adaptation of a young French orphan girl as she lives with her new foster parents at an Oregon logging camp in the 1920s.
Our Favorite Free Worksheets and Lapbook Pages on Oregon
All About Oregon provides great links to printable worksheets, book suggestions, and activity ideas about Oregon.
Oregon for Teachers includes wonderful printable worksheets, activity ideas, and book suggestions.
Lapbook for "Apples to Oregon" offers free lapbook pages and activity ideas for "Apples to Oregon" by Deborah Hopkinson.
Lapbook About Beavers includes free lapbook pages, book suggestions, and activity ideas all about beavers.
Oregon State Facts & Trivia lists numerous points of interest about Oregon. The site also includes a number of helpful worksheets, links, and information.
Our Favorite Video Clips Giving an Overview of Oregon
We watched many Youtube video clips on Oregon. These were our favorite. They are all family-friendly and provide a nice overview of the key aspects of the state.