Explore Utah History for Kids: Printable Matching Game
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If you’re teaching your kids about Utah history, you’re in the right place! Whether you’re diving into a state history unit or exploring all 50 states, this post is packed with hands-on ideas and a free printable game to make learning about Utah fun and memorable.
A Beautiful Book About Utah
One of our favorite ways to learn about Utah is through the book A is for Arches written by Becky Hall and illustrated by Katherine Larson. This beautifully illustrated alphabet book introduces children to people, places, and events important to Utah history—one for every letter of the alphabet. From “D is for Dinosaur” to “T is for Transcontinental Railroad,” the book is both educational and visually stunning.
Many of the topics covered are iconic places and people from Utah’s past—some we’ve even visited ourselves! This book serves as a great jumping-off point for exploring more about Utah, whether you’re a local or learning from afar.
Utah History Matching Game (Free Printable!)
To go along with A is for Arches, I created a Utah History Matching Game. This printable activity includes:
- 26 image cards (A-Z)
- 26 description cards
You can use it in a traditional memory-style game or face-up for younger learners. It’s great for:
- Reinforcing state facts
- Strengthening reading and matching skills
- Sparking curiosity about state history
Download the Free Utah History Matching Game Here:Â Â DOWNLOAD NOW!
Fun Facts About Utah History
Here are just a few fascinating things your kids can learn:
- Statehood: Utah became the 45th state on January 4, 1896.
- Great Salt Lake: One of the saltiest lakes in the world—it’s saltier than the ocean!
- Arches National Park: Home to over 2,000 natural stone arches.
- The Transcontinental Railroad: Met at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869—uniting the east and west coasts.
- The Beehive: Utah is nicknamed the Beehive State, representing hard work and community.
- Dinosaur Discovery: Utah is one of the richest places in the world for dinosaur fossils.
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Native History: Utah is home to several Indigenous peoples including the Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone, and Navajo.
Why Teach State History?
Learning about your home state helps kids:
- Understand local geography and landmarks
- Develop a sense of identity and connection to where they live
- Appreciate the diversity of people and places in the U.S.
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Build foundational knowledge for U.S. history
Extend the Learning
- Create a travel journal of places in Utah you’ve visited (or want to visit!)
- Watch a documentary or video tour of Utah’s National Parks
- Explore Utah’s Indigenous cultures and contributions
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Research the history of mining, railroads, and pioneers in the West
Ready to teach your kids about Utah? Grab the matching game, check out A is for Arches, and spark a love for state history that will last a lifetime.
What a great resource! We live overseas so I’m always trying to find ways to tie us back to our home country. This will get a lot of use at our house.
The dinosaurs alone will catch my preschoolers’ interest. See some items Utah and our part of Maine have in common like beehives and gulls.
What a great printable! Thank you so much for sharing. Pam — from Alabama.
Sounds like a good resource for learning about UT. Looks like you had fun exploring the book.
I love that series! I used the Colorado alphabet book for my post. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful printable, Karyn! I featured it at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow
This is so great! I am loving this Booking Across the USA series!
Great printable! Thanks for sharing. I still have lots of extended family out in Utah and we try to visit when we can. Following now.
Awesome printable!! Thank you for sharing! Plus, my girls are big into dinos so we’ll definitely be giving this book a try!
Thank you so much for participating in our Booking Across the USA project!
Thank you! I am definitely going to use this in my fourth grade class!
Thank you such much for sharing this! A great summer activity for our Utah learning day 🙂