Grandparent Guide SCAVENGER HUNT FOR OKLAHOMA’S STATE SYMBOLS
BY CAMILLE LANDRY . PHOTOS BY LANDRY AND PROVIDED.
After a bitter winter that came early and lingered, and a year and a half of pandemic lockdown complete with virtual schooling for most students, we are more than ready to get out of the house and have fun. The problems: the pandemic isn’t over, younger kids can’t get vaccinated yet and many venues that we’ve enjoyed for years have not fully opened. So what can we safely do to have fun with our kids and grandkids? Grandma to the rescue! My grandson called a few weeks ago to proudly recite the names of Oklahoma’s state symbols. Wow, that kid is smart! I knew a few of these but there are designated plants, animals, minerals and more that are Oklahoma’s official emblems. A quick search of the Oklahoma Historical Society website confirmed my young scholar’s information. Being the sneaky teacher who believes everything is a learning opportunity, I thought we should go see, hear, touch, feel, smell and taste Oklahoma’s symbols. Depending upon the ages and interests of the children involved, you can focus on history, geography, science, art, music, food and more.
TWO OF LANDRY'S GRANDCHILDREN READY FOR ADVENTURE!
Getting started We gathered a good pair of binoculars, a notebook and pencil for my grandson to record his findings, plus a camera. The great thing about this family adventure is that it can include everyone from toddlerhood to senior status. Many of these symbols are in our own neighborhoods, but all can be found on an easy day trip from Oklahoma City. Sites can be accessed free or at very low cost. Since most locations are outdoors,
it’s safe to take the entire family to view these symbols. You can see many of our state symbols in a single day or plan to incorporate these ideas into your activities all year long. Either way, good fun and plenty of learning are guaranteed. This entire project took us almost six weeks to complete but we could have accomplished everything in a shorter time frame if the Oklahoma springtime weather hadn’t treated us with frequent rain, hailstorms, high winds and threats of snow!
70 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / EVERYTHING GUIDE 2021-2022
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