South Dakota - School-Age
South Dakota
40th State (November 2, 1889), the midwest U.S.
State Abbreviation: SD
Capital: Pierre
Origin of name: From the Sioux tribe, meaning allies.
Motto: "Under God the People Rule"
Nickname: Mount Rushmore State
South Dakota State Symbols
South Dakota: State Seal
Animal: Coyote
Bird: Chinese ring-necked pheasant
Bread: Fry bread
Fish: WalleyeFlower: American Pasque
Fossil: Triceratops
Gem: Fairburn Agate
Insect: Honey Bee
Jewelry: Black Hills Gold
Mineral Stone: Rose Quartz
Music Instrument : Fiddle
Song: Hail! South Dakota
Tree: Black Hills Spruce
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Things to Know
United States Senators from South Dakota.
Mt. Rushmore
Famous for its likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt
Badlands
A region of barren ravines and cliffs.
Black Hills
The highest mountains east of the Rockies.
Plains Indians
The Dakota, Lakota and Nakota Indian tribes make up the Sioux Nation.
Lewis and Clark in South Dakota
Lewis and Clark spent the late-summer and early fall of 1804 exploring present-day South Dakota.
Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals of South Dakota
Fossils of extinct species, giant wooly mammoths and dinosaur bones have been discovered in South Dakota.
The World's Only Corn Palace is in Mitchell, SD.
South Dakota Agricultural
Producing corn, wheat, barley, rye, flaxseed, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seeds, honey, cattle, sheep, and hogs. South Dakota is the second largest producer of flaxseed and sunflower seeds in the nation. It is the third largest producer of hay and rye.
Major Rivers: Cheyenne River, James River, Missouri River, White River
Famous South Dakotans
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Author of "Little House on the Prairie" books
Sitting Bull
Lakota (a Sioux tribe).
Crazy Horse
An Oglala Sioux chief, fought at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Korczak Ziolkowski
Sculptor
L. Frank Baum
Author of "The Wizard of Oz"
Harvey Dunn
Famed prairie artist
Terry Redlin
World renowned artist
Things to Do
