Qing Bao, the giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, gives her report on the smallest state in the country. Watch the cartoon, then read the facts below and try the pop quiz.
Rhode Island is in New England, in the northeast corner of the United States. Its neighbors are Connecticut to the west and Massachusetts to the north and east.
It's the SMALLEST state in the whole country! It's only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide.
Alaska is the biggest state. You could fit Rhode Island inside Alaska more than 400 times!
Rhode Island's nickname is The Ocean State. Narragansett Bay reaches deep into the state. There are about 400 miles of coastline!
Wait... is Rhode Island an island? Mostly no! Most of the state is on the mainland. But its biggest island, Aquidneck Island, was first called "Rhode Island." The city of Newport is there.
The Narragansett, Wampanoag and other Native peoples lived here for thousands of years. The Narragansett Tribe still lives in Rhode Island today.
In 1636, Roger Williams founded Providence, a place where people were free to follow their own beliefs. He learned the Narragansett language and wrote a book about it!
In 1772, Rhode Islanders burned a British ship called the Gaspee. It was one of the first big acts of rebellion against Britain.
On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island declared independence from Britain two whole months before the Declaration of Independence on July 4th!
In 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th state. It was the LAST of the 13 colonies to approve the U.S. Constitution.
In 1793, Slater Mill was built in Pawtucket. It was one of the first successful cotton-spinning mills in America. It helped start the Industrial Revolution in the United States!
The state bird is... A CHICKEN! The Rhode Island Red. This famous chicken breed got its start right here in Rhode Island.
The state flower is the violet. Fun fact: Rhode Island was the LAST state to pick an official state flower, in 1968!
The state tree is the red maple and the state fish is the striped bass.
The state shell is the quahog (say it: KO-hog). It's a big clam! Native people made beads called wampum from quahog shells.
The state drink is coffee milk: milk mixed with sweet coffee syrup. Rhode Island even has an official state appetizer: calamari!
The state motto is just one word: HOPE. It's on the flag, under a gold anchor. The 13 stars stand for the 13 original colonies.
Providence is the capital and the biggest city. On a rooftop there sits a giant blue termite named Nibbles Woodaway. It's 58 feet long!
The highest point in Rhode Island is Jerimoth Hill, 812 feet above sea level. Next door in New Hampshire, Mount Washington is almost 8 times higher!
Pick an answer, then open the box to check.
B: Rhode Island Red (a chicken). It's a famous chicken breed that got its start in Rhode Island.
B: smallest. It's only about 48 miles long and 37 miles wide.
C: Providence. Providence is the capital and the biggest city.
You're welcome to show this cartoon in class or share it with students. It's free under CC BY 4.0; just credit “Qing Bao Fan Club, qingbaofans.com.” The captions are on screen, so it works with the sound off too.