Travels With Charlie: Way Out West {Wyoming Watercolor Resist Map} #bookingUSA


Welcome to Booking Across the U.S.A Trip 2!


Booking Across the USA Trip 2 created by growingbookbybook.com


This year 50 bloggers are sharing a craft or activity inspired by a Travels with Charlie book, published by Blue Apple Books.



Our activity was inspired by the book Travels With Charlie: Way Out West. Geared for ages 6-9, Travels With Charlie is. . .
Part travelogue, part I SPY, part Where’s. . . Charlie!

Wyoming is featured with rhyming clues to help find interesting, historical, and even "off-beat attractions" or locations. . . and Charlie, of course.
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I took one look at the map of Wyoming and knew I wanted to do a watercolor resist map to help teach my little ones about famous  and important landmarks and places in Wyoming, including Yellowstone Park, Devils Tower, Jackson Hole, Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the capital of Wyoming and more! {All places I personally have been!}

I used a white oil based crayon to draw a map of Wyoming, as inspired by the book, on watercolor paper.






Would you believe that we live 3 hours from the entrance to Yellowstone National Park and we've never driven the kids through the park? We always drive around because it is so much quicker, but it is on our list to do.

We are also only a few hours from Devils Tower - but to be honest, it is in the middle of NOWHERE! We drive within 40  miles of it every few years on our way to Rapid City, SD, but that 80 mile round trip seems so daunting just to see. . .  a rock - albeit a famous one. Perhaps, as we dig into the History of Wyoming more, I will be inspired.

For now, we are having fun learning about Wyoming and all of the other states in the West with Travels With Charlie: Way Out West.

I found Elli and Mali (my 7 and 9 year olds) playing I-Spy one day and was happy to see them enjoying it so much.





Check out the linky below for more states by bloggers participating in Booking Across the U.S.A! And then enter to win a Travels with Charlie book set!

Booking Across the U.S.A. Participants:

Growing Book by Book, Everyday Snapshots, Teaching in the Fast Lane, The Educators' Spin On It, Crayonbox Learning, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, 3rd Grade Thoughts, Mama Miss, Teaching Stars, Fabulously First, Lemon Lime Adventures, True Aim Education, Guided Math, Primary Inspired, Surviving a Teacher's Salary, Second Grade Smartypants, The Brown Bag Teacher, The Preschool Toolbox, Country Fun, Picture Books & Pirouettes, One Lesson at a Time, The Resource(ful) Room, Creative Family Fun, Peace, Love, and First Grade, Edventures with Kids, Africa to America, Teach Beside Me, Elementary Matters, Inspiring 2 NH Kids, Pink Stripey Socks, Kid World Citizen, iGameMom, Second Grade Math Maniac, Rockin' Teacher Materials, Great Peace Academy, Kathy Griffin's Teaching Strategies, Journey of a Substitute Teacher, My (Not So) Elementary Life, Stir the Wonder, Kidding Around Greenville, The Good Long Road, Kathy's Cluttered Mind, Curls and a Smile, Dilly Dabbles, Mama Smiles, Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts, Sprout's Bookshelf, All Done Monkey, Growing Firsties, ALLternative Learning, Delightful Learning, Kids Yoga Stories, and Where Imagination Grows.


A big thanks to Jodie at Growing Book by Book for organizing this trip and for inviting me to participate!




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22 comments

  1. I love this!!! What a great looking book, and fun project, as always you're amazing. I hate to admit it, but I've never heard of Devil's Tower, but I am with you on an added 80 miles to any trip. Yellowstone and Jackson Hole were two of our travel spots during college, so your post brought back all kind of memories and inspiration.

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  2. Think you hit on an interesting point that so often we forget or ignore the special places right in our own backyards. These Traveling with Charlie books bring those special places back into view. Our Travelin' the Northeast has certainly reminded the children about places they have enjoyed with family.

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  3. Flaming Gorge isn't one I knew. My husband and I met at the Tetons:) Colter is named after Colter Bay:)

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  4. What a great activity for this state! I loved what I saw of Wyoming on our cross-country drive last summer!

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  5. LOOOVE the watercolors - just beautiful!!

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  6. Love the watercolor resist map. A nice way for kids to see some different art effect.

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  7. I learned that there is a Kool-aid museum in Nebraska!

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  8. I would love to live so close to Yellowstone!! What an awesome series -- would love to come to Wyoming sometime :)

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  9. The book looks like a great introduction to America. Your activities are always well thought out.

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  10. What a fun activity! Thanks so much for being part of Booking Across the USA!

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  11. If you ever do, please look me up! :) We are very close to one of the most popular routes to Yellowstone. :)

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  12. I don't feel so bad about Devil's Tower, but do feel bad about Yellowstone Park and Jackson - such fun spots to visit! Good memories indeed!

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  13. I know, right! I didn't think to enjoy more of our state until we considered moving... then it was like - we haven't seen all the wonderful places yet! The book did help spark that realization. :)

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  14. Flaming Gorge is down in the Southwest corner and is amazing at sunrise! It is "flaming" because of all the red rock formations - pretty! The Tetons are even more beautiful though! Cool how you named Colter! ;)

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  15. Thank you! I have my favorite drives across Wyoming - some are barren and put me to sleep, but some are varied and interesting. It's so crazy how we have mountains, forests, prairie, plains, and even desert - sand dunes and all!

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  16. Thank you, Rosemary! :) This one was totally a sudden inspiration, because I gave no forethought to what we would do until I saw the book {and was quite nervous!} So, I'm happy it worked out. :)

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  17. You're welcome, Jodie! It was fun. :) Thanks again for inviting me!

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  18. ....makes me wanna come up your way right now!

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  19. We have one of the books in this series (Northeast) but it was interesting to learn about another part of the country.

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  20. I've been to Yellowstone National Park twice as a child, it is very pretty. Watching Old Faithful is an exciting experience. I also live less than 50 miles from Devils Tower and typically visit once a year. You are able to hike around the tower on different trails. In Gillette (energy capital of the nation) you can sign up for tours at a open pit coal mine which is neat to see.

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  21. Shawna, you are not too far from me, then! :) I didn't know about touring the coal mine ~ thank you for sharing!

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