Montana Facts Worksheet for 14-Year-Olds — Geography & Social Studies

Instructions

Welcome to the Big Sky Country! Montana is a state rich in history, nature, and unique facts. Read each section carefully and answer the questions to the best of your ability. Good luck!

Part 1: Treasure State Facts

Fill in the blanks below with the correct information about Montana.

1. The capital city of Montana is ____________________.
2. Known as the "Treasure State," Montana became the ______ state to join the Union in the year ________.
3. The official state animal is the formidable ____________________, while the state flower is the ____________________.
4. The largest city by population in Montana is ____________________.
5. The headwaters of the mighty ____________________ River are found at Three Forks, Montana.

Part 2: True or False?

Read each statement carefully. Circle or write T for True or F for False.

• T / F     Yellowstone, the world's first national park, lies completely within Montana's borders.
• T / F     Montana is one of the few states in the U.S. that does not have a statewide sales tax.
• T / F     The famous "Going-to-the-Sun Road" is the primary scenic route through Yellowstone National Park.
• T / F     Montana shares an international border with three Canadian provinces.
• T / F     Montana is the largest landlocked state in the U.S. by area.

Part 3: Know Your Neighbors

Montana is bordered by several U.S. states and Canadian provinces. List them below.

U.S. States:

• ____________________
• ____________________
• ____________________
• ____________________

Canadian Provinces:

• ____________________
• ____________________
• ____________________

Part 4: Digging Deeper

Use your critical thinking skills to answer the following questions in a few sentences.

1. Montana is officially nicknamed the "Treasure State." Why is this nickname appropriate for Montana's history and natural resources?


2. Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park are two iconic American landmarks partially or wholly located in Montana. What is a key difference between the two parks in terms of their most famous geological features?

Part 5: Montana Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters to reveal five words associated with Montana.

1. CREGALI: ____________________
2. SIBON: ____________________
3. LEHANE: ____________________
4. TORTEBRITO: ____________________
5. GUNHORNBIS: ____________________

Answer Key

Part 1: Treasure State Facts

1. The capital city of Montana is Helena.
2. Known as the "Treasure State," Montana became the 41st state to join the Union in the year 1889.
3. The official state animal is the formidable Grizzly Bear, while the state flower is the Bitterroot.
4. The largest city by population in Montana is Billings.
5. The headwaters of the mighty Missouri River are found at Three Forks, Montana.

Part 2: True or False?

• F     Yellowstone, the world's first national park, lies completely within Montana's borders. (It is primarily in Wyoming, but also extends into Montana and Idaho.)
• T     Montana is one of the few states in the U.S. that does not have a statewide sales tax.
• F     The famous "Going-to-the-Sun Road" is the primary scenic route through Yellowstone National Park. (It is in Glacier National Park.)
• T     Montana shares an international border with three Canadian provinces.
• T     Montana is the largest landlocked state in the U.S. by area.

Part 3: Know Your Neighbors

U.S. States:

• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wyoming
• Idaho

Canadian Provinces:

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan

Part 4: Digging Deeper

(Note: Answers may vary but should include the following concepts.)

1. Montana is called the "Treasure State" because of its rich mineral resources, including significant gold, silver, copper, and sapphire deposits that led to mining booms in its early history. The name reflects the valuable resources "treasured" within its mountains.
2. A key difference is that Yellowstone is world-famous for its geothermal features (geysers like Old Faithful, hot springs, and mudpots), while Glacier National Park is renowned for its massive, carved glaciers and glaciated landscapes (U-shaped valleys, dramatic peaks, and alpine lakes).

Part 5: Montana Word Scramble

1. CREGALI: GLACIER
2. SIBON: BISON
3. LEHANE: HELENA
4. TORTEBRITO: BITTERROOT
5. GUNHORNBIS: BIGHORNS