ADOT Kids

Here’s a little history: When the automobile was invented, there were so few of them that license plates were not necessary. As cars started to outnumber the horse and buggy, many states began to require license plates to identify the car and owner. 

As with any important project (think writing a report for school), the first thing to do is plan. ADOT starts planning for new roadways by studying where a new roadway is most needed.

Next, ADOT engineers begin to create the detailed project plan. Some roads need bridges or overpasses as part of their design. Can you think why a bridge or overpass might be needed?

Hey ADOT Kids (and parents)!

As an Arizona kid, you are likely used to many days of hot, dry weather. When we get the occasional rainstorm, do you celebrate by dancing in the rain (but never during a thunderstorm), rather than heading indoors to stay dry? 

You may have learned about the earth’s water cycle and how water moves from the earth to the atmosphere and back to earth.

Hey kids — and big kids, too! Headed to northern Arizona this summer to enjoy the high country’s cool weather or stake your claim to a favorite fishing hole? We’ve got the map that may help plan your trip and help save travel time by revealing a more direct route to your intended location. 

People litter when they throw their garbage somewhere instead of putting it in a trash can. Sometimes people litter when they don’t care about the place where they’re throwing their trash, or when they think someone else will come and clean up after them. 

Not only is litter unsightly to see on the ground, along our highways or in waterways, but this type of pollution hurts people and the planet in multiple ways. 

ADOT Kids is a website created to spark children’s curiosity in how things work and what makes things go, tapping into their interest in science, technology, engineering and math in a fun way!  ADOT Kids has lots of free, downloadable activity sheets, links to videos and more!   

Hey, ADOT Kids! There’s a lot that goes into constructing roads, like our highways in Arizona. And we’re here to give you the details.

Engineering is the creative use of science and math to design or make things to solve a problem. Engineers, like the ones we have at ADOT, design, build and test things. Do you want to give this fun build-and-test activity a try —  like an engineer? To take the candy-toothpick building challenge, start with the following items.

Supplies Needed

What’s so important about being physically active? Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical inactivity is a major contributor to health problems like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other bad health conditions in the United States. ADOT Kids encourages safe and active transportation for kids across the state.

There are almost as many type of engineers as there are branches of math. Learn how math plays an important part in engineering. 

A recent ADOT-sponsored transportation institute fosters learning about transportation engineering careers. 

Hey, ADOT Kids, do you know how to get started on an engineering career? For this ADOT employee, his love for building things started when he was kid.

For the #ADOTKids out there, bicycles are how you get around. Since we are interested in all forms of transportation at ADOT, here are some tips to remain safe while riding through your neighborhood!

ADOT's engineers get a lot of attention, but there is a huge variety of employees at the agency helping people getting home safely!

Babak Dehghani tells us what's like being part of ADOT's Engineer-In-Training Program.

Engineers are an important part of what ADOT does. This is why one engineer loves her job.

Have you thought about being an engineer when you grow up? At ADOT, we have many different types, all doing important work!

National Engineers Week starts February 22, and ADOT Kids is ready to celebrate by showing what a career in engineering could mean!

Hey, ADOT Kids, you see signs all the time, but do you know how they are made?

Signs are everywhere along the road, but did you know that ADOT has its very own shop to make them?

Looking to keep the kids occupied between Christmas and New Year's? Then ADOT Kids might be the resource for you! Fun and educational, it's perfect for budding engineers. 

Yes, it snows in Arizona, so it's time to start thinking about snowplows! Learn more about how ADOT uses these incredible machines.

We may not be able to hang it up on a refrigerator like some of the art we've received, but ADOT Kids was recently recognized for explaining transportation to a general audience during the public health situation. 

Did you know that today, September 19, is National CleanUp Day? 

That's right, today is the day when everyone is encouraged to help keep our outdoors looking great by picking up litter.

Last year on National CleanUp Day, 1.3 tons of litter was removed from along Arizona’s highways. That’s huge! You can help by picking up trash in your own neighborhood. Be sure to be safe, watch for cars and bikes, and wash your hands when you are done! Challenge your friends to see who can pick up the most trash from your neighborhood!

Looking for kid-friendly activities for your next road trip? We are here to help!

In addition to learning more about monsoon season safety, we're encouraging you to create your own sign to keep people from driving into a dangerous dust storm.

How long is the South Mountain Freeway? How wide are the lanes? How did we set the speed limit? ADOT Kids asked, and we answer. Plus we share everyone's freeway designs. 

Our ADOT Kids coloring activity this week encourages kids to avoid littering.

If you love construction, work zones and freeways, we have a word search and maze for you to complete.

Please take our quiz and then see how well your parents or friends can do.

Every one of these creative messages showed how much you all care about keeping Arizona safe. We had a great time reading them. 

We've compiled videos from the South Mountain Freeway project to help inspire your art along the freeway. 

Imagine the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway without any designs on its bridges, ramps and sound walls? What drawings and colors would you use? What plants would line the roadway? This activity makes you the designer. 

We hope an ADOT calendar featuring drawings and messages by children and grandchildren of our employees inspires you to find even more ways to promote safety where you live. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: During this unprecedented time, ADOT is creating transportation activities for kids. Please visit azdot.gov/ADOTKids or use the hashtag #ADOTKids on ADOT's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what we have going on.

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

We’re excited that so many kids sent us bridge designs and asked questions about bridges.

As part of our week devoted to safety and safety messages, we're sharing videos on topics including seat belts. 

Have you seen the fun safety messages ADOT puts on its highway boards? Well, here's your chance to tell us what you would put up there if you could! Send us your safety message suggestions and questions in our latest activity.

If you loved our Zoom backgrounds for kids, we now have video backgrounds to make your next Zoom meeting more exciting! 

Let's see how you do making a toothpick bridge that looks a lot like the real thing!

We're answering kids' litter questions and featuring their Keep it Grand artwork. 

For those who want to know even more about how bridges work, we have a graphic listing bridge parts and a bunch of important terms. And don't miss our first word search!

Learn about how ADOT builds bridges, then take a shot at completing a highway by designing your own bridge. 

Kids should know they too can participate in Adopt a Highway and help Keep it Grand.

Have you ever wondered where all the rain from a storm goes? It's an important question! That's why ADOT and the counties, towns and cities in central Arizona have produced an activity book to help middle school students explore the many facets of stormwater runoff.

Thanks to everyone who took part in our first ADOT Kids activity about snowplows! Here's a slideshow with your art and a video with an ADOT engineer answering your questions.

Take our trash quiz and learn more about how the Adopt a Highway program helps with litter in our state.