Introduction to Florida State Symbols

Activities:
Print out the Florida State Symbols PDF and include in your notebook

Suggested Reading:
Florida Facts and Symbols by Emily McAuliffe (2003)

Discussion Questions:
Quiz your students on Florida State Symbols. You may consider making this a game!
Ask your students what their favorite state symbol is and why.

Also see Florida Symbols for more lesson plan ideas and resources

State Marine Mammal: West Indian Manatee

"In 1975, Florida chose the West Indian Manatee to be the state's Marine Mammal."
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 5

Manatees are mammals whose body structure has adapted to life in the water. Like all mammals, they have lungs and must surface to breathe every four minutes. Manatees spend about 5 hours per day grazing on aquatic plants and can eat up to 150 pounds of food per day. Adults weigh as much as a ton and are 10-12 feet long.

Manatees give birth to one calf at a time and their pregnancy lasts 13 months. The calf will nurse for approximately two years from the milk glands located just under the flippers.

This gentle giant has no natural enemies except people and has no defense except to flee---slowly. Even in the wild sharks do not bother manatees!

Manatees are considered endangered because their numbers have steadily declined due to loss of habitat, water pollution and boating accidents.

Lesson Plan:

• Read pages 5 & 37 in the The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida
• Using photographs from selected books on Manatees have student identify the following body parts on a manatee: Eyes, Nostrils, Flippers, Finger Nails, Tails, Whiskers, and Mouth
• Using a piece of butcher paper roll out 10 feet of paper and draw a large manatee on it. Have children sit or lay on the paper to illustrate how large a full grown manatee is.
• Download the Manatee Puppet Craft, color and assemble the puppet OR create a 3D Manatee habitat craft
  
• Consider adopting a manatee at the special discounted rate of $20 through the club by identifying yourself as a school group.
• Watch this Manatee video online and the one below.

Discussion Topics:

• Who or what is the manatees only natural enemy?
• What do manatees need to survive?
• What can we do to protect manatees?

Suggested Reading:
Manatees by Kathy Feeney
Florida Manatee by Rod Theodorou
Manatees: Peaceful Plant Eaters by Adele Richardson
Manatees by Jody Sullivan Rake
Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs (illustrated story)
Saving Manatees by Stephen R. Swinburne (older students)



Online Resources:
Defenders of Wildlife Florida Manatee Page
Save the Manatee Club

Materials to Download:
Manatee Coloring & Activity Book
Manatees an Educators Guide
Manatee Fact Sheet
Enchanted Learning Manatee Notebooking pages
National Geographic Manatee printable
Manatee lapbook from Homeschool Share
Manatee Coloring page

Field Trip Ideas:

1.) Visit a Spring or Rehabilitation Center to view Manatees. When viewing Manatees be sure to follow the federal guidelines for watching manatees. A list of suggested field trip destinations is below.

2.) Volunteer at an event to Save the Manatees.

Places to view Manatees

Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park - From Wildwood, near the convergence of the Florida Turnpike and I-75, take Highway 44 west to 490 (West Homosassa Trail) southwest to Highway 19, then south to the park; call 352-628-5343

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge-

Blue Spring State Park- Take exit 114 off Interstate 4 and follow the signs. Go south on 17/92 to Orange City, about 2.5 miles. Make a right onto West French Avenue.

Manatee Springs State Park- Manatee Springs State Park is located at the end of S.R. 320, off U.S. 98, six miles west of Chiefland.

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge - One entrance is south of Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park on Highway 19; call 352-563-2088

Fun 2 Dive - with Captain Joseph Detrick; call 888-588-DIVE

Bird’s Underwater Manatee Tours and Dive Center - As with Homosassa Springs, head west on Highway 44 to Crystal River; call 352-563-2763

State Tree: Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm)

used with permission from
Jacquelyn Modesitt Schindehette
www.floridalandscapes.com

This tree was important in historical times, when early settlers used its leaf heart for food and its logs and fronds to build shelter.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida (page 4)

Lesson:
Read the selection on page 3-4, and 91,

Discussion Questions:
What is another name for the Sabal Palm? And why did it get that name?
What did the Seminoles use the Palm fronds for?

Of 14 species of palm trees native to the United States, 11 can be found in Florida
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 91

Interesting Facts:
The Sabal Palmetto is the most widely distributed palm in Florida. It grows in almost any soil and has many uses, including food, medicine, and landscaping.

Activities:
1.) Take a nature walk and identify and examine the Sabal Palm.

2.) Include a photograph or drawing of the Sabal Palm in your notebook and label the parts of the tree and important identifying facts.

3.) Sample a Hearts of Palm Salad.

Field Trips:
Visit a nature center or preserve with Sabal Palms.

Online Resources:
Floridata page on Sabal Palms
Sabal Palm PDF Fact Sheet

State Pie

In 2006, the Florida legislature named the Key lime pie the state Pie, after several years of consideration. Sweet potato pie was the other contender.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 6

Activities:
1.) Read the history of the key lime pie
2.) Either make or sample a key lime pie with your students. You may also want to try a Key Lime Pie on a stick or other key lime pies available from Key Lime Shop.

Additional Online Resources:
Click here to view House of Representatives SB 676- Official State Pie/Key Lime bill

State Flower

"One of the most fragrant flowers of any tree---the orange blossom is one of Florida's oldest symbols."
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 4

Did you know...
The orange tree was first found in Southern China and North India. Because Europeans in the 1500’s valued the fruit for its medicinal qualities, it was imported by Portuguese traders into around the sixteenth century. By the seventeenth century, small greenhouses were being built in Europe to cultivate orange trees, which by then were known for their sweet taste. The orange tree reached America in the nineteenth century, introduced to Florida by the French. Today, California, Arizona and Florida are the chief orange-growing states in the Unites States.
excerpt above; read more here.


Activities:
Download and print the State Flower coloring page for your notebook.


Field Trip:
Visit an orange grove.

Additional Online Resources:
Flowerpedia Orange Blossom page.

State Seal

Discussion Questions:

1.) What items were changed on the state seal in 1970 and 1985 to better reflect Florida?
2.) Ask your students to describe or name the details within the seal pictured above.
3.) Why does Florida have a state seal? Where and how is it used?
4.) What size is the state seal?

Activities:
The state seal is featured on the State Flag. Download , color and include in your notebook.

Additional Online Resources:
Netstate's Great Seal of Florida page

State Nickname

The state nickname, "Sunshine State" was made official in 1970 and used to be on every license tag. While Florida is officially known as the sunshine state, there have been other nicknames associated with Florida such as: the alligator state, everglades state, and the orange state to name a few.

Discussion Questions:

1.) Why do you think Florida's nickname is The Sunshine State?
2.) Do you think this is a good nickname for Florida? Why or why not?

Activity:
How many things can you find with the state motto on it?
Include them in your notebook.

Additional Online Resources:
Netstate Introduction to Florida

State Motto: In God We Trust

"In God We Trust" was adopted by the Florida legislature as part of the state seal in 1868. This is also the motto of the United States and is a slight variation on Florida's first state motto, "In God is our Trust."

Lesson:
"In God we trust" is the official motto of the United States, is the motto of the state of Florida and is printed on all U.S. currency. Discuss this fact with your students and share your own personal feelings about this.

Discussion questions:

1. Which motto do you prefer, "In God we trust" or "In God is our Trust" ?
2. Do both versions carry the same meaning? Why or why not?

State Butterfly: Zebra Butterfly

The Zebra Longwing Butterfly was adopted in 1996 as the state butterfly, or the State Insect. This beautiful butterfly has black and yellow bands on its wings. The underside of its wings has red dots near the body. The Zebra Longwing lays eggs only on Passion Vines, and the larvae feed on the Passion Vine leaves.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida, page 6

Activities:

1. Print out and color a Zebra Butterfly for your notebook.
2. Plant Passion Vines and Firebush to see if you can attract Zebra Butterflies.
3. Study the life cycle of a butterfly and purchase a kit to explore metamorphosis close-up.

Additional Online Resources:

Visit this informative website with fantastic pictures of Zebra Longwing butterflies and information on their host and nectar plants.

Visit the Children's butterfly site, to view galleries, coloring pages, stories, and interesting facts about butterflies.

Learn about butterfly gardening here.


Suggested Reading:
Florida butterfly caterpillars and their host plants by Marc C. Minno, Jerry F. Butler, and Donald W. Hall


Field Trips:

1. Visit Butterfly World or Butterfly Rainforest to learn more about butterflies and see a Zebra Longwing.
2. Visit a local botanical garden with a butterfly garden.

State Song

The Swanee River Lyrics

Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away,
There’s where my heart is turning ever,
There’s where the old folks stay.
All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for the old plantation,
And for the old folks at home.

Chorus
All the world is sad and dreary
Everywhere I roam.
O brothers, how my heart grows weary,
Far from the old folks at home.

2nd verse
All ‘round the little farm I wander’d,
When I was young;
Then many happy days I squander’d,
Many the songs I sung.
When I was playing with my brother,
Happy was I.
Oh, take me to my kind old mother,
There let me live and die.

3rd verse
One little hut among the bushes,
One that I love.
Still sadly to my memory rushes,
No matter where I rove.
When will I see the bees a humming,
All ‘round the comb?
When shall I hear the banjo strumming,
Down in my good old home.

"Stephen Collins Foster, one of America's best-loved songwriters, wrote "Swanee River" (also called "Old Folks at Home") in 1851. The Suwannee River (which Foster spelled Swanee to better fit the music) is a beautiful waterway that flows from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia across Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Swanee River was chosen as the State Song in 1935, and has become a symbol of love for home and family."
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida, page 6

Lesson:

1. Read the selection about Florida's State Song (page 6)
2. Download Florida's state song, Swanee River, and listen to it with your students.
3. Sheet music and song also available here.

Additional online Resources:
Did you know that the composer of Florida's state song never visited the state of Florida? Visit MyFlorida.com for more interesting facts about Florida state's song.

State Flag

"Florida's state flag was adopted at the same time as the seal, in 1868, and it showed the seal on a white background. In 1889, the legistlature added the diagonal red bars we see today, because people wanted the flag to have more color and so that it would not look all white when it hung limply."
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida, page 3

Lesson:

1. Read Chapter 1: page 3 about the Florida State Seal and Flag.
2. Discuss the symbols within the state seal.

Activities:
Print out the State Flag coloring page for your notebook.

Challenge #1:Florida Symbols

1.) Read Chapter 1 pages 3-7 in The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida.

2.) Choose one Florida symbol to learn more about through additional research.
Write a report on it and include in your notebook.

3.) Choose a mascot for your homeschool or co-op during this study. Create a cover for the front of your notebook incorporating the mascot.

Chapter 1 Florida Symbols

A symbol is something that stands for something else. Many states and nations have chosen symbols to represent something special or unique about their area, such as our country's national bird, the Bald Eagle, which is found only in North America.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 3

Updated 1/26/09

Lesson:
Read pages 1-7 in The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida

Activities:Print out the Florida State Symbols PDF and include in your notebook

Suggested Reading:Florida Facts and Symbols by Emily McAuliffe (2003)

Discussion Questions:
1.) How many Florida Symbols do you know?
2.) Are there any symbols that surprised you?
3.) What is your favorite state symbol and why?

Click on a link below for study information on each individual symbol.
Or click here for a complete list one one page.

State Seal

State Flag

State Flower- The Orange Blossom

State Bird- The Northern Mockingbird

State Tree- The Sabal Palm

State Shell- The Horse Conch

State Stone- Agatized Coral

State Nickname- The Sunshine State

State Motto- In God we trust

State Gem- Moonstone

State Marine Mammal: The West Indian Manatee

State Saltwater Mammal- The Porpoise

State Mammal- The Florida Panther

State Freshwater fish- The Largemouth Bass

State Saltwater Fish- The Sailfish

State Reptile- The Alligator

State Soil- Myakka Fine Sand

State Wildflower- Tickseed or Coreopsis

State Butterfly- Zebra Longwing Butterfly

State Pie- Key Lime Pie

State Song- Swanee River

Additional Online Resources:
Florida Kids website
Florida Division of Historical Resources
Florida symbols and emblems from Netstate Chronicle
Sunshine Junior Symbols Page