Symbols of North Carolina

North Carolina Symbols A symbol is something that reminds us of North Carolina. Just like “Pirates” reminds us of Swansboro High School.

North Carolina Symbols -Flag Every country and every state has their own flag. The United States Flag is: The 13 stripes stand for the 13 original colonies. NC is one of the original 13 colonies. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states that are now in the US.

North Carolina Symbols- Flag The NC flag is: There are three rectangles. The state colors are red, white and blue. There are two dates: May 20, 1775 (Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence) April 12, 1776 (Halifax Resolves) NC was the first colony to declare independence from England.

Questions 1. Is North Carolina is a state in the United States? a. Yesb. No 2. A flag is a symbol of a country or state. a. Yes b. No 3. What are the colors of the US and NC flags? a. orange b. red c. black d. white e. green f. purple g. brown h. pink I. blue

Questions 4. How many rectangles are on the NC flag? a. 5 b. 4 b What do the two dates on the NC flag represent? a. NC a state b. Independence 6. What do the stars represent on the US flag? a. US states b. decorations 7. What do the 13 stripes on the US flag represent? a. unlucky number b. original colonies

North Carolina Symbols State Bird The cardinal is the state bird. 8 inches long Male bird has a bit of gray down his back They sing cheerful songs – years ago they were sold as singing birds. Their bright feathers used to be in ladies’ hats. They eat harmful insects. They lay 3 – 5 eggs that hatch in 12 days.

North Carolina Symbols State Flower The Dogwood flower grows on a tree. It is grown in Europe, Asia and North America. The Dogwood is known for its colorful twigs of red purple or yellow. The flowers fall off very easily.

North Carolina Symbols State Mammal Mammals 1. Breathe air 2. Give Birth 3. Warm blooded The gray squirrel is the state mammal. The gray squirrel does not hibernate, but gets warm in its’ nest during cold spells. It runs along tree branches or runs on the ground trying to find nuts to eat. It adapts to city life and lives in harmony with humans.

Questions 1. What is the state bird? a. Blue Jay b. Duck c. Cardinal 2. What color is the state bird? a. Blue b. Red c. Yellow 3. What is the state flower? a. Rose b. Azalea c. Dogwood 4. How does the state flower grow? a. Tree b. Vine c. Both

Questions 5. What is the state mammal? a. Dog b. Cat c. Squirrel 6. Name two things a mammal does. a. Breathes air b. Runs & Plays c. Gives birth 7. What does the gray squirrel eat? a. Nuts b. Bread c. Grass 8. What is hibernation? a. Waking upb. Sleep through the winter 9. Does the gray squirrel hibernate? a. Yes b. No

North Carolina Symbols State Tree – Pine Tree Pine Trees are the oldest evergreen tree on earth. Evergreens are green all year round. Live to be 6,000 years old. Pines are used for pulpwood and the timber is used to make furniture.

North Carolina Symbols State Reptile A Reptile is a cold-blooded vertebrate having skin covered with scales or horny plates, breathing air with lungs, and usually has a three-chambered heart. They usually lay eggs. Cold Blooded – Body temperature varies with its surroundings Vertebrate – Had a spinal cord or backbone. Examples: snake, lizard, crocodile, turtle, or dinosaur

North Carolina Symbols State Reptile The Box Turtle is the State Reptile. When it is scared, it pulls in it’s head and legs; therefore it “boxes” itself up into it’s shell. It hibernates in the winter in soft soil. Live about 40 years.

Questions 1. What is the state tree? a. Oak Treeb. Pine Treec. Maple Tree 2. What is an evergreen? a. Lives only in the summer b. Lives only in the winter c. Is green all year long 3. Pine Trees are used to make furniture. a. Yes b. No

Questions 4. Cold blooded means the body temperature is 98.6 all the time. a. Yes b. No 5. Cold blooded means the body temperature varies with surroundings. a. Yes b. No 6. A vertebrate has a spinal cord. a. Yes b. No 7. A reptile has skin covered with scales or plates. a. Yes b. No

Questions 8. Most reptiles lay eggs. a. Yes b. No 9. Reptiles breath air with lungs. a. Yes b. No 10. How many heart chambers does a reptile? a. 1b. 2c A turtle is a _________________________. a. mammal b. reptile

North Carolina Symbols State Seashell – Scotch Bonnet It was named the state shell in Four inches long It has rows of reddish brown spots with ridges that circle the shell. A slimy snail like animal lives inside the shell and it is a favorite home to hermit crabs

Questions 1. What is the state seashell? a. Conkb. Starfish c. Scotch Bonnet 2. What color are the spots on this seashell? a. Yellowb. Reddish brownc. Black 3. What year was the Scotch Bonnet named the state seashell? a. 1875b. 1929c. 1965

Questions 4. How many inches is the Scotch Bonnet? a. 4 inchesb. 1 inchc. 12 inches 5. A snail like animal lives inside the shell. a. Yesb. No

North Carolina Symbols – State Insect – Honeybee  The honeybee is the state insect.  Honeybees are known for making beeswax to make candles, polishes and ointments.  They build their nests in a big strong tree branch.

North Carolina Symbols – State Insect – Honeybee  There is always a Queen Bee.  The Queen Bee lays the eggs  Drones are the males.  The workers are the females that guard the nest and make the honey.  They build little cells called cones using wax where the larvae develop.

Questions 1. What is the state insect? A. FlyB. BeeC. Grass hopper 2. What job does the Queen Bee have? A. Pollinate plants B. Lays eggs 3. What is the Drone? A. Male (Boy)B. Female (girl) 4. What are the worker bees? A. Male (Boy)B. Female (girl) 5. What is the most important job that the worker bee does? A. Takes care of the Queen BeeB. Pollinates flowers

North Carolina Symbols – State Stone – Emerald The emerald is a bright green color. Emeralds are found in the Mountains of North Carolina. A flawless emerald sells for higher prices than diamonds.

North Carolina Symbols – State Dog – Plott Hound The plott hound is the only hound that does not trace it ancestry to the foxhound. The Plott Hound came from Germany. In 1750, John Plott left Germany and came to live in the NC mountains. He brought a few hounds with him and used them for hunting.