1. All About Illinois By: Mrs. Putt’s Third Grade Historians

2. By Alison

3. Violet Illinois was selected by schoolchildren back in 1908. It was the first of four states to choose the violet as it”s state flower.

5. By Hunter M

6. BIG BLUESTEM Spring growth begins in April. The big bluestem is the tallest grass. the big bluestem was a symbol in 1989.The big blue stem grows to be three and teen feet.

8. By Kaiden

9. Square Dance My symbol stands for the Square Dance. The Square Dance was designated as the American folk dance of Illinois in 1990, Governor Thompson signed into law a bill designating the Square Dance as the American folk dance of the state. Square Dance is a term used to describe many individual dances done in a style that traces it’s origins back to Morris dancing thrown in. It was revived in the 1950’s and remains a popular pastime.

11. Fluorite Fluorite is made of calcium and fluorine. Fluorite is purple, green, and blue Fluorite was made the state mineral in1965

12. By hunter

14. By: Sydney

15. Popcorn Illinois is the third largest producer of popcorn in the U.S., with 333 popcorn farms growing about 47,000 acres of popcorn each year. Popcorn became the state snack food in August 2003, as a result of effort by second and third graders at Cunningham Elementary school in Joliet, their teacher Fran Hollister, and State Sen. Larry Walsh.

17. By Kolby

18. Tully Monster Tully Monster was selected the state Fossil in 1989. The Tully Monster was a soft bodied animal. The first Tully Monster fossil was discovered by Francis Tully.

20. By Kyra

22. State Seal In January 1867,Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale created the Great Seal of Illinois in use today. It is the third seal of it kind and has stayed the same since 1868. The Great Seal is used to make documents official. It went though the legislature attracting the a few individuals, but the final bill said like the original.

23. By: Cheyanne

24. The Illinois General Assembly made “Land of Lincoln” the official state slogan in 1955. The state also registered the slogan with the United States Congress, so only Illinois could use it. The slogan appears on the license of Illinois cars. The slogan “Land of Lincoln certainly describes Illinois well!! Land of Lincoln

26. By Brandon

27. Monarch butterfly The monarch butterfly is found near flower’s. They like collecting pollen they suck it up. And they take it to others. They are the best butterfly. it was chosen in 1975.it was chosen by a 3 rd grader.

29. By Carrie

30. Drummer silty clay loam This soil became a law in August 2001. The drummer soil is the most extensive type of soil occurring in Illinois.

32. By: Hunter

33. White tail deer The white tail deer was selected by schoolchildren as Illinois'’ state animal in 1918.The male deer (buck) begins growing antlers each spring. Today the white tailed deer is a familiar sight in Illinois, but deer almost became extinct in the state during the late 1800s.

35. By: Paige

36. Illinois was the first of seven state’s to select the northern Cardinal as its state bird. The Cardinal was chosen in 1929. Illinois school children voted for the state bird. Cardinal feeds on Insects, grains, fruits, and seeds. Cardinals usually lays several clutches of eggs each season. Cardinal

38. By Levi Wilson

40. Bluegill The Bluegill was elected the state fish in 1986 by Illinois school children. Its name refers to the bright bluegill. It is found in lakes. People sometimes calls it ‘’bream or brim. An adult male bluegill is pale blue to greenish yellow, wile the female and young bluegill are gray green.

41. By Ryan

42. State flag Illinois has two official state flags. The fist one was adopted in 1915 and held only the great seal of Illinois on a field of white. In 9170 they made a new flag and added the word Illinois.

44. By Jenna

45. Illinois The words to Illinois were written by Ch Chamberlain and the music was by Archibald Johnston and he wrote the song. By thy rivers gently flowing Illinois thy prairies. The state song was made 54 th and the Date is 1955.

47. By KYLE

48. The white oak The white oak is called the ironsides sometimes. The oak tree is endangered because people build houses In 1907 Mrs. James C. fussier of Rochelle suggested to state officials that Illinois school children vote for a state tree and state flower. They selected the oak as the state tree.