Make Your Own State Symbols
State Flower
Also known as the flame flower, the Golden Poppy grows wild throughout California. It became the state flower in 1903.
Tissue paper poppy
Supplies needed: colored tissue paper, scissors and pipe cleaners
- Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size
- Fold all the tissue paper pieces some what like an accordian look
- Wind one end of the pipe cleaner around the middle of the accordion looking tissue paper.
- Gently separate each layer pulling upwards toward the middle of the flower.
You then have your completed State flower, the Golden Poppy.
State Fish
The Golden Trout is native only to California and became the official state fish in 1947. Isolated by geography, the vibrantly colored fish evolved unique features that allow it to thrive in the high-altitude streams of the Kern Plateau.
Decorate your state fish, the Golden Trout
Supplies needed: Printable trout image, scissors, coloring supplies and any other decoration supplies (glitter glue, sequins, stickers, etc.)
- Print out your own black and white trout image from online and make sure it is big enough to decorate.
- Cut out the extra white paper from around the trout
- Then use colors to decorate the fish. Use colors that you might see on a trout in the wild. (You can look online for a picture of a real fish to simulate the real look)
- You can even go as far as putting a paper hook on the trout’s mouth and have him tied to a stick! Now that’s a nice catch!
State Reptile
The Desert Tortoise has been the official state reptile since 1972. This herbivore, which has existed almost unchanged for millions of years, is an endangered species and lives in California’s southeastern deserts.
Tortoise Bank
Supplies needed: Green construction paper, googly eyes, black marker, glue, scissors, and some kind of container with a lid (cosmetic container, plastic jar, egg cartons, etc.) Be creative!
- Glue green construction paper around your jar/container. Make sure you don’t cover the top so that it can be opened. You can also use paint if it’s easier. This is the tortoise’s shell!
- Let that dry for a couple minutes so that the shell doesn’t slip off.
- While it is drying, cut out a piece of green paper that is shaped like a tortoise’s head. Also, cut out some smaller pieces that would make the legs! If you want a little tail, cut that out too!
- After your shell is dry, flip it upside down and glue the legs and head on.
- Flip it back so the lid is on top. You can now draw/glue on your eyes.
You have now completed your state reptile, the tortoise! (If you really like making the tortoise, you can take your empty egg cartons and make a whole family of them!!)
State Insect
The California Dogface Butterfly became the state insect in 1972. The name comes from a wing pattern resembling a dog's head on the male of the species. This butterfly lives only in California.
Dogface Butterfly hat
Supplies needed: construction paper, crayons, 2 printable butterflies, hole punch, Tape or stapler and 2 pipe cleaners
- Cut strips of paper that would fit around one’s head (you may have to tape or staple two pieces together) to make a band.
- Color the strips of paper however you would like. (Grass, dirt, stars, etc.)
- Then curl the pipe cleaners around a pencil so that it makes a swirling pipe cleaner.
- Take one pipe cleaner and staple/tape it to one side of the band and take the other pipe cleaner and staple it to the other side.
- Print the 2 butterflies and color then just like the state’s insect, the Dogface Butterfly.
- You will then hole punch a small hole on the bottom of your butterflies.
- Stick the hole on the butterfly on the pipe cleaner and then twist the pipe cleaner to secure the butterfly.
You have made your very own butterfly hat!
State Marine Mammal
The California Gray Whale was adopted in 1975. The mighty California Gray Whale travels in groups called "pods" off the Pacific coast each winter and spring. Gray Whales are 30 to 50 feet long and weigh as much as 40 tons.
Bag o’ Whale
Supplies needed: paper bags, crayons, blue/gray construction paper, goggly eyes, ripped up newspaper pieces, rubber band, pipe cleaners and glue.
- Color your paper bag the way you want your whale to look. It can be gray like the State Marine Mammal or blue, black, or just plain white. Make the bag as colored as possible in all the areas of the bag.
- Then open your bag and stuff the bag packed with ripped up pieces of newspaper. Leave about 3 inches unstuffed.
- Scrunch the top together and wrap a rubber band around it so it is sealed.
- Then take your blue/gray construction paper and cut what looks like fins. You need two fins!
- Flip your whale over and glue them on. One on each side.
- Then on the bottom of the bag, glue on your googly eyes or draw them on with a marker. Then glue/draw on a smile!
- One last thing, with a sharp pencil (get mom or dad’s help), punch a hole on the very top of the whale.
- Take two pipe cleaners and fold them in half. Twist them both together at their bases.
- You want to curl the top of the pipe cleaners so that they look like water.
- Then stick the pipe cleaners in the hole you made with the pencil.
- Watch out!!! Your whale is now spouting out water!!
State Mobile
California Symbol Mobile
Supplies needed: Colored or white paper, scissors, crayons/markers, yarn, and hole punch
- Draw out some of California’s symbols: Poppy, Grizzly Bear, Dogface Butterfly, Tortoise, Trout, etc… and color them in. Keep them all about the same size.
- Now draw the shape of California! Nice and BIG!
- Then cut out your different symbols and cut out the BIG California shape.
- Hole punch a hole in all the symbols and to California.
- Then take the yarn and connect them to the BIG shape of California so that they dangle off.
- Don’t forget to hole punch a hole at the top of California so you somewhere to hang it
- You can hang it in your room or outside on your porch and the wind will spin it!
California IQ
In Los Angeles’ famous La Brea Tarpits, what is the most common large mammal remains that is found within it?
