Transcript Arizona State Symbols Powerpoint Presentation

The Living State Symbols of
Arizona
Your introduction to the living
symbols of Arizona, including
when and how they were selected
What is a “symbol”?
Want to learn
more about your
state symbols?
Click to begin
SAGUARO BLOSSOM
I was our first symbol,
selected in 1901 when
Arizona was a territory.
Three inches wide, I can
only be seen in May and
June.
I am our state flower.
What do you think?
Why does this flower bloom at night and
close the next day?
What animals might use pollen and
nectar from this flower?
What does the flower get in return?
Why might this flower
be large and grow in
clusters?
The legislature chose me in
1931.
I eat insects and cactus
fruit.
I like to sing cha-cha-cha.
I am our state bird.
CACTUS WREN
What do you think?
 Why is it called the cactus wren?
 How can the cactus wren survive without
drinking water?
 Why do cactus wrens choose cholla cactus or
thorny trees for
nest locations?
 What makes a cactus
wren’s nest unusual?
The legislature chose me
in 1954.
I am usually green.
I produce yellow flowers.
I am our state tree.
PALO VERDE
What do you think?
Why are the bark and branches of this tree
green?
Why are the leaves and flowers so small?
What do this tree and the saguaro have in
common?
How has the palo verde
adapted to the lack of
water in the desert?
ARIZONA TREEFROG
Schoolchildren selected
me in 1985.
I am an excellent climber.
I am usually green.
I am our state amphibian.
What do you think?
 What adaptations help the Arizona treefrog
survive?
 What does it mean to be “insectivorous”?
 What is the purpose of the male’s
vocalization?
 In what part of our
state would you find
the Arizona treefrog?
APACHE TROUT
Schoolchildren selected
me in 1985.
I am sometimes called a
“yellow belly.”
By 1970 I was nearly
extinct.
I am our state fish.
What do you think?
Why do you think
this species nearly
became extinct?
How have humans
helped this species
to recover?
In what part(s) of
Arizona would you
find this species?
Schoolchildren selected
me in 1985.
I prefer to live in rock
crevices.
I have an upturned nose.
I am our state reptile.
ARIZONA RIDGENOSED
RATTLESNAKE
What do you think?
Why does it have a rattle?
How does this rattlesnake fit into the
cycle of life in our desert?
This is a protected species. What does
that mean?
Schoolchildren selected
me in 1985.
Sometimes called a miner’s
cat, I am not really a cat.
I am our state mammal.
RINGTAIL
What do you think?
Why do some people call the ringtail a
miner’s cat or ringtail cat?
How is it different from a cat?
How has the ringtail adapted to its habitat?
Why might the ringtail
have such a long tail?
TWO-TAILED
SWALLOWTAIL
Arizona residents and the
state legislature chose me
in 2001.
I am bright yellow and
have two tails.
I am our state butterfly.
What do you think?
 Does this butterfly really have two tails?
 How many different species of swallowtail
butterflies live in Arizona?
Of all the butterflies in Arizona, why was this
selected as the state
butterfly?
Explore More!
The following activities will allow you to understand how our living
state symbols relate to the worlds of science, art and government:
“Become a Wildlife Detective” as you
develop a research project to study our
state symbols in the natural world.
In “Seal of Approval” you will explore some other Arizona
symbols as you try to design your own seal for the state.
In “Legislative”, you will use the state symbols to study how laws are
made in Arizona.
“Elect a Class Symbol” models the
process of an election.
To download these activities, click here.