June Ponte - Fun and Simple Southeastern State Crafts: West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida

DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATES?

Learn interesting and exciting facts about Southeastern states while creating fun crafts! Find out about each state's capital, motto, flower, animal, and more! Make a Raptor Wall Hanging, an "I Have a Dream" Rainbow Magnet, or one of the other crafts in this book.

"Children will enjoy this opportunity to examine the states south of the Mason Dixon Line. Learn how to make an arrowhead bracelet at the same time you learn what the design of South Carolina's flag means."

About the Author

Author June Ponte, illustrator and fine artist, is also a freelance writer. She has written for various magazines and newspapers. This is her first series as an author with Enslow Publishers, Inc.

West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are the states that make up the southeastern region. These states are called southeastern region because of their location within the United States.

The geography of the southeastern states varies from the beaches and sandy coastal islands of North and South Carolina to the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in western North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains got their name from the hazy, smoky-looking mist that surrounds them. South Carolinas northern beach is called the Grand Strand. It is made up of rivers, bays, and islands. Florida has one of the longest marine coastlines of all the states. Crocodiles, panthers, and manatees are among the endangered species that live in Everglades National Park in Florida. A group of islands off the coast of Florida are called the Florida Keys. These islands have a warm climate with cool ocean breezes.

In Georgia, the Chattahoochee National Forest covers about 750,500 acres of land. There are more than 450 miles of forest trails to explore. Shenandoah National Park is in the northern part of Virginia. There are many overlooks on Skyline Drive, a long highway through the park. From these overlooks the Blue Ridge, the Allegheny, and the Shenandoah mountains and Massanutten Mountain can be seen. There are coastal plains in Virginia along the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. The Allegheny Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain range, are a major part of West Virginia.

Origin of name	West Virginia was named for Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen of England.
Flag	The West Virginia state flag is white with a dark blue border. In the center is a red ribbon that reads State of West Virginia. Below the ribbon are two men who represent mining and farming. Between them is a rock that is dated June 20, 1863. This was the day that West Virginia became a state. Two rifles with a red hat that represents liberty are below them. The state motto, Montani semper liberi, which means Mountaineers are always free, appears in a ribbon below them. Image Credit: 2001 Robesus, Inc.
Capital	Charleston
Nickname	The Mountain State
Motto	Montani semper liberi (This is a Latin phrase that means mountaineers are always free.)
Size (in area)	41st largest
Animal	black bear Image Credit: Corel Corporation
Bird	cardinal
Fish	brook trout
Flower	big laurel
Tree	sugar maple
Industry	tourism, cattle, dairy products, corn, potatoes, poultry, apples, chemical products, coal and natural gas mining, primary metals, salt, stone, clay, and glass products Image Credit: Shutterstock

In West Virginia, coal mining is an important industry. In Williamson, there is a house made completely of coal. The coal used to make the house was donated by local coal companies. The house was built in 1933 and weighs sixty-five tons. There are at least three buildings made of shiny black coal in the state, but the Williamson Coal House is the only house to be made entirely of coal. The building is now the home of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce.

1. Turn the bottom of a shoe box upside down. Cut a door and windows in the side of the shoe box. Paint the shoe box black. Let dry.

2. Paint the outside and rim of the shoe box lid green. Let dry. If you wish, draw flowers or grass on the front of the lid.

3. Using a blue glitter pen, draw the outlines of pieces of coal on the black painted shoe box. Let dry. Cut out a 1 1/2-inch x 4-inch rectangle out of brown construction paper. Print West Virginia Coal House on it in gold glitter pen. Let dry. Glue over the door to the house. Let dry.

4. Place the house on top of the green lid.

The monarch butterfly is the state butterfly of West Virginia. These large butterflies are black and orange. The monarch butterfly drinks nectar from milkweed, dogbane, and goldenrod plants. Nectar is a sweet liquid that these plants produce. It serves as food for butterflies. Monarch butterflies born in the summer usually live for four to eight weeks. Those born in the late summer or early fall can live up to nine months. They have a wingspan of up to 4 inches! They are considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in North America. Make your own version of a Monarch. You can use any color you wish!