Mr. Turner: Every state in our country has symbols. These are things a state chooses to stand for its land and its people. Texas has quite a few, so let's look at three of them.

Mr. Turner: The state flower is the bluebonnet. In the spring, these blue flowers cover fields and roadsides across much of Texas, and many families take pictures sitting among them.

Mr. Turner: The state tree is the pecan. Pecan trees grow naturally along many Texas rivers, and people were gathering pecans for food long before Texas was a state.

Mr. Turner: The state bird is the mockingbird. A mockingbird can imitate the songs of many other birds. Some have even been heard imitating a car alarm or a squeaky gate.

Mr. Turner: Symbols like these were chosen because they are common here and because people are proud of them. Tomorrow, you will pick a symbol for our own classroom and explain why you chose it.