CA Lapbook

We had a great time learning about CA. I grew up in Northern CA but the state is so large and diverse it was fun learning more about it. I have been to many CA cities and driven from north to south many times, but there are far too many things to take in than I can even imagine.

One of the fun things we learned was that it is ILLEGAL to eat oranges in a bathtub in CA! The kids thought that was really funny. We also studied a bit about Ronald Reagan who was a movie star prior to serving two terms as CA governor and then becoming President of the U.S. Reagan thought it was really neat learning about someone with the same name.

Some things Javon put in his lapbook -
California - 1850 - The Golden State - Eureka - 31st State
~ Prior to European control, CA was inhabited by many differnt Indian tribes. Javon drew a really great Indian.
~ When Mexico lost the Mexican War to the U.S. in 1848, the U.S. gained control and two years later, CA was admitted to the Union.
~ CA Gold Rush - James Marshall and his crew discovered gold near Sacramento in the spring of 1848. By 1849, much of the world knew of CA gold. People that come to mind gold were known as "49ers".
~ CA is one of the most important farming state in the US.Some fruits and Javon picked to put in his lapbook were: Avocados, Apples, Pumpkins, Almonds, Grapes, Pears, Oranges, and Garlic.
~ Some of our CA family includes all of their great-grandparents and one grandma. Granny and Pops, Momo, and Maga. (What are some of your unusual grandparent names?)
~ San Fran has the largest Chinese population for any city in the US. Most of the railroads in CA were made by Chinese workers.
~ CA far exceeds other states populations. Los Angeles is the second most populous city in the nation.
~ CA has THOUSANDS of small earthquakes each year. In 1906, San Fran suffered a terrible earthquake.
~ The Golden Gate Bridge is actually painted RED.
~ Geography - CA has the highest and lowest points in the continental US. Mt. Whitney is 14,495 feet and Death Valley is 282 feet below sea level. The two sites are only 100 miles apart!
~ Death Valley has the highest recorded temp in the US - 134 degrees!

State Flower: Golden Poppy
Capital City: Sacramento
State Bird: California Quail
State Insect: Dogface Butterfly
State Tree: CA Redwood
State Animal: Grizzly Bear
State Mammal: Grey Whale
State Mineral: Gold