In our previous adventure, we set out to discover the last living Kankakee Mallow, a unique plant that only grows on a tiny island in the Kankakee River in Illinois. This special flower is a symbol of hope, showing that even after all the changes to the Illinois landscape, this beautiful plant has managed to survive in its one-of-a-kind home.
Rob Teller is leading a campaign to change the state flower of Illinois from the common violet to the Kankakee Mallow. We even have a catchy slogan: “Don’t be shallow, vote Mallow.” To spread the word, we went to the Field Museum and started talking to people on the streets, using a Pokémon lure to attract them while they were trying to catch a Jigglypuff.
State symbols are fascinating! Did you know that states can have official soils? For example, Pennsylvania, where I grew up, has the trilobite as its state fossil. Trilobites are ancient sea creatures, and I always thought they were super cool because not many people know about them.
Other states have unique symbols too. Maryland’s state flower is the black-eyed Susan, and its state bird is the Baltimore Oriole. They even have the blue crab as their state crustacean and jousting as their state sport!
While talking to people, we learned some fun facts. For instance, Texas has the Dutch oven as its state cooking tool. Wyoming is the only state with a state code of ethics, called the Code of the West. And did you know the state carnivorous plant of North Carolina is the Venus flytrap? Oklahoma even chose the watermelon as its state vegetable!
Hawaii’s state fish is the Humu Nukunuku Apua’a, which is quite a mouthful to say! New Mexico’s state bird is the Road Runner, which fits perfectly with its desert landscape.
We asked people how they felt about changing Illinois’ state flower to the Kankakee Mallow. Many agreed it would be a great idea since the flower is only found in Illinois. It would help raise awareness about endemic species and the natural beauty of the state.
Our campaign slogan, “Don’t be shallow, vote for Mallow,” was a hit! People from different places, like Indiana, North Carolina, and Albuquerque, supported the idea. Even though one kid from France wasn’t sure, most people thought it was a great way to celebrate Illinois’ unique flora.
This is Emily Grassley from the Field Museum, signing off. Remember, the Brain Scoop is made possible by The Field Museum and the Harris Family Foundation.
Design a campaign poster to support the Kankakee Mallow as the new state flower of Illinois. Use your creativity to include the slogan “Don’t be shallow, vote Mallow” and highlight why this unique flower deserves the spotlight. Share your poster with the class and explain your design choices.
Choose a state and research its official symbols, such as the state flower, bird, or even cooking tool. Create a short presentation to share with the class, explaining why these symbols were chosen and any interesting facts you discovered.
Investigate another plant or animal that is endemic to a specific region, like the Kankakee Mallow is to Illinois. Write a brief report on its habitat, why it’s unique, and any conservation efforts in place to protect it. Present your findings to the class.
Create a trivia game with questions about different state symbols across the United States. Include fun facts and lesser-known symbols to challenge your classmates. Host a game session and see who knows the most about state symbols!
Take a virtual tour of the Field Museum’s exhibits related to plants and state symbols. Write a reflection on what you learned and how it connects to the campaign for the Kankakee Mallow. Share your insights with the class.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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In our last video, we went on an adventure to find the last living endemic plant native to Illinois, the Kankakee Mallow, which is found only on a small island in the middle of the Kankakee River. To me, the Kankakee Mallow is a symbol of hope. Despite everything else we’ve done to the Illinois landscape, we have this beautiful flower that’s holding on to a unique habitat found nowhere else on Earth.
Rob Teller is spearheading a campaign to change the state flower from the common violet to the Kankakee Mallow. We even have campaign buttons and a slogan: “Don’t be shallow, vote Mallow.” We decided to go out here on the steps of the Field Museum and start interviewing people on the streets. By interviewing people, we’re setting up a Pokémon module lure to attract them while they try to catch a Jigglypuff.
How do you feel about state symbols?
Well, we haven’t learned about them since 8th grade, so I don’t feel too passionately about them, but I’m willing to learn. Did you know that official state soils are a thing?
I did! Do you have a favorite official state soil?
I probably do, but I don’t know it. The state I grew up in is Pennsylvania, and our state fossil was the trilobite. I always thought that was super cool because not a lot of people know about trilobites—ancient underwater creatures.
That is pretty awesome! I think England has a state flower, the Tudor Rose, because of its historical significance. Maryland’s state flower is the black-eyed Susan, and the state bird is the Baltimore Oriole. Maryland also has the blue crab as its state crustacean and jousting as its state sport.
Excuse me, can I ask you some questions? How do you feel about the state animal of Illinois being the white-tailed deer and not the gray squirrel?
He didn’t even sign the release form! Do you know what the state cooking implement of Texas is?
No idea.
It’s the Dutch oven!
Really? Yeah, someone cared enough to make it their state cooking tool. How many times have you used a Dutch oven as a Texan?
I was in Scouts, so maybe ten times.
How many states have a state code of ethics?
I would say all 50.
Only one—Wyoming. It’s called the Code of the West. True or false: the state carnivorous plant of North Carolina is the Venus flytrap?
True! You guys knew that because you’re from around there. The state vegetable of Oklahoma is the watermelon.
Oh, that’s actually true! They picked that as their state vegetable.
Do you know what the state fish of Hawaii is?
No, I don’t.
It’s the Humu Nukunuku Apua’a.
That doesn’t really roll off the tongue! I had to practice that for like an hour.
Well, you’re doing a good job! Do you know what the state bird of New Mexico is?
It’s the Road Runner.
That’s awesome! Do you think that’s an appropriate state bird for that state?
I think so. It makes sense for the desert. If you’ve ever seen any Looney Tunes, it fits.
I’m really looking for your feelings about the state. I’m upset that the state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer too. We can change this together!
How many states do you think have the Northern Cardinal as their state bird?
There are a lot. I’m going to guess at least 12, but probably more.
I think it’s like seven.
That’s not too far off! The state flower of Illinois is the common violet, and we’re trying to get it changed to the Kankakee Mallow. Is that something you could get behind?
Yeah, that makes more sense if it’s just in Illinois.
Thank you! Would you support our campaign to change the state flower of Illinois to the Kankakee Mallow?
Yeah, it sounds pretty cool. It would bring a lot of awareness. People don’t understand what an endemic species is and the great natural resources we have. If it’s only found in Illinois, then it should probably represent the state.
Is it pretty?
It is! It’s actually very beautiful. You know the flower emoji on your iPhone? The pink one? It looks like that.
That’s cool! If you lived in Illinois, is this something you would vote for?
I don’t know.
That’s okay! Would you vote for a campaign to change the flower?
Yes, I would.
Awesome! If people want to go for it, why not? You always want to be unique. I really like the idea of unique flowers and fauna being more popularized.
If you lived here, would you vote for our project?
Yes, I would.
Thank you! If you lived in Illinois, is this something you would support?
Yes, because it sounds rare. Do you think there’s value in changing the state flower of Illinois to something like the Kankakee Mallow?
Just the name alone would be a great conversation starter. Do you know what our campaign slogan is?
Probably catchy!
It’s “Don’t be shallow, vote for Mallow.”
That’s great! That’s actually really good. We got four votes, guys! So there you have it: people from Indiana, North Carolina, and Albuquerque all agree the Kankakee Mallow should be the state flower of Illinois—except for that kid from France; he wasn’t quite sure about it, but that’s all right.
This is Emily Grassley of the Field Museum, signing off.
The Brain Scoop is made possible by The Field Museum and the Harris Family Foundation.
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This version removes any inappropriate or unclear language while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Kankakee – A river in the United States known for its diverse ecosystems and natural habitats. – The Kankakee River provides a vital habitat for many species of fish and birds.
Mallow – A type of flowering plant often found in wetlands and known for its colorful blooms. – The mallow plants in the wetland attract many pollinators with their bright pink flowers.
Flower – The reproductive structure in flowering plants, often colorful and fragrant, which attracts pollinators. – The sunflower is a large flower that turns its head to follow the sun across the sky.
Plant – A living organism that typically grows in soil, has leaves and roots, and uses photosynthesis to make food. – The students planted a tree in the school garden to learn about how plants grow and produce oxygen.
Species – A group of living organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. – The bald eagle is a protected species that has made a remarkable recovery in recent years.
Symbols – Objects or images that represent ideas or concepts, often used in environmental studies to convey messages. – The recycling symbol is recognized worldwide as a reminder to reduce waste and conserve resources.
Beauty – The quality of being visually pleasing or attractive, often used to describe natural environments. – The beauty of the coral reef amazed the divers, showcasing a vibrant underwater ecosystem.
Landscape – An area of land that includes its physical features, such as mountains, rivers, and forests. – The landscape of the national park is home to diverse wildlife and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Endemic – A species that is native to a particular geographic area and found nowhere else in the world. – The lemur is endemic to Madagascar, meaning it is not naturally found anywhere else on Earth.
Fossil – The preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past, often found in sedimentary rock. – The students were excited to find a fossil of a prehistoric fish during their field trip to the museum.
