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 What Is a "Tar Heel"?

What Is a "Tar Heel"?
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   6.79

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    slur, ranks, origin, burning, crossing, colonial, dates, heated, negative, section, nickname, liquid, battle, industry, history, explanation
     content words:    Civil War, Tar Heels Roll, North Carolina, God Bless North Carolina, Long Leaf Pine The Summer, Good Old Tar Heel State, Tar Heel, Tar Heel State, Turpentine State, Revolutionary War

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What Is a "Tar Heel"?
By Joyce Furstenau 		  
1     Caption: A postcard from the Civil War. The words on the foot say:


The Tar Heels Roll of Honor.
North Carolina lost 40,375 of her sons.
God Bless North Carolina
Here's to the Land of the Long Leaf Pine
The Summer land where the Sun doth Shine
Where the Weak grow Strong and the Strong grow Great
Here's to North Carolina, the Good Old Tar Heel State.

 
2     Have you ever stepped on a wad of gum on the sidewalk? What is your reaction when you realize you have stepped in gum? Having a wad of sticky gum on your shoes can make it hard to walk. You may find yourself sticking to the sidewalk. This experience might give you some idea of what it would be like to have a "tar heel."
 
3     "Tar Heel" is a nickname given to people who live in the state of North Carolina. "Tar Heel State" is also one of two official North Carolina nicknames. It is also the nickname for the University of North Carolina and its students. No one knows exactly where the term "Tar Heel" started. Several versions of the origin of the name exist in the history of North Carolina.

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