Edhelper May 2013 Middle School

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Friday, May 10
Ellen Lauri Ochoa: World's First Hispanic
Woman Astronaut
By Joyce Furstenau
Ellen Ochoa was the world's first
Hispanic woman to fly in space. She was
born in California on May 10, 1958. She
was born in Los Angeles, but she considers
La Mesa, California, to be her home. Neil
Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969.
Ellen was only eleven years old at that time.
It made her even more interested in space.
She enjoyed music, math, and science. She
became an excellent flute player in school.
Ellen had two brothers and a sister. Her
parents got divorced while she was in high
school. She graduated from Grossmont High School in La Mesa,
California, in 1975.
Ellen received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from San
Diego State University in 1980. She received her master's degree in
electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1981. When Sally
Ride became the first U.S. female astronaut in 1983, Ellen was
inspired to become an astronaut, too. She earned her doctorate
degree in 1985.
Ellen Ochoa began work for NASA Ames Research Center in
1985. At NASA she led a research group working on optical
systems. Optics is a branch of physics that deals with light. Ellen
was a co-inventor on three patents for optical systems used in space
exploration. Her inventions improved the ability to gather data in
outer space.
She was accepted into the astronaut training program in 1990. Dr.
Ochoa became a NASA astronaut in 1991. She became the first
Hispanic woman in space when she served aboard the space shuttle
Discovery in 1993. This was a nine-day mission in which the crew
did studies about the Sun's effect on the Earth's atmosphere and
climate.
She served as payload commander for the ATLAS-3 mission in
1994. A payload commander is the person in charge of the entire
mission. In 1999, she coordinated the transfer of supplies during the
8-hour space walk of the STS-96 Discovery Mission.
Ellen Ochoa was aboard the 2002 space shuttle mission to visit
the International Space Station. She operated the space shuttle's
robotic arm during three of the four spacewalks. She has logged
over 978 hours in space.
In late 2007, Dr. Ochoa was appointed Deputy Director of
Johnson Space Center. She manages and directs the Astronaut
Office and Aircraft Operations. She has retired from spacecraft
operations.
Dr. Ochoa has received several awards and honors during her
career. A newly built middle school in Pasco, Washington, was
named after her in 2003. A California grade school was also named
after Ellen Ochoa in 2006. Both schools chose her name because she
serves as an inspirational role model for all children.
Ellen Lauri Ochoa: World's First Hispanic Woman Astronaut
Questions
1. In what state was Ellen Ochoa born?
A. Michigan
B. Ohio
C. California
D. Vermont
2. How old was Ellen when Neil Armstrong walked on the
moon?
A. age 20
B. age 5
C. age 10
D. age 11
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Friday, May 10
3. What is one thing that inspired Ellen to become an astronaut?
A. riding on a Ferris wheel
B. looking through telescopes
C. when Sally Ride became the first woman astronaut
D. when she looked at the moon
4. In what year did Ellen become an astronaut?
A. 1990
B. 1981
C. 1997
D. 1991
5. In what year did Ellen Ochoa become the first Hispanic female
astronaut to fly in space?
A. 1991
B. 1999
C. 2006
D. 1993
6. Why have two schools been named after Ellen Ochoa?
A. They consider Ellen Ochoa a good role model.
B. Ellen Ochoa used to attend school there.
C. The schools are in Mexico.
D. They are Hispanic schools.
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Friday, May 10
Where Have the Honeybees Gone?
By Jennifer Kenny
Have you learned about the
food chain? In the food
chain, certain living
creatures depend on other
ones. What would happen if
one disappeared
completely? That's a
question scientists are
asking because of a crisis
with honeybees.
Honeybees appear to be
disappearing. In more than
half the states, beekeepers are facing a catastrophe. The American
Beekeeping Federation says 700,000 colonies of the United States' 2.4
million bee colonies have been affected. What will that do to the food
chain in the U.S.? What's happening?
Greg Fallen is a beekeeper, or an apiarist. On a warm day last winter,
Greg decided to visit his hives on nearby farms. Instead of checking
and finding healthy hives, though, he found most of them were
completely wiped out. Out of 200 hives, only 50 were left with bees.
He talked with other beekeepers that he knew and the same thing was
happening to them.
Now you may not think this is a big deal. In fact, you might wonder
why anyone would be concerned about something that stings.
Honeybees are important because they pollinate crops for farmers. In
fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture states that honeybees
pollinate around $20 billion worth of crops each year.
You may also wonder why there are business beekeepers anyway. It
seems that nature would just take care of itself. Indeed, if you have a
small backyard garden, it does. However, beekeepers raise honeybees
for a reason. They take their bees in 18 wheelers (those are really big
trucks) all over the place, wherever they are needed for pollinating a
large crop. For example, Greg Fallen travels from the cranberry bogs
in New Jersey to the apple orchards in Maine. Other beekeepers focus
on cucumbers and melons in Virginia, clover in Colorado, almond
trees in California, cotton fields in Texas, or citrus groves in Florida.
When a beekeeper arrives at the right place, the bees are let go so the
crops can be fertilized. Do the honeybees help out any of the foods
you like to eat?
Honeybees have been around for millions of years. Why would they
disappear now? It's a mystery even to scientists. One day the bees
seem healthy. Then the next day the hive is empty. This bizarre
happening has been named "Colony Collapse Disorder."
There seems to be no definite reason behind the bees' disorder. But
scientists have theories. Some believe chemical pesticides are the
cause. Others believe it's crops whose genes have been changed on
purpose. Why would anyone think that? Near organic crops in which
chemicals were not used and crops weren't genetically changed, this
disorder is not happening. Do these chemicals stress the honeybees or
affect their ability to go back to the hive so they die?
There's another theory, too. Chemicals are being used to kill mites.
However, when the chemicals are used, the queen bee is producing
fewer worker bees and the queen bee only lives half as long as she
should. Is there a connection?
Other scientists focus on illnesses of bees. Some diseases can affect
an entire colony. Does traveling in the truck make things worse?
Other people are blaming global warming or even cell phone towers.
Perhaps most scientists believe the disorder is probably due to a
combination of many of these things. To beekeepers, losing so many
honeybees is a shock. To farmers, the concern can be losing money on
crops. Even you might need to be concerned.
Think of your favorite foods. Do you like ice cream? Did you know
that your ice cream might be connected to honeybees? Honeybees
help strawberries and almonds. These foods are often used in ice
cream. Even the ice cream maker Haagen-Dazs is trying to help the
honeybees. Without the honeybees' help, ice cream could cost more
and come in fewer flavors.
Scientists have studied problems with honeybees in the past.
However, there does not seem to be a time when honeybees across the
country disappeared. Meanwhile, one-third of the average diet in the
U.S. is grown using honeybees to pollinate it. Now you can see why
these are some important questions for us to consider: What would
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Friday, May 10
happen to the environment if the honeybees disappeared? What would
happen to the food chain? How would you be affected?
Where Have the Honeybees Gone?
Questions
1. The honeybee is not part of the food chain because it is an
insect.
A. True
B. False
2. Out of 2.4 million bee colonies in the U.S., how many have
been affected by this bizarre situation?
A. 0
B. 100
C. 700,000
D. 2.4 million
3. Which kinds of crops are pollinated by honeybees
commercially?
A. cranberries
B. almonds
C. cucumbers
D. all of the above
4. What is the name of the condition in which entire colonies of
bees vanish?
A. Colony Collapse Disorder
B. Vanishing Bee Crisis
C. Havoc Hive Phenomenon
D. none of the above
5. Approximately how much of the average diet in the United
States is pollinated by honeybees?
A. 0
B. 1/3
C. all
D. 1/2
6. Even the ice cream industry has been affected by the loss of so
many honeybees.
A. False
B. True
7. Apiarist means the same as beekeeper.
A. True
B. False
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Saturday, May 11
Troubadours and Minstrels
By Sharon Fabian
People of the Middle Ages are often
portrayed as an entertaining, fun-loving
crowd. Yet, they didn't have any of the fun
stuff that we have today. No PlayStations.
No computer games. No cable TV or even
TV from an antenna. No movies on DVD;
no movies at the movie theatre - no movie
theatres! No music videos; no
downloadable tunes; no CDs.
So what did they do for entertainment?
In the early years, royal courts hired
servants who served as singers and storytellers. These entertainers,
known as minstrels, often dressed in bright, multi-colored costumes,
sometimes decorated with bells.
Sometimes these minstrels composed their own tunes to sing for the
knights and ladies. Sometimes they memorized long ballads that they
had heard sung by another minstrel.
Some minstrels accompanied their tunes on musical instruments.
Instruments that were light and easy to carry were the favorites.
Minstrels played fiddles, lutes, recorders, and small, hand-held
percussion instruments.
To make their shows appeal to everyone in their audience, minstrels
also added more acts. Some juggled. Some did acrobatics. Others
danced or performed with trained animals. Some performed amazing
feats such as fire-eating.
For a while, these minstrels were a popular diversion from everyday
life, but after a time, people began to tire of the same old acts.
Then, knights and lords returned from the Crusades inspired by what
they had seen in the Middle East. They brought back new ideas in
literature and music. Some of these returning Crusaders became poets
and musicians. They wrote poems, songs, stories, and plays that were
fresh and new. People once again became interested in music and
literature.
These new performers, who became known as troubadours, were not
servants like the earlier minstrels. In fact, they were often members of
the royalty. They made music and literature fashionable. Provence,
France, became a performing arts center under the leadership of these
royal entertainers.
Eleanor of Aquitaine had been a patron of the arts, and her son, King
Richard the Lionheart, was himself a troubadour, as well as a king.
These new entertainers added another popular feature to their
performances. They told the latest news. Since they had traveled
widely, they had news to tell that people of the Middle Ages were
anxious to hear. They told about battles won or lost. They told about
faraway places.
By the late Middle Ages, there were storytellers, poets, and musicians
in all social classes. Many of them were both popular and well paid as
they traveled all over the country looking for the next place to
perform. The best of them were treated like royalty wherever they
went. They performed at royal courts and castles. They also
performed at fairs and country festivals. They performed for
weddings, holidays, and other celebrations. Since medieval people
had lots of celebrations, there was plenty of work for a good minstrel
or troubadour.
People of the late Middle Ages never had to look far to find a singer
of love ballads or a poet telling of heroic battles. They listened to a
wide variety of musical instruments including lutes, fiddles, bagpipes,
hurdy-gurdies, and dulcimers. They were entertained by jugglers,
acrobats, and even dancing bears.
Medieval people didn't have to watch their entertainment on a
computer screen, a little TV screen, or even a big screen. They were
treated to all of their entertainment live. No wonder they were never
bored.
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Saturday, May 11
Troubadours and Minstrels
Questions
1. Servants who sang and told stories to entertain at royal courts
were known as ______.
A. minstrels
B. troubadours
C. Crusaders
D. all of the above
2. Members of the royalty who became poets after returning from
the Crusades were known as ______.
A. minstrels
B. troubadours
C. crusaders
D. all of the above
3. Minstrels wore ______ costumes.
A. plain
B. royal
C. plaid
D. bright
4. Some minstrels ______.
A. sang
B. played the fiddle
C. juggled
D. all of the above
5. Troubadours brought new ideas to entertainment. They had
learned these ideas ______.
A. while in the royal court
B. while on a Crusade
C. from the minstrels
D. from song writers
6. Troubadours were often ______.
A. poor
B. servants
C. peasants
D. nobles
7. Richard the Lionheart was a ______.
A. troubadour
B. both
C. king
D. neither
8. People of the Middle Ages enjoyed ______ entertainment.
A. live
B. video
C. recorded
D. digital
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Sunday, May 12
Sacred River, Dirty River
By Colleen Messina
Caption: Women offer
floating lamps to the river
Ganga as morning
worship.
Water nourishes many
parts of life. We drink it,
bathe in it, and cook with
it. In India, some water is
considered sacred. Indians
think of the Ganges River
as a goddess. According to
Hindu belief, this river can
purify sin and help the dead reach heaven. Unfortunately, the
purifying Ganges water that can cleanse sins is not very clean.
According to Hindu tradition, the Ganges River used to be in
heaven. She flowed across the sky. She eventually agreed to come
down to earth to help a king. The king's ancestors had been burned to
ashes. Only the pure Ganges water could help them get to heaven.
The Ganges did help the king's relatives. This story is why Hindus
want to scatter their loved ones' ashes in the Ganges River. They
believe that the river will help their departed loved ones have a
peaceful journey into their next life or up to heaven.
Veer Badra Mishra, a Hindu priest and also a civil engineer,
explains how Hindus feel about the Ganges River. "There is a saying
that the Ganges grants us salvation. This culture will end if people
stop going to the river, and if the culture dies, the tradition dies, and
the faith dies." Mishra has been working for many years on the
problem of pollution in the Ganges.
The approximately 1,560-mile Ganges River starts high in the
Himalaya Mountains in a cold ice cave about 10,300 feet above sea
level. Its river basin is between 200 and 400 miles wide. The river
flows through areas full of sturdy mountain vegetation. Then it
arrives close to denser forests and gentle meadows at lower
elevations. It passes fields of happy cows (after all, Indians consider
them as sacred animals) and green rice paddies. The waters of the
Ganges go across Bangladesh. Then the river enters the Bay of
Bengal in the Indian Ocean.
Why is this beautiful river becoming polluted if the people
worship it? One reason is that its river basin supports nearly a billion
people. Most of the pollution that enters the river is organic waste.
This includes food, trash, and sewage. One source estimates that
over 1 billion liters of raw sewage enters the river each day. When a
person dies in India, he or she is often cremated. Relatives then
scatter the ashes into the Ganges. This practice also contributes to
river pollution.
A smaller portion of pollution comes from industrial pollutants.
Many factories discharge waste into the river. This includes
electronics plants, fertilizer manufacturers, and pharmaceutical
companies. Hazardous materials like mercury and heavy metals also
flow into the river. Furthermore, farms in India use DDT. India does
not have high environmental standards to stop DDT from being
dumped into the river. This carcinogenic, or cancer-causing,
pesticide has been banned in the United States. It has harmful effects
on people and animals.
Many Hindus feel that bathing in the Ganges River is an
important ritual, but pollution is making this practice dangerous.
People are taking steps to solve the problem. The Ganga Action Plan
(GAP) was started in 1985. The Indian government built more waste
treatment facilities. Later, the Indian government created the
National River Conservation Directorate to continue work to help
rivers.
Jawaharlal Nehru, a Prime Minister of India, explained how
important this river is to his country. He said, "The Ganga, especially,
is the river of India. She has been a symbol of India's age-long
culture and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever
the same Ganga." With effort, this sacred river can become clean
again so it can nourish India in all ways.
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Sunday, May 12
Sacred River, Dirty River
Questions
1. Which world religion specifically worships the Ganges River?
A. Christianity
B. Judaism
C. Hinduism
D. none of the above
2. What do Hindus think of the Ganges River as?
A. a prophet
B. a goddess
C. a god
D. an angel
3. Where does the Ganges River enter the Indian Ocean?
A. at the Bay of Bengal
B. at the Bay of Bangladesh
C. at the Bay of Nepal
D. none of the above
4. Which animal is considered sacred by many people in India?
A. cows
B. horses
C. pigs
D. sheep
5. In the United States, farmers can use DDT.
A. False
B. True
6. What was one important action taken in India because of the
Ganga Action Plan (GAP)?
A. building waste treatment facilities
B. studying ancient myths about the river
C. teaching people about the river
D. none of the above
7. What do Hindus like to do with the ashes of their loved ones?
A. keep them in an urn
B. put them in the garden
C. throw them away
D. scatter them on the Ganges River
8. Which Indian leader was quoted at the end of the article?
A. a king
B. a prime minister
C. a president
D. a queen
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Sunday, May 12
Farley Mowat
By Mary Lynn Bushong
Do you like animals? Most people do,
but very few are able to have a wide
range of pets. Farley Mowat was one of
those lucky people who could. He also
wrote about them so others could enjoy
his experiences as well.
Farley Mowat was born on May 12,
1921, in Belleville, Ontario. His father,
Angus Mowat, was a librarian.
Throughout his childhood, Farley and his
family moved around Canada.
During the worst part of the Great Depression, the Mowat family
lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Young Farley was able to spend
part of his time ranging over the countryside. Among his pets were
his dog Mutt, several cats, a Florida alligator, a rattlesnake, a squirrel,
two owls, and hundreds of insects.
He was already a budding author by age thirteen when he began a
newsletter called Nature Lore. He even had a local column in the
newspaper about birds.
Mowat served during World War II and was involved in the
invasion of Sicily. He fought from July to December 1943. He was
then offered the opportunity to become an intelligence officer. In
1945, Mowat helped arrange the food drops in Holland, saving
thousands of lives.
After the war, Mowat attended the University of Toronto to study
biology. During that time, he was part of a field trip to the Artic.
Mowat was appalled by the living conditions of the Inuit. He
concluded it was because of poor treatment by the whites. He used
his experience to write his first novel, People of the Deer, in 1952. It
made the government sit up and take notice of the plight of the
native people.
That first book was followed up with The Regiment and Lost in
the Barrens. The Dog Who Wouldn't Be and Owls in the Family were
humorous books that detailed the adventures he had with his pets
while growing up.
As a fully fledged biologist for the Canadian government, Mowat
undertook a study of the caribou herds in the Arctic. Some claimed
that the wolf population was too large and they were over-killing the
deer. Mowat claimed it was over-hunting by man that was reducing
the herds. He wrote about it in his book, Never Cry Wolf.
Over the next few years, Mowat wrote about Vikings and the
people of Newfoundland. His book A Whale for the Killing was
made into a film in 1981.
In 1985, Mowat was denied entry into the United States. Critical
comments of the United States government made him an unwelcome
visitor. It was not until the media became involved that the decision
was reversed.
No stranger to controversy, Mowat found himself surrounded by
it again in 1996. In an article in Canada's Saturday Night Magazine,
Mowat's work was criticized for being more fiction than fact.
Mowat himself had stated that "he doesn't let facts get in the way of
the truth." The revelations hurt his reputation.
Mowat is still interested and involved in issues of conservation
and ecology. A master story teller, Farley Mowat has introduced
thousands of people to his life in Canada. He continues to work on
preserving the Arctic animals he knows and loves. In that way he
has helped Canadians and other people around the world to
appreciate them more, too.
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Sunday, May 12
Farley Mowat
Questions
1. What job did Mowat's father have that caused the family to
move around a lot?
A. Minister
B. Mechanic
C. Librarian
D. Salesman
2. List three of Mowat's pets growing up.
3. Farley published a book on birds while he was still young.
A. False
B. True
4. Mowat served in Italy and Africa during World War II.
A. True
B. False
5. Mowat's book, People of the Deer made the government pay
attention to the Inuit.
A. False
B. True
6. Which of Mowat's books helped proved that wolves were not
to blame for lower numbers of caribou?
A. People of the Deer
B. Lost in the Barrens
C. The Dog Who Wouldn't Be
D. Never Cry Wolf
7. Why was Mowat barred from entering the U.S. in 1985?
8. Why did some people say Mowat's work was more fiction than
fact?
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Monday, May 13
Beware of the Coastal Invaders!
By Colleen Messina
Caption: picture taken
by Christian Fischer at the
Havel River in Germany,
October 2007.
Yikes! "Aliens" are
invading coastlines around
the world! One species has
dark, hairy claws. Another
invader might glow an
eerie green color if it is disturbed during the night. What are these
strange creatures, and where do they come from?
Fortunately, these "aliens" are not from outer space. The creature
with hairy claws is a brown Chinese mitten crab. The eerie, glowing
invader is a comb jellyfish. Why are these creatures called invaders?
They are showing up on coastlines far from their native habitats.
Their presence is causing many problems in their new homes.
According to a 2008 Nature Conservancy study, foreign aquatic
creatures are colonizing many of the world's coasts. This study
estimated that about 48% of the world's coasts are affected by
coastal invaders. The arrival of new types of aquatic species in a
different area often causes trouble. Many of these invaders damage
their new landscape by unbalancing the ecosystem. Some scientists
think that approximately 10,000 species are traveling via ships
around the world and end up far from their original habitats.
For example, Chinese mitten crabs normally live in eastern Asia.
They don't wear mittens, though--they got their name because of
their hairy claws! They breed in the ocean, but they spend most of
their lives in fresh water. Chefs like to cook these crabs as a tasty
delicacy in Asia. Maybe that is why the members of this
medium-sized crab family decided to take a get-away vacation to the
United States! They have arrived in the San Francisco Bay area.
They have spread to the tributaries of the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Rivers. They have taken over because they have no natural
predators in California.
These crabs cause problems for several reasons. They have
affected shrimp harvests and the fishing industry. One commercial
crabber in another part of the country said it was "spooky" when he
thought he spotted a mitten crab, and fishermen in San Francisco feel
the same way. These creatures like to burrow, which can cause
stream bank erosion. These crabs also sometimes carry a dangerous
lung fluke that could infect people. This parasite has caused deaths
in Asia. They have also affected the water supply pumping system to
southern California because these little aliens clog the pumps up. In
1998, the California Bureau of Reclamation collected about one
million crabs!
Another coastal invader, the comb jellyfish, looks innocuous.
This creature is beautiful and mysterious! It looks like a milky-blue
parachute pulsing through the water. The comb jellyfish normally
lives along the Atlantic coast of North and South America. It first
appeared in the Black Sea in the early 1980s. It arrived there on
freighters.
By the late 1980s, the population of comb jellies in the Black Sea
grew. Some even called it "the blob that ate the Black Sea." This
type of jellyfish multiplies quickly and eats the same plankton as
anchovies. This ruined the anchovy industry in the Black Sea.
Another type of jellyfish later arrived in the Black Sea. This
predator feasted on the comb jellies and helped restore balance to the
ecosystem.
In many cases, no natural predators can take care of invading
species. Scientists don't know what to do about these coastal
invaders that are changing habitats around the world. In the United
States alone, about 120 billion dollars are spent to remove coastal
invaders each year. Many people feel that the only solution to this
problem is to prevent their arrival. This is one situation where
mankind may have to let nature take its course.
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Monday, May 13
Beware of the Coastal Invaders!
Questions
1. How did mitten crabs get their name?
A. because they wear mittens
B. because they have hairy claws
C. because they have cold claws
D. none of the above
2. Which continent is the mitten crab's native homeland?
A. North America
B. Asia
C. Australia
D. Africa
3. Approximately what percentage of the world's coastlines has
had coastal invaders?
A. 48%
B. 38%
C. 8%
D. 28%
4. According to the article, where is one place that the mitten
crabs landed in the United States?
A. Washington
B. California
C. Florida
D. Texas
5. Which system was affected by the mitten crabs?
A. the public library
B. the city lighting system
C. the water system
D. the mail delivery system
6. When did the comb jellyfish reach the Black Sea?
A. 1980s
B. 1920s
C. 1940s
D. 1960s
7. Which of the following is a synonym for the word "innocuous"
in paragraph 7?
A. lethal
B. harmless
C. harmful
D. deadly
8. What helped control the situation of comb jellyfish in the
Black Sea?
A. a typhoon
B. a fisherman's plan
C. a natural predator
D. a plan by scientists
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Monday, May 13
History of Cartography
By Trista L. Pollard
Our view of the world has
changed since 1500 years ago. The
maps and globes we use today are
very accurate. They show more
details. You can see cities and
countries. They show landforms and
landmarks. Our maps now have a
standard coordinate or grid system.
This measurement system helps us
to locate places on Earth. But what
about the first maps? What are they
like? How were they made? Let's
take a journey into the history of
cartography.
Cartography is the science of making maps. Today's
cartographers use computers and cameras to help make maps. This
is called remote sensing. Cameras are placed or mounted on
airplanes. These cameras take pictures of the Earth's surface.
Satellites in space are also used for cartography. Mapmakers in the
past had much less technology. They used observation and stories
from sailors to make maps.
Most early scientists believed the Earth was flat. Imagine sailing
from your country and falling over a cliff! That's what people
thought. They also thought Earth was a flat disc. The center of the
disc was filled with people. The outer edges of the Earth were
empty. A world map made as early as 500 B.C. showed a disc with
two continents. These continents were Europe and Asia. Both were
surrounded by an ocean. That makes sense! Most people only
knew about their surrounding or immediate area. Geographers also
found early maps of the Pacific Ocean. They were made by
navigators from Polynesia or the Pacific Islands. These maps date
back to 1500 B.C. The navigators used shells and the ribs of palm
tree leaves. With these items, they mapped the currents and waves
of the Pacific. Shells were used to mark islands they saw on their
journey. The maps were 18 to 24-inch squares. Polynesian sailors
used these maps as they sailed in the South Pacific.
Many of the early maps focused on towns and cities.
Geographers have found early maps made of clay. The maps were
scratched into clay tablets. These maps showed canals, walls, houses,
and gates. Many towns were surrounded by walls for protection.
Geographers estimated the maps were over 4,000 years old. They
were from Mesopotamia in the Middle East. Ancient Egyptians also
made maps. In 250 B.C., a scientist named Eratosthenes calculated
the Earth's circumference. Circumference is the distance you travel
around the Earth in a complete circle. His estimate was very close
for the time. It was 37,700 kilometers. The Earth's circumference
around the equator is 40,075 kilometers (24,902 miles). If you travel
through the poles, the circumference is 40,007 kilometers (24,860
miles).
Another Egyptian cartographer was Ptolemy. In about 100 A.D.
he made the first map with lines of latitude and longitude. He even
published our first atlas called Geographia. The book had 8
volumes. In his atlas, he gave coordinates for over 8,000 places. It
also had a world map and maps of other regions. Ptolemy's world
map also used a different circumference. He calculated the
circumference to be 29,000 kilometers. Years later, Christopher
Columbus is believed to have used Ptolemy's map. That means
Columbus used a map with an incorrect circumference. You have to
wonder if this affected his trip.
It was not until the 1400's that people became interested in maps.
This was the Age of Exploration. Explorers and sailors were
leaving Europe to find all-water routes to Asia. These sailors
brought back valuable information. This information was about our
continents and oceans. They also discovered one very important
fact-that the Earth was round. Scientists used Ptolemy's atlas to help
with mapmaking. Printing presses were also invented during this
time. Now maps that were drawn by hand could be copied. With
more ships leaving Europe each day, more maps were needed.
Prince Henry of Portugal was a very important man. He studied the
information from sailors and other mapmakers. He used this
information to help make better navigation tools. He also helped to
build better ships and design more accurate maps. Due to his work,
more explorers traveled overseas.
Gerhardus Mercator is one of our most famous geographers.
In 1569, he published a world map. It wasn't just any world map! It
had 18 sheets! He also drew his map to show the shape of the Earth.
This is not easy to do. When cartographers try to draw our sphere on
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Monday, May 13
flat paper, some of the sphere becomes distorted. The shape and
size of the sphere becomes changed. Mercator drew that Earth as a
flat map. However, he figured out a way to show its shape and
correct position of the continents. Today we call his drawing the
Mercator Projection. A projection is a flat picture of a sphere.
There was one flaw with Mercator's map. His map makes Europe,
Asia, and North America very large. Africa and South America look
a lot smaller. Even with this flaw, Mercator's map was used for
hundreds of years. Today we use other map projections.
By the end of the 1800's, cartographers used more science to
make maps. They used instruments to help plot locations. These
instruments were telescopes, sextants, and chronometers. Now
instead of maps for exploration, they are used for other purposes.
Maps were used for the military. As countries became involved in
wars, maps were used for planning. Many organizations began that
focused on geography. In 1821 the Societé de Géographe de Paris
was started in France. It was started to help map French territories
and areas of trade. The Royal Geographical Society began in Great
Britain in 1830. This organization encouraged exploration of Africa
and Australia. In the United States, the  ational Geographic
Society was born in 1888. Its headquarters is located in Washington,
D.C. The society promoted understanding of the Earth's geography.
This is still their goal today.
Most of our planet's surface is mapped. In fact, there are areas of
the Earth that are shown with a lot of detail on maps. Explorers have
mapped the ocean floors. However, they are not as detailed as the
land surfaces. Our maps today include human-made features and
natural features. We have paper road maps and computer maps.
You can even have a small computer in your car to tell you
directions. Maps have come a long way since the "world is a disc"
days. They are more detailed and more accurate.
History of Cartography
Questions
1. Based on context clues, what does the word flaw mean?
2. Some of the earliest known maps on Earth were made about
______.
A. 4,000 years ago
B. 10,000 years ago
C. 2,000 years ago
D. 2,500 years ago
3. Most early scientists believed that the Earth was a flat disc.
A. True
B. False
4. What is the main idea of paragraph eight?
5. Ptolemy's atlas contained coordinates for over 8,000 places.
How did he get these coordinates?
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Monday, May 13
6. Order these geographers for earliest discoveries to latest
discoveries.
A. Prince Henry of Portugal
B. Eratosthenes
C. Ptolemy
D. Gerdhaus Mercator
7. Maps were used for military purposes since the early 1500's.
A. False
B. True
8. National Geographic Society began in the United States in
______.
A. 1821
B. 1886
C. 1888
D. 1830
You are one of Prince Henry's sailors. You have just been sent on a
journey to explore the west coast of Africa. Write a journal entry that
describes your observations. Make sure you describe the land and
water features that you have seen on your journey.
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Tuesday, May 14
Our Nation's Oldest City: St. Augustine,
Florida
By Joyce Furstenau
St. Augustine is a city located on the
northeast coast of Florida. It is the oldest
continuously occupied European settlement in
the United States. The city was founded in
1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de
Avilés. Earlier settlements in the area failed.
This was due mostly to famine and hurricanes.
The first white child ever to be born in the
continental United States was born here in
1566.
St. Augustine was attacked and burned by
British explorer Sir Francis Drake twenty
years later. The Spanish residents of St. Augustine built the Castillo
de San Marcos. It was a masonry-walled military fort. The walls were
made of stone, similar to limestone, that was made of ancient shells
bonded together. The fort was designed to protect the city from
invaders. It was completed in 1695 after 23 years of construction.
The British attacked the fort in 1702. They attacked again in 1704,
but the Spanish survived. The British finally gained control of St.
Augustine in 1763. Florida was returned to Spain in 1783 in the
Treaty of Paris. That was the end of the Revolutionary War. Spain
gave Florida to America in 1821. In return, America gave up claim to
other lands in the West.
In the early 19th century, the U.S. became involved in three conflicts
with the Seminole tribes. These Seminole Wars, also called The
Florida Wars, helped establish St. Augustine as a growing city. The
Castillo de San Marcos Fort remained in service until 1862. At that
time, the Confederate Army took over. They used it as a military
prison. They didn't hold the Castillo for long- January 1861 to March
1862. Then Union troops held it until the end of the Civil War.
In 1883, wealthy oilman Henry Flagler visited St. Augustine. He was
so taken with the city that he began to invest in it. He built several of
the city's most impressive buildings, including a museum and a
college. The town soon became a winter resort for the wealthy. By
1938, St. Augustine was one of the first cities in the nation to open a
theme park. Marineland is located just south of St. Augustine and is
billed as "the world's first oceanarium."
With more than 400 years of history, this city is still a popular tourist
attraction. The Castillo de San Marcos is now a National Monument
and is part of the National Park Service.
Our Nation's Oldest City: St. Augustine, Florida
Questions
1. In which state is St. Augustine located?
A. Alabama
B. Louisiana
C. Georgia
D. Florida
2. The first white child was born in St. Augustine on what date?
A. 1620
B. 1523
C. 1601
D. 1566
3. Who built the Castillo de San Marcos?
A. the Spanish
B. the French
C. the Native Americans
D. the British
4. The walls of Castillo de San Marcos made of what material?
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Tuesday, May 14
5. The Florida Wars were also known as what?
6. What theme park is located near St. Augustine?
Name Date
Tuesday, May 14
An Adventure in Time
Written by Cindy Grigg
Jake's dad was a scientist. He had been working on something top secret. One night Jake overheard his father and mother talking.
His dad sounded very excited.
"I believe it will work!" he said breathlessly. "Tomorrow I'm going to test it with Eleanor." Jake knew that Eleanor was a chimp
at his dad's laboratory. Eleanor had been trained to do many tests. She could follow instructions and do almost anything a human
could do. She even knew sign language!
Jake wondered what his dad was so excited about. He went into the living room where his parents were talking. "What are you
working on, Dad?" he asked.
Jake's parents shared one of those looks. You know- the kind of look that says, "How much did he hear? How much should we
tell him?"
One look could sure say a lot, Jake thought. His parents seemed to come to an understanding. Jake's dad said, "Son, I've invented
a machine that will let people travel in time!"
"Wow!" said Jake. "How does it work?"
"It uses the energy and mass of the sun to bend space, and, therefore, time. I believe it will allow us to travel through time AND
space!" Jake's dad said. He looked almost giddy, like Jake looked after riding the roller coaster too many times in a row.
"Can I go with you when you test it tomorrow?" Jake asked eagerly. His parents exchanged "the look" again.
"Only if you promise you'll just watch!" said his mom. "I mean it, Jake. This is too important and too dangerous for you to play
around with. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I promise!" said Jake. He couldn't believe that he was going to get to see the first test of such an unbelievably cool
invention!
The next morning, Jake's dad woke him early. "Let's go to the lab, son," said his dad. He still sounded excited. Jake's eyes flew
open as he remembered what was going to happen today at the lab. He jumped out of bed.
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Tuesday, May 14
An Adventure in Time
They quickly ate breakfast and his dad used his key to get them inside. No one was there except the security guard, who waved at
them as they walked through. Jake's dad went to the safe and opened the combination lock. He carefully took out a small device
that looked like a cell phone.
"This is it, Jake!" he said. "You can look, but don't touch, while I go get Eleanor. Okay?"
"Yes, Dad," said Jake. He meant it; he truly did. But while his dad was out of the room...
Answer the following questions before you finish the story.
1. Did Jake touch the device? What happened?
2. Will Jake still be there when his dad comes back? Explain why or why not.
3. If Jake turned on the device, did it work? Where-or when-did Jake go?
4. If Jake traveled in time or space, what did he see? Did he meet famous people or visit a famous place?
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Tuesday, May 14
An Adventure in Time
5. If Jake traveled in time or space, how did he get back? Did anyone or anything come back with him?
6. What kind of problems might Jake have? How will he solve them?
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Tuesday, May 14
An Adventure in Time
Using the ideas you wrote for the thinking questions, write an ending to the story. It can be funny, exciting, dangerous, or all three! Be
sure to include dialog in your ending. Write in complete sentences, using correct punctuation. Be creative and use these two blank
pages.
Name Date
Tuesday, May 14
An Adventure in Time
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Tuesday, May 14
Crop Circles
By Vickie Chao
In the 1970s, "crop circles"
began showing up randomly
all over the U.K. Like their
name suggested, "crop circles"
were circles found in a field of
grain or other crops. The
designs of those circles varied.
Sometimes, they were quite
simple. But other times, they
were rather complicated.
Needless to say, the strange appearances of those crop circles
caught everybody by surprise. But as it later turned out, they were
not an exclusive affair in the U.K. Similar incidents were also
reported in other parts of the world, such as Japan, Canada, and the
United States. The spread of crop circles intrigued many people.
Almost immediately, a new field of study was set up just to
understand why and how crop circles were made. That new field of
study was called cereology.
Cereologists (experts of cereology) claim that the crop circles of
the 1970s were nothing new. They believe that the world's first
documented crop circle was actually found on a woodcut made in
1678. The woodcut was titled "The Mowing Devil or Strange News
out of Hartford-shire." It told the tale of an English farmer arguing
with a mower over the price for harvesting his field. The farmer did
not want to pay the rate the mower demanded. He tried to bargain,
but the mower refused to give in. In a fit of rage, the farmer swore
that he would rather have the devil do the work. The next day, the
farmer woke up and found parts of his field had been "neatly mowed
by the devil, or some infernal spirit." The parts that had been
mowed were circular-shaped. In the end, the farmer was so terrified
by what he saw that he never entered the field to collect his harvest.
Beneath the story, the woodcut depicted a strange-looking creature
mowing the field and making a circular design. That strange-looking
creature was obviously the devil himself.
Of course, naming the devil the maker of crop circles is only one
theory out of many.
An alternative and very popular view points the finger at UFOs.
Several witnesses had come forward, claiming that they had seen
flying saucers hovering over a field. When they went to inspect the
area the following day, they found crop circles.
Apart from citing the devil or aliens, some people believe that a
cyclonic storm might be the real cause of crop circles.
All three arguments sound very convincing. But which one is
right? Perhaps the answer is none of them!
In 1991, David Chorley and Douglas Bower admitted that they
were the ones who made the crop circles of the 1970s in the U.K. To
prove the claim, they explained in detail how they created crop
circles. They even showed the tools they used. Those tools were
amazingly simple, just a stake, a rope, some boards, baseball caps,
and sighting wires. To make a crop circle, Chorley and Bower first
pounded a stake into the ground. They attached one end of a rope to
the stake and the other end to either one of them. As Chorley or
Bower walked around the stake, with the rope stretching to its full
length, he was really marking the perimeter of a soon-to-be-made
crop circle. Once that was done, the duo used boards to flatten the
plants inside the circle. If they wanted to make a more elaborate
design, they would wear their baseball caps mounted with sighting
wires. By focusing on a distant object through the sighting wires,
they were able to walk a straight line in the middle of the night.
No doubt, Chorley and Bower's confession stung the world. If
what they said was true, then the crop circle mystery was no mystery
at all. It was a mere hoax, meant as a practical joke! But were
Chorley and Bower telling the truth? Or were they bluffing?
Cereologists certainly were inclined to believe the latter. They
continue to insist that crop circles were the works of supernatural
forces. But their views are now in the minority. To most people,
crop circles are no longer unexplainable events. The myth was
busted!
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Tuesday, May 14
Crop Circles
Questions
1. Which of the following about crop circles is true?
A. Crop circles can only be found in the U.K.
B. Chorley and Bower said that they created the crop circles
of the 1970s.
C. The world's first crop circle was discovered in 1991.
D. Scientists now have concrete evidence linking UFOs to
crop circles.
2. Which of the following was NOT a tool used by Chorley and
Bower in their making of a crop circle?
A. A sighting wire
B. A rope
C. A stake
D. A mowing machine
3. According to the woodcut made in the 17th century, who made
crop circles?
A. The farmer
B. The devil
C. The mower
D. God
4. In what year was the myth of crop circles busted?
A. 1991
B. 1984
C. 1978
D. 2003
5. What is a cereologist?
A. A person who grows cereals
B. A person who studies crop circles
C. A person who eats cereals
D. A person who creates crop circles
6. What did Chorley and Bower use to help them walk a straight
line in the middle of the night?
A. A walking stick
B. A baseball cap mounted with a sighting wire
C. A measuring tape
D. All of the above
7. Which of the following about the woodcut made in 1678 is
correct?
A. It was about a severe earthquake.
B. It was about the tale of an English farmer and his
gardener.
C. It talked about aliens making crop circles.
D. It was about some strange news from Hartford-shire.
8. When did crop circles begin attracting attention from people
all around the world?
A. In the 1920s
B. In the 1970s
C. In the 1980s
D. In the 1950s
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Wednesday, May 15
Tapirs
Tapirs look like a cross between
pigs and elephants. Indeed, their
bulky bodies, short legs, and
short tails remind us of pigs.
Their flexible, rubbery snouts
remind us of an elephant's trunk.
But, despite these things in
common, tapirs are not related to
either pigs or elephants. Their
closest relative is the rhinoceros.
Tapirs are shy, solitary animals. They live in forests and grasslands.
They never stray far from water. Whenever they feel threatened, they
flee to the nearest river, lake, or swamp for safety. Tapirs measure up
to 8 feet long, stand nearly 3 feet tall, and weigh almost 800 pounds.
Though heavy-built, tapirs are surprisingly good athletes. They are
excellent swimmers and divers, swift runners, and skillful climbers.
Tapirs have poor eyesight. They have acute senses of hearing and
smell. They use their snouts to locate and pick up food. They eat
leaves, fruits, water plants, or other vegetation.
There are four species of tapirs on Earth. The Malayan tapir lives in
Southeast Asia. But the other three -- the lowland or Brazilian tapir,
the mountain tapir, and the Baird's or Central American tapir-all live
in Central and South America.
The Malayan tapir is the only one in the family to live outside of the
Americas. It also chooses to dress up differently. It forgoes the plain
dark brownish-gray outfit that its cousins wear. Instead, it opts for
something that offers both camouflage and conspicuousness. Not
wanting to be seen and desiring to be flashy are obvious
contradictions. But Malayan tapirs manage to find a color
combination -- black and white -- that meets the two objectives. Thus,
their backs, bellies, and rumps are white. Their heads, shoulders, and
legs are black. But, how can Malayan tapirs avoid unwanted attention
with such eye-catching colors? Well, the answer to that question has a
lot to do with their habitat and behavior. Like their cousins, Malayan
tapirs are mostly active at night. When they wander in thick forests
under dim moonlight, their striking colors actually help break up their
body frames and form a disruptive image to hungry predators like
tigers. Tigers cannot make out a clear shape of Malayan tapirs. They
don't even know that they are staring at a tasty treat!
Although Malayan tapirs look different from Baird's, Brazilian, and
mountain tapirs, the offspring of all four species have yellowish white
spots and stripes running horizontally across their reddish brown
coats. They look like watermelons with legs! While we may find this
notion hilarious, the watermelon pattern offers the same camouflage
effect as an adult Malayan tapir's black-and-white coloring does.
When young tapirs are about one year old, their watermelon markings
fade away to give room to their grown-up coats.
Due to the destruction of their habitats as well as excessive hunting,
tapirs are endangered. Their uncertain fate relies entirely on us!
Tapirs
Questions
1. Where can we find Malayan tapirs?
A. South America
B. Western Europe
C. Central America
D. Southeast Asia
2. Tapirs have an herbivorous diet. They feed on leaves, fruits,
and other types of vegetation.
A. false
B. true
3. Which of the followings about tapirs is correct?
A. Tapirs have elephant-like snouts.
B. Young Malayan tapirs look the same as their parents.
C. Whenever they feel threatened, tapirs flee to the nearest
cave for safety.
D. All tapir species live in Central and South America.
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Wednesday, May 15
4. Which of the followings best describes tapirs?
A. They stand nearly 8 feet tall.
B. They have short tails.
C. They have bulky bodies and long legs.
D. They weigh up to 800 kilograms.
5. How many tapir species are there on Earth?
A. four
B. three
C. five
D. two
6. Which of the following statements about Malayan tapirs is
INCORRECT?
A. Adult Malayan tapirs look distinctively different from
other tapir species.
B. Malayan tapirs are mostly active during the day.
C. Baby Malayan tapirs are like watermelons with legs.
D. Malayan tapirs are the only tapir species that do not live
in Central and South Americas.
7. What does a fully-grown mountain tapir look like?
A. It has a dark brownish-gray coat.
B. It has a broad white band covering its back, belly, and
rump.
C. It has black stripes running vertically across its yellow
coat.
D. It has yellowish white spots and stripes running
horizontally across its reddish brown coat.
8. Which of the following animals hunt and kill tapirs?
A. tigers
B. elephants
C. pigs
D. rhinoceros
Suppose you are the chairperson of a committee whose objective is to
protect tapirs. You need to make a speech to an audience at your
school. You want to cover two topics. The first is to discuss why tapirs
are endangered. The second is to explain how the committee plans to
save tapirs. Write your speech.
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Wednesday, May 15
A Story of Anti-Personnel Mines: Maria's
Story
By Jennifer Kenny
Caption: A soldier who was mutilated by a
land mine, with his daughter in Bogotá,
Colombia.
Maria is a child. She likes to play. She
likes to be with her family. She likes to be
outside. These are probably things that you
enjoy, too. There's one big difference between
Maria and most of the children in the world,
though. Maria lost both her leg and her father.
How did these things happen? She lost both in
an anti-personnel mine accident.
When you run around outside, you have to be careful not to trip on a
rock, not to step on broken glass, or not get a splinter in your foot.
Maria has to worry about stepping on something a lot more
dangerous - a mine.
Maria lives in a small village in a country called Colombia.
Anti-personnel mines are hidden throughout Colombia. They are
used as weapons. Unlike guns, though, that need to be shot to be
used, anti-personnel mines are activated when the victim detonates it.
Land mines are hidden - on the ground or just below the ground. It
doesn't matter who steps on it; the land mine can't tell the difference.
The victim could be a soldier, an older civilian, or even a child.
Once detonated, a land mine can cause severe injuries to the victim.
Maria could share the stories of many victims. In Maria's case,
her father and she were walking near their home. One of them
triggered the hidden land mine. Maria's father died right away.
Maria lost her leg. She was lucky that a friend could get her to the
hospital; otherwise she might have died as well. Maria needed many
operations to help her heal. Maria is still waiting for a prosthesis to
take the place of her lost leg. Since she is still growing, she will
constantly need new ones to fit her bigger size.
Maria's friend Selena had a similar experience. Her friend was
walking with her parents to get into town. Her mother stepped on an
anti-personnel land mine. Her mom was dragged, unconscious, to a
far away hospital. She died the next morning.
Maria's cousin Aurelio also stepped on a land mine. Her uncle
carried Aurelio all the way to the distant capital for help. He, too,
lost his leg and is waiting for a prosthesis.
In fact, there are two or three victims of land mines each day in
Colombia. It is estimated that over 100,000 land mines are hidden in
Colombia. More are planted every day. There's a great deal of
fighting in Colombia between the government and guerilla groups.
The government claims to have destroyed the anti-personnel mines it
possessed. However, guerillas such as the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia openly admit they continue to use and plant
them. These guerilla groups like to use the mines to make roads
impassable. When planted on farmlands, land mines make it
dangerous to use the land for farming and, consequently, make it
difficult for a village to survive on its own. Land mines are often
planted to protect the guerillas' camps from the government's army,
especially after a guerilla group has attacked a village and the army
is trying to capture them. Guerillas have gone as far as to plant land
mines near schools.
Land mines are inexpensive to plant. Each one costs
approximately $1 to make. However, they are expensive and
dangerous to remove. It costs about $1,000 to remove just one.
Figure out the math. If there are 100,000 hidden, that would be $100
million to remove them all.
Humanitarian organizations are trying to do just that. They
conduct mine clearing operations. However, land mines affect
almost all of the provinces in Colombia. Land mines can last fifty
years. Even those who are attempting to find and destroy them are
in danger. Since the anti-personnel mines are still planted, the
obstacles are continually present.
Land mines present obstacles to both the removal process and the
humanitarian medical process. When a person is injured in a land
mine accident, the explosion has the ability to blow apart one leg or
two. In addition, it throws soil, rocks, and bone pieces inside the
wounded area. Infection is extremely common as a result. Also,
only skilled surgeons can even attempt to operate on the injuries. It
can take a full day just to reach the hospital that has a skilled surgeon
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Wednesday, May 15
and necessary equipment. Accidents in remote places make care
difficult. Even the trip can be hazardous because of other hidden
mines.
If a victim survives the initial surgery, he or she often needs more
surgeries. Prostheses are often needed, but it can take a long time to
get one. A child needs more than one as he or she grows. Being
poor often leaves one without much help. Many adults who have
been injured can't work anymore. The situation can seem hopeless.
Maria and her family survive one day at a time. She has many
physical and psychological issues to overcome. Humanitarian
groups continue to step in to help, trying to make Colombia a safer
place to live. However, eliminating the dangerous devices could
take a minimum of 10 to 20 years. That's not including the new ones
planted every day. In the meantime, these land mines remain the
weapons of choice for many guerillas.
A Story of Anti-Personnel Mines: Maria's Story
Questions
1. Maria lives in ______.
A. Mexico
B. Brazil
C. Colombia
D. the United States
2. Anti-personnel mines can harm ______.
A. children
B. parents
C. soldiers
D. all of the above
3. A ______ will one day take the place of Maria's lost leg.
A. shoe
B. wheelchair
C. prosthesis
D. scooter
4. How many land mines are still believed to be hidden in
Colombia?
A. only 10
B. around 1,000
C. around 100,000
D. no more
5. In Colombia, anti-personnel mines are often hidden by
______.
A. families
B. children
C. guerillas
D. government workers
6. Removal of anti-personnel land mines is often a ______.
A. dangerous process
B. an expensive process
C. both of the above
D. neither of the above
7. Humanitarian groups are trying to help the Colombian people.
A. False
B. True
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Thursday, May 16
Charles Elmer Hires - Inventor of Root Beer
By Phyllis Naegeli
It's been called, "The Honest Beer," "The
Temperance Drink," and "The Greatest
Health-Giving Beverage in the World." We know
it as root beer. A pharmacist named Charles
Elmer Hires invented this soft drink over one
hundred thirty years ago.
Hires worked in a drug store near his home as a
clerk. At the age of sixteen, he moved to
Philadelphia and became an apprentice in a drug
store. In the evenings, he attended lectures at the
College of Pharmacy. He worked hard and saved
his money until he had $400. With this savings,
he opened his own drug store. In 1872, he took a state licensing exam
and was officially a pharmacist.
His discovery of root beer started on his honeymoon. At the hotel
where he and his wife stayed, they were served an herbal tea made
from berries, herbs, and roots. He obtained the recipe and sold it in his
drug store. He continued to refine the recipe until he produced the first
root beer on May 16, 1876. He brought his discovery to the
Centennial Exposition in 1876 where it was widely received. By
1893, he was marketing his soft drink nationwide.
To the dismay of his accountants, Hires insisted on using the highest
quality ingredients. He aggressively advertised his product saying,
"doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the
dark: you know what you are doing, but nobody else does." In
addition to selling prepared root beer, Hires also marketed a kit to
allow consumers to make their own root beer at home. The kit
contained a packaged, prepared powder that was to be mixed with
water, sugar, and yeast. People could make their own root beer for
five cents per gallon. Eventually, Hires went on to produce a liquid
concentrate and a syrup for use in soda fountains. His invention
eventually earned him millions.
Root beer is made from vanilla, cherry tree bark, molasses, different
roots such as sassafras, licorice, and sarsaparilla, and spices like
nutmeg and anise, which are mixed with sugar, yeast, and water.
When placed in a tightly sealed container, the yeast ferments, giving
the fizz to this sweet beverage.
Many imitations of Charles Elmer Hires' original recipe can be found
today. However, each root beer has a different flavor depending on
ingredients used and where it is made. No two recipes are exactly
alike. The flavor of this soft drink can also be found in candies, cough
drops, and extracts for baking.
Today, Hires Root Beer is marketed by Texas-based Dr Pepper/7-Up,
a subsidiary of the British-based corporation, Cadbury-Schweppes.
Although no longer marketed nationwide, it continues to hold the title
of "the oldest continuously marketed soft drink in the United States."
Charles Elmer Hires - Inventor of Root Beer
Questions
1. What was Charles Elmer Hires' occupation?
A. pharmacist
B. teacher
C. farmer
D. physician
2. In which state was Hires' root beer first sold?
A. New York
B. Maine
C. Florida
D. Pennsylvania
3. Charles Elmer Hires invented root beer on ______, 1876.
A. May 1
B. May 16
C. May 20
D. May 11
Name
Thursday, May 16
4. Explain what Charles Elmer Hires meant by "doing business
without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark: you
know what you are doing, but nobody else does."
5. Which of the following is NOT an ingredient in root beer?
A. molasses
B. vanilla
C. sugar
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
6. Which ingredient did Charles Elmer Hires use to give his root
beer the "fizz"?
A. cherry bark
B. molasses
C. vanilla
D. yeast
7. Why do you think Charles Elmer Hires' accountants were
dismayed over his use of the highest quality ingredients?
Describe the taste of root beer.
Name
Thursday, May 16
North-West Mounted Police
By Mary Lynn Bushong
For years, the Canadian West or Northwest,
as it was called, was home to wildlife, First
Nations, and the trapper-traders of the
Hudson's Bay Co. During the 1870's a new
group of traders pushed into the area. These
were American "free traders." They thought
they did not have to abide by the rules of the
Hudson's Bay Co.
Many of these men were veterans of the Civil
War and did not really care about the native
tribes or anything else. They often brought
large amounts of whiskey with them to sell or
trade with the natives. This was mixed with other things to increase its
effect and their profits.
The traders also built their own forts. They acted like the Canadian
Northwest was the same as the American West with no laws that
pertained to them. As reports of the bad conditions went east, Prime
Minister John A. Macdonald decided something had to be done
quickly.
He decided that a mounted, paramilitary force was best in that
situation. They would be trained to deal with plains warfare but also
be taught to work with people. He meant for them to be in place when
the land was settled. They would not only be peace keepers, but also
support for the settlers. They were the ones that the people would
come to if they had a problem or question.
To find the model for such a force, Macdonald looked to Ireland. The
Royal Irish Constabulary was one of the first units of its kind.
Mounties were recruited from the fall of 1873, through the spring of
1874. That summer 275 men, along with their horses and equipment,
began the great March West. They left Dufferin, Manitoba, in July
and marched 2,400 kilometers across the prairie in four months before
finally arriving in Alberta.
Forts were set up, and patrol routes were established. The Mounties
made a point of establishing friendly relations with the First Nations
people. They also prohibited liquor sales to the native people.
Mounties helped put out prairie fires and gave aid to the sick and
those who had nothing.
In the 1880's, the railways were pushing their way across Canada.
With them came settlers for the newly accessible land. The Métis (half
French and half native people) who lived along the North
Saskatchewan River saw more and more settlers arrive. They
petitioned the government to be awarded the river front lands they
lived on. They were ignored.
The people were left with the option of being forced out or fighting
for what they thought was theirs. The result was the Métis rebellion.
Mounties were sent in, but their numbers were overwhelmed. They
had to retreat. Troops were brought in, and the rebellion was crushed.
When gold was found in the Yukon, Mounties had more tasks. They
manned all entries into Canada over passes and by rivers. Each miner
was required to bring enough food and equipment for a year. Those
who didn't have it were refused entry. Because of the Mountie
presence, Dawson City did not become a rowdy town.
It was at the Yukon that the Mounties really built up the reputation
for upholding law and order. After the gold rush, the Mounties
continued to push north into the arctic. There, they protected the
interests of the Inuit.
By 1904, the Northwest Mounted Police had earned an international
reputation for their work. They were given a grant from King Edward
VII to add the prefix "Royal" to their name.
The force was not meant to be permanent. When WWI started, many
wanted to enlist but were not allowed. They were needed to help keep
the West secure.
In 1920, the name was changed again. They became the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police. Instead of a western or provincial force,
they became a permanent, national force.
Finger print and other crime-solving databases were formed. In the
1970's, they branched out into airport security and drug enforcement.
Security was phased out in 1984 when the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service was formed.
Name
Thursday, May 16
Over the years the RCMP has changed to give aid to Canadians in any
way that they can. Their history and contributions to Canada's culture
and security are something that all Canadians should be proud of.
North-West Mounted Police
Questions
1. The idea for the North-West Mounted Police was based at first
on the Royal English Constabulary.
A. True
B. False
2. The free traders were using ______ to destroy the First
Nations.
A. Drugs
B. Alcohol
C. Gambling
D. Sports
3. Why were the North-West Mounted Police necessary to the
Canadian Northwest?
4. How far did the first Mounties have to travel to reach Alberta?
A. 1,500 kilometers
B. 1,200 kilometers
C. 2,000 kilometers
D. 2,400 kilometers
5. Why were the Métis concerned about having land on the river?
6. What happened when the North-West Mounted Police went to
stop the rebellion?
7. What opened the West for settlement?
8. What event helped the Mounties to really build up their
reputation for enforcing the law?
Name Date
Reading Math
Stephanie walked to the store in 15.4 minutes. She bought Band-Aids
for $0.55, gauze for $1.29, and suntan lotion for $2.89. She gave the
clerk a $10 bill. She left the store at 3:45 a.m. It took her 20.6 minutes
to walk home. How much longer did it take her to walk home than it
took to walk to the store?
Benjamin felt foolish. Everyone else in class was dancing like a
chicken. Benjamin thought they looked silly. Anyway, it was almost
time to go. It was 2:40 p.m. Only 30 more minutes and he could
escape. What time is the class over?
Dylan has some sea monkeys in a tank. He is counting them by 5s. Fill
in the blanks: 5, ___, 15, 20, ___, ___, 35
The Police Week 5K race attracted runners from all over the Southeast.
Devin Clark, the winner, had a time of 13:31. The second place time
was 16:13. How much faster was the winner than the second place
finisher?
Amber is showing her class how to do the Chicken Dance today. She
even bought a beak to wear while she does the dance! The beak cost
$2.87. She gave the clerk $5. How much change did she get?
Christopher looked at his town's website. There are 14,390 people over
age 55 in his town. In 1994 there were 11,012 people over age 55 in his
town. How many more older people are there in his town now than
there were in 1994?