Posts Tagged ‘history’

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Virtual Field Trip to TOBASCO Sauce Factory

January 13th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Friday, December 16, 2011 and time for a Virtual Field Trip at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Tobasco.com
 
Age Range: 8 and up (with parental supervision)

Do you enjoy the spicy taste of TOBASCO sauce?  At this website you can watch a terrific audio slideshow that explains how the peppers are grown, turned into mash, aged, and eventually bottled for consumption. It’s a process that was developed on Avery Island in Louisiana over 140 years ago and continues to this day.

When you’re through watching the audio slideshow, use the menu to learn more about the company’s history, the salt that is used in the manufacturing process, and learn a little about the environment on Avery Island.

 

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Why Pluto Isn’t A Planet & Much More!

January 12th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Thursday, January 12, 2012 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Spitzer/Caltech

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)
 
My son recently posted a video on his Facebook page explaining why Pluto isn’t a planet anymore. (Once a homeschooler, always a homeschooler.) It was on YouTube, but the source was The Spitzer Science Center (sponsored by NASA and CalTech). 
 
They have a series of free multi-media videos called “Ask An Astronomer” that include brief explanations to complicated stuff by scientists. The videos use animations to illustrate the explanations. Other titles inc lude:

  • Where is the center of the universe?
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • Why aren’t there any green stars?
  • Infrared: More than your eyes can see!
  • What happens when galaxies collide?
  • What’s between the stars?
  • What will happen to Earth when the Sun dies?
  • How do you discover an asteroid?
  • How can we see a black hole?
  • What is a Brown Dwarf?

And many more! 
 
If you poke around the rest of the site you’ll find other cool videos and podcasts as well.

You may wonder why I decided to feature this science resource on “Social Sciences” day at ClickSchooling. It’s because the downsizing of Pluto was historical, and I like to encourage cross-curricular connections. Sometimes students will resist a subject like science, for example, but be fascinated by an important event in history that gently leads them to an enjoyable exploration of science. The content of this website has that potential.

And while you’re exploring, you’ll be covering a variety of “subjects” including language arts, math, science, history, social studies and more. It’s all connected!  :)

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Make An Art Print!

December 17th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, December 17, 2011 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Museum Of Modern Art

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

The Museum of Modern Art in New York offers this terrific interactive presentation that demonstrates what an artistic print is and how it’s made. Renowned works of art have been
created using various print methods by artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Otto Dix, and Andy Warhol to name a few.

When you get to the site you’ll see an introduction and a menu of the four best-known printing techniques including:

*Woodcut – In this demonstration you can virtually cut a block of wood to create a print. Then, explore the gallery of woodcut prints by selected artists.

*Etching – Try your hand at applying acid to a metal plate to etch an artistic image. Explore the steps to create an etching and view the gallery of artistic etchings.

*Lithography – Use virtual lithographic crayons to draw an image on a polished slab of limestone. See how lithographic prints are made. Explore the lithography gallery

*Screenprint – Use a blade to cut a stencil and create a screenprint. Follow the steps to learn the complete process. View the gallery of artistic screenprints.

This is a terrific interactive that explains artistic technique through demonstrations and it provides interesting lessons in art history.

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History of Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows!

December 15th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Thursday, December 15, 2011 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Websites:
See Below

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

The History of Hot Chocolate – ClickScholar Cie McCullough wrote this article about the history of hot chocolate. Find out how a warm cup of cocoa got its start in the jungles of Mesoamerica.

What would a cup of warm cocoa be without a few marshmallows on top? Ever wonder where marshmallows come from? Check out this website…

History of Marshmallows – Find out how ancient Egyptians made a gooey treat from the mallow plant that grows in marshes. Then, discover the fascinating history of marshmallows and how
they’re made today.

We can’t talk about marshmallows without acknowledging the invention of “Marshmallow Fluff.” Read all about the history of marshmallow crème, download “The Yummy Book” for free, and visit the “Kids Pages” for a marshmallow coloring book.

See?  History can be fun!  :)

 

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See How A Cotton Gin Works!

December 9th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Friday, December 9, 2011 and time for a Virtual Field Trip at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
YouTube: Learning About the Cotton Gin

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin that automated separating cotton seeds from cotton fiber, was born on December 8, 1765. At this YouTube website you can learn about Eli Whitney and the history of the cotton gin as you watch a video demonstration of a cotton gin by a volunteer at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Next, visit the Eli Whitney Museum website where you’ll discover that Mr. Whitney manufactured firearms as well. When you get to the site you can learn about: 

  • The Inventor & His Family
  • Whitney’s Firearms Factory
  • The Cotton Gin
  • Read Whitney’s Memoir

You can also see an animated diagram of Whitney’s cotton gin.  

If this peaks your interest, you can see an overview of how a modern cotton gin works, displayed through colorful illustrations, photographs, and interesting text at the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

 

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How Candy Canes Are Made!

December 2nd, 2011

Hi!  It’s Friday, December 2, 2011 and time for a Virtual Field Trip at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Georgia Stories: The Candy Cane Factory

Age Range: 7 and up (approximately, with adult supervision)

At this website you can learn about the history of candy canes and see how they’re made featuring the largest manufacturer of striped candy in the world, Bob’s Candies. 

In this 5-minute video presentation, you’ll learn how Bob McCormack founded the company in 1919, how it was destroyed by a tornado in 1940, and discover who invented a machine for twisting and cutting stick candy and bending it into a candy
cane shape in the early 1950s. That machine revolutionized the business and resulted in the commercial manufacture of candy canes.

This is an interesting and engaging presentation that is sure to whet your appetite for the delicious peppermint confections. Better stock up before you watch the video!  :)

 

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