The Speed of Sound

Tomorrow, January 6, marks an astounding 171 years since Samuel Morse provided the first demonstration of the electric telegraph. Who would have ever thought there could be something as a telephone, let alone a cell phone that we take with us whever we go. Find out more about the evolution of telecommunicatins with today's freebie.

Title: Through the Wires: A Century of Telecommunications
Description: Covers the era from Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell, to the explosion of the Internet.
Suggested Grade: 4-Adult
Format: Web Site
Availability: Available to all requesters
Source: Farhana, David, and Tiana
http://library.thinkquest.org/27887/

Happy Birthday to Me

As I "complained" to my hubby about my upcoming birthday, he told me my birthday was the best, "after all, who else gets people to go out and celebrate with party hats and horns?" Yup, my birthday is New Year's Day. I would be marking my 29th birthday yet again, but since my oldest son turned 29 himself this year, I guess I can't do that anymore. Today's freebie presents information about a traditional 15th birthday celebration in Mexico, but actually contains even more of a story.

Title: Sweet 15
Description: The traditional 15th birthday celebration symbolically ushers a young Mexican girl into adulthood. When her father cancels the gala event, she accidentally uncovers her father's secret--he has never become a legal resident of the U. S.
Suggested Grade: 6-12
Format: VHS videotape
Running Time: 120 minutes
Availability: Schools, libraries, and nursing homes in the United States.
Terms: Borrowers must have a User's Agreement on file with this source--available by mail or via the Internet. Return postage is paid by borrower; return 12 days after showing. Book at least three weeks in advance. All borrowers are limited to a total of ten items per semester.
Order Number: SIHISPI-video
Source: Latin American Resource Center
Stone Center for Latin American Studies
Tulane University
100 Jones Hall
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: 1-504-862-3143
Fax: 1-504-865-6719

Pearl Harbor Day

Oftentimes while creating this blog, I Google "today in history." That is not something I have to do for today, a very notorious day in history. Today marks the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While not the joyous celebration that anniversaries usually are, it is an anniversary we must never forgot. Today's freebie provides more information about a mess attendant who provided heroic service to his fellow shipmates.

Title: Black Pearl: The Story of Dorie Miller, the Hero of Pearl Harbor
Description: Learn about the contributions of this mess attendant stationed on the battleship Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Suggested Grade: 5-12
Format: Online Lesson Plan
Availability: All requesters
Source: Dionne Smith Jones
http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/ll/curriculumsupport/aastudies/jones.html

It's a Whale of a Tale

On this day in 1851, the ever popular story of Moby Dick was published by Herman Melville. This time-enduring book is now in the public domain and you can read the entire story on-line!

Title: Power Moby-Dick
Description: Presents the entire tale of Moby Dick along with interesting points highlighted.
Suggested Grade: 6-Adult
Format: Complete book online
Availability: Available to all requesters
Source: Herman Melville (well he wrote the book, someone else put it online :)
http://www.powermobydick.com/

What Time Is It, Anyway?

One year ago I was standing in a cold rain at a bus stop in Galway, Ireland. I waited, and waited, and waited--that was when I first learned that Daylight Saving Time is not unique to the United States--the bus showed up one hour later! This freebie will help you learn about the history of daylight saving (or as some may say, daylight shifting), the standardization of time, and when regions around the globe spring ahead and fall back.

Title: Daylight Saving Time
Description: Information about the history of Daylight Saving Time. Also presents some incidents and anecdotes about the time change that are more interesting (and maybe less embarrassing) than mine.
Suggested Grade: 4-Adult
Format: Web Site
Availability: Available to all requesters
Source: Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement
http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/index.html

Show Me the Money

On October 20, 1996, Congress signed into law the "Commemorative Coin Act of 1996." This law was responsible for the commemorative quarters so many people collect today. Coins were released five coins per year, in the order in which the States were admitted to the Union. In today's freebie, students explore the relationship between pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters and learn more about US currency.

Title: Number Cents
Description: Six lessons about money.
Suggested Grade: 1-4
Format: Online Lesson Plans
Availability: Available to all requesters
Source: Grace M. Burton
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=U67

Who Wants to Be Famous for a Fire?

On the evening of October 8, 1871 the worst recorded forest fire in North American history raged through Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, destroying millions of dollars worth of property and timberland, and taking between 1,200 and 2,400 lives. As a student in Wisconsin we learned all about this tragic fire. Have you heard of it? Perhaps not as the Chicago Fire, allegedly started by Mrs. O'Leary's cow, happened the same night. Perhaps it's the interesting story about the start of THAT famous fire, but the tragic events in Peshtigo, which took a much higher toll on lives and resources, were eclipsed by the "Great Chicago Fire." This freebie will let you all about that lesser known fire.

Title: The Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871
Description: The most comprehensive source on the web for information about this fire.
Suggested Grade: 6-Adult
Format: Web Site
Availability: Available to all requesters
Source: Deana C. Hipke
http://www.peshtigofire.info/