Explore 9 of the key developments in our love-hate history with the wonderful (awful) white stuff, snow.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #32: The History of Snow

2. Study the picture and read this paragraph. Answer the question that follows.

The Beginning:  Paleolithic Era – Skiing for Survival

Ancient petroglyph.

Today, skiing is a fun activity winter-lovers can’t wait to take advantage of at the first sight of freshly fallen snow, but it was originally invented thousands of years ago as a means of survival. The first use of skis can be found in a cave painting dating back to the Paleolithic Era’s final Ice Age. The sticks that were used as the first prototype were not only helpful for traveling over frozen terrain, but also for hunting prey.

Describe how the original purpose of skiing differed from its use today. What survival needs did the early use of skis address?

3. Study the picture and read this paragraph. Answer the question that follows.

1565: Snowscapes in Paintings

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “Hunters in the Snow.”

Commonly seen as the first winter landscape painting, Pieter Bruegel the Elder painted “Hunters in the Snow” during the brutal winter of 1564-65. It was the longest and most severe winter Europe had seen in more than a century, kicking off what some called the “Little Ice Age.” If you can’t beat them, join them, right? After his first snow-scape Bruegel couldn’t stop painting ice and snow—he also painted the first scene with falling snow. His work started a winter-themed trend among Dutch painters that lasted for some 150 years.

In what ways did the severe winter of 1564-65 influence Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s artistic choices in “Hunters in the Snow”? Provide specific examples from the text to support your response.

4. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

1717: “The Great Snow”

Events occurred either before or after “The Great Snow” of 1717 for generations of New Englanders. Starting in late February of that year, a series of storms dumped up to six feet throughout the region, with drifts as high as 25 feet! New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut got the worst of it: Entire houses were completely covered with snow, livestock perished and even Boston Puritans canceled church services for two weeks. But one intrepid postman refused to lose the battle, reportedly leaving his horse behind and donning a pair of snowshoes to make the arduous trip from Boston to New York.

How high is 25 feet? Do research to find 3 things that are 25 feet high.

5. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

Early 19th century: A New Word is Born—Blizzard

A person walks a dog through blizzard

The exact origins of “blizzard” are unclear, but it appears to have emerged as a non-snow-related noun. An 1829 article in the Virginia Literary Museum, a weekly journal published at the University of Virginia, defined the word as “a violent blow, perhaps from blitz (German: lightning).” In his 1834 memoir, Davy Crockett himself used the term to mean a burst of speech: “A gentleman at dinner asked me for a toast; and supposing he meant to have some fun at my expense, I concluded to go ahead, and give him and his likes a blizzard.” The first use of the word in reference to a severe snowstorm apparently came later. Etymologist and lexicographer Allen Walker Read believes the earliest such usage of “blizzard” was in an April 1870 issue of the Northern Vindicator, a newspaper in Estherville, Iowa.

Define “etymologist “and “lexicographer”.

6. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

1862: The Rise of the Snow Plow

Today snow can mean long delays and canceled flights, but it used to be a positive thing for travel. When the main mode of transportation was the horse-drawn carriage, having packed snow on the roads made things easier, switching out their carriage’s wheels for ski-like runners when the snow piled up. Foot traffic was a different story, however, and by the mid-1800s several different inventors had patented their version of a horse-drawn snow plow to clear the alleys and walkways of America’s cities. In 1862, Milwaukee became the first major city to use such a plow, and its popularity spread quickly throughout the Snow Belt (the area stretching across the Great Lakes from Minnesota to Maine).

Describe the significance of Milwaukee’s use of the horse-drawn snow plow in 1862. How did this invention impact other cities in the Snow Belt?

7. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

1878: Shakin’ It Up—The Snow Globe

Indicative of the winter wonderland that fills the hearts of many each holiday season, the snow globe was first seen in France at the 1878 Paris Universal Exposition. The trinket gained little attention, however, and only found its way into the hearts and minds of holiday holiday-goers thanks to Edwin Perzy I. The mechanic accidentally created a snow globe in 1900, when he was asked to fix a dim light bulb. After noticing that water-filled glass globes would fill the entire room with light when placed in front of candle, he tried the same technique with a lightbulb but didn’t get the same results. Next he filled the globe with semolina flakes with the hope that they would help reflect the light, but instead it inspired him in a totally different way—the flakes reminded him of snow. Perzy patented the snow globe and the novelty caught on like wildfire.

Describe the accidental discovery made by Edwin Perzy I in 1900. What materials did he use, and how did they lead to the invention of the snow globe?

8. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

1888: The Blizzard That Ate the Big Apple

Paralyzing the Northeast for over three days with snow, wind and freezing temperatures, horse-drawn plows stood no chance against the Blizzard of 1888. New York City was inundated with 50 inches of snow, along with high winds causing drifts of up to 40 feet—it was a snow-pocalypse. The city’s elevated railways—usually the only transport option during storms—were blocked leaving travelers stranded for days. The 1888 blizzard claimed 400 victims. It also did some good, however, by prompting cities to improve their snow removal procedures, including hiring more plows, assigning routes and starting the plowing process in the early phases of storms.

According to the text, what were some of the consequences of the Blizzard of 1888, both negative and positive?

9. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

1920s: Snow Removal Goes Mobile

When automobiles replaced horse-drawn carriages on the roads, clearing the roads of snow became a big priority. Mechanized salt-spreaders helped, but weren’t sufficient. As early as 1913, some cities had started using motorized dump trucks and plows to remove snow. Chicago took it one step further in the 1920s, debuting a contraption called the “snowloader.” Equipped with a giant scoop and a conveyor belt, the device forced plowed snow up the scoop, onto the belt and into a chute that dropped it into a dump truck parked beneath. The snowloader revolutionized urban snow removal, making it a lot less labor-and time-intensive.

In what ways did the snowloader introduced by Chicago in the 1920s differ from previous methods of snow removal? Provide specific details from the text to support your answer.

1952: Introducing Your Very Own Snow Blower

Snow blowing got personal in the early 1950s, when a Canadian company called Toro released the first human-powered snow blower. Other companies produced their own models during the 1960s, ushering in the age of modern snow removal. Around the same time, satellite weather technology was making it easier than ever to predict and prepare for storms, and widespread use of TV and radio helped keep the public aware of impending hazards caused by snow and wind.

In what ways do you believe the advancements in satellite weather technology during the 1960s changed how families prepared for winter storms? Have you ever had to prepare for a storm in your own life?

10. Read this paragraph and answer the question that follows.

Today: An Ode to the Humble Snow Shovel

Odds are the snow removal tool most people are familiar with is also the one that’s been around the longest—the shovel. Thought to date back some 6,000 years, the old-fashioned snow shovel remains one of the most effective tools for digging out of a blizzard, no matter where you live. Since the 1870s, more than 100 patents have been granted for snow shovel designs, as various people try their hand at improving on the time-honored classic.

The text mentions that more than 100 patents have been granted for snow shovels since the 1870s. Why do you think people have been motivated to create new designs for such a traditional tool?

11. Turn your social studies mini spark into your teacher/EY coordinator.

Lesson Source: https://www.history.com/news/humans-vs-snow-a-love-hate-history

Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is celebrated all around the world on October 31. It has its roots in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. In simple terms, Samhain was a fun festival that celebrated the changing seasons from light to dark, or in other words, from summer to winter. Today, Halloween is a time for kids to dress up in silly costumes, carve pumpkins into funny faces, and go trick-or-treating for candy! It’s all about having a spooky good time and enjoying the thrill of the season!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #31: Halloween History

2. Read this short article about the history of Halloween. On your recording page, explain the origin of the jack-o-lantern.

3. Read this article about the history of costumes.  Why did people start wearing costumes? Starting with the 1930s record a sentence or two explaining what the costumes were like for each of the decades that are listed.

4. Study this graphic organizer from Visual Capitalist. What are some possible reasons for trends or popular costume choices? Use information from this image to support your idea.

5. Pumpkins are a favorite at Halloween time. Watch this short clip and write 3 sentences  about how the characters are able to express emotions without any words.

6. Watch this newscast about a pumpkin that holds the world record for size.  What types of preparation do the farmers need to do to grow these giant pumpkins.

7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

We’ve all heard the legend of Betsy Ross. But, who created and designed our current American flag? Believe it or not, the designer was a 17-year-old boy from Lancaster, Ohio, who did it for a school assignment!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #30: Fifty Stars!

2. Read this interview from the person who designed our current flag. Summarize the articles in two sentences.

3. Look at this webpage that shows the dates when states were admitted to the union.   Calculate the math to find out how old 5 different states are right now.  Make a tiny visual showing the states and the current ages.

4. How would you design a flag if we were to add a 51st state? Perhaps Puerto Rico? Draw a design for an American flag that includes 51 stars. Take a picture of your design and add it to your recording page.

5. Turn your social studies mini spark into your teacher/EY coordinator.

Source: https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/positive-living/inspired-to-create-a-grand-new-flag

NEW Wonders of the World? Does that mean they were built in the last few years? NO! It just means they’re different from the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The new Wonders could be anything built before the year 2000!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #29: The NEW Seven Wonders of the World

2. What ARE the NEW Wonders of the World? WONDEROPOLIS knows! Read this article.  Test your knowledge by taking the test your knowledge and the wonder word challenge. Record your score for both on your recording page.

3. Research each wonder at Britannica. For each wonder make a bullet list with at least 3 details.

4. Look over the list of all of the places in the world that were considered to be the NEW wonders of the world. Choose one of the places to learn more about. Click on it and read the fact page. Write about the wonder runner up you picked and include 3-4 details about why it would be a good 8th wonder.

5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Check out the 7 wonders badge at the EY webpage.

Source:  http://mentalfloss.com/article/58705/11-ways-school-was-different-1800s

Summer break is coming up for most students in the United States, but did you ever wonder what summer break looked like for kids in the 1800s?  There are so many differences between school now and school in the 1800s! This blog post will explore those differences, and it may just convince you how much tougher it could be – and just how good you’ve got it!

• In the 19th and early 20th centuries, one room schoolhouses were the norm in rural areas. A single teacher taught grades one through eight together. The youngest students—called Abecedarians, because they would learn their ABCs—sat in the front, while the oldest sat in the back. The room was heated by a single wood stove.
• Most of the time, there was no transportation to get to school. Most schoolhouses were built to serve students living within 4 or 5 miles, which was considered close enough for them to walk. So when your Grandpa says, “I used to walk 5 miles to school”, he might not be exaggerating.
• The school year was much shorter back then! When the Department of Education first began gathering data on the subject in the 1869-70 school year, students attended school for about 132 days (the standard school year these days is 180) depending on when they were needed to help their families harvest crops. Attendance was just 59 percent. School days typically started at 9am and wrapped up at 2pm or 4pm, depending on the area; there was one hour for recess and lunch, which was called“nooning.”
• Forget iPads and gel pens—there were no fancy school supplies in the 19th and early-20th centuries. Students made do with just a slate and some chalk.
• Lessons were quite different than they are today. Teachers taught subjects including reading, writing, arithmetic, history, grammar, rhetoric, and geography. Students would memorize their lessons, and the teacher would bring them to the front of the room as a class to recite what they’d learned—so the teacher could correct them on things like pronunciation on the spot—while the other students continued to work behind them.
• Teachers sometimes lived with their students’ families. According to Michael Day at the Country School Association of America, this practice was called “boarding round,” and it often involved the teacher moving from one students’ house to the next as often as every week. One Wisconsin teacher wrote of boarding with families in 1851, “I found it very unpleasant, especially during the winter and spring terms, for one week I would board where I would have a comfortable room; the next week my room would be so open that the snow would blow in, and sometimes I would find it on my bed, and also in it. A part of the places where I boarded I had flannel sheets to sleep in; and the others cotton. But the most unpleasant part was being obliged to walk through the snow and water. I suffered much from colds and a cough.”
• Discipline was very strict. Sure, stepping out of line in the 1800s and early 1900s could result in detention, suspension, or expulsion, but it could also result in a lashing. According to a document outlining student and teacher rules created by the Board of Education in Franklin, Ohio, from 1883, “Pupils may be detained at any recess or not exceeding fifteen minutes after the hour for closing the afternoon session, when the teacher deems such detention necessary, for the commitment of lessons or for the enforcement of discipline. … Whenever it shall become necessary for teachers to resort to corporal punishment, the same shall not be inflicted upon head or hands of the pupil.” Not all places had such a rule, though; in other areas, teachers could use a ruler or pointer to lash a student’s knuckles or palms. Other punishments included holding a heavy book for more than an hour and writing “I will not…” do a certain activity on the blackboard 100 times.
• No lunch was provided by the school, even if families had the money for it; kids brought their lunches to school in metal pails. Every student drank water from a bucket filled by the older boys using the same tin cup.  GROSS!!
• For many, education ended after just eighth grade; in order to graduate, students would have to pass a final exam. You can see a sample of a typical 8th grade exam in Nebraska circa 1895 in this PDF. It includes questions like “Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications,” “A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?,” and “What are elementary sounds? How classified?”

Try the test yourself and let us know how you did in the comments!

In 1879, the United States made Washington’s February 22nd Birthday a federal holiday. Today, the third Monday in February is frequently referred to as “Presidents’ Day.” So which is it? Let’s get to the bottom of what’s official and what’s not.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #27: Presidents’ Day? The Truth Behind the Holiday

2.

According to mountvernon.org, George Washington was a humble man who did not enjoy flashy celebrations. During his lifetime, Washington didn’t really celebrate his birthday, choosing instead to use the day to respond to letters or attend to matters at Mount Vernon. However, national celebration of his birthday began while he was alive and continued after his death.

The road to what the majority of people in the United States now recognizes as Presidents’ Day is a long and confusing one. After Washington died in 1799, his birthday was informally celebrated across the country. But, it wasn’t until  January 31, 1879, that Washington’s birthday became a federally recognized holiday.

Washington’s birthday is also recognized in another unique fashion. Starting in 1896, it has become a tradition to read Washington’s Farewell Address on February 22nd (the actual day of his birth) in the US Senate by a current member. This tradition reminds us of a man whose patriotic spirit still inspires us to this day, particularly federal workers who uphold what he helped create.

On June 28th, 1968, Congress passed the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act”. This law aimed to provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays. The act was also created to provide federal employees with more three-day weekends. Under this new law, Washington’s birthday would be celebrated on the third Monday of February, partially losing the value and identity of the importance of his birthday. Washington’s birthday has not been celebrated on the actual day of his birth since the law took effect in 1971.

Today the nation typically combines Washington’s Birthday with Presidents’ Day, celebrating both days on the third Monday in February. However, Presidents’ Day is not the official name of the holiday. While the name “Presidents’ Day” was proposed for this Monday holiday in 1951, the U.S. government never officially changed the name. In the 1980s, thanks to advertising campaigns for holiday sales, the term became popularized and largely accepted.

The idea behind the name was to create a holiday that did not recognize a specific president, but rather celebrated the office of the presidency. This joint recognition would also celebrate President Lincoln’s February 12th birthday within the same period. Both great men, both important to our country.

Source: mountvernon.org

The Famous Holiday of Love, Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated around the world. Some countries celebrate this day in February, but not all.  Learn about the holiday along with history of chocolate in this mini spark.

Spark your thinking!

What is the Winter Solstice? According to Dictionary.com the Winter Solstice lasts for just one moment. It occurs exactly when the Earth’s axial tilt is farthest away from the sun. This usually happens around December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere or June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #25: Winter Solstice

2. Read these 3 paragraphs. Write a  5 question quiz after reading.  Include multiple choice , true and false, and short answer questions. Make an answer key as well.

If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, during the solstice the sun will be at its southernmost point in the sky. The higher in latitude you are, the more you’ll notice that the solstice has the shortest day and longest night of the year.

In ancient cultures around the globe, the winter solstice was marked with ceremonies and celebrations. For example, in the days of the Inca Empire the winter solstice was honored with Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun. It involved a ceremony in which an Inca priest would “tie” the sun to a column stone in a symbolic effort to keep it from escaping.

Halfway around the world, indigenous people in Finland, Sweden, and Norway participated in the Beiwe Festival. On the winter solstice, worshippers honored the goddess Beiwe by sacrificing white female animals and covering their doorposts with butter for Beiwe to eat on her travels.

3. Watch this video and choose 5 of the questions to answer thoughtfully. Remind your teacher that that answers can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.

1. Describe what would happen to our planet if it did not tilt as it revolves around the Sun.

2. Explain how the tilt of the Earth affects the length of days in the northern and southern hemispheres during winter.

3. What are solstices, and how do they mark the change in seasons?

4. Discuss how civilizations in history, like the Babylonians and Maya, recognized the patterns of Earth’s movement around the Sun.

5. How does the experience of seasons differ for someone living near the equator compared to someone living near the poles?

6. Why might the changing lengths of days and nights be considered important by ancient civilizations?

7. In your opinion, why is it essential for us to understand the relationship between the Earth and the Sun?

8. Describe how the Earth’s movement around the Sun can provide reassurance during the coldest nights of winter.

4. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

It is always a good time to learn more about Geography. Study this geography lesson which is all about Oceans.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies spark recording page: #23: Geography Lesson: Oceans

2.  Watch this video all of the way through.   Record the mnemonic on your recording page.

3. Read the article Ocean Habitat  at National Geographic kids.  Record 2-3 pieces of information from each of the sections.  In step 4 you will be making a quiz so look for good info to include in a quiz.

• Earth Underwater
• Climate Control
• Ocean or Sea?
• Ocean Life

• Watery Habitats

4. Use the information from this article to write a 10 question quiz on your recording page. Include multiple choice, true and false, and open ended responses. Make a key to go with your quiz.

5. Take this ocean and sea quiz one time. Record your score.

6.  Take the same ocean and sea quiz a second time. Record your score.

7. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.