LittleClickers » History

Cathedrals

buckleit — Sun, 05 May 2019 17:27:37 +0000

Do you like to build with blocks? If so, you would like how cathedrals are made. Imagine if your blocks were made of stone, and a king asked you to make the most beautiful cathedral in the world. What would it look like?

1. Why did people build cathedrals? To show off. At the Durham World Heritage Site you learn how the construction of a monumental cathedral helped to impress visitors. It also gave the town a place to bury important people, and pay respect to a religion. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2vvXAzl

2. What does Gothic mean? Why are cathedrals often called gothic? It’s another way to say “fancy.” The word originated from the Goths, a German tribe in Europe, who celebrated ornate, decorative design. Telltale signs of Gothic construction include statues, high ceilings, stained glass and pointed arches, all commonly used in cathedrals. Read more at http://bitly.com/2vFMnfT

3. What kind of stone are most cathedrals made of? Mostly limestone, which is easy to cut and carve, and can stand up to the weather. Most limestone was cut from ancient seabeds. Marble and other gemstones were used on the inside floor and for decorations. Read more at http://bitly.com/2PFromm

4. Because cathedrals are made of stone, they are fireproof, right? No. Wooden timbers are also often part of the construction, especially in the area above the dome. These huge wooden beams can burn quickly, which is why a terrible fire started in the Notre-Dame cathedral. See the results of the fire, at https://nyti.ms/2PJf8kL

5. Can cathedrals be digitized? Yes. A USA professor named Andrew Tallon used drones and lasers to make digital maps of the Notre Dame cathedral before the fire. Sadly he Dr. Tallon died last fall, making is work an important legacy to him, as it is used by the future builders who will try to restore the famous cathedral. Read more at http://bitly.com/2PHoxsY

APPLICATION

Can you build a model cathedral? You can with this $55 block set https://amzn.to/2PHmLrO or take a class from Thomas Davies Clay, who makes cathedral Models. See his site at http://www.cathedralquest.com/index.html

Cathedrals on YouTube

Want more? Here’s a video playlist

Download this month’s LittleClickers as a one page PDF –> Download

———————————————————————————————————————————————— LittleClickers.com (this page and the associated web site) is sponsored by Computer Explorers. Neither Children’s Technology Review (publisher of LittleClickers) or Computer Explorers has any vested interest in any of the sites listed on this page. Librarians and teachers are permitted to copy this page for non-profit use. To report a bad link, use this form, or contact us. Copyright 2018, Children's Technology Review.

Dinosaurs

buckleit — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 19:40:40 +0000

How much do you know about dinosaurs? Find out with this dinosaur quiz.

Download this month’s LittleClickers as a one page PDF –> Jul18lc

1. Could you have a dinosaur as a pet? Not a good idea. Most dinos– like the large meat eaters — would see you as a snack. The Irish news explored this question http://bitly.com/2NogqAd and determined that perhaps a plant eating, horse-sized dinosaur could work if it were raised it from an egg.

2. How many years ago was the last dinosaur alive?
a) 100 years
b) 100,000 years
c) 1 million years
d) 66 million years
Answer: At the Natural History Museum http://bitly.com/2NoRQ1Z you learn that the last dinosaurs were alive 66 million years ago.

3. What killed the dinosaurs? Most scientists agree that dinosaur life ended suddenly when a six mile wide asteroid struck the earth. The dust from the impact blocked the sun and changed the climate, starving the dinosaurs. See https://www.psi.edu/epo/ktimpact/ktimpact.html

4. What living creature today most resembles dinosaurs?
a) A crocodile
b) A sturgeon
c) A chicken
d) All of the above.
The correct answer is d) all of the above, although the crocodile might be the most similar looking. Learn more at http://bitly.com/2NokQad

5. T/F The biggest dinosaur was larger than a whale. False. The largest land dinosaurs, the sauropod Argentinosaurus was about half the size of today’s adult blue whale. Land animals have to support their own weight, whereas sea creatures get some help from the water, so they can grow bigger. https://bbc.in/2tIBVUc

APPLICATION: HOW MANY DINOSAURS CAN YOU NAME?

Here’s a nice list of dinosaurs, with facts https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dinosaurs
Here’s a National Geographic Kids dinosaur fact quiz http://bitly.com/2ISy8Zg
See how many dinosaurs you can name at Quiz Biz: https://www.quiz.biz/quizz-722947.html

YouTube Playlist

Presidents

Megan Billitti — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:00:04 +0000

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States… With these words, you become President of the United States.

Download this column as a PDF

Is this a job you’d like? How much do you get paid? Can anyone run for president? Here are some answers!

1. How old do you have to be to run for President? A) 53 years old B) 64 years old C) 18 years old D) 35 years old Answer: D) 35 years old. At http://bit.ly/1sAwEJp , you’ll learn that the President and the Vice President must meet three requirements. They must be at least 35 years old, be a natural-born U.S. citizen and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

2. How much does a president get paid per year? At http://read.bi/2eFQu3p, you’ll learn that President Obama is earning $400,000 a year. To see how much the presidents have earned throughout the years, check out http://abt.cm/2fcbtN2.

3. True or False: Two Presidents had pet alligators in the White House. True. At http://bit.ly/1eJnQDU, you can find out which two Presidents had pet alligators. Learn more about presidential pets at http://bit.ly/2e7aJVc .

4. What’s the latest news from the 2016 campaign? At http://bit.ly/2ej6EhP, a group of kid reporters are following the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton campaigns. While you’re on the site, try the “You’re the President” game at http://bit.ly/1UcZtE9.

Applications:

1. How well do you know the Presidents? Try this quiz http://bit.ly/2eD3a9u

2. Try making Ronald Reagan’s favorite mac and cheese. It’s delicious, and here’s the recipe http://bit.ly/2eD61PG4.

Folklore

Megan Billitti — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 12:03:39 +0000

September 26th is Johnny Appleseed day. Just how did Mr. Appleseed get his own day? The answer comes from Folklore, a form of storytelling passed from one generation to the next. If you have access to the Internet, you can find all kinds of folklore. Let’s start clicking!

1. Show me some folklore. Visit this amazing D. L. Ashliman’s collection of online stories at http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html

2. What do Disney and folklore have in common? It turns out Walt Disney was really into folklore, and he based many of his projects on these fairy tale stories. See the complete list here, on Wikipedia. http://bitly.com/2c8PLVy

3. Are there apps made from folklore? One company, Nosy Crow in the UK is the clear leader in this category. Read about how they make apps and listen to Kate Wilson talk about the process. Here’s a CTREX listing of their apps http://bit.ly/2bSAKt9

4. Where else does folklore exist? Folklore exists all around the world. To check out some famous stories of folklore from other countries, click here http://bit.ly/2bRzV4E

5. Can I listen to Folklore? We found a collection of audio recordings, at the Library of Congress. http://bitly.com/2bBvkVC. Here’s a direct link to one of the stories, from the dust bowl in the 1940s, http://bitly.com/2bBv0pP Application: Write a folklore story, using these writing tools, at http://bit.ly/2bM1KJq

Iconic Rock Structures

Megan Billitti — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 21:31:27 +0000

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS: DOWNLOAD THIS PAGE AS A ONE PAGE PDF

One dark and stormy night this summer, on a Utah desert, “The Cobra” toppled and fell. It took millions of years to make, but just seconds to end. So we decided to learn more about some of the iconic rock formations around the world.

1. How did The Cobra fall? At http://bit.ly/1omkDPh, you’ll learn that the most probable cause was a strong thunderstorm, but some think it was a lighting strike.

2. Did people climb The Cobra? Yes. Also, read more at http://bit.ly/1tZ4Tb1 to learn which rock formations are rated as the best climbs in North America.

3. How are rock arches created? The site for the Arches National Park http://1.usa.gov/1tZ4sxt nicely explains the five elements required to create an arch.

4. What are some of the greatest man-made rock sculptures? Besides the Great Sphinx in Egypt (wikipedia page at http://bit.ly/1ja0aea) there’s Mt. Rushmore, http://bit.ly/1ckFOwL which is one of the most visited rock sculptures in North America. Also have a look at http://bit.ly/1pVA5I2 to see the Crazy Horse Memorial Monument, a work in progress which could be the world’s largest mountain sculpture.

SHOW ME SOME ROCK FORMATIONS:

Want to see more? At http://bit.ly/1lH5eNL view pictures of the various incredible rock formations found in the world today.

Want to see a rock shaped like a giant wave?

Here’s a set of hand picked videos from Youtube:

Solar Panels

Megan Billitti — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:39:36 +0000

Like magic, solar panels can convert light into electricity. They can save you money, and our environment. When combined with computer-controlled motors and wind sensors, they can turn toward the sun, or hide from the wind. But how do they work? What’s their lifespan? How much do they cost? Read on to learn all about Solar Panels.

1. How does a solar panel work? At Highlights for Children http://bit.ly/1d3s535 you can learn that solar panels use silicon crystals to create a photo-chemical reaction. It’s a special type of black, slippery glass that makes electrons move, creating electrical energy. Wikipedia http://bitly.com/1eZE1Bz gives more information on the underlying science of a solar panel.

2. Can a solar panel power a traffic light? Yes. At http://bit.ly/OAjV7s you learn that solar energy can also heat water for swimming pools, power garden lights and run the international space station.

3. How long do solar panels last? At http://bit.ly/1phYEKM you learn that a solar panel can last 30 to 40 years, or more.

4. How long have people been using solar energy? According to http://bit.ly/PTq6o5, glass was used in 7 B.C. to concentrate the rays of the sun to start fires. At Who Invented, http://bitly.com/1rKluPo we learn that solar panel research started in the 1800’s by French physicist Antoine Cesar Becquerel. Russell Ohl was the first to create a silicon solar cell in 1941.

5. Do solar panels work better on hot days than cold days? At http://bit.ly/1ij6eE1 you can learn that solar panels care about just one thing: light, not temperature. They even work from the light of the moon. But not when covered by snow.

6. What state is the best for solar panels? At http://bit.ly/1j7i4Vl, not only does sunlight matter, but government incentives matter too. Click here to see how your state rates http://1.usa.gov/1lSAlDc. At http://exm.nr/1qZgHJf you can find out if your solar panels can make enough money to pay for themselves.

Applications

1. Got an old pizza box? Turn it into a solar oven at http://bit.ly/1ij6wus

2. Stuck on a desert island? Make your own water purifier using solar energy http://bit.ly/1ij6z9K.

3. Hungry? Let’s cook some hotdogs! You’ll learn about geometry (parabola) and cooking at the same time. We found some excellent instructions at sci-toys.com. http://bitly.com/QqpNRP

Winter Olympics 2014

Megan Billitti — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:45:50 +0000

Download the PDF Version of this column

Every 4th winter, the world’s best snowboarders, skiers, skaters and sledders migrate to the frozen parts of the world to find out who deserves the gold medal. This year, they’re all going to a small town in Russia — Sochi, for the Winter Olympics. At http://www.sochi2014.com/en you can see the schedule and learn about the athletes, but that’s just the beginning. Let’s test your knowledge about the Winter Olympics and then watch some videos from prior Winter Olympics.

1. T/F Tropical countries don’t compete in the winter Olympics. Answer: False. There are athletes from Jamaica and the Virgin Islands listed on the roster, at http://bit.ly/1e84fgM

2. Which country has the most Winter Olympics medals? Hint. It’s not the USA, Russia or China. The answer is at http://bit.ly/1f0MrZ3.

3. How many Winter Olympic sports are there? The answer is at http://bit.ly/1jiRrM3. Hint, there’s not nearly as many as the Summer Olympics, and the fraction 15/41 is a clue. Also, you should know that there are eight new sports at this year’s Olympics, listed here http://bit.ly/1mmaFxk.

4. If you win a gold medal, is it really gold? At http://cnnmon.ie/1jpS7PM you learn that, by weight, a “gold” medal is a mixture of metals; mostly silver. It is coated with real gold. The real value of a gold medal is symbolic.

5. Can a kid enter the Olympics? According to Yun Mi Kim of Korea, the answer is yes. She was 13 when she won her speed skating gold medal. At http://bit.ly/1mmb82u you can learn the ages of all past medal winners, young and old.

Applications

Make a torch at http://bit.ly/LJopay

Try some Olympic trivia at http://bit.ly/1dOySeL and http://bit.ly/1e9vKcA

Follow the news on twitter by following tweets by NBC Sports at #NBCOlympics

Money

Megan Billitti — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:44:15 +0000

The US Mint calls money “history in your pocket.”

It’s true. Every bill or coin tells a story by showing an important figure, or perhaps one of the 50 states. Let’s give you a money quiz.

1. The color green is associated with money. Are dollars printed with green ink?

Not anymore. At http://to.pbs.org/1ai7uQk you can learn all about the special paper, and multiple colors of ink used to make latest bills. You can explore some of the other hidden ingredients, such as microprinting that makes bills harder to copy.

2. T/F Some new bills are in 3D.

At http://cnnmon.ie/16QnBnS CNN explores the new $100 bill with all sorts of technology, including a 3-D security ribbon and color-shifting ink that changes from copper to green when the bill is tilted. At the Federal Reserve we found an interactive bill http://1.usa.gov/HrWOIv that lets you explore the new features.

3. Oh no, my dog chewed up my $5.00 bill. Is it still good?

Yes as long as you have more than half (51%). Just take it to a bank and they may give you a new one. Visit http://1.usa.gov/18H2rsi to learn the rules.

4. What is the most valuable United States coin?

Go to http://aol.it/17vI2g6 to see a 1849 solid gold Double Eagle. The $20 coin is now worth $20 million!

5. I want to start a state quarter collection.

At http://1.usa.gov/18Kle63 you can learn about the US Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program. Each quarter was produced for only 10 weeks, and will never be produced again.

DID YOU KNOW: The US Mint uses a standard washer and dryer to make coins clean and shiny.

See a penny on the ground? Pick it up! Next, you need a “coin folder” that contains round cutouts for each year.

They cost about $4 (or 400 pennies) and are sold in stores like Whitman publishing http://bitly.com/17C7kXB

QUARTER MAP ($9 from Amazon.com) http://amzn.to/1aPcfVV

Applications

Here are two sites with some fun games you can play to test your money skills

http://www.funbrain.com/cashreg/index.html

http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/money.html

Meteors

buckleit — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:32:44 +0000

DOWNLOAD THIS COLUMN AS A PDF

Last month, a rock the size of a school bus struck the earth’s atmosphere. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but a sonic boom and crater stirred up our curiosity Here are some links and videos about meteors and meteorites:

1. What’s the difference between a meteor and a meteorite? At Live Science you can learn that a meteor is an asteroid (or any other object) that starts burning when it hits the Earth’s atmosphere. Meteors are often called “shooting stars,” and they are common. It is much less common for one to survive the plunge through the atmosphere to hit the ground. But if it does it’s called a meteorite.

2. What are Meteorites made of? At http://www.meteorites.com.au/meteorite.html you can see a collection of meteorites that have landed in Australia. You’ll learn they are made up of very dense iron and rock, and are often magnetic. Watch the video at http://bit.ly/YdghOG to learn more.

3. How big was the meteor that streaked over Russia? According to NASA, http://1.usa.gov/Z6hREq the meteor that crashed into the Ural Mountains in February 2013 was about 55 feet in diameter and weighed 10,000 tons. That’s about the size of a bus and weighs as much as 1,660 elephants. But it was no match for the Earth’s atmosphere, which smashed it to bits, with a huge explosion. Read more at Yahoo News: http://yhoo.it/Yt3iL8

4. Are there any craters on Earth? At http://geology.com/meteor-impact-craters.shtml you can see a satellite view of some of the best-known craters. One of the most famous is Meteor Crater, near Winslow, Arizona. The crater was created instantly when a 50-meter meteorite slammed into the desert about 50,000 years ago.

5. Should I worry about getting hit? You can relax. The chances of your house being hit by a meteor are about 1 in 2,745,337,045,030 according to a real estate blog, at http://bit.ly/10MhtuO You’d have a better chance of winning the lottery twice!

5. Has anyone ever been hit by a Meteorite? At the Encyclopedia of Alabama http://bit.ly/WLaEa4 you can read about a woman who was sleeping on her couch when a grapefruit sized meteor crashed through her roof and hit her on the hip. She wasn’t hurt. In Germany, a 14 yr old boy was hit in the hand by a pea-sized in meteor, according to the Telegraph http://bit.ly/YdvPlD. He was cut on his hand, but other than that wasn’t hurt.

APPLICATION:

How do you tell if a rock fell from outer space? Meteorites are more rare than gold or diamonds At Geology.com you can see what they look like. Here’s a starter list:

Magnetic. A metal detector helps to find them.
Look molten on the surface.
Heavy. They’re made of a lot of iron an/or nickel. A softball-sized iron meteorite will weigh up to five pounds

I Wanna Be President

buckleit — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:15:04 +0000

I Wanna Be

PRESIDENT!

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Presidential Oath of Office

With these words, you become President of the United States. Is this a job you’d like? How much do you get paid? Can anyone run for president? What do you do after you’ve been president? Learn these answers and more interesting facts about the men who have held our nation’s highest office.

How old do you have to be to run for President?
A) 53 years old
B) 64 years old
C) 18 years old
D) 35 years old

Answer: D) 35 years old. At http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/national/president3.html, you’ll learn that the President and the Vice President must meet three requirements. They must be at least 35 years old, be a natural-born U.S. citizen and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. You can only be the president for two terms, or eight years.

Also be sure to visit http://www.presidentsusa.net/index.html. Here you’ll find one of the most comprehensive sites on the Internet for presidential resources. Subject headings are alphabetized and are linked to most of the sites on the web containing information on that specific presidential subject.

How old do you have to be to run for President?
A) 53 years old
B) 64 years old
C) 18 years old
D) 35 years old

How much does a president get paid per year?

At http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/24/pay.raise/, you can see how much each president has been paid. Currently, it is $400,000 a year. Two presidents refused to accept the salary: George Washington and John F. Kennedy.

True or False: One of the Presidents had a pet goat in the White House.

True. At http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/pets/quiz/ you can learn that President Benjamin Harrison’s grandchildren were pulled around the White House lawns in a cart, pulled by his pet goat named His Whiskers.

Who was the tallest president? (And what did his son do to get into BIG trouble?)

At http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/PeoplePlaces/Georgewashingtonicecream, you’ll learn that Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president, at 6’4″, and that his son, Tad, once fired a cannon inside the White House. You’ll also learn that George Washington loved ice cream, and James Garfield, the 20th President, was the first left-handed President.

What’s the latest news from the 2008 campaign?

At http://www.scholastic.com/election2008, a group of kid reporters are following Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton as they try to become the next president. While you are on this site, try the “You’re the President” game at http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/games_quizzes/electiongame/game.asp.

What is the the greatest number of US presidents alive at the same time?

At http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question74058.html, you’ll learn that the highest number of US Presidents alive at the same time is six. This has occurred twice. Until 1994, Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and Clinton were alive. President Nixon passed in 1994, leaving five. The number increased to six again with the inauguration of President G.W. Bush in 2001, until President Regan’s death in 2004.

Were any of them ever friends?

Even though they were politcal opponents, one of the most intensely personal friendships between any two presidents in history was the Ford-Carter friendship. You can read Jimmy Carter’s eloquent and moving eulogy to his close friend at: http://www.cartercenter.org/news/editorials_speeches/ford_eulogy.html.

What do presidents do after they leave office?

Visit http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/3_frame.html. There is no law that states what a president must do after leaving office. It often depends on their standing in the eyes of the American people, stature within their party, or desire to continue in the public realm. Also visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/pres_occ/quiz/ where you can take a quiz to learn about some of the roles past chief executives held after they left office. Some examples:

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) — established the University of Virginia, including designing the buildings, setting up the curriculum, and selecting the faculty.

James Madison (1809-1817)
– helped found the American Colonization Society, which favored gradual abolition of slavery and the resettlement of slaves and free blacks in Africa.

Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
– founded the nonprofit Carter Center at Emory University in Atlanta to promote peace and human rights worldwide. He also continues to help build homes for Habitat For Humanity.

William Howard Taft (1909-1913) — loved the law and the Constitution. He is the only President to have served as both President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.