Happy Birthday,Martin Luther King Jr.(Jan. 15th)

 

Martin Luther King's birthday is January 15th.

Download the free resource at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-8947638

Did you Know?

1. The only non-president to be honored with a national holiday is Martin Luther King.

2. Only George Washington and Martin Luther King are honored on their birthdays with national holidays. Martin Luther King’s birthday and holiday is honored on January 15th.

3. Because of Martin Luther King’s protests for civil rights, King was arrested about 29(or 30) times. He was actually arrested and jailed for speeding 30 in a 25 mph area!

4. The first African American honored as Time Magazine’s Man of the Year(now called Person of the Year) was Martin Luther King.

5.Martin Luther King started college at the age of 15!

6. Estimates are that there are 700-1000 Martin Luther King Jr. streets in the United States and even a street honoring King located in Puerto Rico.

7. In his efforts to fight for civil rights, it is estimated that Martin Luther King traveled over six million miles and gave more than 2500 speeches!

8. Did you know that a young Martin actually jumped out of the second floor window of his home? He actually did this two times and fortunately didn’t get hurt(DON’T try this!!!). The first time he jumped from the window because he felt he needed to be punished because he didn’t watch his younger brother properly. His brother slid down the stair bannister and slid into his grandmother who fell. The second time he jumped out of the window was when his grandmother died. Martin felt she died because he had sneaked out of his house without asking permission.

9. Martin Luther King is the first African American to have a memorial in his honor in the National Mall area in Washington,DC.

10. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “There is nothing more tragic in all this world than to know right and not do it. I can not stand in the midst of all these glaring evils and not take a stand.”

11. Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest person to ever be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize(in 1964).

12. Asked one day as how he hoped to be remembers, Martin Luther King Jr. replied, “Say I was a drum major for peace.

1. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means?  “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”

______________________________________

2. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means? “The time is always right to do what is right.” _______________________________________

3. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means? “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ___________________________________

___________________________________  

4. Illustrate one of the facts you found most interesting.

Check out this Reader's Theater Script on Martin Luther King Jr. : https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-A-Readers-Theater-Script-6229923?st=2517eb0f96d0eec2d96794a568982b34

Check out this Webquest on Martin Luther King Jr. :https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-A-Webquest-484492?st=2517eb0f96d0eec2d96794a568982b34

In the News: Iceland's Volcanic Eruption(December 2023)

If you are interested in my resource on New Year Traditions from around the world, it is on sale this week for $3.75 (from $4.50). Also, you may still be interested in Holiday Traditions from Around the World($3.75) which is also on sale. Both through January 1st.

                                             Iceland’s Capital of Reykjavik 

Get the free downloadable version here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iceland-What-do-YOU-Know-about-this-country-FREE-10719959

In the News: December 2023

Volcano erupts in the country of Iceland! The recent eruption occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula(south-west part of Iceland). The fishing town, Grindavik, had been evacuated last month prior to the volcanic eruption.

What do you know about the country of Iceland? Write TWO facts: ________________________________________________________ and ________________________________________

 

The largest waterfall in Europe is Gullfoss(golden fall) and is found in Iceland.

Fun Facts about Iceland:

1. Iceland is a great place to see the Aurora Borealis light display especially between October-March.

2. NASA used the terrain of Iceland to train its astronauts for the first moon landing.

3. Iceland has no army, navy or air force. They only have a Coast Guard. Iceland also does not have a railroad system.

4. There are few trees in Iceland and those trees aren’t very tall. A joke says,”How does one find their way out of an Icelandic forest?” Answer: They stand up.

5. The largest waterfall in Europe is Gullfoss(golden fall) found in Iceland. Sigrious Tomasdottir, who lived near the falls, threatened to jump if a hydroelectric dam was built there. Today, a statue can be found near the falls in her memory for saving the falls. There is not a hydroelectric dam.

6. The word, geyser, comes from Icelandic! The oldest known geyser is found in Iceland. The word means “the gusher”.

7. Iceland has the oldest democracy in the world. Its parliament was founded about 1000 years ago and is called the Althingi.

8.In the 1960s, a volcanic eruption created the island of Surtsey.

9. The country uses geothermal energy for most of their energy needs. 

10. Icelandic families have different last names. Icelandic people name their children after their father’s first name plus the name son or daughter. A boy, whose dad is named Eider would have the last name Eidersson. A girl would have the last name Eiderdottir. Only certain names, taken from the official book of names, are allowed to be used in the country of Iceland.

11. The Iceland horses have been on the island since around 930AD. No other horses can be brought into the country of Iceland.

12. Iceland was settled by the Vikings around the late 9th Century AD. Iceland is nicknamed the “land of fire and ice” because of all the many volcanoes, waterfalls, geysers and glaciers.

13. In 2010, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted, the most eruption to date.

14. In 1973, the only town on the Westman Islands of Heimaey, was badly damaged due to a volcanic eruption. Its 5000 residents had to evacuate. Lava and thick ash covered much of the town. Called the “Pompeii of the North”, excavation has uncovered most homes in good condition with many of the items   intact!

15. Iceland has 32 ACTIVE volcanoes! 

Map Work: Find the answers at this link: https://www.mapsofworld.com/iceland/

1. Highest peak in Iceland:____________________

2. Largest glacier in Iceland:_________________________

3. City closest to the Arctic Circle: _____________________________

4. Southernmost city in Iceland: ______________________________

5. River which the city of Borgarnes is nearest: _____________________

6. Capital city of the country of Iceland: It is the world’s most northern capital city._________________________

Additional Resources:

Learn more about the country of Iceland with this webquest:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iceland-Country-in-FocusIcelandic-Webquest-495815 

Iceland, a Reading Passage: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iceland-Reading-Passage-2546066

Teachers:

More information on the latest volcanic eruption with great photographs!

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/europe/reykjanes-volcano-erupts-iceland/index.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/67758123

Kerio Crater in Iceland(concerts have been held here) 

Happy New Year Customs from Around the World

  

Click here for the downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Customs-from-Around-the-World-FREEBIE-2215707

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bonne annee(French)

Frohes neues Jahr(Germany)

Felice anno nuovo(Italian)

Gott nytt ar(Swedish)

Feliz ano nuevo(Spanish)

Shana tova(Hebrew)

Hauoli makahiki hou(Hawaiian)

Gelukkig nieuwjaar(Dutch)

Did you know that there are 24 different time zones? That means people around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve at different times. When the fireworks are going off in Australia, it’s still morning in New York! 

There are  lots of different customs done by people to celebrate the New Year. There are also several different types of New Year’s celebrations.  Get your noise makers and let’s learn about how people  around the world celebrate the New Year!

Fun World New Year Factoids!

In Russia, divers place a New Year’s tree into Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake.

Did you know that in Denmark, people like to through old broken dishes at the front door of friends, at New Year’s Eve?

Did you know that eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight is considered good luck in Spain?

Hogmanay is a custom celebrated in Scotland at New Year’s. The word means “last day of the year”. One of the activities is “first footing”, being the first person to visit a neighbor or friend in the new year. Usually, a gift is brought, too.

Christmas trees are made into bonfires to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands. This custom is done to symbolize getting rid of the old and welcoming the new year.

In Switzerland, don’t be surprised if you see people drop a bit of cream onto the floor on New Year’s Eve. It is thought that this will bring good luck in the new year.

In the South American country of Venezuela, people like to write a wish on a piece of paper and then burn it so that the wish may come true in the new year.

In the country of Italy, many people like wearing RED underwear at New Year’s believing the color will bring good luck in the new year. In other cultures, especially several countries in Latin America, wearing YELLOW is considered good luck.

In Mexico, don’t be surprised if you see people carrying empty suitcases around their house or street on New Year’s Eve. The custom is done if you would like to travel in the new year.

The custom of having a ball drop from Times Square, in New York City, on New Year’s Eve began in 1907. Some people in the south, believe eating black eyed peas will bring prosperity in the new year.

In Austria, people like to waltz when midnight strikes in the new year.

Did you know that throwing a bucket of water outside a window at midnight on New Year’s Eve is done in Puerto Rico? It is to get rid of bad spirits.

In Ireland, people bang bread on the walls and doors of their homes at midnight. This is done to scare away evil spirits and to bring good luck.

Finding an almond in rice pudding on New Year’s Eve means good luck in the new year. This custom is found in Sweden and Norway.

People in the Philippines believe that round things bring good luck and often wear cloths with polka dots on New Year’s Eve. Another custom is to have all the lights on in the home on New Year’s Eve so that it will insure a good new year.

Did you know that April Fool’s Day involved New Year’s Day? People used to celebrate the new year around March 25-April 1st. When the calendar changed the new year to January 1st, pranks were played on those that continued to celebrate the New year on April

Questions:

1. Which 3 customs did you find the most interesting? Why 

2. How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve?

3. New Year's Eve is a time to make a resolution for the New Year. What is a goal which you'd like to try and work to accomplish in the 2018?

4.Illustrate one of the customs listed above.

5. Using a world map, locate the different countries mentioned in this list. Write ONE fact that you might know about each of these countries.

6. Rewrite 5 customs from the list and make mistakes in spelling or grammar. Exchange your list with another student for them to be a "proof reader" to find the errors.

Check out my fun/informative web quest on the history of New Years.

Learn about the history of New Year's with this fun/informative web quest. There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year's around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills. Included are also other holiday New Year's celebrations including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah. The resources also mentions how April Fool's Day originated over when to celebrate New Year's! https:// www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Webquest-on- its-history-and-customsExtension-Activities-1584695

Gail
Check out my TpT Store(webquests/Reader’s Theater Scripts): https:// www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey

Note: I have other factoids including the following: pumpkins, turkeys, Diwali, mummies, Women’s History Month, Presidential Trivia, Chinese New Year and more...

Note:Illustration from openclipart.org

December 17,1903....Wright Brothers Famous Flight and Fun Facts about the history of Aviation

 

 

Did you know that people actually thought that the airplane would have no real purpose? WOW...were they wrong!  On December 17, 1903, less than 10 people showed up to watch Orville and Wilbur Wright make history. In fact most papers(only 3 carried the story in the USA) refused to print the press release of the Wright Brothers' historic flight, believing it was not possible for a human to fly. The December 17, 1903 event had to have been a hoax! 

To honor this historic day in history, use this resource to learn a bit about the history of flight.

Did You Know?

1. Most people at the time of the Wright brothers’ first flight attempts on December 17, 1903, thought that the airplane had NO purpose for transportation and was just a dangerous sport. Would you have gone to see the first flight attempts by the Wright Brothers? Why or why not?____________________

2. The distance covered by the 1903 Wright Flyer was less than the wingspan of today's 747 Jumbo Jet!

3. The Wright brothers’ first attempt went 120 ft. That’s about 20 people, about 6ft. tall, lined end to end!

4. Charles Lindbergh was the first to fly non-stop from New York to Paris. The trip,
in 1927, took 33.5 hours. What do you think Lindbergh thought about during his
flight?_____________________________________

5. Amelia Earhart was the first woman aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The
year was 1928.

6. Lillian Gatlin, was the first woman to ride as a passenger in an airplane! The year was 1922.

7. In 1939, Willa Brown was the first African American woman to earn a commercial pilot’s license.

8. Did you know that pilots and co-pilots can not eat the same meal while in flight? Why do you think this is?____________________________________

9. Every 37 seconds, an airplane takes off from Chicago O’Hare’s International Airport. That’s about 100 airplanes each hour.

10. The word used for aviation help, “Mayday”, comes from the French “m’aides" meaning “help me.

11. Did you know that 1/3 of your taste buds get numb while flying? Which taste is your favorite?(sweet, spicy or salty) and why?_______________________

12. Bessie Coleman was an American aviator and the first African American female pilot. She was also the first American to receive an international pilot’s license. 

13. It is said that Gustave Whitehead successful powered an aircraft in Bridgeport, CT, on August 14, 1901. That is two years before the Wright Brothers. Whitehead's craft, called the Condor, did two flights on that date. Reaching 50 Ft., the distance covered was 1 1/2 miles.

14. Aerophobia is the fear of flying.

15. KLM is the world’s oldest airline, started in 1919.

16. Someone estimated that if you add up all the miles flown by all the 747 airplanes, it’s the distance from the Earth to the Moon and back over 75,000 times.c

17. National Aviation Day, August 19th, was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, on the birthday of Orville Wright, who first piloted the Wright Flyer, on December 17, 1903.

Your Turn:

1. Write a diary entry pretending to be Lindbergh, Earhart, Coleman, Orville/Wilbur Wright and tell about a day in your aviation life.

2. Illustrate one of the factoids. Write a sentence of your own explaining the illustrated fact.

3. Have you ever flown in an airplane? Tell about something you remember about your first time in an airplane.  If you haven't flown, would you like to experience flying? Why, why not.

4. If you could meet one of the aviators mentioned above, what would be TWO questions you would ask of the aviator?

5. Write 3 POSITIVE(i.e.: helpful) character traits that a person can have. Write 3 NEGATIVE (i.e.: jealousy)character traits a person can have. What would be 2 positive character traits you would describe for yourself. What would be ONE negative character trait you would describe for yourself. What are 3 character traits that you would give to someone that is an aviator such as Lindbergh, Earhart, Coleman, Orville/Wilbur Wright? 

Links:

Visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu 

Wright Brothers' National Memorial: http://www.outerbanks.com/wright-brothers-national-memorial.html

Teachers- check out these resources on the History of Flight.

     1. Wright Brothers( A Webquest): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wright-Brothers-and-the-AirplaneA-WebquestExtension-Activities-628501

2. Bessie Coleman( Reader’s Theater Script): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bessie-Coleman-AviatorReaders-Theater-Script-1687487

3. Amelia Earhart (Reader’s Theater Script): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Amelia-EarhartBiographical-PlayTo-Tell-the-Truth-Play-348663

     4. Aida de Acosta: A Reading(1st woman to fly a powered aircraft) https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Womens-HistoryAida-de-Acosta1st-woman-to-fly-powered-aircraftREADING-3696573

     5. Wright Brothers: A Reader's Theater Script: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wright-Brothers-Wilbur-and-Orville-A-Readers-Theater-Script-4536348

    

     6. Women Pilots during WW2: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/World-War-2-Female-PilotsMembers-of-the-WASP-A-Readers-Theater-Script-4378242

 

Note: Photograph from Gail Hennessey(Wright Brothers' National Memorial)