Oldest Time Capsule in USA Discovered! Using the News as a Bell Ringer Activity

While fixing a leak, workers made an amazing discovery. What is being called the oldest time capsule, found in the United States,has been unearthed under the Golden Dome, at the Massachusetts State House. The 219 year old capsule, originally made of cowhide,was actually buried by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, back in 1795! It was actually found in the cornerstone of the building, back in 1855. At that time, it was revealed that the capsule contained papers, a Raul Revere plate and coins dating back to the 1600s.After adding some additional artifacts, the capsule was reburied, this time inside a copper box. The historic capsule,now covered with white plaster and having turned green, will first  be X-rayed, before opening it.  It hasn't yet been determined what will be done with the time capsule.

What do you think?

1. Do you think the time capsule should be reburied after it has been reviewed or should it go on display  in a museum? Give a reason for your opinion.

2. If you could add 3 items to the capsule to show events of our current world, what would you place inside?Give a reason for your selected items.

3. Why do you think the time capsule will be x-rayed before opening it?

Check out my teaching resources at this link: http://www.pinterest.com/gailhennessey/gails-tpt-store-social-studies-emporiumand-more/

Gail

Photogrtaph of the conservator for the Boston's Museum of Fine Arts holding the time capsule is from Time.com

Reindeer Cops-In the News Bell Ringer/Extension Activities

Seems Santa isn't the only one that relies on reindeer to get things done.Police in Siberia are thinking of a new way to fight crime...using reindeer!

Seems that snowmobiles are no match for chasing crooks in the deep snow and reindeer may be the answer. Reindeer have the ability to see in the dark. Reindeer eyes seen the sun's UV rays reflecting off the snow. Reindeer also have great hooves that cut into ice. Their hooves act like shoeshoes,spreading out as they move! And, they never run out of gas or break down like snowmobiles do.  Police are finding that law-breakers using carts pulled by reindeer are getting away from them! A four-legged police transport may be the answer!

Extension Activity:

* Pretend you are a reindeer cop and tell about a day in your life.  What's going on? What do you do?Etc.

* Discuss persuasive writing. Write a paragraph trying to convince someone that using reindeer in law enforcement in such a snowy region would be a good idea.

* Write a persuasive paragraph expressing why you would oppose the idea of using reindeer in law enforcement.

* Read the story,"How the Reindeer Got Their Antlers", by Geraldine McCaughrean 

* Learn about Siberia:  Have groups of students find 5 interesting facts about Siberia and share their findings with the class. Have students draw/color a picture of a reindeer. Write FIVE facts you learned about Siberia. http://www.thefreeresource.com/facts-about-siberia-for-kids

 and http://www.aboutsiberia.com/facts 

Fun Reindeer Facts:

Reindeer are known as caribou, wild reindeer and reindeer.

Male and female reindeer have antlers!

With a great sense of smell, a reindeer can find lichen to munch on, 2 ft. beneath the snow. The favorite lichen is called "reindeer moss".bg

Reindeer are very good swimmers!

A Reindeer can run at speeds of up to 40 mph.

The sound a reindeer makes is a bellow.

Like fingerprints, a reindeer's antlers are unique.No two are alike!

Gail

Photograph from mnn.com

Holiday Writing Prompt: A "Day in the Life of a Christmas Tree"

Holiday Writing Prompt: A Day in the Life of a Christmas Tree.

Have kids draw/color a picture of a Christmas Tree. Exchange drawings with other students to write descriptive words on the back of the drawing.Encourage students to write descriptive phrases and not just one word. 

Using the comments, have the students write a "Day in the Life of a Christmas Tree".In the first person, the "Christmas tree" tells what it hears, sees, feels, etc. as it stands in the room. It might overhear conversations, it might be ticklish as it is being decorated, it might be sad to have been cut down, etc. Encourage the students to use some of the descriptive phrases in their writing.

You could open this up to other holiday things such as an ornament, a menorah, the Kinara(candle holder )for Kwanzaa, a stocking hanging on a chimney mantle,etc.

Gail Hennessey
Check out my resources at my Pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/gailhennessey/gails-tpt-store-social-studies-emporiumand-more/

http://www.gailhennessey.com-my website for teachers/kids

Gail

What Would YOU put in a "Digital Memory Box"? Using the News as a Bell Ringer Activity

What Would YOU put in a "Digital Memory Box"?
A company in Great Britain is hoping to send a robotic vehicle to the Moon and land it on the South Pole of the Moon. Once at the location, the plan is to bore into the lunar surface down about 65 ft., a depth never tried before on the surface of the Moon. The retrieved rock samples would give scientists information on the origin of the moon such as examining rocks that haven't been touched by cosmic radiation, in millions of years. To raise money for the project, the Lunar Mission One, is asking people to contribute "digital memory boxes" which would be placed in the hole, as a type of time capsule. Additionally, the complied digital memory box database would eventually  be available for free to anyone to view.The mission is still in the planning stages.

Questions: 
What would be three things you'd place on your digital memory box for others to learn about you?
Which do you think is best and why? Private companies conducting explorations in space or governments(like NASA) being the main source of missions into space?

What are three facts you know about the moon?  

What is something you would like to learn about the moon?

Illustration from gizmag.com

Try my resource on Space: The Final Frontier. Learn about the history of space exploration with this informative web quest. There are 12 web questions, comprehension questions and extension activities.http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Space-The-Final-FrontierWebquestExtension-Activities-1526888

Gail

Will SNOW DAYS be a Thing of the Past?

Here's a little secret. Teachers love snow days, too!  And, they may be a thing of the past as schools turn to technology. Imagine, a snow storm and school closed but students still have... virtual classes.  It's being tried at a private high school in Minnesota.  With virtual classes, students can go online to work on assignments that teachers have posted. Schools must be in session for a specific number of days each year. For most schools, this is at least 180 days. Too many snow days often mean having to make up the days over other breaks.  If states approve this alternative virtual school day, such make-up days would not be needed.

Questions:

Which would you rather have, a virtual school day or have to make up the day over other school breaks? Why?

Can you see any problems with virtual school days?

Could You Stay in Bed for THREE Months? Bell Ringer Activity

Perhaps, this news story might be of interest for a Bell Ringer Activity.


Ever have a day when you wished you could stay in bed? Andrew Iwanicki not only is staying in bed for one day but for THREE months! As part of a NASA program to study how bones and muscles react to long periods of weightlessness  in space, they have asked for volunteers to stay in bed for 70 days. NASA has actually gotten 54 people to volunteer for this experiment in addition to Iwanicki. No getting out of bed, no going outside, just staying in a bed  with your head slightly tilted downward and your feet up, hooked up to different monitors to see how your body is handling "complete bed rest",is  what Iwanicki will be doing for about seven more week. There is television and internet available and NASA suggests that participants use the time for achieving goals. One bright side is that the volunteers are paid about $15,000 to lie in bed for this period of time!

1. Would you be able to participate in such a study? Why, why not?
2. What would be the most difficult aspect of participating in this study?
3. Watching television and playing video games might get old after a while, what might you decide to do with some of your time?

Illustration from Openclipart.org

Welcome to the NY Skyline: The One World Trade Center!

Perhaps, you might find this bell ringer activity of interest to use with your students.

The tallest building in the United States(and the Western Hemisphere) has opened for business. Built at the site of the original World Trade Towers which was destroyed by terrorists on September 11, 2001, the new One World Trade Center has 104 floors and took eight years to build. Standing 1776 ft. tall, the skyscraper will have a ceremony marking its official opening later in the month. I am very proud to see this new building standing proudly in the New York skyline! 

Bell Ringer activity for students: 
1. What statement do you think this new building tells the rest of the world? 
2. What meaning does the height of the skyscraper have? 
3. Write a sentence describing the new skyscraper. 

Gail 
Photograph from Timesdispatch.com