Thanking a Teacher and Flying a Banner

Ruth Ann Siegler welcomes former student Bethany Hauser Clawson home from Afghanistan

People come and go throughout our lives, but I find that teachers have a special place in mine.  I'm dedicating this post to Ruth Ann Siegler, a wonderful art teacher who is retiring from Blue Ash Elementary School here in southwest Ohio after 36(?) years of working with children.

Ruth Ann encourages every child to discover his/her innate creativity, especially those kids who aren't "artistic" in the traditional sense.  More important, she recognizes that every one of her students is a special small person whose soul she nurtures.  She certainly helped me gain perspective on one of my kids (now a music teacher ) who as a third grader broke nearly every rule of social networking there was!

As I wrote Elizabeth I: The People's Queen and Theodore Roosevelt for Kids, Ruth Ann was a terrific source for activities.  When I wanted to create a banner-making activity for Elizabeth, Ruth Ann invited me to her art room and showed me how to make one with simple materials --muslin, tissue paper, butcher paper, and glue -- for a textured, colorful result.  I can guarantee that watching a child make one of these won't be enough...you'll find yourself working on one as well. It's all in the fun of making art.

For all you've done for me and others, Ruth Ann, this post is for YOU!

What Sank the Titanic a Century Ago?

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By Mary Kay Carson 

One hundred years ago on April 11th, a Thursday, the Titanic started its maiden voyage toward New York. On board were 2,200 passengers and crew. By Sunday all but 705 of them were dead. The shocking accident was news around the world because celebrities, millionaires, and royalty had been on board the ship. How did a brand new, state-of-the-art, "unsinkable" ship take 1,500 people to their deaths in the icy North Atlantic Ocean a century ago? 

Young readers can find out in my just released book, What Sank the World's Biggest Ship? And Other Questions About the Titanic. It's the first title in Sterling Publishing's new Good Question! series, books about history for younger readers in a captivating question and answer format. Questions tackled in the  book vary from: Why did everyone think the Titanic was unsinkable? and Did cheap parts help sink the Titanic? to What happened to the stranded passengers? and Did anyone get into trouble? Probably my favorite question is: After 100 years, why do people still care?

I always learn a lot when I research and write a book. This seems to be especially true about the history books I've written, since that's less my specialty than science. This Titanic title was no different. And while I combed through the controversies over messages sent, orders ignored, lifeboat numbers, and locked hallways I always came back to that final question: Why do people still care so much about this ship and its tragic accident? Movies and dramatic deep-sea expeditions have regularly revived interest, for sure. And there are dozens of Titanic museums around the world. Is it the mysteries that remain that keep the story alive, or the fact that we can never entirely know what happened that cold night 100 years ago? 

There are lots of ways to engage students during this Titanic Centennial season. Here's a activity that allows students to investigate the science behind the phrase "tip of the iceberg."

 

Welcome Back, Bats!

My book, The Bat Scientists!

By Mary Kay Carson 

As the weather warms and the bugs come out, be thankful that hungry bats are also waking up from their long winter naps! Bats are furry, winged, nocturnal animals. They are the only mammals that can fly. Bats are the biggest eaters of night-flying insects, like moths, beetles, and mosquitoes. Bats take a real bite out of the bug population. A single little brown bat—who weighs about as much as a nickel and a dime—can eat up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in a hour! 

Celebrate President’s Day: Dance a Minuet

In George Washington’s day attending a dance was not for the faint of heart, but Washington and his fellow Virginians gladly rose to the task. Almost everyone knew how to dance. This social grace provided entertainment, exercise, the opportunity to flirt and a showcase for showing off.

People traveled miles to attend glittering balls or more informal gatherings, dancing, eating, drinking and generally making merry. Washington loved to dance and favored lively country dances like reels. But to really make a mark in society, a person had to master a French minuet. Minuet dancing was serious business.

Stargazing by Season

Winter offers a perfect time for stargazing. On cold clear evenings in Ohio where I live, the night sky seems to be just a little bit closer than usual--especially in contrast to the hazy skies on hot humid nights in summertime.