David Eggen, the Education Minister of the Canadian province of Alberta, made an announcement on October 24, 2017. From now on, Alberta classrooms will provide a greater focus on Canada’s aboriginal, or native, people. The new curriculum will include a unit called Secret Path. It tells the story of Chanie Wenjack, a native Ojibwa boy. Wenjack was 12 years old when he fled a Canadian …
Artists Chosen to Paint Obamas’ Portraits
The Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery has announced that it has commissioned official portraits of former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. At the end of a presidency, the museum and the White House commission official portraits of both the president and his spouse. Two sets of portraits are commissioned. One is in the White House; the other remains in the National Portrait Gallery. . . .
A Viking Warrior Revealed
In September, a team of scientists announced an unexpected discovery. The team had been examining the skeleton of a Viking warrior that was first discovered in 1880 in the Swedish town of Birka. Birka was an important Viking trading center. . . .
Saving Books
Each year, many students are assigned the book Fahrenheit 451. The book describes an imaginary United States in the future where books are illegal. People called Firemen are directed to burn any book they find. The title of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 novel refers to the temperature at which a book’s paper catches fire and burns: 451 degrees Fahrenheit (233 degrees Celsius). . . .
People of the Standing Stone
On October 9, 2017, Columbus Day, the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will premiere the film “People of the Standing Stone.” The film, narrated by actor Kevin Costner, tells the story of the Oneida, a Native American nation that played an important role in American history. . . .
Lichens Everywhere!
Although we don’t often stop to notice them, lichens are nearly everywhere on Earth. Lichens are very hardy. They can survive extreme environments that are too harsh for other organisms. As a result, lichens live on every continent, even frosty Antarctica. In addition, they are the dominant organism on about eight percent of Earth’s surface. Worldwide, there are about 15,000 species of lichens. Lichens grow on …
Thank You, Cassini!
Cassini, the NASA spacecraft which has been orbiting the planet Saturn since 2004, is about to end its mission. Launched in 1997, Cassini has greatly increased scientists’ knowledge of the giant ringed planet, sending both information and breathtaking photographs which have won the robotic space traveler many fans. On September 15, 2017, Cassini will end its mission. The 5,000 pound …
The Digital Generation Gap
Younger people are more likely to send text messages than older people. While 68 percent of people aged 18-29 regularly send text messages, only about 8 percent of people 65 and older text. . . .
Georgia Peaches
Like people, states can have nicknames. These names can tell us something about that state. Arizona is nicknamed the Grand Canyon State after the famous geological wonder located in the northern part of the state. Louisiana is nicknamed the Pelican State because of the large number of brown pelicans who call it home. New Hampshire is nicknamed the Granite State for …
People Helping Bats and Bats Helping People
People find bats to be strange. Like other mammals, bats nurse their young, yet they don’t walk on four legs. Bats fly like birds, yet they don’t have feathers. The fact that bats are seen only at night and roost in dark places, like caves, tunnels, and old buildings, adds to their mystery. Bat Legends People around the world tell stories and legends …