TO DREAM… is to think of something wonderful … to consider a cherished wish for the future … to formulate a goal … to live with a sense of meaning that fills your mind and stirs your soul. The most recent focus in Classroom Connections has been on amazing “dreamers” and their contributions to the world. Students in Second through Fourth Classes have been discovering fascinating stories behind various inventions in the worlds of:
• FOOD — They snacked on Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, drank Coca-Cola and ate an ice cream cone, and learned the stories behind frozen Birdseye vegetables, Popsicles, chocolate chips and Life Savers.
• MEDICINE … They studied anesthesia, antiseptics, x-rays and vaccinations. Louis Pasteur, Edward Jenner and Jonas Salk worked tirelessly so we might all live in a better world—and we’re grateful we no longer have to “bite the bullet”!
• COMMUNICATION … From the printing press to the iPhone, the students discovered ways to communicate, emulating the technique of Gutenberg, sending messages using Braille and Morse Code, and being awed by the story of Alexander Graham Bell and his work with the deaf.
• TRANSPORTATION … Some of the children studied air currents and tried to fly a glider for more than 12 seconds (the duration of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight). Others designed aerodynamic rockets to launch higher than 41′ into the sky (the height of the first launch by Robert Goddard). They imagined cruising around in Karl Benz’s first motorized carriage or Henry Ford’s Model T.
• TOYS & GAMES … How fun to learn about the toy designed by the son of Frank Lloyd Wright … the story behind the Teddy Bear … that the Danish words LEg GOdt mean “play well” in English … the original purpose of the Slinky … and the inspiration for Silly Putty, the Ferris Wheel, Scrabble, Duncan’s yo-yo, and the Frisbee.
Most importantly, according to Mrs. George, the children examined the thoughts and ideas of some of the most amazing dreamers of all times: Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs. What common values did they share? How did they live their lives with purpose? What can we learn from them? Each student has been challenged to discover a passion, to persevere, to make the world better for future generations—to be a DREAMER.
Rocket Launch with Mr. Robert Powell of St. Louis Science Center
[nggallery id=66]
Studying Inventions in Classroom Connections
[nggallery id=67]
