GEOGRAPHY
WEATHER
THE COLONIES
OTHER
AMERICAN HISTORY
100
Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. While the weather can change in just a few hours, climate takes hundreds, thousands, even millions of years to change.
Climate is the normal weather of a place.
100
In 1888 there was a terrible blizzard in New York City. It lasted for three days. There were strong winds. Blowing snow was all that could be seen. Many people died in this storm.
A terrible blizzard occurred in 1888 in New York City.
100
Children in the Colonies worked long hours every day. Boys did chorse in the barn and helped their fathers in the fields. Girls helped their mothers in the house. Both boys and girls helped with the spinning and weaving.
Children in the Colonies worked long hours every day.
100
Probably the best-known rodeo cowboy in the world is Larry Mahan. Mahan was the national champion six times before he was 30. He was good at every event. When he got too old to be in the rodeo, he didn't stop doing rodeo work. He started a rodeo school.
Larry Mahan is a well-known rodeo cowboy.
100
In 1862, Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Act, which provided for two companies to build a transcontinental line. The Central Pacific would build east from Sacramento, California. The Union Pacific would build west from Omaha, Nebraska.
New railroads started to be built in 1862.
200
The oldest known maps dates from the 5000s BC. The more primitive maps emphasize land features. A major development in mapmaking occurred 2300 BC. Geometry helped to survey land. Ancient Greeks made maps more artistic. The discovery of the Western Hemisphere affected how Europeans made maps. Currently, technology and computers affect how maps are made.
Maps have been used throughout time. Maps have changed throughout time.
200
A tornado is a huge, powerful storm with strong winds. Because of its shape the rapidly spinning cloud is sometimes called a funnel cloud. It whirls and spins in the sky. When they reach the ground, they are extremely destructive.
A tornado is a strong rotating cloud.
200
Dolley Madison was the wife of President James Madison She was quite a brave First Lady. When the White House burned down, Dolley rescued important government papers. She also saved the portrait of George Washington that hangs in the East Room today.
Dolley Madison was a brave First Lady.
200
Polo is a game played on horseback. Each team has four players who attempt to hit a ball with their sticks. Each player has to handle the stick with his or her right hand and control the horse with the left hand. The team that scores more goals wins. Goals are scored by hitting the ball inside the other teams goalposts.
Polo is a game played on horseback.
200
Life for African Americans in the South grew harder as the 1900’s began. Around the year 1910 African Americans began moving north in search of a better life. However, African Americans continued to face discrimination in the North.
African Americans faced discrimination in both the North and the South
300
The Mariana Trench is the deepest known area of Earth’s oceans. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a deepest point of around 11000 metres (36000 feet).
The Mariana Trench is the deepest area of the oceans.
300
Weather experts can predict rain, snow, and sunshine fairly well. Now scientists can predict where lightning will strike. They can warn airplane pilots to change their routes. Also, people in charge of golf tournaments can adjust the playing schedule.
Weather experts can predict the weather.
300
Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, is famous. Many people visited the president there and Jefferson could not turn guests away. He had another home near Lynchburg, Virginia. It was called Poplar Forest, and Jefferson went there when Monticello got too crowded.
Monticello is a popular house.
300
King Louis XIV of France was a short man. He wanted to look taller. So he ordered high heels for his shoes. Then he had his shoes trimmed with lace, bows, and jewels. One pair of shoes had bows that were 16 inches wide. e had artists paint scenes on the heels of his shoes. Soon other men in France wore high-heeled shoes with flowers and bows.
King Louis XIV wore intricate shoes to make himself taller.
300
Many people gathered during the Civil Rights Movement to overcome injustice. African Americans used the courts and other nonviolent means to end segregation, and new laws were passed. Hispanic Americas, American Indians, and women all demanded equality.
Many groups gathered during the Civil Rights Movement to end inequalities.
400
The Galapagos Islands are famous for their unusual plant and animal species that do not exist anywhere else. The most well known may be the giant Galapagos tortoise, which can weigh up to 550 pounds.
The Galapagos Islands are a group of islands known for their plant and animal life.
400
There are many types of clouds. One type is cirrus. This type is located the highest in the sky. They are long and thin. A second type of cloud is altocumulus clouds. They are located in the middle of the sky and form in groups. Stratus clouds are the lowest clouds and cover the entire sky.
There are many different types of clouds.
400
To make a candle, a chandler would first craft the wick with thin pieces of cotton or linen. Next, he would heat up tallow before dipping the wick into it. The wick would be dipped into the burning tallow several times. This “dipping” was done until the candle was the desired size. Once the candle had hardened, the wick was trimmed and the candle was ready to be used. Such candles, made from tallow, gave off unpleasant odors.
Chandlers made candles through a detailed process.
400
The plant with the biggest seed in the world is called the coconut of the sea. Its huge seed can grow to be as big as a beach ball. It can weigh as much as fifty pounds.
The plant with the biggest seed in the world is called the coconut of the sea.
400
The Underground Railroad was a series of escape routes running from the south to the north. Slaves took these routes to escape slavery. Traveling the Underground Railroad, the slaves moved at night and stayed in hiding places called stations during the day. The people who led the runaways were called conductors.
The Underground Railroad was a series of escape routes for slaves.
500
There are three seasons in India: hot and dry, hot and wet (monsoon), and cool and dry. During the hot and dry season, very high temperatures occur with some winds and dust storms. During the monsoon period, India receives many inches of rain. The cool and dry period is considered the winter.
There are three seasons in India: hot and dry, hot and wet (monsoon), and cool and dry.
500
A flash flood is sudden flooding that occurs when floodwaters rise rapidly with no warning within several hours of an intense rain. They often occur after intense rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms. In narrow canyons and valleys, floodwaters flow faster than on flatter ground and can be quite destructive.
A flash flood is a sudden flood that occurs without warning.
500
In colonial times, nearly everyone wore some kind of head covering, making the hat industry very important. A man’s hat advertised his social status. Hats that were more elaborate represented greater wealth or status. Colonial hats were made of beaver skin, wool, cotton, or straw. Colonial hatters knew how to make many different kinds of hats such as a knitted caps, broad-brimmed hats (which was the most popular), or upturned brim-tricorne hats (three-cornered hats).
Hats were important in colonial society
500
Catnip is a plant. It belongs to the mint family. It grows wild among many roads. Cats love to roll and play in catnip. They also like to eat it because they like its taste.
Catnip is a plant that cats love.
500
The War of 1812 occurred between the United States and Great Britain. America declared war on Great Britain for a few reasons. First. Great Britain stopped American sea vessels and made Americans enter the British Navy. The British also interfered with American shipping. These are just two of the reasons why the War of 1812 occurred.
America declared war on the British because the British were being unfair.