Showing posts with label July. Show all posts
Showing posts with label July. Show all posts

May 18, 2017

#05-044: July Potpourri

etching of a battle scene in front of a large, fortified building; numerous structures are in ruins and smoke fills the sky
The storming of the Bastille
(Wikipedia)

Note: Canadians moving house en masse, a British "invasion," and the overthrow of the French monarchy--July still has a lot going on!

Get Ready: Are you familiar with the Beatles? If so, what's your favorite Beatles song?

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May 16, 2017

#05-043: World UFO Day

drawing of what looks like a hat but is apparently a UFO with handwritten descriptions
Drawing of an alleged UFO from a CIA file
(Wikipedia)

Note: July 2, 1947. Something strange happens in the skies over Roswell, New Mexico, and the rumors begin almost instantly, resulting in... is a holiday!

Get Ready: Do you believe that some UFOs are piloted by visitors from outside of the earth? Why or why not?

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May 15, 2017

#05-042: Tanabata (Qixi)

color drawing of a woman in very traditional Chinese clothing reaching out to a man dressed in similar style; birds fly around them, and two children run toward the woman; all (except the birds) are standing on clouds
The reunion of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd
(Wikipedia)

Note: Two lovers--actually, stars--are banished to opposite sides of the river called the Milky Way, and can meet only once a year.

Get Ready: Do you know any other myths or legends based in astronomy?

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May 09, 2017

#05-041: July Independence Days - Part II

map of the Pacific with the areas of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia marked; Australia and several islands are named, with the Solomon Islands and Kiribati's names underlined in red
The Solomons and Kiribati in the Pacific attained
their independence from the U.K. about a year apart
(Wikipedia)

Note: Let's look at another round of countries who celebrate their independence in July, in South America, Africa, the Pacific, and more.

Get Ready: In general, how do you think it benefits a country to gain independence? What challenges do you think it creates?

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#05-040: July Independence Days - Part I

map of eastern Africa with Somalia, Rwanda, and Burundi marked
Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia all became independent on July 1
(Wikipedia)

Note: Forty-four of the world's Independence Days--some 35% of the 126--occur in July and August. See some of them in this lesson.

Get Ready: When is your country's Independence Day, or National Day? How is it celebrated?

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May 08, 2017

#05-039: America's Independence Day

men in red coats and tricornered hats march in formation playing drums and bugles
An Independence Day parade
(Wikipedia)

Note: Bang the drums! Ring the bells! Wave the flags! It's the Fourth of July, and all Americans celebrate, albeit each in his or her own way.

Get Ready: Do you celebrate the Fourth of July? What do you do?

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February 27, 2017

#05-010: Other Buddhist Holidays

cartoonish drawing of a man in monk robes holding a staff in one hand and a cup of tea (?) in the other; he is looking at a kneeling old woman with her head and hands in a cangue (a portable pillory)
Mulian and his mother
(Wikipedia)

Note: Buddhist across many cultures celebrate a holiday in remembrance of their ancestors, sometimes called the "Hungry Ghost Festival." There are many, many other observances, too.

Get Ready: Do you do anything formal to remember your ancestors? Perhaps commemorate their birthdays or dates of death?

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