Book Review

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman

Phineas Gage was a hard working individual. He was in charge of a crew of man clearing way for the railroad. He was responsible for detonating explosions to clear the rubble. One horrible and tragic day, something went very wrong. His tamping iron, a tool he used in setting the explosives, was shot through his head. It went through his cheek and out the top of his head. He should have died, he didn't. How could he survive that? What changed as a result of the incident? How or why did he survive and what finally did kill him?

This is a true story of the individual that really started the science of the brain. This individual survived - how? What was discovered as a result? If you like forensics and science you will find this very interesting.

World Maps

Maps can tell a story about an area. Use the following links to define the types of maps available and create your own maps of a particular region.

Types of Maps
National Geographic Map Maker
CIA World Factbook
Infoplease - Country Profiles
Quick Facts - US Census

Book Review

Miracle: The True Story of the Wreck of the Sea Venture by Gail Langer Karwoski

On June 2, 1609, nine ships started a voyage from England to the Jamestown colony in Virginia. They carried men, women, and children, as well as supplies meant to replenish this colony. The new governor was aboard the main ship - the Sea Venture. All was well, until July 23rd when a hurricane hit. The Sea Venture was damaged and took on water, they endured high winds and seas for five days. They were not going to make it; then they saw Bermuda and ran aground. More than 100 people survived the storm, but how many people could survive being shipwrecked?

Read the book to find out what happened to these storm survivors. This was a fast paced read with interesting facts given throughout the book - Why were hogs already on the islands of Bermuda?

Book Review

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

Salva is forced to run away from school, he cannot go home and he doesn’t know where he is going. All he knows is that he needs to stay away from the men with guns. He must walk and walk for days to try to stay safe. He is in the middle of Sudan; he is only 10 years old. Will he survive? What happens to the Lost Boys of Sudan dealing with lions, dehydration, starvation, and war?

This is based on the life story of Salva and what he encountered in Sudan. His life is full of danger and uncertainty. A fascinating story about resilience and determination.

Inventions

Books - Click on the book title to view the Destiny Catalog information about the the book.
The Inventor's Times: real-life stories of 30 amazing creations by Dan Driscoll
Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Foltz Jones
The 100 most influential inventors of all time edited by Robert Curley

Websites
Inventions Timeline
Enchanted Learning – Inventions
PBS – Inventions
Historical Timeline
FactMonster

Ancient Civilizations Projects

Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs

Ancient Mayans
Kids Konnect
Ancient Mayans
Mayan Kids
Mr. Donn Mayans

Ancient Aztecs
Mr. Donn - Aztecs
Kids Konnect
Kids Past

Ancient Incas
Mr. Donn - Incas
Kids Konnect
Kids Past

Book Review

Chat Room by Kristin Butcher

Linda is a quite girl in school. She doesn’t really have many friends and is very unsure of herself. When the school develops a chat room, she is intrigued about how it will operate and who will use it. When she visits the chat room, she realizes that she can say all of the things that she thinks throughout the day, but doesn’t say. She becomes more outgoing, but only online. She starts to receive gifts from someone from the chat room. She is not sure who it is or how he/she figured out her identity. Is it a real person or is it a hoax? Will she be safe or is it a dangerous situation?

This was a good realistic fiction story about the Internet and why you should be safe online. Good drama!

Book Review

Dewey the library cat: a true story by Vicki Myron

When librarian, Vicki Myron, found a tiny alley cat in the freezing cold book return drop of the Spencer Library, she knew that this cat was special. It was a very resilient cat and needed to be kept. She couldn't keep it, she wanted it to be the library cat. All she had to do was convince the community and library board to allow the cat to stay. Dewey became a household name and people from around the world came to seem him. He was a very special cat who took over a library.

This was a moving story about a very special cat. Very enjoyable.