Pecan, wait . . . How do you even say this word? Some say it like Pee-Can, some like Pee-Khan, and still others say Pa-Khan. But before we get too far into pronunciation, let's talk about what a pecan is. Pecans are nuts that grow on trees. They are related to walnuts. Pecan trees can grow in most of the United States, but they will not bear nuts in areas that stay colder for longer. As for how to pronounce the word . . .
In 1912, the only way to cross the Atlantic Ocean was by ship. The trip took almost six days to complete. More people were traveling at this time and each new ocean liner was the fastest, the biggest, or the best ship to ever be built.
What has eight arms, three hearts, and a huge brain? One of the most fascinating creatures that live in the ocean, the octopus!
Guion Steward Bluford, Jr. was the first African American to travel in space! Bluford was born on November 22, 1942 in Philadelphia. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1964. After graduation, when he was 22 years old, he joined the Air Force (and married Linda Tull!). Bluford continued his studies after his time in the Air Force and earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology in 1974.
Hummingbirds get their name from the humming sound that their wings make. Their wings can beat 50 times or more per second! No wonder you can hear a hum.
Hummingbirds are amazing tiny birds. When full-grown they are between 3 and 4 inches in length. Hummingbirds are amazing in flight. They can hover (hang fluttering in the air), fly backwards, forwards, sideways and even upside down. They can fly at speeds of 30 miles per hour or more and 60 miles per hour when making a dive.
Tigers are the biggest wild cats in the world! They live in Asia. Bengal tigers live in hot grassy lands. A few Bengal tigers have white fur. Siberian tigers live in cold forests and their thick fur keeps them warm.
Do you carve a pumpkin for Halloween? Have you ever wondered why we carve pumpkins? Or why do we put lights inside a carved piece of food?
The art of paper folding! Origami is a Japanese word, and most people think of origami as a Japanese art form, but people have been creating works of art by folding paper for so long that much of the history has been forgotten or lost. It is uncertain whether it began in Japan or China. Paper was invented in China in 105 A.D. but did not make its way to Japan until 610. Ever since the invention of paper, people have been folding it in various ways to make beautiful works of art. And now, there are origami enthusiasts and organizations all over the world!
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and noticed patterns in the stars? These collections of stars making up that image is called a constellation. Constellations are a group of stars that form an image when connected with imaginary lines.
Born Shirley Anita St. Hill in 1924, Shirley Chisholm was the oldest of four daughters to immigrant parents Charles St. Hill, a factory worker from Guyana, and Ruby Seale St. Hill, a seamstress from Barbados. She graduated from Brooklyn Girls’ High School in 1942 and from Brooklyn College cum laude in 1946, where she won prizes on the debate team. Although professors encouraged her to consider a political career, she acknowledged that she faced a “double handicap” as both Black and female.
