Educational Travel Blog | From Sea to Shining Sea

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T12:56:00-05:00

President Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery during a ceremony earlier today. photo credit: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Though the sacrifices and dedication of our nation’s veterans affect our lives in big and small ways each and every day, Veterans Day marks a time when the nation comes together to remember and honor those who have served our country.

History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day had its beginning at the end of World War I. The 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month of 1918 marked the armistice between the Allied nations and Germany. This day was celebrated as Armistice Day each year to commemorate the end of what was then called "The Great War" and became an official federal holiday in 1938. In the years following WWII and the Korean War, the day became known as Veterans Day to honor and recognize all those who have served.

Read more on the history of Veterans Day and watch this video:

Find out more about the men and women who serve in the United States military in U.S. Veterans: By the Numbers from ABC News.

Read about how Veterans Day celebrations have changed throughout the years in an article from National Geographic.

Honoring Our Veterans

View photos and videos submitted from people across the country on CNN’s Honor A Veteran.

See photos of veterans throughout the years in uniform on the Department of Veterans Affairs flickr page.

Learn about five simple ways to honor our heroes this Veterans Day from the VFW.

Participate in “A Nation Thanks You” on Facebook.

Read about how to help veterans throughout the year in a post from veteran Brian McGough.

The Hope Diamond: An American Legend

2011-11-10T13:54:55-05:00

photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

For more than 50 years the Hope diamond has been part of the collection at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. In fact, the diamond was donated by jeweler Harry Winston to the museum 53 years ago today.

The Hope Diamond By the Numbers

45.52	current weight in carats
112.1875	original weight of the stone
1× 7/8× 15/32	dimensions in inches (length by width by depth)
1.1 billion	approximate number of years ago the diamond was formed deep within the Earth
17th	century in which the diamond is thought to have been mined from a diamond deposit in India
1668	year in which French merchant sold Jean Baptist Tavenier sold the diamond to Louis XIV of France
unknown	number of owners of the diamond
1949	year in which Harry Winston Inc purchased the Hope diamond
1 million dollars	amount of insurance Harry Winston put on the diamond when he sent it through certified mail to the Smithsonian. (Watch a video about how the diamond arrived at the institution.)
4	number of times the Hope diamond has left the Smithsonian since it received the stone in 1958

Curse of the Hope Diamond?

The beheading of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI during the French Revolution. The tragic death of an heiress’ 9-year-old son. A family fortune squandered on a showgirl. All these have been blamed on the curse of the Hope diamond. Learn more about the stone’s owners and their fates. (Most of them actually faired quite well.)

Something old gets something new

A year ago, the Hope diamond got a new modern setting. Many of us are familiar with the setting in which the diamond is encircled by 16 other smaller (well, by comparison to the Hope diamond they are small!) diamonds and hangs from a necklace also adored with white diamonds. And two years ago the Smithsonian showed the stone without a setting for the first time in history.

Hope Diamond Lesson Plans

Make a classroom mineral display inspired by famous stones with this lesson plan from the Smithsonian.

From PBS, explore how legends embody cultural ideals through the legend of the Hope diamond.

Carbon makes the world go round—from stunning diamonds to human tissues, explore the elements of chemistry when carbon combines with this lesson plan from the Discovery Channel.

Teachers, StoryCorps wants to hear your story!

2011-11-08T15:48:35-05:00

In September, StoryCorps, the national non-profit oral history project, launched a National Teachers Initiative. The initiative celebrates the amazing work teachers do every day and the lives they shape by recording, sharing and preserving their stories.

After a patient told neurosurgeon Lee Buono to thank the teacher who inspired him, he called up Al Siedlecki. photo credit: StoryCorps

"Every day teachers all across the country are igniting curiosity, inspiring passions and opening doors for our children," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Through the National Teachers Initiative, StoryCorps is doing what more of us need to – shining a spotlight on what ought to be the country’s most respected and important profession.”

Other special initiatives have included the September 11th Initiative and the Griot Initiative, a collection of African American stories and voices. The National Teachers Initiative is StoryCorps’ first-ever occupation-specific initiative. Read more on the StoryCorps National Teachers Initiative from ABC News.

How it works
Interview pairs for the National Teachers Initiative may consist of two teachers interviewing one another, friends discussing the impact an important teacher had on their lives, a student or former student interviewing a memorable teacher, or other relevant pairings. As with all StoryCorps interviews, participants will receive a CD copy of the interview and a second copy will be archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for future generations. Select National Teachers Initiative interviews will be edited for national broadcast on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday throughout the 2011–2012 school year. Read the full StoryCorps National Teacher Initiative press release.

Have a story you want to tell?
Check out where the StoryBooth will be next or find our how to bring StoryCorps to your community. There are also several national and local partnerships for the National Teachers Initiative.

Want to listen?
Hear stories from the National Teachers Initiative and find other StoryCorps stories.

National Teachers Initiative Tour Schedule: 2011-2012
The National Teachers Initiative is scheduled to record stories in the following cities, with more cities to be added throughout the school year:

Zanesville, OH
Orlando, FL
New York City
Portland, OR
Fort Riley, KS
Albuquerque, NM
Mobile, AL
Baltimore, MD
McComb, MS
New Orleans, LA

Today in History: Residents of Washington, D.C., Cast Ballots in Their First Presidential Election

2011-11-03T12:03:09-04:00

Nearly 50 years ago today, residents of Washington, D.C., cast ballots in a very special presidential election—their first!

Voters wait in a line in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC. Photo credit: AFP/Tim Sloan

On November 3, 1964, the denizens of our nation’s capital exercised their right to vote in the presidential race between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater.

Passed in 1961, the 23^rd Amendment gave presidential voting rights to the citizens of Washington, D.C. For more than 150 years, the right had been denied because the District of Columbia is under the jurisdiction of Congress and was not a state.

Suffrage for Washingtonians
The election of 1964 was a step in the long road of suffrage for Washingtonians. The first legislation to give capitol city residents the vote was introduced in 1888. Sixteen more bills were set before Congress in the following years, but none passed. The passage of the 23^rd Amendment gave Washington, D.C., residents the right to vote in Presidential elections, but no voting representation in Congress, which remains true to this day. Citizens of Washington, D.C., do have a non-voting representative to the House, as well as the ability to elect their own mayor and council.

Washington, D.C., and the president
It is a bit ironic to think that the people who live in the city that plays such a visible role in the presidency, couldn’t vote for the Commander and Chief for more than half of our country’s history. Washington, D.C., is not only the president's home, but the city plays a huge role in welcoming in each new president. Inauguration is an incredible time in our nation's capital. The days leading up to and following the inauguration ceremonies are filled with excitement. And Inauguration Day itself is unlike any other day in Washington, D.C. No matter who takes the Oath of Office, Inauguration Day is an exciting, special time for Americans.

In fact, we are busy preparing for Inauguration 2013. We take pride in helping students across the country get out and explore America, but being able to give students the chance to be a part of history at Inauguration Day is a very special occasion for us. So check out our Inauguration 2013 tours, and find out how you can be part of the crowd for Inauguration Day 2013.

The Statue of Liberty at 125 years

2011-10-28T14:39:06-04:00

Today tour consultant Luke Chow is highlighting a favorite American landmark that is celebrating a very special anniversary today!

Situated in New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty is one of the main attractions for anyone visiting New York City with approximately 4 million visitors each year. And today it reaches a very special milestone: it was officially dedicated 125 years ago today!

The history of the statue goes back to its inception in 1865 when Édouard René de Laboulaye, a Frenchman and ardent supporter of the Union, stated that “If a monument should rise in the United States, as a memorial to their independence, I should think it only natural if it were built in a united effort—a common work of both our nations.”

The actual construction of the statue did not begin until 1875 and was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi a young French sculptor. He decided that his sculpture would need to embody liberty and decided on woman in ancient Greek attire because Greece was the birthplace of democracy.

Beyond her Greek inspiration, the statue is steeped in symbolism. The crown she wears stands for the seven continents and seven seas. The date on her tablet is July 4, 1776 which is the date of the Declaration of Independence and the torch represents liberty enlightening the world. What some people miss are the broken chains at the feet of the statue which stands for the broken shackles of tyranny.

The statue, whose actual name is Liberty Enlightening the World, was built in France, disassembled and shipped to the United States. The statue arrived in June of 1885 and was assembled in four months, but the dedication ceremony didn't occur untill October 28, 1886 in front of four thousand spectators.

Today tourists can do a variety of things when visiting the Statue of Liberty. There is no entrance fee for the Statue of Liberty but you are required to purchase a ferry ticket to visit the island. Advanced reservations are limited and required to access any part of the monument, but please note that beginning tomorrow, the Statue of Liberty will be closed for year-long renovations.

When inside the Statue of Liberty there are a few highlights that cannot be missed. First is the Statue of Liberty Exhibit, which opened in July 1986. The exhibit traces the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty through museum objects, photographs, prints, videos and oral histories. In addition to historical artifacts and descriptive text, full scale replicas of the Statue's face and foot are also on display.

Next, be sure to check out the Torch Exhibit. You’ll see the original 1886 torch and much altered flame in the lobby. On the second floor balcony overlooking this torch is a display on the history of the torch and flame, explaining the various alterations through diagrams, photographs, drawings and cartoons.

Another thing to see if you are going inside is the New Colossus. This is a famous sonnet written by Emma Lazarus and it appears on the pedestal of the statue. Read the poem here. A bronze plaque, dedicated in memory of Emma Lazarus' contribution to the completion of the statue's pedestal, has been affixed to the inner walls of the pedestal since the early 1900's. This plaque currently located in the Statue of Liberty exhibit and has come to symbolize the statue's universal message of hope and freedom for immigrants coming to America and people seeking freedom around the world.

There is a lot of history behind one of America’s most recognizable landmarks. That is why we make sure that nearly all of our New York travelers get a chance to at least walk the grounds of Liberty Island. When I think of New York City the first image that pops into my head is the Statue of Liberty. I will leave you with this link to some fun facts about the statue: Statue of Liberty Fun Facts.

Quick-start Fundraisers

2011-10-24T11:15:05-04:00

When it comes to class trip fundraisers, some take a lot of planning (a talent show or auction) and others take relatively little time to get off the ground. Today, we’re highlighting fundraising ideas that have a short start-up time, but can still help raise a lot of dollars.

Fundraising letters

Simply asking is a great (and easy!) way to grow funds. Sending a simple sponsorship letter to local business garnered $1,800 for one Smithsonian Student Travel group leader. See a sample fundraising letter.

Raffle

Ask for donations from local businesses, advertise and sell tickets. Try to hold your raffle at an event you know will be well attended, or give it a holiday theme: Maybe your group can raffle off a Thanksgiving turkey or a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

School night out at a local business

Get a favorite local business to donate a portion of their profits to your trip!

Select a local business frequented by your students and parents (e.g. a pizza place, clothing store, ice cream parlor).
Ask the owner or manager to designate a night of the week to your trip. On that particular day, a portion of the profits from each sale will go to fund your tour.
Students and parents can offer to work that evening scooping ice cream, taking orders, helping to bag items, etc.
Be sure to advertise well, so patrons know when they can make their purchases count for your group!

Penny drive

Spare change can help fund your trip!

Put a penny drive container (e.g. a decorated coffee tin or shoe box) in each classroom.
Establish a point system. For example, make pennies count as one positive point and silver coins or dollars as negative points.
Classes will bring pennies into their own containers and put silver coins into other classes' containers.
The classroom that has the greatest number of points at the end of the week wins. Let them celebrate with an in-class movie or enjoying a pizza party.

Sponsor-an-hour

One group leader said this fundraiser is “as easy as hitting print.” He creates a breakdown of the itineraries for his students and then they find family members, friends or businesses to sponsor an hour (or sometimes a whole day!) of the tour. For an extra donation, students send postcards while on tour.

Boston Freedom Trail

2011-10-19T11:36:17-04:00

photo credit: Christopher Klein, Boston Globe

The Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts, is a favorite activity of locals and visitors alike (and one that students participate in while traveling on the Historic Boston tour).

The Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half-mile path through Charlestown and Boston chronicling some of the most important landmarks in American history. There are 16 official historic sites located on the trail, which has been around since 1958. Visitors can follow the red bricks that lead from various historical sites including churches, graveyards, and the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel!

There is no “right” way to walk the freedom trail, which is one of my favorite parts about it. It spans from the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown to Boston Common (check out the Freedom Trail map). People meander along the trail at their own pace, stopping to spend some time in sites that interest them as well as check out other fun spots along the way. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite landmarks on the trail and divulged some of the best kept secret spots people should visit along the way.

The Boston Common: Established in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in America. This is where thousands of British “Redcoats” camped out while Great Britain was occupying Boston in 1775. Since then, it has served as a place to exercise freedom of speech and public assembly, as well celebrate important victories in American history. In the summer, be sure to walk through and check out students lounging to take a break from their studies or people playing with dogs. In the winter, ice skate on Frog Pond and enjoy a hot chocolate!photo credit: Sara Brown/Boston.com

And when you're in the Common always keep your eyes peeled for Boston sports star Tom Brady who has been known to spend some of his down time in the Common as well.

Boston Latin School: The oldest public school in America, Boston Latin count among its alumni some very noted figures, including my very own father. Other alumni are Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Paine—although only 3 of them graduated! Does anyone know which one of those Declaration of Independence signers was a high school dropout? Hint: There’s a statue of him outside the school.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Sometimes referred to as the “Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall is located next to Boston’s North End and the waterfront of Boston harbor. It is famous both for being the site of many protests against the Intolerable Acts during the American Revolution and the birth site of the famous phrase “No taxation without representation.” It is now home to a variety of shops and restaurants, but the best part of Faneuil Hall is catching an occasional street performance. From unicyclists to magicians to break-dancers, there is always someone entertaining the crowds on the cobble-stoned streets of the market.

Granary Burying Ground: Be sure to check out the third oldest graveyard in Boston, established in 1660. Located right next to Boston Common, Granary Burying Ground is the resting place of many Massachusetts mayors, governors and clergymen. There are 2,345 gravestones and tombs but experts estimate there are over 5,000 people buried in Granary! Among the most notable, Samuel Adams, Crispus Attucks, Peter Faneuil, Mother Goose, John Hancock and Paul Revere have all been laid to rest in the famous cemetery.

photo credit: Dina Rudick, Globe Staff

USS Constitution: By far my favorite spot on the Freedom Trail, the USS Constitution is an amazing piece of history. The ship is the oldest commissioned warship naval vessel still afloat. First launched in 1797, the Constitution was one of six original ships authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794. After a battle with the HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812, the ship earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” for the way the cannonballs seemed to bounce effortlessly off the wooden panels of the ship’s sides. The Constitution has traveled to the West Indies, Brazil and West Africa for all of the Barbary wars and currently sits in Charlestown Navy Yard. After checking out the ship, be sure to sneak a peek into the USS Constitution Museum or grab lunch at nearby Tavern on the Water—a great spot to sit on the deck and enjoy a beautiful view of Boston Harbor and a lobster roll!

photo credit: Pat Greenhouse, Globe Staff
The Bunker Hill Monument: On July 17,1775, an American general yelled the now infamous phrase “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” This phrase has now become synonymous with the Battle of Bunker Hill. Interestingly enough, the majority of the Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on nearby Breed’s Hill in Charlestown and was the first major battle of the American Revolution. The 221-foot granite obelisk commemorates the loss of Dr. Joseph Warren who bravely fought in the battle, a beloved patriot leader and Charlestown resident. Climb all 294 steps of the monument to get a great view of Boston. To cool off, at the bottom be sure to check out the ice cream truck that has been parked at the monument every summer for almost 25 years—just ask for Uncle Mitch!

For more information on the Freedom Trail and to plan out your visit, go to http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/index.html.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dedication

2011-10-14T11:30:45-04:00

photo credt: Cliff Owen / AP

After being postponed because of the threat of Hurricane Irene, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication will take place Sunday, October 16, 2011.

Ceremonies will begin at 8 a.m. with the “Morning Joy” program, followed by the official dedication at 9 a.m. The dedication will be a tribute to King. Speakers will include civil rights leaders, members of King’s family, literary and political figures and musicians.

The memorial opened to the public on August 28 as America’s 395^th national park. Learn more about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

While the original date of the dedication, August 28, marked the anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, tomorrow’s dedication is near a noteworthy anniversary, too. On October 14, 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sunday’s ceremony will be free and open to the public. Read more information about the dedication activities.

NASA Asks Students to Name New Spacecraft

2011-10-07T10:30:00-04:00

Credit: Thom Baur, United Launch Alliance

“NASA has a class assignment for U.S. students: help the agency give the twin spacecraft headed to orbit around the moon new names.”

That directive comes straight from a NASA press release announcing the NASA GRAIL naming contest. Here's the contest information:

Open to grades K-12
Teachers must submit entries via online entry form
500 words maximum
Deadline: November 11
Judges: Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut, and MIT scientist Maria Zuber, principal investigator for GRAIL

See the full contest description.

About GRAIL

GRAIL A and GRAIL B (you can see why they need new names) launched on September 10, 2011. The two spacecraft will work together to gather data that will create a gravity map of the moon. GRAIL stands for Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory.

The gravity map and collected data will help scientists understand the composition of the moon—what it is like under the surface and down to its core. This in turn can give scientists a better idea about the origins of the moon and the best places for future landing sites.

MoonKAM (Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students)

Another part of the GRAIL mission is MoonKAM, which lets students request and receive photos from the GRAIL spacecraft. Dr. Sally Ride is heading the program.

Through GRAIL MoonKAM students can request photos of specific areas of the moon, which GRAIL will send to classrooms. Students can use the photos to learn about the moon’s features.

View photos from GRAIL’s launch, and if you are a teacher, register to be part of MoonKAM.

Be sure to check out classroom activities and resources about this mission and the moon, too.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Volume 2

2011-10-05T10:30:00-04:00

Yesterday you heard from Hailee about her class trip to Washington, D.C. Today we hear from Audra, also a 9^th-grader from Texas. Here are her thoughts on traveling to Washington, D.C., with her classmates over the summer:

The words you hear when anyone says 2011 Washington, D.C., trip- good times. And it’s true. More memories were made sitting on the bus in Washington, D.C., than our entire 6th grade year. It’s amazing how much closer you are when you come home than when you left.

My friends and I LOVED spending time together and, surprisingly, learning. I know what you’re thinking-LEARNING? How could this be? Let’s just say this- when you see Amelia Earhart’s airplane, fabric from the original Wright flyer, and the Spirit of St. Louis, all within the allotted time of about 20 minutes, history unfolds before your eyes. I will never forget seeing the little Einstein bobble heads that I cracked up over watching Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. And walking into the first airplane that resembles the ones we ride in today was pretty cool! All in all, I would have to say the National Air and Space Museum was my favorite place we visited.

(courtesy photo provided by Audra)

To me, Washington, D.C., is a beautiful city with historical landmarks (on our way to lunch, we drove by Ford's Theatre, talk about historical), wonderful people, and fun around every corner! The food we ate was amazing, the way we bonded was incredible and to be honest, the Washington, D.C., trip was unforgettable.