The Buzz of Busy Minds

"In summer, the song sings itself"  ~ William Carlos Williams

 

How has your summer been? Knowing how summer can seem like a long time if you’re bored, I thought you might like to see how some brilliant young minds kept busy over the years:

A 14 year old farm boy named Philo Farnsworth made the breakthrough discovery of how electron beams could instantly transmit images, and while he wasn’t the only person with the idea, Farnsworth held the first patent for the invention of television.

In 1959, High school student Robert Heft received a B minus on his class project of a flag with 50 stars. When his teacher promised a higher grade if he could get congress to accept his idea, his grade was changed to an A and America had a new flag! Later, Robert Heft made sure he visited every single state in America.

Blind since age 3, Louis Braille knew by the time he was 15 years old that there needed to be something better than trying to read 20 pound books with large raised letters. That’s when he developed the system that enables blind people to read and write by touching raised dots. Today, the Braille system is used worldwide.

In the thirties, two teenagers, Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel invented the very first Superman comic and self-published it in a Fanzine when syndicates wouldn’t accept it. It soon became wildly popular and was one of the most famous programs in the golden age of radio.

What would you invent? How many states have you been to? Do you read comic books?

Fiddlesticks and Indoor Picnics

She had peeked out the window before he could stop her. Letting the curtain drop, she turned in disgust. “Fiddlesticks!” she said as thunder rumbled outside.

It had been raining since before dawn and showed no sign of stopping. Creek knew his mom had planned for the 4^th of July picnic for over a month. She was happy when she planned things and he liked her that way best. 

“I’m going back to bed. “ 

“No! Wait, “Creek tried to think of something fast “Someone still might come!” he knew they all would come, but he wanted to surprise her when they did. 

“No one will come in the rain, Creek,”

“It’s the 4^th of July, mama. Someone still might come,” he took a large bowl of potato salad from the fridge and walked toward the grand old dining room they never seemed to use anymore. 

“Where are you going with that?” she followed Creek into the next room and gasped.

While she’d been getting ready, Creek had put every leaf in the table and dragged in as many small tables and chairs from outside as time allowed before Mama had gone and peeked out the window. For a moment he was afraid she would turn and go upstairs, but as he lit a candle in her favorite centerpiece, Creek saw his mama’s eyes light up as well. When she smiled at him his heart soared.

“I guess you and I could still celebrate,” mama said softly

“Oh yessum! A little rain won’t take away our pride or joy for our country and our freedom, right mama?”

“Right,” mama chewed her bottom lip to keep it from quivering.

Creek could tell she was thinking she didn’t want to celebrate without his dad. But his dad had left a year ago and loyal little Creek was still here. He was wondering what to say when the doorbell rang.

Mama raised an eyebrow “Are you expecting someone?”

“Yes Ma’am! We both are!” Creek raced to the door

Soon, people were pouring through the front door faster than rain on the roof! They brought steaming bowls and brimming baskets, hugs and beaming smiles – and best, oh best of all, was that mama wore one all day!

dee Kay

National Independence Day – July 4^th

We all know what this celebration is for, right?

The 4^th of July is a yearly celebration of the 1776 signing; by all thirteen colonies, of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain rule.  We came to build or own country – and that’s exactly what we did!

One California fifth-grader says “The fourth of July is simple: We are free.” 

But have you heard of this one?

National Work Without your Hands Day – July 5^th

It’s a tough one.

Could you push a long broom with the point of your nose?

Or pick up your socks using only your toes?

Could you rake up the leaves in the yard with your tongue?

Hold a leash in your mouth when the dog wants to run?

How would you work without your hands?

USA Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 (21 oz.) can of blueberry pie filling
• 1/2 C of maraschino cherries, drained and cut in half
• 2 firm bananas, sliced
• 1 prepared Angel food cake

Preparation:

1. Place the pie filling into a large mixing bowl.
2. Gently fold the cherries and bananas into the pie filling.
3. Carefully spread the mixture over the cake.

Makes 8 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 15 minutes

  apples4theteacher.com