Chinese Oracle Bone

Primary Source

Chinese Oracle Bone

Information Theory Unit

In ancient China, mainly during the late Shang dynasty, oracle bones were used as a form of divination. Inscriptions were carved on pieces of ox scapula and turtle plastron and are the oldes…

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Cave Paintings

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Cave Paintings

Information Theory Unit

A form of rock art found in caves typically of prehistoric origin and are representative of a means to convey information. The France Ministry of Culture (Ministere de la Culture) and the N…

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Phoenician Alphabet

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Phoenician Alphabet

Information Theory Unit

Sometime around 2,800 years ago, the Phoenicians made a major invention—the vowel! That is, they realized that instead of each symbol representing a syllable (ba, be, bi, bo, bu, ca, ce, ci, co, cu,…

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Error-Detecting and Correcting System (Patent)

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Error-Detecting and Correcting System (Patent)

Information Theory Unit

Richard W. Hamming, Morristown, and Bernard D. Holbrook, Madison, N.J., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application January 11, 19…

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Hieroglyphs and Ancient Egyptian Writing

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Hieroglyphs and Ancient Egyptian Writing

Information Theory Unit

Hieroglyphics are an original form of writing out of which all other forms have evolved. Museo Egizio, Papyrus Collection, Turin Papyrus Online Database, Book of the Dead, A 14-meter-long papyrus f…

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Semaphore Telegraph

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Semaphore Telegraph

Information Theory Unit

An optical telegraph with a line of stations, typically towers, that was used to convey textual information by means of visual signals. It was comprised of pole on top of a tower, and a pivoting cross…

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Cuneiform Hands-On Activity

Hands-on Activity

Cuneiform Hands-On Activity

Information Theory Unit

Information Theory Unit Cuneiform was one of the first writing systems, developed 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia to record information on clay tablets. By asking students to record current …

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Make a Hand Drum

Hands-on Activity

Make a Hand Drum

Electronic Music Inquiry Unit

This hands-on activity shows how to make a hand drum that creates percussion sounds. Materials Mini Glue Gun and Glue Stick Hole Punch Drawing Compass Thread or Yarn (Waxed thread wor…

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