Inquiry Unit
Information Theory
One of the traits that makes humans unique from other animals is our consciousness, the fact that we can remember concrete ideas, both actual memories and abstract thoughts. These brain activities are…
Learn more
Primary Source
Chinese Oracle Bone
Information Theory Inquiry 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…
Learn more
Hands-on Activity
Cuneiform Hands-On Activity
Information Theory Inquiry 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 …
Learn more
Hands-on Activity
Skyscrapers Hands-On Activity
Skyscrapers Inquiry Unit Download PDF Skyscrapers Hands-On Activity Prompt for the students: Using only the materials provided, teams of students will design and build a structure as tall as p…
Learn more
Inquiry Unit
Skyscrapers
The symbol of growth in China and India of the early 21st century is the proliferation of skyscrapers. This was also the symbol of urbanization in the early 20th century U.S. How did this come about? …
Learn more
Hands-on Activity
Using Drones to Assess Damage
Often when a natural disaster occurs, it is difficult for first responders and government officials who have evacuated to know what has happened to their town in the hours, and sometimes days, followi…
Learn more
Multimedia
Drones from the Civil War to Today
Historic insights into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), from the Civil War through to today. See how aerial balloons were an integral part of early UAV or drone history and follow the technological p…
Learn moreInquiry Unit
UAV (Drones)
Almost since the dawn of warfare, armies have sought ways to inflict the most damage on their enemies at the lowest cost to their own troops. Technologies from catapults to cannons have been developed…
Learn more
Primary Source
Medieval Catapult illustrated in the Jami’ al-Tawarikh (World History or Compendium of Chronicles) by Rashid al-Din (d. 1318)
The predecessors to the UAVs of our time were a variety of catapults used since antiquity to attack enemies from a long distance by sending projectiles through the air. We know this from the visual an…
Learn more
Primary Source
Japanese Balloon Bombs
Made of paper or rubberized silk, the Japanese Balloon Bombs, carried anti-personnel and incendiary bombs. Visit Source 1 Visit Source 2 Download PDF …
Learn more