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The Story of Jack (AKA, Mr. O’Lantern)

It all starts with an Irish folktale called The Legend of Stingy Jack.  So who exactly is this “Stingy Jack?” As the story goes, Jack lived in a small Irish village. He was known among the villagers as a drunk and not a very nice person. In fact, the Devil himself heard many rumors about Jack and became jealous of his wicked reputation. So, the Devil decided to pay Jack a visit and see if the rumors were true.  As usual, Jack had been drinking. Stumbling home, he came upon the Devil waiting for him. Jack soon realized this was…

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Happy Indigenous People’s Day!

by Stephanie Hanson Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Or, as you might call it where you live, Columbus Day.  Why are some areas changing the name of this federal holiday? Let’s take a closer look at Christopher Columbus and find out!  When you were growing up, did you learn a poem about how “In fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue?” The poem goes on to describe the very nice Arawak natives and how Columbus was brave and bright. You might have learned that he was “brave and bright” because he believed the world was round when everyone else…

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Game of Thrones Unboxed!

by Stephanie Hanson Unless you have been hiding under the proverbial rock, you have heard of the television series Game of Thrones. Known for its high body count and fantasy setting, the series is widely popular. But did you know that Game of Thrones is based on the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, written by George R.R. Martin? And, did you know that Martin was inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien (Hmm… check out those middle initials!) and the War of the Roses, as well as other historic events. Want to have a little fun?!!! Let’s…

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STEM, History and Penicillin…What?

by Carol Bettencourt, History Unboxed Marketing Manager There is a lot of talk these days about the value of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – in education. Proponents of a STEM-based education argue that: >       To remain competitive, countries must educate their next generation of innovators, engineers and scientists. >       Job prospects and income tend to be higher for those with STEM-based degrees. >       STEM skills are essential to solving lots of the world’s problems, such as environmental changes and an expanding population. All of these things are true,…

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Five Ancient Civilizations You (Probably) Never Studied in School

When I was in 5th grade, we had an Ancient Greece festival. It was a lot of fun, especially since I pretended to be the Oracle at Delphi and told fortunes to all my classmates.  We talked about ancient Greece during several different grade levels at school.  I think we also studied the Egyptians and Romans in elementary school. In high school history, we learned about ancient history in Mesopotamia, India, and China.  Taking a peek at today’s standards in the state where I live, not much has changed. Imagine, when you go beyond the range of Alexander the Great’s…

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