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The Greenland Shark: What has this shark seen?

Several years ago, a rare specimen washed up on a beach in Cornwall, England: A 100 year-old Greenland Shark. Even at a century old, this shark would still be considered a juvenile. These Arctic-dwelling predators don’t reach full adulthood until 150 years of age. They grow up to 25 feet long and eat anything they can get from fish to seals to moose if given the chance. Female Greenland sharks gestate for between 8 and 18 years before giving birth to live young.    But Greenland sharks are most well known for their long lifespans; the oldest specimen captured was…

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Indigenous Ingenuity: Snow Goggles

When you hear “snow goggles”, you probably think of skiing or snowboarding. Goggles are important for winter sports to keep wind, snow, and sun out of your eyes. Of course, the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic are experts in snow and had to manage the snow’s bright reflection for millenia. How did they do it?  Before foam and plastic ski goggles, there were snow goggles made from wood, bone, and antler. There are hundreds of examples of snow goggles, also called Inuit goggles, and snow visors in museums, and Alaskan Natives continued to use them into the twentieth century. They…

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Poetry Teatime: Saint Patricks Day

Saint Patrick’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to take a break with some tea, a treat, and a great poem or two. Ireland is a country full of amazing writers, so there is no shortage of people to pick from. Sometimes humorous, often melancholy, many times both, Irish poetry has something for everyone. Below, I’ve shared some of our favorites.  But first, let’s talk about tea and treats.  An obvious choice for an Irish tea would be an Irish breakfast tea. It is available in most grocery stores. There are also other tea blends including decaf options made by Irish…

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The Middle East: What’s in a name?

The Middle East. You can’t consume the news or study history without hearing about this multicultural and multi-ethnic region. Many of us could probably point to it on a map or name some of the related countries, but it’s important to remember just how vast and vibrant this area is! Take a moment to pull up a map now–digital is fine! Place your finger on Egypt, home to the pharaohs and the Great Pyramid. Trace your finger up the Nile River to the Mediterranean Sea. Tracing along the coast, you’ve reached the Levant, home to the Ancient Israelites and Phoenicians.…

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The Importance of Using Authentically Sourced Materials

At History Unboxed®, our commitment to authenticity sets us apart in the realm of education. We believe in going beyond textbooks, offering students a hands-on experience with materials sourced directly from the very places they are studying. But why is this so important to us? Cultural Authenticity When we use culturally authentic materials, it gives students an opportunity to experience windows and mirrors. “Windows and mirrors” means giving students windows to see into different cultures and experiences and mirrors to reflect their own identity and background. Authentic materials make for the clearest and most reflective windows and mirrors. When I…

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History Unboxed at the HUB Grand Opening: Unveiling a World of Educational Delights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE History Unboxed at the HUB Grand Opening: Unveiling a World of Educational Delights Warrenton, VA – January 22, 2024 – History Unboxed®, the renowned educational company specializing in hands-on history experiences, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its retail location, “History Unboxed® at the HUB.” The event is set to take place on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 29 Culpeper Street, Warrenton, VA, starting at 9:30 am. The grand opening will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from Owner, Elizabeth Hauris, and Creative Director, Stephanie Hanson. Attendees can expect a memorable experience that combines history,…

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DON’T play this game (but we do have some that you can do instead!)

Guest post by Rebecca H. McCormick. Rebecca is a writer and editor based in Fairfax, Virginia. She has a passion for history education and holds an MA in History of Decorative Arts. Rebecca believes that hands-on history and interacting with objects helps learning come alive for children and adults.           ‘Tis the season for getting cozy and playing games as a family. As the days get shorter, you can dust off your Monopoly, the Royal Game of Goose, or perhaps your senet board from Ancient Egypt Unboxed. But there is one historic holiday game that we…

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A Brief History of Book Banning

It’s Banned Book Week! This year’s theme is “Let Freedom Read!” In this blog post we are going to talk a little bit about the history of banning books, and give you a few suggestions on banned books that can be paired with specific History Unboxed® boxes. Let’s get started! Banned Book Week was started in 1982. At that time book banning had really ramped up and activists wanted to fight to make sure books were accessible to everyone. Each year, The Office of Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association compiles a list of the most challenged books of…

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Hispanic Heritage Month Educational Resources

Hispanic Heritage Month Educational Resources Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September 15th, and runs through October 15th. This year’s theme is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America. The celebration starts on September 15th because that was the day that many Central American countries gained their independence. Like many of our month-long celebrations, Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration in 1968.  In 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared that Hispanic Heritage would now be celebration over the course of a month, starting on September 15th. To learn about Hispanic Heritage Month, check out Hispanic Heritage Month Unboxed.  In…

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Historical Research: Wikipedia

This week we are starting a new series on historical research. In this blog post we will focus on historical research using Wikipedia, and its strengths and weaknesses. This post is by Stephanie Hanson, History Unboxed’s® Creative Director. When I was majoring in history, I had to write a senior thesis. The course was called “1968” and my topic had to center around major events that took place in that year. I knew I wanted to write about the American Indian Movement, but had zero background knowledge other than their occupation of Alcatraz Island. My research required primary sources and…

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Why It’s Important to Teach Asian American & Pacific Island History All Year Long

As this year’s Asian & Pacific Island Heritage Month comes to a close, History Unboxed® is bringing you a guest blog post by Rachel Juliette on the importance of teaching Asian & Pacific Islander history, not just during the month of May, but the whole year through.   The U.S. has always had deep ties with Asia, but most schools don’t discuss this in depth. Professor Sohyun An of Kennesaw State University tells TIME that Asians were part of the United States before many white European immigrants came to the country. Unfortunately, most K-12 American history texts barely discuss this…

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A History of Memorial Day: Celebrating those Who Died in Battle

Did you know that Memorial Day wasn’t always called Memorial Day? If you ask your parents or grandparents they might remember the holiday  being called Decoration Day. It wasn’t until 1967 that the holiday became officially known as Memorial Day. It was established as a federal holiday on May 13th, 1938 and is celebrated on the last Monday in May. In this blog post we’ll talk about the history of Memorial Day and its origins in Decoration Day, and some ways that people celebrate the holiday that carry on the original spirit of honoring those who died in military service.…

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Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month in the United States. It is a time for “hundreds of organizations and Americans of all backgrounds [to] [join] together to discover, explore, and celebrate the vibrant and varied American Jewish experience from the dawn of our nation to the present day.” In this blog post we’ll talk about the history of Jewish American Heritage Month, the history of the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam (later New York),  and share some educational resources and activities for your learners. Despite the first Jewish community in North America forming in 1654, a commemorative month-long celebration…

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Learning Resources for Ancient Pompeii

I don’t know about you, but when I think about what the city of Pompeii looked like immediately after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, I envision a city completely buried by ash and dirt. But the city wasn’t completely buried, and tops of houses, sculptures, and other artifacts would have been poking up out of the dirt, giving those returning after the eruption a guide for where to dig. Survivors and grave robbers returning to the covered city after the eruption was over dug and tunneled in to get personal items and steal valuables. While the city…

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A Brief History of April Fools’ Day!

Would it surprise you to learn that April Fools’ Day, celebrated every year on April 1, has been celebrated for thousands of years in many countries and communities around the world? Today, April Fools’ Day is generally celebrated as a day of mischievous and (hopefully) harmless pranks put on by both individuals and mass media, but it hasn’t always been that way. Let’s explore the mostly true history of April Fools’ Day. Want more info on calendars? Check out our Calendars Unboxed downloadable lesson. Ready to leave the winter behind and dive into some Spring learning? Check out Spring Unboxed…

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Women’s History Month Teatime

March is Women’s History Month and here at History Unboxed® we figured that it’s time for a Women’s History Month teatime. Check out the graphic below to learn about how Women’s History Month came to be. We’ve compiled a list of poetry and short readings we think lend themselves well to a Women’s History Month themed teatime. But first, the tea and snacks! Looking for more Women’s History Month lessons? Check out Women’s History Unboxed: Storytellers  and Women’s History Unboxed: Healers & Hope.   American Tea Gown, 1875-80. Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Tea gowns…

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