Avery Island, Louisiana, Also Known As Bird City Questionsjonesta.weebly.com/uploads/8/6/1/6/8616755/pdfrcomp1449098216... · Avery Island, Louisiana, Also Known As "Bird City"

NameWednesday, December 2

Avery Island, Louisiana, Also Known As"Bird City"By Joyce Furstenau

Lying underneath the lushgreen plants of AveryIsland, Louisiana, is aprecious natural resource: amassive salt dome. TheAmerican Indiansdiscovered it. They boiledthe salty spring water theyfound there to get salt. Theyused the salt to trade with other native tribes.

The island sits about 140 miles west of New Orleans, Louisiana. It issurrounded on all sides by bayous and swampland. Ancient saltdeposits created the salt dome. The movement of water towards theocean created the deposits. There are five of these salt dome islandsalong the Louisiana Gulf coast. Avery Island was once a sugarplantation. At that time it was known as Petite Anse Island. PetiteAnse means "Little Cove" in Cajun French.

A man from New Jersey named John Craig Marsh purchased theisland in 1818. Marsh operated a sugar plantation in addition tomining the salt. Daniel D. Avery became a co-owner of the plantationin 1837, after he married John Marsh's daughter, Sarah. He becamethe sole owner in 1855. Daniel and Sarah's daughter, Mary, marriedEdward McIlhenny just before the Civil War. After the war was over,McIlhenny founded his own company on the island and beganmanufacturing Tabasco brand pepper sauce. He received patents forhis sauce processing formula, which is still used today.

Avery Island is known today as the home of Tabasco brand peppersauce. Some of the peppers used in the sauce are grown on the island.The salt used in the sauce is also from the island. Several Averyfamily members still live there and many of the McIlhennyCompany's employees live on the island as well.

Much of the island has remained a natural paradise. Around 1895,Edward McIlhenny founded a bird colony on Avery Island. It seemsthat hunters had slaughtered egrets to near extinction to providefeathers for ladies' hats. Around 1895, Edward found eight egrets andraised them on the island. He released them in the fall to migrate. Thefollowing spring, the egrets returned. The eight egrets grew to apopulation of thousands. As a result, the island was later called "BirdCity." It is also known as "the egret capital of the world." Today,visitors from all over the world come to visit the wildlife refuge thatcontinues to thrive on Avery Island.

Avery Island, Louisiana, Also Known As "Bird City"

Questions

1. In which state is Avery Island located?

A. FloridaB. MississippiC. LouisianaD. Texas

2. What important natural resource is mined on Avery Island?

3. What was Avery Island called before John Craig Marshpurchased it?


4. What crop was first planted on Avery Island?

A. sugar caneB. cottonC. potatoesD. alfalfa

5. What food product is presently produced on Avery Island?

A. ketchupB. Worcestershire sauceC. Tabasco sauceD. mustard

6. Why was Avery Island also called "Bird City"?

A. There were birdhouses everywhere.B. It was built in the shape of a nest.C. The city was inside a birdcage.D. It was a haven for egrets and other birds.

People hunted the egrets to near extinction before Avery Islandbecame a sanctuary for them. People still hunt birds for sport. Howdo you feel about this? Write your thoughts about bird hunting orhunting in general in the space provided.


StutteringBy Joyce Furstenau

Stuttering or stammering is a speech disorder. It occurs when therepetition of certain sounds disrupts the flow of speech. Stutteringaffects about 5% of the general population at some time in their lives.

Several important people have experienced stuttering problems.British politician Winston Churchill successfully overcame hisproblem with stuttering. Actor James Earl Jones was a stutterer as achild. He was so afraid to speak that he remained mute until hereached high school. Vice President Joe Biden suffered fromstuttering as a child and into his twenties. He overcame the problemby reciting poetry in front of a mirror.

The causes of stuttering are still mostly unknown. Severaltheories have been suggested over the years. Many of them borderon superstition. It was once believed that allowing an infant to lookin the mirror or tickling an infant too much could cause stuttering.Some also believed that fear may cause stuttering. Still othersbelieved it was due to imbalances in the body.

Remedies once used were changing the diet, vomiting, andtreating the body's immune system. One rather curious remedy wasto suggest the stutterer drink water from a snail's shell for the rest ofhis or her life. In the 18th century, some went so far as to performsurgery on the tongue of a stutterer. All of these remedies wereabandoned because they did not work.

There are three primary behaviors associated with stuttering.Repetition occurs when a unit of speech is repeated, such as"y-y-y-you." Prolongations occur when a particular sound isunnaturally lengthened during speech, "mmmother." Blocks arecomplete and inappropriate cessation of sound and air when a wordis being spoken.

Speech therapy is the recommended treatment for stuttering today.Using this treatment, we are told that the rate of recovery for moststutterers is very high. Some children may go through phases ofstuttering or stammering. This may disappear over time without any

help. Drugs are rarely used to treat stutterers. The most effectivetreatment to date is some form of speech therapy.

People who develop problems with their speech patterns mayhave to work with a therapist to overcome their problem. For moststutterers, the outlook is a good one. Many stutterers have becomefamous speakers or performers. Marilyn Monroe, Bruce Willis, andHugh Grant were all stutters who became actors. Tiger Woods wasalso a stutterer. Despite his stuttering handicap, Sir WinstonChurchill made himself one of the greatest orators of our time. Thegood news is that 80 percent of the population who has ever stutteredrecovered.

Stuttering

Questions

1. What portion of the general population may stutter?

2. Which of these people stuttered as a child?

A. Dr. PhilB. President ObamaC. OprahD. Vice President Joe Biden

3. What causes stuttering?

A. It is inherited.B. eating too much sugarC. looking in a mirrorD. It is still mostly unknown.


4. Which of these is an example of repetition stuttering?

A. mouse, mouse, mouseB. mmmmmouseC. m-m-m-m-ouseD. -ouse

5. What is the primary treatment for stuttering today?

6. What is the recovery rate for those who develop a stutteringproblem?

Do you laugh when you hear someone stuttering? People who stutterare sometimes made fun of. What are some things you can do whenyou hear someone belittling someone who stutters? Make a classroomlist and discuss your ideas.

NameThursday, December 3

PicaBy Jennifer Kenny

Have you ever seen a child eat sand out of the sandbox? Have youever witnessed a toddler put a toy in his mouth? You probably havesince these are both common in young children who are curious aboutwhat's around them.

Of course, now that you are older, you know that people aren'tsupposed to eat things that aren't food. However, some people still do.This behavior is known as pica. The term pica comes from a Latinword for a bird with a large appetite.

To meet the criteria for the condition known as pica, there must becravings of nonfood items. These cravings last at least a month. Thesecravings must be compulsive, meaning the person eats it even whenit's restricted. That means the person knows this behavior is notallowed. Pica occurs in children over 18 to 24 months because beforethat this behavior is considered normal. To be called pica, the eatingof nonfood items can't be part of a cultural or religious practice,either. Pica is considered an eating disorder. Pica occurs throughoutthe world.

Pica can occur in adults. However, it definitely occurs more in youngchildren. It is most common in those with developmental disabilitiessuch as autism or mental retardation. Sometimes children with braininjuries, pregnant women, and those with epilepsy exhibit signs ofpica, too.

Pica can be either benign or life-threatening. Why? It all depends onthe nonfood items that are eaten. Some are harmless. Others can leadto lead poisoning or anemia. What kinds of things do those with picacrave and eat? It can be almost anything, including dirt, clay, paintchips, chalk, plaster, cigarette ashes, ice, glue, coffee grounds, sand,soap, and so on. Therefore, those with pica can develop leadpoisoning from paint chips, bowel problems from things that aren'tsupposed to be digested like cloth, intestinal obstruction if things getlodged, dental injury from hard items, or parasite infections fromthings like dirt. Pica can also lead to malnutrition when nonfood itemsare eaten instead of nutritious ones. If any of these conditions are too

severe, death is a possibility.

What is the exact cause of pica? There is no definite cause. However,there are theories. Some researchers suggest it is due to nutritionaldeficiencies or psychological reasons, such as a response to stress.None of these theories, though, explain all kinds of pica. Therefore, adoctor must choose treatment separately for each individual.

Before treatment can begin, a diagnosis must be made. A doctor willneed to screen for lead poisoning, anemia, and malnutrition, test forparasites, and take X-ray pictures for bowel obstruction if necessary.Then the doctor must first handle any nutritional deficiencies or otherproblems that are found. The doctor can educate the family withsimple steps such as putting poisons out of reach or using child-safetylocks. A reinforcement system of punishment for eating nonfoods andrewards for correct eating may help, too. In some cases, medicationmay help behavior.

Patience is essential with pica behavior. Children often outgrow it ina few months. It can take longer, even years, though, with thosehaving developmental or mental health issues. In the meantime,medical care should be sought for harmful substances, and PoisonControl (800-222-1222) should be called about toxic ones.

Pica

Questions

1. Pica is a contagious disease.

A. falseB. true

2. A twelve-month-old can be diagnosed with pica.

A. trueB. false

3. What are the conditions for pica?

A. cravings of nonfood itemsB. compulsive cravingsC. over two-years-oldD. all of the above


4. Pica occurs all over the world.

A. trueB. false

5. Pica can NOT lead to ______.

A. lead poisoningB. malnutritionC. intestinal obtrusionD. improved muscle strength

6. Pica can occur in a thirty-year-old.

A. falseB. true

7. Which statement is true?

A. There is a definite cause for pica.B. Poisonous items eaten by someone with pica should be

ignored.C. All cases of pica should be treated the same.D. There is no definite cause for pica.

Explain what treatment options might work for those with pica.


"Silent Night"- A Christmas CarolBy Joyce Furstenau

One of the most beloved Christmas songsever composed, Silent Night, was originallywritten in German. An Austrian priest namedFather Josef Mohr wrote the song in 1816. OnChristmas Eve two years later, Mohr broughtthe words to Austrian headmaster and part timeorganist, Franz Gruber. He asked Gruber tocompose a melody for his words. Silent Nightwas first performed at Midnight Mass thatChristmas Eve in the Church of St. Nicholas inOberndorf, Austria. The two men, backed by aguitar and the choir, stood in front of the churchaltar and sang "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!"

One explanation for the song's first performance is that the churchorgan was broken and Father Mohr needed a guitar song for theChristmas Eve service. Others say Mohr simply wanted to introducea new song that could be played on guitar to the congregation.

While reasons for its original performance are still unclear, it hasbecome one of the most recorded Christmas songs in history. Theoriginal manuscript for Silent Night was lost, but another version ofit is kept at a museum in Salzburg, Austria. John Freeman Youngtranslated the carol into English in 1859. Since then, the carol hasbeen translated into more than forty-four different languages. Overthree hundred singing artists including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash,Taylor Swift, Josh Groban, Enya, and hundreds more have recordedSilent Night.

The singing of Silent Nightwas part of the World War I"Christmas Truce" of 1914. When German soldiers began decoratingtheir trenches with Christmas trees, they placed lighted candles onthe trees and began singing Stille Nacht. The British soldiers,recognizing the familiar carol, sang along. Thus began a twenty-fourhour truce that defied understanding. Some have called Silent Night"the song heard 'round the world."

"Silent Night"- A Christmas Carol

Questions

1. In what language was the song Silent Night first performed?

2. Who wrote the lyrics for Silent Night?

A. Josef MohrB. Amadeus MozartC. Franz GruberD. Johannes Brahms

3. The song Silent Night has been translated into about howmany languages?

4. Silent Night was originally played with what instrument?

A. oboeB. fluteC. guitarD. organ

5. Silent Night was part of what important World War I event?


6. When was Silent Night translated into English?

A. 1859B. 1990C. 1890D. 1959

Why do you think a two-hundred-year old Christmas song is stillpopular today?

NameFriday, December 4

PericlesBy Vickie Chao

In studying ancient Greece, there is onename that anybody who pursues the topicmust know by heart. That name is Pericles.

Pericles was born around 495 B.C. Hecame from a very prominent family. In moreways than one, his impeccable lineage gavehim many advantages over other Athenians.For one, he could afford an excellenteducation. For another, he had enoughconnections to give him an early boost in hispolitical career. But in the end, hereditycould only go so far. What made Pericles soimportant was his work, his achievements. It was not his ancestry.

Pericles rose to power and became the leader of a democraticmovement around 461 B.C. At the time, his faction often lockedhorns with the conservative party, championed by Cimon (alsospelled as Simon). Eager to get rid of the man, Pericles accusedCimon of being a sympathizer to Sparta (Athens' main rival) andmanaged to get him ostracized for ten years. With Cimon gone,Pericles could finally pursue the policies he had in mind. One of hisearliest edicts was to let the government pick up the tab so the poorcould come and watch theatrical plays free of charge. In addition, healso pushed through legislation which allowed the government topay its citizens for their time spent on public services (such as beinga juror). Needless to say, these two measures, plus many more,made Pericles hugely popular among the Athenians. Throughout histime in office, he put his democratic ideals to the test. Thanks to him,the Assembly (represented by all male citizens) grew increasinglypowerful. For the first time since the concept of democracy wasintroduced by Solon more than a century before, the term finally hadtrue substance behind it. Of course, in today's viewpoint, Pericles'society was a far cry from a real democratic one because only malecitizens could take part in politics. Women, foreigners, and slaveswere not allowed to join the Assembly and cast their votes.Furthermore, in one of his various directives, he made the

requirement of citizenship more stringent. Before the change,anyone born of a single Athenian parent would automaticallybecome an Athenian citizen. The new law passed in 451 B.C.,however, demanded that only children with two Athenian parentscould become Athenian citizens. The move was quite controversialat the time. Ironically, it was eventually overturned shortly beforePericles passed away in 429 B.C. so his half-Athenian son couldbecome his legitimate heir.

Apart from bringing democracy into full swing, Pericles alsowanted to rebuild Athens' acropolis. The acropolis, which literallymeans "city at the top" in Greek, was a centerpiece in the layout ofevery Greek city. It always stood atop a hill or on elevated ground,serving the dual purposes of defense and religious worship. In thecase of the acropolis at Athens, it was completely destroyed duringthe Persian War (or the Greco-Persian War, circa 492 B.C. - 449B.C.). After the conflict was over, Pericles decided to give Athens abrand new look. The entire project took more than a decade tocomplete. When it was finally unveiled, it took everybody's breathaway. The whole complex, guarded by an imposing entrance(Propylaea), featured many grandiose structures. The crown jewel ofit all was, of course, the world-renowned Parthenon. It was a templededicated to Athena, the city's patron deity.

Radical political reforms. A successful city makeover. Thosewere the high points of Pericles' career. At the surface, nothingseemed to be amiss. But beneath it, troubles, especially thoseconcerning Sparta, were brewing. In the end, it was indeed Spartathat was Athens' undoing.

Sparta and Athens had always been in a competition of some sort.As both sought to become the regional powerhouse, a conflictbetween the two was bound to happen. In 433 B.C., Athens andanother city-state, Corinth, were at war. About a year later, heedingPericles' urgings, the Assembly passed through a resolution knownas the Megarian Decree. The law, which was really meant to punishMegara for aiding Corinth but used some other pretenses instead,barred Megarian merchants from doing any business in Athens or atports controlled by Athens. This ban, similar to our modern-daytrade embargo, completely disrupted the Megarian economy. It alsostrained the already fragile relationship between Athens and Spartabecause the latter was an ally of Megara.

At first, Sparta tried to resolve the issue through diplomaticmeans. It sent envoys to Athens threatening to go to war anddemanding the Megarian Decree be retracted and Pericles expelled.


But upon seeing that all of its requests had fallen on deaf ears, Spartadecided to turn words into actions and launched a military strike in431 B.C., setting off the Peloponnesian War. Right from thebeginning, the Athenians and the Spartans adopted two verydifferent strategies. The Athenians knew that their navy was theirstrength, so they sent out fleets to attack the allies of Sparta. TheSpartans, however, had more soldiers and wanted to fight on land.Because neither camp engaged in an open, face-to-face confrontation,it was rather difficult to tell which side was winning. The followingyear, an epidemic broke out in Athens. The spread of the disease,plus the loss of land and personal properties during Spartans'lootings, upset a lot of Athenians. Their frustration and anger forcedPericles to step down from his post of the general or strategos for avery brief period of time. Shortly after he was re-elected in 429 B.C.,he succumbed to the epidemic and passed away.

Known for his integrity and eloquence of speech, Pericles was aninfluential figure dominating the political landscape of ancientGreece for more than 30 years. As a strategos, he transformedAthens from a mere city-state to a budding empire. Under hisleadership, art and literature flourished. Historians often refer to thisera as the Age of Pericles or Athens' Golden Age. But in the last twoyears of Pericles' reign, troubles began to boil and soon got out ofhand. By the time that this prominent statesman died in 429 B.C.,Athens was already in turmoil. Nearly a quarter of a century later, itsurrendered to its archenemy, Sparta. Never again could it rise upand reclaim the glory it had once enjoyed.

Pericles

Questions

1. Which of the following about Pericles is true?

A. Pericles loosened the requirement of citizenship in 451B.C.

B. Pericles died of an epidemic in 429 B.C.C. Pericles was the leader of a conservative political faction.D. Pericles was the first emperor of the Athenian Empire.

2. Which of the following events took place first?

A. Athens went to war with Corinth.B. The Parthenon was unveiled to the public for the first

time.C. Sparta defeated and conquered Athens.D. The Assembly passed through the Megarian Decree.

3. Which of the following groups could vote in the Assembly atAthens?

A. Both male and female citizensB. All males, citizens or notC. Female citizens onlyD. Male citizens only

4. Who destroyed Athens' acropolis that later prompted Periclesto propose a complete makeover?

A. The PersiansB. The EgyptiansC. The SpartansD. The Megarians

5. Who won the Peloponnesian War?

A. The AtheniansB. The MegariansC. The SpartansD. The Corinthians


6. Which of the following was NOT an accomplishment ofPericles?

A. Paying citizens to take part in public servicesB. Introducing the concept of democracy to the AtheniansC. Allowing the poor to watch plays free of chargeD. Putting more power in the hands of people

7. Of what crime did Pericles accuse Cimon to get this opponentof his ostracized?

A. MurderB. Embezzling public fundsC. Pro-SpartaD. Bribery

8. Which Greek deity was the Parthenon dedicated to?

A. ZeusB. DemeterC. AthenaD. Dionysus

Suppose you could travel back in time to deliver a eulogy for Pericles.What would you say? Draft your speech.


Rainforest PlantsBy Sharon Fabian

The rainforest is green and growing andlively. There is lots of rain, over 100 inches ofrain per year. In tropical rainforests, it is warmand sunny all year long. Since sunshine andrain are two of the things that plants need togrow, you can see why tropical rainforests arehome to many, many plants. In fact, more thanhalf of the world's different species of plantslive in tropical rainforests.

The major plants in a tropical rainforest are trees. There are moretypes of trees in the rainforest than there are anywhere else.Rainforest trees have tall straight trunks and smooth bark. The tallerones have a canopy of leaves up to 100 feet above the forest floor.

Another type of rainforest plant is the epiphyte. Epiphytes areplants that grow on trees instead of on the ground. Orchids,bromeliads, and ferns are rainforest epiphytes. Bromeliads areinteresting plants that have leaves that form a holding tank for water.These leaf tanks can hold from less than a pint to more than tengallons of water. These little tanks of water are home to wholecommunities of small creatures, including bacteria, mosquitoes, andtadpoles. There are also epiphytes that live on other plants,including mosses, liverworts, and lichens. Epiphytes get water andnutrients they need from the rain and air.

Vines are also important rainforest plants. Lianas are woodyclimbing vines. They start as a ground plant and grow up the trees tothe canopy. There are around 2,500 species of rainforest vines. Thepitcher plant is a climbing carnivorous plant that traps bugs in itspitcher for dinner.

There are large tropical rainforests in South America, Africa,Australia, and Asia. At one time, rainforests covered fourteenpercent of the Earth's surface. Now the area has been reduced to lessthan 5 percent. This is because large areas of rainforest have beencleared to build farms and ranches and to harvest the trees for lumber.

This is the same thing that happened to most of our North Americanforests many years ago.

Many people hope to find better ways for people in tropicalrainforest countries to earn a living than by cutting down theirrainforests. The rainforest is home to many valuable plants. In thefuture, people in rainforest countries may earn a better living byharvesting rainforest products while leaving the trees standing. Thisway the products will be available year after year.

Rainforest plants, especially trees, produce many valuable fooditems. Brazil nuts come from a rainforest tree. Bananas, oranges,grapefruit, figs, lemons, avocadoes, tomatoes, and many other fruitsand vegetables originated in the rainforest. At one time, rainforestIndians used about 2,000 species of fruits and nuts for their food.Today we only use about 200. Spices that give good flavor to cakesand other foods are also rainforest products. Some of these arenutmeg, ginger, vanilla, and allspice. Coffee and cacao (chocolate)are major products of the South American and African rainforests.

Ingredients for medicines are another valuable group of productsfrom the rainforests. The U.S. National Cancer Institute estimatedthat there are about 2,000 cancer fighting ingredients from rainforestplants. A plant that is now extinct in the wild, the Madagascar rosyperiwinkle, has improved the survival rate for children withleukemia. At one time, only two out of every ten children survivedthis disease. Now the survival rate is eight out of every ten, thanksto the rosy periwinkle. Twenty-five percent of the ingredients in allcancer fighting drugs come from the rainforest.

The rainforest has another very valuable product. In fact, thisone is too valuable to even measure. It is oxygen. The largeAmazon rainforest is estimated to produce about one-fifth of theworld's oxygen. That is why it is called the "lungs of our planet."Let's hope our beautiful, green rainforests keep living and growingfor a long, long time.


Rainforest Plants

Questions

1. This article is mainly about:

A. Brazil nutsB. rainforest plantsC. the Amazon rainforestD. rainforest trees

2. A plant that is helping to cure leukemia is:

A. rosy periwinkleB. pitcher plantC. Brazil nutD. bromeliad

3. The Amazon rainforest produces one-fifth of the world's:

A. nitrogenB. oxygenC. hydrogenD. potassium

4. The leaves of tall rainforest trees make up the:

A. trunkB. forest floorC. canopyD. epiphyte

5. Today, rainforests cover less than ______ of the Earth'ssurface.

A. 200%B. 14%C. 5%D. 1%

6. Epiphytes are:

A. vinesB. plants that need little waterC. pitcher plantsD. plants that grow on other plants

7. Since it is warm and rainy in tropical rainforests, we can tellthat these rainforests are probably located near which part ofthe world?

A. the Great PlainsB. the ArcticC. EuropeD. the equator

8. Today we use ______ types of fruits, nuts, and vegetablesfrom the rainforest than rainforest Indians used in the past.

A. about the sameB. moreC. can't tell from the articleD. fewer


IcefishBy Vickie Chao

In the freezing waters surrounding Antarctica, there lives a bizarrefish family called the icefish.

The icefish family has 16 members. They can grow up to 2 feet longand weigh 8 pounds. They devour fish, krill, and other crustaceans.Icefish have long snouts, wide mouths, and large teeth. They are alsoknown as white-blooded fish or crocodile icefish.

Icefish are unique because they don't have red blood cells in theirbodies. As a result, they look rather pale, and their blood carries muchless oxygen than that of fish with red blood cells. The pastyappearance is not a pressing matter. But the insufficient supply ofoxygen is. To solve the problem, icefish have big, strong hearts topump large volumes of blood at low pressures.

Besides their lack of red blood cells and relatively larger hearts,icefish have one other unusual physical feature that helps themsurvive in their natural habitat.

Antarctica is an extremely harsh environment, with snow and icecovering this southernmost continent all year-round. As thetemperature is unbearably bitter there, animals living on or aroundAntarctica must find ways to stay warm. For icefish, their brilliantidea is to produce antifreeze proteins. Antifreeze proteins help lowerthe freezing point of icefish's blood. So even as they swim in thesubzero waters, they don't have to worry about their blood congealinginto solid ice.

What an ingenious adaptation it is!

Icefish

Questions

1. Icefish live in the tropical waters.

A. TrueB. False

2. Which of the following about icefish is true?

A. Icefish do not have teeth.B. Icefish can grow up to 10 feet long.C. Icefish's skin is bright red.D. Icefish eat krill.

3. Why is the icefish also called the white-blooded fish?

A. Because of its lack of red blood cellsB. Because of its ability to change its blood color from red

to whiteC. Because its diet makes its blood turn whiteD. All of the above

4. How many different species of icefish are there?

A. 10B. 20C. 16D. 8

5. In comparison to other fish, icefish have ______.

A. Larger heartsB. Sharper teethC. Bigger eyesD. Smaller hearts

6. How do icefish stay unfrozen in the subzero waters?

A. They have blubber under their skin.B. They have thick scales.C. They produce antifreeze proteins.D. They have long fur.

NameMonday, December 7

The Know Nothing PartyBy Joyce Furstenau

Immigration has been an issue in the U.S. formany years. In the early 1800s, a new movementbegan. A Nativist was a person against immigration.They wanted to stop people from other countries fromcoming to live in the U.S. Nativists thoughtimmigrants were against our way of life. TheNativists at the time were strongly against IrishCatholic immigrants.

In the 1840s, there were many new immigrants inthe U.S. By the 1850s, there were almost threemillion Catholics. The Nativists wanted to stopimmigration of Irish Catholics. It was thought thatthey were more loyal to the Pope than to the United States. SeveralProtestants of the time felt that the Pope was trying to fill the U.S.with Catholics in order to take over.

In 1844, street battles between Catholics and Protestants inPhiladelphia broke out. They were fighting over the issue ofCatholicism in the schools. The conflict left thirty dead andhundreds wounded.

In 1849, a secret society calling themselves the Order of theStar-Spangled Banner began in New York. Later they were known asthe Native American Party. It became officially known as theAmerican Party. Unofficially, the party was known as theKnow-Nothings. The name came about because of the party's secretways. When a member was asked about the party, they would say,"I know nothing."

Most members of the Know-Nothings were not wealthy. Manywere workers or small farmers. They felt their jobs or way of lifewas in danger because of the cheap labor and strange ways of thenew immigrants. Religious differences between Catholics andProtestants had long been a sore point. Fear and suspicion ruled theday.

In the spring of 1854, the party won many elections. Major citieslike Boston, Salem, and Chicago all won elections for the KnowNothing Party. The Know Nothings were having such success thattheir opponents became known as the "Anti-Know Nothing Party."

By 1855, the Know Nothing party had elected thousands ofgovernment officials. There were eight governors from the party.Forty-three Know-Nothing candidates were elected to the U.S.House of Representatives. There were five Know-Nothing senators.They found success in Maine, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.Even a few southern states supported the party.

The Know Nothing party was very successful in Maryland at thistime. Millard Fillmore ran for the Presidency in 1856 with theAmerican (Know Nothing) Party. The state of Maryland gave him allof its electoral votes. He did not win the national election. In 1858,the Know Nothing Party elected Thomas Hicks as governor ofMaryland. In his first speech as governor, Hicks complained aboutthe numbers of foreign immigrants coming to America. He warnedthat they would "change the national character."

The Know Nothing Polka was written for the Party in 1854. Thegreat Know Nothing song called "I Don't Know," has lyrics thatregret the fact that you get no answers from the Know Nothing Party."Paddy's Fight with the Know Nothings" was another period song.The closing lines of the song read:

"Now I'll tell you one thing, and that you may note: I'll keep away from the place where they vote; For I'll tell ye'se the truth, and it's no mistake

We found the Know Nothings were all WIDE AWAKE!"

In 1859, the Democrats took control. They forced the KnowNothings out of state offices. American political parties were dividedover slavery. This caused a split within the Know Nothings. Manyended up joining the new Republican Party, founded in 1854. Theelection of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 brought in a new era.

A glimpse of this era in American history was the basis for the2002 film Gangs of New York starring Daniel Day Lewis.

NameMonday, December 7

The Know Nothing Party

Questions

1. The Nativist movement centered on what cause?

A. immigrationB. voting rightsC. slaveryD. women's rights

2. The secret society first called themselves what?

3. What was the official name of the party?

4. What was the unofficial name for the party?

5. What issue split the Know Nothing Party in 1860?

A. slaveryB. women's rightsC. westward expansionD. voting rights

6. How many Know Nothings were elected to the House ofRepresentatives by 1855?

A. 23B. 14C. 43D. 50

NameTuesday, December 8

Clyde Robert BullaBy Jamie Kee

Clyde Robert Bulla always knew he wanted to bea writer. He began his writing career with stories,columns, and a book, but they were all written forthe adult audience. However, he soon discoveredthat he had a passion for writing children's books.Although Bulla did write some nonfiction books,most of his children's books were fiction. Bullabegan his adult life as a farmer, but he eventuallybecame a respected children's author.

Clyde Robert Bulla was born in 1914 on a farm in a small town nearKing City, Missouri. He was the youngest of four children born toparents Julian and Sarah Bulla. Bulla's father was a farmer, so from ayoung age, Bulla helped on the farm whenever he was needed. Heeven had to drop out of high school after only one year in order tohelp on the family farm during the Great Depression.

Bulla began his education in a small one-room countryschoolhouse. Even as a young boy, he always knew he wanted to bea writer. When Bulla was in first grade, his teacher asked the classwhat they would do with one thousand dollars. Unlike his otherclassmates, Bulla said he would buy a desk or table so he could writehis stories better. When he was ten years old, he won a prize from awriting contest. This convinced Bulla that he could make a living asa writer. His family expected him to be a farmer and didn'tunderstand his desire to be a writer. That didn't stop Bulla fromwriting at night. When Bulla had to quit high school in order to helpon the farm, he still kept writing at night. He also tookcorrespondence courses and read as much as he could until heeventually received a high school education. Bulla even taughthimself how to play the piano.

While working as a farmer to help support his family, Bullabegan sending out his stories in hopes of publishing them. Hereceived rejection after rejection until he finally sold his first story toa women's magazine in 1934. Bulla continued working as a farmeruntil 1942, when his mother became sick, so the family moved to

King City. Bulla got his first opportunity to leave farming. He took ajob with the Tri-County News in King City. He worked as a linotypeoperator and columnist.

Bulla was able to sell several of his stories, but selling his firstbook became a difficult problem. These Bright Young Dreams,Bulla's only novel for adults, eventually sold to a publisher, but thepublisher soon went bankrupt, so Bulla made no money for it.Finally Bulla's luck changed when a well-known author and friend ofBulla's saw his potential, so she sent one of his columns to her editor.Bulla was encouraged to try writing books for children, and fromthere his success as a children's writer began.

In 1946 Bulla published his first children's book, The Donkey'sCart. Two years later, he published his second book, Riding thePony Express (1948). By the end of his writing career, Bullapublished more than sixty successful children's books. He chose tospend the majority of these triumphant years in Los Angeles,California, not his home state of Missouri. The success of Bulla'sbooks was due in large part to his very straight forward writing style.He used simple language, but he made sure his plots were fast-paced.Bulla knew the importance of using caution in what he wrote andhow he wrote it because of his audience.

Although Bulla wrote some nonfiction books, most of hischildren's books were fiction. He wrote about everything fromhistorical figures like Pocahontas to contemporary issues facingchildren during the current time period. In The Story of Valentine'sDay (1965), Lincoln's Birthday (1966), and Washington's Birthday(1967), the past is brought to life. In Bulla's books, such as WhatMakes a Shadow? (1962) and A Tree Is a Plant (1960), scientificideas are discussed in simple language. Bulla even retold storiesfrom the Bible.

In one of Bulla's books, A Lion to Guard Us (1981), he used anactual event from 1609 as the basis of his story about threeimpoverished children left alone in London. In search of their father,they must make their way back to the Virginia colony. Squanto,Friend of the White Man (1954) and Pocahontas and the Strangers(1971) also take place in Colonial America. Another book, Charlie'sHouse (1993), is the story of a poor English boy who dreams ofbuilding his own house. He is shipped to America to be anindentured servant, only to run away from his cruel master.

Another successful book by Bulla is The Chalk Box Kid (1987).The Chalk Box Kid tells the story of Gregory, a nine-year-old boy


whose family must move to a smaller house in the poorer side oftown because his father has lost his factory job. Because his housedoesn't have a yard, Gregory explores a burnt-out building that wasonce a chalk factory. He finds plenty of chalk and creates a chalkgarden on the blackened walls of the building. Gregory is able to getthrough difficult situations in his life as he draws his chalk garden.Gregory is back with his friends Ivy and Richard in The Paint BrushKid (1998). In this book, Gregory paints Uncle Pancho's childhoodin Mexico on his house. When the house is set to be torn downbecause of a new freeway, they must find a way to save it.

During his more than fifty year writing career, Clyde RobertBulla impacted the world of children's literature through his simplywritten, yet very appealing books. He won awards and recognitionsbecause of his ability to engage and educate his readers. He was amember of the Authors League of America, the Authors Guild, andthe Society of Children's Book Writers. During Bulla's later years, hereturned to Missouri. After a long successful career, Bulla died in2007, but his children's books will continue to be treasured.

Clyde Robert Bulla

Questions

1. Which of Bulla's books tells the story of three children left inLondon who go to Virginia in search of their father?

A. A Lion to Guard UsB. Charlie's HouseC. These Bright Young DreamsD. The Donkey's Cart

2. Which of the following was Bulla's first children's book?

A. The Chalk Box KidB. These Bright Young DreamsC. Riding the Pony ExpressD. The Donkey's Cart

3. Which of Bulla's books is about a boy who must adjust tomoving into a house in the poorer side of town because hisfather lost his job?

A. The Chalk Box KidB. The Paint Brush KidC. A Lion to Guard UsD. Charlie's House

4. How many books did Bulla write for adults?

A. twoB. oneC. noneD. three

5. Bulla largely wrote in which genre?

A. science fictionB. dramaC. nonfictionD. fiction

6. As a young boy, what did Bulla tell his teacher he would buywith one thousand dollars?

A. a thousand booksB. a deskC. a horseD. gifts for his family

7. In The Paint Brush Kid, what does Gregory use as a canvasfor his artwork?

A. old paperB. his bedroom wallC. someone's houseD. the wall of an old building

8. As a young boy, what was Bulla's first school?


Mary, Queen of ScotsBy Phyllis Naegeli

On December 8, 1542, a young princess wasborn in Scotland. Mary Stewart (also spelled"Stuart") came into the world at LinlithgowPalace as the daughter of King James V ofScotland and his wife, Marie de Guise. Mary'sfather was the last male in the royal Stewartline. When he died six days after her birth, hisyoung infant daughter became queen. Theregents of Scotland entered into a treaty withEngland at that time. One component of theTreaties of Greenwich promised Mary wouldbe wed to Edward, the son of King HenryVIII. Mary's mother was opposed to themarriage and took the child into hiding to prepare her for hercoronation. The infant child was crowned the Queen of Scots onSeptember 9, 1543 in a lavish ceremony.

Soon after Mary was crowned, the Treaties of Greenwich began tofall apart. Henry VIII tried to make changes that would bring Mary toEngland while she was still an infant. The Scottish people wereagainst these changes, and the government of Scotland broke thetreaty with England. Henry VIII was very unhappy about this and setout to force observance to the agreement. Scotland turned to theFrench, a longstanding ally, for help. A new marriage contract wassigned which betrothed Mary to Dauphin Francois, the son of HenryII of France. Henry II promised help for Scotland and protection forthe young queen. After much turmoil in Scotland, Mary sailed toFrance on August 7, 1548. She was only five years old.

In France, Mary received a fine education. She was raised in theFrench court and given lessons in horsemanship and falconry. Shetook up needlework and music lessons. When she was fifteen, Marywas wed to Francois. The following year, Henry II died. Francois wascrowned king, and Mary became queen of France.

When Mary's husband, Francois, died on December 5, 1560, she wasleft in quite a predicament. Her relationship with Francois' mother

was anything but friendly. Staying in France did not appeal to Mary.In addition, Scotland was divided between Catholic and Protestantfactions. Mary was a devout Roman Catholic, and her illegitimatebrother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray, led the Protestant party. Marywondered how she would be received in her own country. There wasalso bad blood between her and her cousin, Elizabeth I. AlthoughElizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII, was queen of England, theCatholic Church considered her illegitimate. Many believed Mary tobe the rightful heir to the English throne. England did not appear to bean option. Mary needed to decide where to go.

Finally, Mary decided to return to Scotland. The Scottish people wereelated to have their queen back in her native land. Mary set out tounite the country. She tried to control the nobles and promotedreligious tolerance. Mary worked diligently to bring peace andprosperity to Scotland.

In 1565, Mary remarried. Her new husband was Henry Stuart, aleading Catholic and half-first cousin to Mary. Their children wouldhave a strong claim to both the throne of Scotland and the throne ofEngland. The marriage was not a happy one. Mary denied her newhusband the title of king. Henry became demanding and overbearing.He killed Mary's personal secretary and even attacked Mary. Heconvinced the nobles to kidnap Mary and hold her prisoner.Somehow, she convinced her husband to help her escape. Not longafter she gained her freedom, she gave birth to a son - the futureJames VI of Scotland and James I of England. It was Mary's finesthour. She now had a male heir to carry on the Stewart line. However,Mary's life would continue to be surrounded by turmoil.

In 1567, a suspicious explosion occurred at Henry's home, and hewas killed. A Scottish noble, James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, wasaccused of Henry's murder. A trial was held, and he was acquitted. Hethen set out to win Mary's hand in marriage. He convinced her thatshe needed a strong husband who had the nobles' consent. In May of1567, he and Mary were married in a Protestant ceremony. At first,the nobles were happy about the marriage. They had even stronglysuggested to Mary that this would be best for Scotland. Soon,however, the nobles of Scotland turned against the couple and raisedan army against them. They were fearful that Bothwell would becometoo powerful. Mary gathered an army and met the nobles at CarberryHill. In order to avoid a battle, Mary allowed herself to be takencaptive by the nobles. They imprisoned her and forced her to abdicatethe throne to her son, James, who was just one-year-old. JamesStewart, Earl of Moray was called upon to be regent until James wasold enough to rule.


In 1568, Mary escaped from her imprisonment. It was time to fight toregain her throne. She raised an army and set out to take her place asqueen. However, her forces were defeated, and Mary fled to Englandto ask Elizabeth for help. Unbeknownst to Mary, Elizabeth had beenfunding Mary's enemies to keep Scotland in continual conflict. WhenMary arrived in England, Elizabeth captured and confined her. Marywas accused of murdering her husband, Henry. An inquiry was held,and Mary was cleared of the charges. However, the politicalmotivation was obvious. Elizabeth needed to prevent Mary fromtaking her throne. James Stewart, Earl of Moray, wanted her out ofScotland so he could continue to rule as regent. Mary remained inconfinement for the final years of her life - almost nineteen years.

Many times, Mary attempted to escape. The longer the imprisonment,the more desperate she became. Eventually, Mary's plots involvedplans to assassinate Elizabeth. Mary felt justified in her plans becauseshe was the rightful heir to the English throne. For her cousin, thequeen, this was the final straw. Mary had become too dangerous forElizabeth to tolerate. Mary was tried and found guilty of treason. OnFebruary 8, 1587, she was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle. Marychose to wear red, the color of a Catholic martyr. To this day, manyconsider her a martyr.

Mary was buried at Peterborough Cathedral. Sixteen years after herexecution, her son, James, became king of England and Scotland. Hehad her body moved to Westminster Abbey where it lies thirty feetfrom her cousin, Elizabeth. He felt it a befitting honor to Mary, Queenof Scots.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Questions

1. Mary Stewart was born in England in 1542.

A. trueB. false

2. How old was Mary when she became Queen of Scotland?

A. one year oldB. six yearsC. six daysD. six months

3. Mary spent most of her childhood in France.

A. trueB. false

4. Mary fled to England in 1568 because...

A. she needed to escape from France.B. she needed help from Elizabeth.C. she wanted to steal the throne of England.D. she needed to get her son out of Scotland.

5. Who was Mary's first husband?

A. Francois I of FranceB. Henry StuartC. Henry VIIID. James Hepburn

6. What was Queen Elizabeth doing to keep Mary from trying tosteal her throne?


7. How many years did Mary remain confined by Elizabeth?

8. What one word would you use to describe Mary's life?

Mary spent most of her life fighting for what she believed was rightlyhers. Many others would have given up. Write an essay about thecharacter traits that would prevent a person from giving up.

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