Roller coaster amusement rides date back to ice slides that were constructed in the 18th century in Russia.
The early technology featured sleds or wheeled carts that were sent down hills of ice that was reinforced by wooden supports.
Technology improves in the 19th century because they used a railroad track that used wheeled carts that were securely locked to the track.
In the 20th century they started to use side friction and under friction wheeled technologies to allow for greater speeds and sharp returns.
By the mid to late 20th century these elements were made even more intense by adding the introduction of steel roller coaster designs and the ability to make the riders turn and go upside down.
The world’s oldest roller coasters were in the Russian mountains. They were hills of ice built in the 17th century so people could slide down them.
They were located in the gardens of palaces around the Russian capital St. Petersburg.
These attractions were called sliding mountains. Most of them were built with the height of 70 to 80 feet, they had a 50 degree drop and were reinforced by wooden supports on both sides.
The slides became very popular with the Russian upper-class. Catherine the Great of Russia made a summer version of the ride on her estate in the 18th century. These were wheeled carts that rode along grooved tracks instead of slats.
The riding mountain entertainment pavilion was designed by Bartolomeo Francisco Rastrelli was built for the Royal residence in 1754 to 1757.
It was a huge building that was round and had a big roof that was called a rotunda.
It had a trail of five hills that were covered with ice during the winter and in the summer the trails had wheeled trolleys that were secured in steel grooves and mounted on the wooden rails.
Because there is a pendulum like motion, people could go down all five hills very fast during one ride.
Russian soldiers that occupied Paris from 1815 to 1816 after they defeated Napoleon at Waterloo may have introduced the Russian amusement of sledding down steep hills to the French.
In July 1817, a French banker named Nicholas Beaujon opened an amusement called Parc Beaujon. It’s most famous attraction was called Aerial Strolls. It had wheeled cars that were securely locked to the track, guide rails to keep them on course and a lot higher speeds. The carts were pulled to the top of a tower and then released to go down to curving tracks on either side. It is said that King Louis XVIII came to visit the park but no one knows if he tried the ride.
In the beginning, these attractions were mostly for the upper class.
In 1845 another amusement park opened called Tivoli Gardens. It was in Copenhagen which was meant for the middle class. These new parks featured roller coasters as permanent attraction.
The first roller coaster with a looping track was most likely built in Paris from an English design in 1846, with a single person’s wheeled sled running through a 13 foot loop.
These early single designs were called centrifugal railways.
In 1887 French entrepreneur names Joseph Oller built the Russian mountains of Belleville. It was a permanent roller coaster with a length of 200 m in the form of in the form of double eight later to 4 figure 8 shaped loops.
Let’s look at how roller coasters work and keep us safe
Growing Popularity and Innovations
As the popularity of roller coasters continued to grow there were more experimental things added.
In the 1880s the vertical loop was explored. In 1895 vertical loops began with the roller coaster called Flip Flap Railway located in Brooklyn. These rides had dangerously high G forces and many passengers suffered whiplash. They were soon dismantled and looping coasters would disappear for a century.
The oldest operating roller coaster at the time was called Leap the Dips at Lakemont park in Pennsylvania. It was a side friction roller coaster and it was built in 1902.
The oldest wooden roller coaster in the United Kingdom is called the Scenic Railway at dreamland Margate in Margate, Kent. It features a system where the break man rides the car with wheels. However, it was severely damaged by fire on April 7, 2008 but has been restored and it reopened to the public in 2015.
The Great Depression was the end of the golden age roller coaster. This was because amusement parks across the United States went into a decline that resulted in less demand for new roller coasters and also there were many closures of parks and rides.
This lasted until 1972. When The Racer opened at Kings Island. It was designed by John C Allen. The success of this roller coaster helped to make roller coasters more exciting and create even more interest for them throughout the industry.
The Rise of Steel Coasters
In 1959 Disneyland introduced a new design in roller coasters with the Matterhorn Bobsleds. This was the first roller coaster to have a tubular steel track.
They are different than the conventional wooden rails because tubular steel can be bent in any direction allowing designers to incorporate loops, corkscrews and many other manoeuvres to their design.
Most modern roller coasters are made of steel.
In 1975 the first modern day roller coaster with an inverting element opened.
In 1976 the vertical loops made a comeback with Great American Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.
Some Interesting Facts about Canada’s Wonderland Roller Coasters
There are 17 roller coasters at Canada’s Wonderland which makes it one of the top eight coaster destinations in the world!
The Yukon Stryker is the newest roller coaster. It’s the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster in the world! It has a 245 feet drop, at 138 km/h and its 3625 feet long.
Dragon fire has had the most writers since the park opened in 1981. There have been over 43.2 million riders.
I thought we could look at a video of the top 10 fastest roller coasters in the world. Canada’s Wonderland has one of them.
I thought we could finish class by watching a funny video with Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon on a roller coaster.
Casa Loma is one of North America’s only genuine full-sized Gothic style castles.
It has hidden passages and beautiful architecture and is visited by numerous tourists every year.
Because of its beautiful and different architecture, Casa Loma is often a popular location for movies and television shows.
It was once home to a wealthy Canadian and his wife and is now up available to the public to enjoy as a historical Museum and famous tour attraction.
Casa Loma’s History and Role As a Toronto Icon
A Canadian banker and soldier built castle. He made his fortune by providing electricity to the city of Toronto.
Soon the city of Toronto became the owner of the castle and it has been one of the most popular tourist attractions for the city for many years. It is now run by The Liberty Entertainment Group as a historical Museum that is filled with history and supernatural sightings.
The castle is a famous place where you can host events such as weddings, Halloween events and much more.
You can tour the grand castle but also visitors can take part in adventurous activities like seasonal ghost tours or the Castle Escape Series.
Exhibits at Casa Loma journey you through time periods that are important in the castle’s history. Times like the Prohibition and the Great Depression.
People that are interested in cars will enjoy the classic car exhibit and everyone should enjoy an elegant dining experience at the Blueblood Steakhouse that is decorated with antiques and famous works of art.
How Casa Loma Came to Be and Some Mysterious Parts of the Castle
Breaking ground With the Ambitious Sir Henry Pellatt
He wanted a medieval castle on a hill for him and his wife to live in and enjoy. He hired an architect that built beautiful and lavish places. His name was E.J Lennox.
He wanted him to create his palace on the hill with views of the city of Toronto all around. He began by building the stables in 1911. Three years later it took over 300 men and around $3.5 million to complete.
The home had 98 rooms and the conservatory has a beautiful stained glass ceiling. Outside are the stables, 5 acres of beautiful gardens and two towers with winding stairs.
Pellatt’s parents were from Europe, which is where his fascination with castles came from.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get to live in the house very long. They were only in the house for nine years when they lost this beautiful mansion because of financial issues.
A Prohibition Paradise for Americans Wealthy
Casa Loma became a fancy hotel in Toronto for a few years.
At night it was a nightclub where rich Americans came to the lounge during the Prohibition days looking for a place to drink alcohol when it was legal.
The city of Toronto took the property in 1924 because the taxes weren’t being paid.
The mansion sat empty for years until 1937 when the Kiwanis Club of West Toronto took it over and began using the property as a tourist attraction.
Casa Loma In World War II
During World War II, Casa Loma’s stables were a secret location where an early form of sonar detection was developed (sonar detection is a technology that uses sound waves to detect, locate, and map objects underwater).
The Germans were sinking supply ships and Britain was working to develop this technology in order to detect the Germans boats.
After the allied submarine detection investigation committee that was originally in London was destroyed during the World War II German bombing, the research lab was secretly moved to Casa Loma. It was even kept from the Toronto city officials. No one was told until 10 years later.
The Ghosts and Secret Passages of Casa Loma
There is a very long history of unexplained sounds and sightings at Casa Loma. “Lady in white” is thought to be either Lady Pellatt or a maid is one of the more popular ghosts seen.
People have also reported that they have felt someone brushing up against them. Even Sir Henry Pellatt is said to have been spotted the castle. Castle Loma has eight and 800 foot tunnel about 18 feet.
There have been reports of strange noises and voices in the tunnel. People have also reported someone grabbing their hair or reaching out to them while they were in the tunnel.
There have been paranormal researchers using their “ghost hunting technology” that has picked up some activity while visiting the castle.
Casa Loma in Hollywood and Culture
Many Hollywood movies have used the castle as a set for filming them. The Casa Loma Conservatory was used during the filming of The Perfect Man for the beautiful wedding scene.
Some other films that have used casa Loma include X-Men, Chicago, The Tuxedo, Scott Pilgrim Versus the World, The Vow, and Crimson Peak.
It has been used for many more productions. Billy Madison’s mansion in the Adam Sandler film was one of them.
In addition, Disney’s 2017 version of the Beauty and The Beast when the Beast’s castle was done in Casa Loma.
Manchester is one of the most popular cities to live in in England. Manchester has everything and anything you could think of that you want to do. Let’s look at some of the best and most interesting facts about Manchester today.
Culture in Manchester
Manchester United Is One of the Most Popular Football Clubs in the World: Manchester United is one of the oldest and most well-known football clubs. Manchester is where professional football was founded and started. They started the club in the year 1878 and it has the reputation of being one of the highest earning clubs world. If you ever get to visit Manchester try to make sure you can visit Old Trafford, which is the teams home arena.
Some of the Biggest Bands in the Music Industry Are from Manchester: Manchester is a city that is filled with a pot of creative and artistic people. The music scene is a very important part of the city’s iconic culture and heritage. They have a lot of bars and clubs with live performances. Some of the most well-known bands from Manchester are Oasis, the Smiths, Simply Red and New Order.
It Is the Home to the Annual World Pie Eating Championships: The event is held at Harry’s Bar in Wigan. This event started back in 1992 and people all over the world come to participate.
Tourism Facts About Manchester
Manchester Has the Largest City Centre Shopping Area: It is called the Manchester Arndale Centre. The Centre was built in 1972. It is the biggest shopping mall in the city centre in Europe. The mall even has its own radio station broadcast inside called Centre Sound. You can find almost anything you want there.
The show called Peaky Blinders was filmed in Manchester: The show was supposed to be filmed in Birmingham but a lot of the scenes in the series were filmed in Liverpool and Manchester. This is because Manchester has an industrial background so it served as the perfect spot for filming.
Manchester Is Where the First Atom Was Split: The first time the atom split happened at Manchester University by a man named Ernest Rutherford. He was a teacher at the University and also the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in the field of chemistry in 1908.
The UK’s First Public Library Opened In Manchester: The Chetham’s Library was first opened in Manchester in 1653. The library is one of the oldest public libraries in the English-speaking world and has a collection of over 100,000 books.
Manchester Started the Industrial Revolution: The opening of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761 led to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester. The city played an important part in the manufacturing cotton and textile industries.
Manchester’s Crisscrossed Canal Mania: There was a time in Britain called Canal Mania and it went from the 1790s to 1810’s. This is a time when Britain was building a lot of canals. The first canal was built in 1761 and it was called the Bridgewater Canal. It was also known as Duke’s Cut. It was the first man-made waterway in Britain. This Canal was so successful that there were nearly 4000 miles of additional canals built. These waterways were very important because they were used to transport wool, textiles and coal during the Industrial Revolution. You can walk along the Greater Manchester’s historical canals today.
Coronation Street Was Filmed In Manchester: Coronation Street was filmed in 1960. It was filmed in the fictional city called Weatherfield. It is based on Manchester’s busy streets. It started off with Tony Warren’s stories of life near the docks and it showed the tram crash in 2010. The show’s history is filled with Manchester vibes. You can still visit the set and have a tour.
Fun and Interesting Facts about Manchester
The Commonwealth Games in 2002 Were Held in Manchester: Before the 2012 Olympics were held in London, the Commonwealth games were the biggest multi-sports the UK ever hosted. Because of the Commonwealth games Manchester saw a lot of investments and regeneration, it provided a lot of people with a lot of jobs and it was a big boost to their economy as well. The city of Manchester Stadium was built for the Commonwealth games and England won a total of 165 medals.
Worker Bees Are Symbolic of Manchester: During the Industrial Revolution, the worker bee gained popularity in Manchester and was the symbol of the perseverance of people employed in the city’s industries and cotton mills. The bee became especially important as a symbol of strength and antiterrorism after the Manchester arena bombing in 2017.
The Suffragette Movement Started in Manchester: The suffragettes were part of the Votes for Women Campaign that had been fighting for the right of women to vote in the UK. Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Woman’s Social and Political Union in 1903 in Manchester.
Let’s look at some of the attractions you can see if you go to Manchester
Jodrell Bank: This is a very unique and amazing place to visit. It is a deep space radio of the observatory and an award-winning national visitor attraction. You can discover the inspirational heritage of the Jodrell Bank in the new First Light Pavilion. Inside this building you’ll find an exhibition telling the pioneering stories of the scientists and engineers that made history. There are interactive displays, projections and artifacts as you go from the early postwar days through to the heights of the space race and the depth of the Cold War and all the way to today’s world leading discoveries.
Chester Zoo: This zoo is home to over 30,000 animals and it brings you face-to-face with roaring big cats, free flying birds, colourful reptiles and so much more. You can explore 128 acres of habitats that can be from dense rain forests and tropical covers to open wetlands and Himalayan mountains. You can visit the Heart of Africa exhibit. It has African landscapes, species and culture, with giraffes painted dogs, warthogs and a lot of other different animals from Africa.
Some baby animals born at the zoo.
Old Trafford Tour and Museum: Old Trafford tour and Museum provides a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most iconic Stadium, the Old Trafford. You can come and sit in the manager’s seat in the dugout, walk through the players tunnel towards the hollowed turf and find the seat of your favourite player in the dressing room.
Science and Industry Museum: In this museum you can explore 250 years of innovations and ideas that started life in Manchester and went on to change the world on a visit to the Science and Industry Museum. You can journey through Manchester’s rich ideas and discoveries in the Revolution Manchester Gallery. You will see the idea of modern computing and one of the first Rolls-Royce cars. You can find out how the city’s heritage is interwoven with the cotton industry in the Textiles Gallery. You can follow the textiles in history through innovations in design, printing and finishing. You can even find out how “Cottonopolis” changed the world we live in today. You can have hands-on experience In Experiment which is an interactive gallery designed for the whole family to enjoy together. There are some special exhibitions and one is that you can play your way through 50 years of video games in Power Up. It is the ultimate gaming experience. You can try out over 100 different consoles and even try a selection of games created in Manchester.
Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy day because of the tradition of wearing a Remembrance Poppy.
It’s a memorial day observed in the Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War.
It honours our Armed Forces members who died in the line of duty. The day is also marked by war remembrances in several other non-Commonwealth countries.
In most places, Remembrance Day is observed on November 11th as a tribute to the end of the First World War which ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
The First World War formally ended when they signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.
The tradition of Remembrance Day came out of Armistice Day. The initial Armistice Day was observed at Buckingham Palace starting with King George V hosting a banquet in honour of the president of the French Republic.
It was during the evening hours of November 10, 1919. The first official armistice day was held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace the next morning.
During the Second World War many countries changed the name of the holiday. Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations changed the name to Remembrance Day while the US chose Veterans Day.
Observance and the Commonwealth
In places like Britain, Canada and South Africa the Remembrance Day tradition includes doing a one or two minute moment of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
It marks the time in the United Kingdom when the armistice became effective.
The Remembrance Day service in many Commonwealth countries includes the sounding of the Last Post followed by a moment of silence, and then after that the sounding of the Reveille.
The service ends usually with the reciting of in Flanders fields.
The service also can include wreaths being laid to honour the fallen soldiers, blessings being said and the singing of the national anthem.
There were ceremonies on Sunday in England and Ottawa honouring soldiers and veterans ahead of Remembrance Day on Tuesday. I thought you’d like to see a bit of them.
I thought it was also important to remember Canada’s most decorated Indigenous soldier as well.
Remembrance Day in Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada states that remembrance Day is important to celebrate to remember the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace efforts.
This was particularly important during the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and all of the conflicts since then that members of the Canadian Armed Forces have participated in.
Veterans Affairs Canada runs a program called Canada Remembers and their mission is to help young and new Canadians who will have probably never known about war to understand and appreciate what people who have served Canada in the war, armed conflict and peace efforts stand for and what they have sacrificed for their country.
Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday for federally regulated employees and is a provincial and territorial statutory holiday in six of the 10 provinces and all three territories.
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador recognize the day under separate legislation. Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec are the only three provinces where the day is not the statutory holiday.
The Royal Canadian Legion is officially against making the day a national statutory holiday because it’s leadership believes that the time free from work or school would eventually mean more than the memorial purpose of the occasion.
If kids are going to school as usual on that day then it would be an opportunity for children to learn about Remembrance Day and how important it is to honour and celebrate.
After celebrating Remembrance Day there are people that believe that it is the earliest and most acceptable time to mark the beginning of the Christmas holidays.
The History of Remembrance Day in Canada
Several other days of Remembrance for veterans were also created. National Aboriginal Veterans Day started in 1994 recognize the contribution of Aboriginal soldiers.
In 2011 Merchant Navy Remembrance Day was created by the Canadian Parliament. It is on September 3 and is a day to recognize the contributions and sacrifice of Canadian Merchant Mariners.
The National Ceremony organized by the federal government is held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. It is usually held on the Sunday before Remembrance Day. They are presided over by the Governor General of Canada who acts as commander-in-chief.
The Prime Minister, other dignitaries, the Silver Cross Mother (The Silver Cross Mother is chosen each year by the Royal Canadian Legion and is the mother of someone who fought in one of the wars. She lays the wreath on behalf of all the other mothers) and other observers attend the occasion.
Occasionally, a member of the Canadian Royal family may also attend. Prince Charles attended in 2009 and Princess Anne came in 2014.
Because Ottawa is officially bilingual both English and French languages were used throughout the ceremony.
The Ottawa Children’s Choir is the official choir of the ceremony and the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces serves as the official band of the ceremony.
The United Kingdom also has a similar ceremony on the Sunday before Remembrance Day.
The History of the Poppy: Why Do We Wear Poppies on Remembrance Day?
From 1914 to 1918 World War 1 took a greater human toll than any other previous conflict. It was also known as the Great War and it killed a lot of the landscape of Western Europe because that was where most of the fighting took place.
From all of the devastated landscape of the battlefields the red Poppy would begin to grow again and thanks to a famous poem it became the most powerful symbol of remembrance Day.
Across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium) the fighting between Allied and Central Powers soldiers tore out fields and forests, tearing up trees and plants and ruining the soil beneath them.
But in the early spring of 1915 bright red flowers begin peeking through the soil Papaver rhoeas known as the Flanders Poppy, corn Poppy, red Poppy and corn rose began to grow.
Lieutenant Colonel John McRae was a Canadian who served as a brigade surgeon for the Allied Artillery Unit. He saw a cluster of poppies that spring shortly after the Second Battle of Ypres.
He was amazed by the beautiful sight of the bright red blooms on the broken ground. He wrote a poem, “In Flanders Field,” that helped him channel the voice of the fallen soldiers buried under those beautiful poppies. His poem got published in Punch magazine in 1915. His poem would be used at many memorial ceremonies and became one of the most famous works of art to come out of the Great War.
Across the Atlantic a lady named Moina Michael read In Flanders Field in the Ladies Home Journal that November only two days before the armistice.
She was a professor at the University of Georgia when the war started and she decided to take a leave of absence to volunteer at the New York headquarters of the Young Women’s Christian Association which trained and sponsored workers overseas. She was so inspired by McRae’s poem that she wrote her own called We Shall Keep Faith.
As a sign of her faith, and in memory of the sacrifices that people made in Flanders Fields, she decided to always wear a red Poppy. She found a batch of fabric blooms for herself and her colleagues at a department store.
After the war finished she returned to the university town of Athens and had the idea of making and selling red silk poppies to raise money to support returning veterans.
By the mid-1920s she managed to get Georgia’s branch of the American Legion to adopt the poppy as its symbol.
Soon after that the National American Legion voted to use the poppy as the official US National Emblem of Remembrance when its members came together in Cleveland in September 1920.
On the other side of the Atlantic a French woman named Anna Guerin believed in the symbolic power of the red poppy from the beginning. She was even invited to the American Legion convention to speak about her idea for what she called An Inter-Allied Poppy Day. She convinced the Legion to adopt the poppy as their symbol and to join her by celebrating National Poppy Day in the United States the following May.
When she was back in France she got a group of women, children and veterans to make and sell artificial poppies as a way to fund restoring France where the war was.
Within a year she brought her poppy campaign to England and in November 1921 the Royal British Legion had its first ever Poppy Appeal selling millions of silk flowers that went towards finding employment and housing for great war veterans.
The next year Major George Howson set up the Poppy Factory in Richmond, England where disabled servicemen were employed to make the fabric and paper blooms.
Today nearly a century after World War I ended millions of people in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand wear red flowers every November 11 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1918 Remembrance Day or Armistice Day.
According to sources the Poppy Factory is now located in Richmond, England and Edinburgh, Scotland is still the centre of poppy production and they make as many as 45 million poppies each year.
I hope everybody enjoyed learning a little bit of history about Remembrance Day and the poppy.
World cerebral palsy day is celebrated yearly on October 6. It is a global initiative that aims to create awareness about cerebral palsy and how important advocating for the rights of those with the condition. It was established originally to highlight the challenges and difficulties faced by the estimated 10 million people living with cerebral palsy worldwide. This day is used as a platform for individuals, families and organizations to share their experiences and promote understanding. Various national and international organizations come together and organize education and outreach sessions, conferences, workshops and social events to educate people about the risks of cerebral palsy and how they may prevent it. Cerebral palsy is one of the least understood disabilities because of the lack of awareness regarding this condition. The world of cerebral palsy creates a platform to emphasize awareness with respect to the condition, diagnosis and treatment and also to address the challenges people with cerebral palsy may face.
The History of World Cerebral Palsy Day
The Cerebral Palsy Alliance in 2012 declared October 6 as World Cerebral Palsy Day. It was to bring together people with cerebral palsy, their friends, families and other organizations. It aims to ensure that children and adults with cerebral palsy have the same rights, opportunities and access as everyone else does all over the world.
World Cerebral Palsy Day 2025 Theme
This year the world cerebral palsy date team is called Unique and United. This theme will highlight the importance of recognizing each person’s individuality and emphasize the strength and unity as a global community. It helps to show that by coming together and working together people with cerebral palsy can accomplish a lot and create even more awareness. It will help to encourage the breaking down of barriers and create inclusive environments where people with cerebral palsy can thrive with dignity and equal opportunities.
Let’s look at some famous celebrities with cerebral palsy and their accomplishments. I thought it was important to look at the ways people have taken their disability and turned it into a different ability to create opportunities for their voices to be heard and to make a difference.
RJ Mitte
he was diagnosed with CP at the age of three but had brain damage during birth. He is an American actor with cerebral palsy and is very well known Walter White Junior and the famous TV series Breaking Bad. His character has cerebral palsy but it is much more severe than his actual condition. He has also done several other acting roles in movies such as Triumph, Switched at Birth, Dixieland and more. Despite his disability he became a famous actor, model and advocate for people with disabilities and works with several charities to help people with disabilities. He said, “one thing that I have learned from my disability is that when there is an obstacle you adopt and grow. You can’t let that obstacle break you down and discourage you.”
Josh Blue
Josh is an American comedian. Cerebral palsy has affected his muscle coordination but not his abilities and talents. He has definitely proved that. By humorously telling his CP experiences and for his wit and humour he won The Last Comic Standing and he was America’s Got Talent third place. By winning awards like this while handling everyday challenges he has shown the world what strength and resilience look like. His words always reflect bravery and strong beliefs. He said, “I am just living life as I want to live it, as opposed to the way people think I should live it.”
Dan Keplinger
Dan is a great artist and speaker. He has athetoid cerebral palsy. The severity of his disability has limited his ability to move and speak. But his art and mind have no boundaries. He has become a famous artist and is very well known for his art masterpieces. His major accomplishment was getting featured in the Oscar-winning documentary called King Gimp. People in his life are very inspired by him because he makes his beautiful art by using a headstick to paint. He doesn’t allow his disability dull his sparkle and talent. He found other ways to make his place in the world and communicate with people. He said, “art is how I communicate with the world. It’s my voice.”
Christy Brown
Christie was a painter, poet and an exceptional author of the 20th century. Shortly after his birth, he was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy which meant he couldn’t control any limb of his body except his left foot. He never thought of what body parts were disabled he only focused on what parts were not. Because of this he inspired the world by writing and painting with only his left foot. One of his major accomplishments is his autobiographical book called My Left Foot which shows the real life struggles and accomplishments that he had. Later this book was made into a film of the same name that starred Daniel Day-Lewis. The movie was a big hit and inspired many people with Christie’s courage and strength. He said, “it’s not a matter of how much you’re disabled, but how much you aren’t disabled.”
Maysoon Zayid
She is a Palestinian American actress, comedian and activist. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy during her birth. Cerebral palsy did not hold her back and she earned a great name for herself in the entertainment industry. She became the first Muslim female comedian in America and is a powerful advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. She used her humour and strength to enrich the lives of many others with disabilities and inspired them to shine like a bright star. She is also given a Ted talk that was viewed more than 1 billion times which gave her an even louder voice which strengthened her message and its impact the world. She said, “be the best you can be. Don’t let anyone define you. Only you get to define you.”
Mark Giovi
He is a singer, performer and music manager. His cerebral palsy affects his muscle control. He has overcome many challenges and has made his way towards a successful music career. He has appeared and performed on several TV shows that include Good Morning America with different stars and showcased his singing skills and talents. He also cofounded the Las Vegas Tenors and is now recognized as a famous singer with cerebral palsy. He believes that music is his biggest strength. He said, “music is my escape, my way of showing the world that I am more than my disability.”
I thought we could finish up by watching a video of some people that I’m sure you’re all going to recognize. I know that I am very proud of their accomplishments and their ability to show that people with cerebral palsy can and do make music for us to enjoy.
Irene went to the Exhibition three times. She saw several things. She saw the ice show and the airshow.
Kerr got to see his very handsome little nephew Camden.
Kerr enjoyed his trip to Toronto and he went to the Aga Khan Museum and ate some Ethiopian food.
He enjoyed getting his new iPad so he can join the Bliss iBand which he is looking forward to joining. I’m sure you’ll see some familiar faces in this band.
He went to the Summerfolk Music Festival.
Carolyn went to London to see a new type of concert called ABBA Voyage.
Here are some pictures of Carolyn during her trip to London.
She saw the Devil Wears Prada the Musical.
Bill saw the new Superman Movie and the new Wicked Movie.
Common ant species found in Canada are the black carpenter ant, pavement ant, Pharaoh ant, odorous house ant, Argentine ant, and thief ant.
Most problems in the home are caused by carpenter ants, pavement ants and Pharaoh ants. The black carpenter and is the largest in size and the most common cause of structural damage.
Pavement ants depending on their location of nest are more of a nuisance especially if their nesting indoors.
The Pharaoh ant is a big problem inside because it’s attracted to food with high proteins and sugar. They can be difficult to remove once they have a colony.
It is important to manage and control infestations if the ants are frequently seen in your home or signs of them having a nest.
It is important to know what type of ants you’re dealing with. Basic knowledge on the appearance, behaviour, nesting habits and the type of ants you are dealing with is important in order to use the proper control method.
Appearance and Identification
Ants are easy to recognize. Their colour is usually black, dark brown, red or a tan colour.
Depending on what kind they are their size can range from 1.5 mm to 13 mm in length.
Just like other insects, the body of an ant is divided into three distinct parts. They are the head, thorax and abdomen. The thorax is joined to the abdomen by nodes. Depending on what type of ants they are they may have a single node or two nodes.
All ants have three pairs of legs to walk with and they do not have wings. This is true except for the reproductive swarmers. They have to pairs of functional wings that they use for mating.
Habitat
Ants are social insects and live in colonies with populations of up to hundreds of thousands. Most of them build nests in the soil but some species like carpenter ants tunnel into the wood to create nesting chambers.
A typical ant colony has three distinct hierarchies. They are the Queen, drones, and workers.
The Queen’s function is to lay the eggs and control activities of the nest by using pheromone smells to communicate.
Diet
The workers are the most likely to be seen outside the nest because they forge for food to carry back to the colony. This usually brings ants into your house because they are attracted to nearly any food that we may leave out, especially sugary foods, meats and grease.
Lifecycle
Ants start their life as eggs that are laid by a queen ant when she mates with a male ant. The eggs are very tiny. They are only .5 mm across so they are very difficult to see. After about one or two weeks the eggs begin to hatch. Adult ants feed them by giving them food they’ve already eaten.
The baby ants called larvae shed their skin and then start to look like white adult ants with their legs and antennas against their body. Over time they begin to get darker in colour to become adult ants. They are either new Queens, female workers or male drones.
The wingless female workers go to forge for food to feed the larvae that haven’t hatched yet.
The new Queens and male drones have wings and fly away to mate. After they mate they lose their wings and the male drone dies.
The Queen builds a new nest and begins laying eggs while controlling the gender of her eggs to match the colony’s needs.
Ant queens can lay eggs for decades and they can live up to 30 years. Worker ants can live up to three years and drones only live for a few weeks.
Do Ants Bite?
The mouthparts of ants are adapted for biting and chewing solid food. Some species have have jaws that are strong enough to bite through human skin but most can’t. Black carpenter ants will bite if they are provoked. Some ant species including the European fire ant can staining and inject something called formic acid into the wound. This causes a burning sensation on our skin. The majority of Canadian ant species rarely bite humans.
Interesting Facts About Ants
Colonies Are Bigger Than the Average Ant Farm
Ant colonies come in all shapes and sizes. A few species live in colonies of only a few dozen ants. However, the average ant colony contains thousands of individual ants. Smaller colonies to live in natural crevices or openings while larger colonies create big nests and forage for supplies and food. There are also super colonies around the world that can have more than 300 million ants! These type have been found in Japan, Australia, the United States and southern Europe.
Ants Have Specific Jobs
Ants are very social insects and they divide jobs among different types of ants each colony. The queen or queens of only one job and that is to lay eggs. All other female ants are called workers. They feed the larvae and take out the trash so to speak, look for food and supplies and defend the nest.
Ants Don’t Have Ears
Instead of hearing through ears ants here by feeling the vibrations in the ground. There are special sensors on their feet and on their knees that help them interpret signals from their surroundings. They also use an antennae and the hairs on their bodies feel around while they’re looking for food.
One Ant Species Is Exclusively Female
Researchers have not yet found a male of the species. The Queen and reproduces asexually. So, all of the babies are clones of the Queen.
Ants Can Become Zombies
Believe it or not there is actually a species of fungus that infects ants and takes control over their bodies. This fungus finds its way underneath the ants body and begins to eat its soft tissue. Soon after that, with no reason it causes the ant to leave its colony. The ant finds a leaf and then bites it very hard and then the ant dies. A few days later more fungus is released and it infects more ants. Some species of ants can recognize the ants that are affected and carry them far away protect the rest of the colony.
Ants Can Lift 10 to 50 Times over Their Body Weight
Because ants are so small there muscles are thicker than their body mass compared to larger animals. This allows them to carry objects much heavier and bigger than they are. To give you some perspective if a human left 10 times their weight than a 200 pound man could lift a small car above his head.
Some Ants Are Homeless
Not every ant species builds a nest. A group of approximately 200 species called army ants have two phases in in their life. They are called nomad and stationary phases. During the nomad phase they travel all day and attack other colonies and insects for food. During the night they built a temporary nest and keep moving the next morning. The only time they stopped moving his during the stationary phase when the Queen lays eggs and the colony waits for them to hatch. During this time the worker ants make a nest of their own bodies to protect the Queen, the food, and the eggs.
Ants Are Found Almost Everywhere On Earth
ants are found on every continent on earth except in Antarctica. A few islands such as Greenland don’t have any native ant species but individual ants have been brought into the island by humans travelling.
I hope everyone enjoyed learning about ants and how they live. I thought we could finish class by watching a movie video from Disney about ants.
Jean-Luc’s birthday is on August 7 when we are on summer break. I thought we could celebrate early with him. Happy birthday Jean Luc and enjoy your special day!
Jean Luc likes to eat burgers and pizza.
Jean-Luc loves his dogs so here are a couple of funny dog videos.
He loves Stephen Sharer.
He likes to watch the show Paw Patrol.
He likes to watch videos of cats.
In honour of his new niece, I thought we could watch a cute baby video on Ellen.
NYDP Communication Enrichment Class 