Short Stories for Teachers

The History of Parachute Pants -- Bettina Palileo

Parachute pants are characterized by their material. Just like actual parachutes, they are made of nylon, allowing them to be lightweight and durable. The crotch is low and pockets and zippers adorn ...

About The History of Birthday Candles -- Peggy Epstein

When the iced and decorated cake is brought to the table at a birthday party, it's ablaze with candles. A longstanding tradition, the lighting of birthday candles is said to have started with the ...

About Flamenco Dancing -- Debra Stein

Flamenco dancing is much more than a pattern of steps or a style of movement. It is defined by the emotional interpretation of music and song, and the influence of a culture that shaped its form. ...

About Barn Dancing -- Kaye Wagner

Today, barn dancing provides the same function that it did hundreds of years ago; it provides a group, family or community with the opportunity to socialize and celebrate. Today, barn dancing can ...

Rose Wine History -- Marika Josephson

Rosé, whose French name means "pink" or "reddish," is a light red wine whose popularity with wine connoisseurs in the United States has always been tenuous due to its apparent similarity to sweet ...

Chinese Shoes From China's History -- Catalina Bixler

Archeological finds, ancient texts and art works reveal how the Chinese people historically responded to geological and natural changes, which influenced the evolution of their shoes. The military ...

Types of Wooden Shoes -- Mitchell Land

The term "clog" can refer to any shoe that is made of wood and is often associated with the popular Dutch variety; however, there are many types of wooden shoes that have developed out of various ...

The History of Chinese String Instruments -- Lee Millisaw

Chinese stringed instruments date back well over 2,000 years. Some instruments, such as the erhu and the guqin, are considered symbols of Chinese cultural heritage. Over the centuries, many stringed ...

History of Western Education -- Joshua Wallace

The History of Western Education is a vast subject and beyond the scope of this article to cover in its entirety. However, the essential theme concerning Western Education involves the technological ...

Why Do the French Wear Berets? -- Kathryn White

Early Origins The ancient Greeks first used a beret style hat in the 5th century BC, 2500 years ago. The "pilos," as they called it, was practical and water tight because it lacked any seams.The ...

The History of Denim Jackets -- Todd Burton

Denim Denim is a specific cotton fabric that has been an important part of American culture. While usually blue, it can also come in various colors when dyed. While usually white or black, it can be ...

Masquerade Masks History -- Catalina Bixler

The hauntingly beautiful masks of the Carnival masquerade festivities of Venice, Italy, have a history that dates to the thirteenth century. The story of the masks from the Italian city features war ...

The History of Oreos -- Kim Kenney

Nabisco, originally known as the National Biscuit Country, introduced the Oreo Biscuit on March 6, 1912. Although Hydrox cookies were invented two years earlier, Oreos would become the most popular ...

History of the Gong -- Ingrid Hansen

A gong is an ancient musical instrument that originated in Asia. The origins of the gong have been traced as far back as 2000 B.C. However, it is believed that the gong was used long before this ...

The History of Kettles -- Maureen Katemopoulos

To tea drinkers, there is nothing more cheering than the sound of a whistling tea kettle. It signals that a piping-hot cup of refreshing tea is close at hand. Of course, the same can be said of all ...

The History of Teriyaki Sauce -- Maureen Katemopoulos

Chicken teriyaki is usually among the most popular items on the menu at the average Japanese restaurant in the United States, although it may be a surprise to learn that it does not feature on menus ...

The History of Firecrackers -- Catalina Bixler

Pieces of green bamboo burning in fire makes a loud popping noise because of the segmented sections trapping air and sap heating to bursting. These "firecrackers" helped early Chinese peasants during ...

The History of Pastry Arts -- Amanda C Boyce

For centuries throughout Europe, many families practiced bread-baking and created their own traditional desserts, but the art of pastry was cultivated mainly by artists who sold their pieces to the ...

The History of Bolo Ties -- Nina Makofsky

The history of bolo ties is an area of heated debate amid the world of men's fashion. The fact is, men around the world have adopted the look and want to call it their own, whether they're ...

The History of Cargo Pants -- Collaborator

Although cargo pants were a major fashion trend in the 1990s, the history of these pants is purely functional. First worn by soldiers as early as the 1930s, cargo pants provided storage and easy ...

The History of Satin Fabric -- Tucker Cummings

Satin is a luxurious fabric that has been prized for centuries. Over the years, it has been used been used for beautiful clothing, bedding, wedding gowns, ballet shoes, lingerie, and even the lining ...

The History of Chai Tea -- Robin Coe

Chai originated in India, Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan. The word "chai" is a generic word that means "tea" in those regions. Chai means a spiced tea mixed with milk and sweetener. The most common "chai" ...

The History of Caricature -- Chris Carson

Comically exaggerating the features of the famous and powerful, caricatures have been used in politics and the entertainment industry for decades. However, the origin of the art form is much older ...

The History of Gnomes -- Michael Hinckley

Their stone likenesses guard gardens and they are the stuff of legend. Gnomes are sometimes depicted as kindly, old men and other times as vicious, malicious beasts. Learning the history of gnomes, ...

The History of Gumballs -- Anjus Chiedozie

A gumball is fancy form of gum---a ball of gum coated with hard candy and often dispensed from a gumball machine. The gumball is the result of a combination of innovations, most of which were made in ...

The History of Freestyle Dancing -- Sarka-Jonae Miller

Freestyle dancing is a comprehensive term that covers styles of dance that were created outside of dance studios. Also called street dancing, this type of dance was developed in clubs and on the ...

Origins of Canadian Thanksgiving -- Adam Dawson

Every year Canadians celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. It takes place on the second Monday in October and was traditionally celebrated to give thanks to God for a successful harvest. Although ...

The History of Loose Leaf Paper -- Lisa Russell

Origins of Paper Size Do you ever wonder why letter-size paper is 8.5-by-11 inches and not 9-by-12 or some other size? It has to do with the length of the vat men's reach. When paper was ...

History of Japanese Lanterns -- Catalina Bixler

Visiting Japan includes looking at the array of beautiful stone and paper lanterns so long a tradition in the small nation. With its introduction by a traveler from the Asian continent in the 1500s ...

History of the Lawn Sprinkler -- Jason Tyson

The use of water sprinklers has revolutionized the watering of lawns and the irrigation of fields. Widespread domestic use of sprinklers began in the mid-20th century, and the sprinkler continues to ...

The History of Fingernail Polish -- Joel Union

Fingernail polish is a popular beauty product used all around the world. It has been in use for thousands of years and has been made from many unique combinations of substances. Anyone can buy and ...

The History of Equal Opportunity Employment USA (advanced) -- Taylor Kincaid

The history of Equal Opportunity Employment stemmed from large grassroots efforts from minority groups, particularly African Americans. The fervent anti-discrimination movement began in the early ...

About Campfire Songs -- Dawn R. Levesque

Camp songs--those frivolous lyrics we sang over and over again around a campfire or on a school bus--actually served a purpose at one time. Both inspirational and familiar, camp songs are deep-rooted ...

The History of Eating Utensils -- Amanda Hermes

Knives, forks, and spoons are things that many all take for granted. Every household has a drawer full of them and you can even buy disposable ones. Surprisingly, modern eating utensils took a long ...

The History of Pointillism (advanced) -- Anjus Chiedozie

ointillism is a style of painting that, instead of strokes of paint, comprises paint dots. The style is supposed to give you the ability to mix the dots in such a way that you come away with the same ...

The History of Mandala -- Chris Carson

The mandala is one of humankind's most ancient art forms. With the circle as its basis, it reflects eternity and all of nature: the sun, the moon and even the bird's nest. Types of mandalas ...

History of Coffee Beans -- Evelyn McCormack

The history of the coffee bean is as rich as a double espresso and dates back to the 6th century. Its story begins in Ethiopia, then travels from one destination to another as man begins to discover ...

Motion Picture Camera History (advanced) -- Lee Grayson

Early parlor amusements and child's toys used the illusion of movement to create interest. Magic lanterns used candles or gas to provide light to illuminate slide images that were projected onto ...

Jeans Fashion History -- Collaborator

Blue jeans could be considered the cornerstone of American fashion. It transcends gender and age---everyone wears jeans! Though jeans have changed significantly in purpose and style since their ...

History of Martial Arts Belts -- Rhonda Wanamaker

The Japanese martial art Judo was the first of the martial arts to use a colored belt system to mark the progress of its practitioners. Judo's inventor, Dr. Kano Jigoro, introduced the belt ...

History of the Amaryllis Flower -- Michelle Fortunato

In Greek lore, the amaryllis flower is named for a shepherdess whose love for a gardener was unrequited. Endeavoring to impress Alteo, Amaryllis walked the path to his door for one month, piercing ...

The History of Dutch Wooden Clogs -- Margaret Montet

Wooden shoes have been popular in the Netherlands for about 700 years. Wooden shoe wearers claim the shoes are warm in winter, cool in summer and provide support for good posture. The wood also ...

How Does Granite Get Made Into Countertops? -- Ezmeralda Lee

Introduction to Granite Granite is one of the hardest rocks that there is. There are only a few things that can cut granite, one being another piece of granite, and the other a diamond-edged saw. A ...

How to Make an Aboriginal Boomerang -- Brian Adler

An Aboriginal boomerang is a throwing stick. Thrown into the air, it curves away from the thrower before arcing back and returning. Traditionally made of a tree root, the native peoples of Australia ...

How Does a Mirror Work? -- Ann Johnson

What is a Mirror Mirrors are a familiar object, primarily used to allow a person to see their own reflection. You'll find them hanging in bathrooms and powder rooms, and used to face bedroom ...

What is Popcorn Made Of? -- Ruby Martes

People have been eating popcorn for thousands of years. It was originally discovered by Native Americans in prehistoric times. Popcorn is a type of corn, and has the scientific name Zea mays everta. ...

How Are Cell Phones Made (advanced) -- Josienita Borlongan

Various steps and processes are involved in the creation of a cell phone. Each cell-phone company may market a different style or model of phone, but the production of each one of those phones ...

About Cinnamon Rolls -- Collaborator

Also known as cinnamon buns, cinnamon rolls are sweet doughy breads that pull apart. Sticky buns are a common variant, featuring nuts and a sticky, caramel or sugar glaze. Their signature sweet ...

About Spaghetti Sauce -- Karen Ellis

A lot of people think of spaghetti sauce as something that comes out of a jar. In fact, manufacturers have worked hard to create a tasty product that is a convenient sauce for the busy cook. However, ...

Facts About Women's Rights in the USA -- Kelly Kaufmann

The history of women's rights in the United States reaches back to the 19th century. Origins The origin of the women's rights movement in the United States can be connected to the ...

The History of Origami & Paper Folding -- Erin Maurer

Origami, the art of paper folding, has unclear origins. Some historians believe that the art began in China around 2,000 years ago with the invention of paper. However, there is no clear evidence to ...

The History of Hazelnuts -- Marci Degman

Within the world market, hazelnuts rank second to almonds in commercial production. Most are grown in Turkey, but the United States is responsible for a small percentage, which are mainly grown in ...

History of the Jack-in-the-Box Toy -- Paula Swenson

No one knows for certain where and when the first jack-in-the-box toy was made, but the toy can be reliably traced back to the Middle Ages. A brightly painted box with a hinged lid and a crank, when ...

About Rubber -- Neal Litherland

Rubber There are two kinds of rubber that exist in the world today. Those are natural rubber, which comes from the rubber tree, and synthetic rubber, or synthetic latex. Rubber trees are grown mostly ...

Facts About the Sun & How It Contributes to Earth -- Tammy Curry

Life on Earth is dependent upon the sun's energy. The sun's energy affects plant growth, climate, and weather. The sun is the largest object in the Milky Way Galaxy. It is the only star in ...

Snowboarding Apparel & How It's Made -- Mercedes Valladares

Extreme sports like snowboarding have changed the approach athletic designers take to develop apparel for these athletes. Although fabric choice, comfort and protection are key to the design, style ...

How to Make an Ice Cream Cake -- Collaborator

Impress your friends and make a home made ice cream cake instead of buying one from the store. This is a great cake to serve at a casual birthday party. Decide what kind of ice cream cake you want to ...

How Is Vodka Made? -- Maggie Hira

General Overview Vodka is one of the world's most popular distilled alcoholic beverages. In much of the world, its popularity owes to its convenient use in many cocktails such as vodka tonic, ...

Information About Light Bulbs for Kids -- Evan Selinske

Can you imagine having to live and work in the dark? Before the invention of the light bulb, people used a variety of different ways to light their way at night. Wax candles and lamps that burned oil ...

10 tips to help you fall asleep -- Chatelaine

Marnie Evans* was on vacation with her husband and kids in Northern Ontario three years ago when her allergy medication ran out. Instead of risking a medical emergency, she headed to the local ...

More Than Mere Magic Mushrooms -- Bill Weir, C. Michael Kim, David Miller, Justin Bare & Mark Monroy

This week we're talking about fungus two ways. One that can survive exclusively on polyurethane and another that can replace Styrofoam. Both polyurethane and styrofoam are not biodegradable, so ...