Week 22: History of Fractions

Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place.  

This week we can talk about a milestone that is truly worth celebrating—we are half-way through the school year.  Now what do you think about that?  And by “that” I mean the fraction one-half.  

We often think of cavemen counting rocks or sticks, but those are whole numbers.  So when did fractions first appear in mankind’s history?  The fraction that is familiar to us today with a numerator, horizontal bar, and denominator was first developed by an Arab mathematician from North Africa during the 12th century.  But Egyptians from as early as 1800 B.C. had their own notation for fractions that was based in hieroglyphic pictures.  

Fractions can be tedious, what with common denominators and reducing and all.  But would you honestly prefer a world without fractions?  After all, if we didn’t understand fractions, we’d be thinking that there was still a whole year of school left.  

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as North Africa and Egypt to find diversity.  There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school.  Find one today!

Week 21: Space Shuttle Challenger Crew

Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place.  

Today we are commemorating the spirit of the seven Americans whose lives were lost 25 years ago this week when the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after take off.  

Throughout NASA’s rich Space Shuttle history, the astronauts who earned the honor of flying in space have been a cross-section of American diversity.  Sally Ride was the first American women in space, and Guy Bluford was the first African-American, just to name two examples.  The Challenger crew was also a collection of men and women from many backgrounds, including of course Christa McAuliffe, who was the first teacher in space.  

In President Reagan’s eulogy for the Challenger Seven, he said the following:   

We think back to the pioneers of an earlier century, and the sturdy souls who took their families and the belongings and set out into the frontier of the American West. Often, they met with terrible hardship. Along the Oregon Trail you can still see the grave markers of those who fell on the way. But grief only steeled them to the journey ahead.  Today, the frontier is space and the boundaries of human knowledge. Sometimes, when we reach for the stars, we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain. Our nation is indeed fortunate that we can still draw on immense reservoirs of courage, character and fortitude - that we are still blessed with heroes like those of the space shuttle Challenger.

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to find diversity.  There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school.  Find one today!  

Week 20: Organic Foods

Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place. 

Here’s the funny thing about organic foods.  We think of it as something new and trendy.  And yet, until farming and food processing became so industrialized, people ate nothing but organic foods throughout the history of mankind!  This week we are celebrating the birthdate of Walter James of Kent, England who first coined the phrase “organic farming” in a book he wrote in 1940. 

Today, in our grocery stores and restaurants we are bombarded with so many choices.  If you agree that what you put into your body is important, then it will be essential for you to develop solid critical thinking skills.  How different is brand A from brand B?  How much healthier are “healthy foods,” and how much extra cost are you willing to pay for it?  Has food processing made your life better or worse?  There are no easy answers to any of these questions—you will need to find your own way of making the diversity of food choices beneficial to you. 

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as Kent, England to find diversity.  There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school.  Find one today! 

Week 19: Marie Curie

January 10, 2010:  Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place.

Last year, the magazine New Science conducted a poll to determine who was the most inspirational woman in science. The results weren’t even close—the winner was Marie Curie, by a large margin. Actually, Curie has been an inspiration to all scientists, both male and female.

During this week in 1902, Curie isolated the radioactive element called Radium. She received a Nobel prize in physics for this work, becoming the first woman to receive the award. Then eight years later, she won a second Nobel prize—for her work in a different field, chemistry.

But even after winning these awards, it’s interesting to note that the prestigious French Academy of Sciences refused to elect her as a member because she was a woman. There are barriers for women in science still, and the world needs more Marie Curie’s. Girls, are you up to the challenge?

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as Paris, France or Warsaw, Poland to find diversity. There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school. Find one today!

Week 18: Individuals with Disabilities

January 3, 2011: Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place.

In our society we do not use words that refer to people in a hateful or derogatory manner. Do you know anyone in your community with a developmental disability such as Down’s Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy, for example? Very few of you would call them a hateful name. But when someone uses the term “retarded” in a joking way, it is hurtful, even if it’s not meant to be. In our school, let’s add the word “retarded” to the list of words that are inappropriate to joke about.

This week we honor the abilities of all students by celebrating the anniversary of the founding of “Best Buddies.” Best Buddies is an organization that was started by one college student in Washington DC in 1989. His idea was to create one-to-one opportunities for disabled individuals to socialize or work with non-disabled volunteers. Today, Best Buddies programs exist in high schools and colleges in all 50 states.

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as Washington, DC to find diversity. There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school. Find one today!