July Internet Hunt by Cindy O'Hora
Learn science, civics, social studies, summer safety.

Directions: Use the links provided to find the answers to the questions. Open the link by holding down the Ctrl key as you click on the link. A menu will open. Choose .. New window with page. Once you find the answer, click the new window closed. You should see this hunt page again.

1. The rough draft of Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman edited the rough draft. John Adams made 86 changes. The members of the Second Continental Congress edited it quite a bit, too.

If you wanted to view the actual Declaration of Independence document, where would you have to go?

2. What could you see if you visited the U.S. National Archives?

How far is this place from your community?

Fireworks displays are a prominent part of our Independence Day celebrations.

3. List 3 fireworks safety tips.

a.

b.

c.

4. What metal must be added to a fireworks to give it a blue color?

CuCl is a fireworks metal that is made of two elements. Read about each of them at WebElements Table of Periodic Elements

Describe each one.

5. Although the official flag of the United States has been the same for all of your life,
there have been many official United States flags. Here is a table with a link to each one. "Official Flags of the United States".

Write a formula to calculate the total number of official flags of the United States, based on the linked table.

6. Two former Presidents of the United States died on July 4th 1826.
(Note - this day was the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.)
Name them. Use your online research skills to locate the answer.

7. The weather is an important factor to consider when making plans for an outside event.
What is today's forecast for your town? Use the Local forecast form. Enter your zip code.

Is it optimal for an outside event this year?

8. Describe a method to estimate how far away a thunder storm is when you hear the thunder.

Evaluate - The rumble of thunder alerts you that there is a thunderstorm approaching. You head inside your house. You use your kitchen wall phone to call your mom at work to let her know your plans. After a quick dip in the pool, you are going to take a shower. Then you plan to bike over to a friend's house, remaining there until your mom gets home.

Which safety rules regarding lightning are you breaking? Lightning Safety Program | Lightning Safety FEMA

9. Poison ivy rash makes lots of people miserable in the summer.
Write the rhyming old saw that can help you avoid poison ivy plants.

Leaves .........

Will scratching poison ivy rash spread it?

Is the rash contagious? (Can a person pass poison ivy rash to another person?)

10. When you go to a concert on July 4th, you might hear the Official March of the United States.
What is its title?

Who composed the music?

What is the music meant to convey?

Take a moment to listen to it. Do you recognize the music?

11. In July 1885, Louis Pasteur successfully treated a person with a rabies vaccine.
How does a person contract (get sick with) rabies?

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), which wild animal accounts for the most cases of rabies in the United States?

Based on that information , what should you o if you find a dead or sick wild animal?

Use your online research skills to find the most recent rabies data for your state. Are cases rising or falling?

12. Guglielmo Marconi patented his invention in July of 1897. We still use it over 100 years later.
Read this article about him.

a. Based on what you read, which of these statements are true? Place a checkmark next to the true one(s).

1. The age of great inventing has passed.

2. It is foolish and a waste of time to challenge commonly held beliefs.

3. Governments are filled with smart people who always know what is good or best.

4. Great inventions require fancy, expensive facilities to develop them.

5. Americans are the greatest inventors.

6. After someone develops an idea or invents something new, their work is finished and they should move on to another idea.

 

b. What did Marconi invent?

c. Do you think people will be using his invention 100 years from now? Why?

13. How did Fannie Lee Teals demonstrate her patriotism?

If you were to undertake a similar project, what symbols and colors would you utilize?

Extend your exploration with these ideas:

History detective - You are exploring your Grandfather John's attic where you find an old flag.
It looks like a United States Flag. It has stars in a blue field and 13 stripes. A quick count finds 33 stars.
The middle row of stars has two less stars than the other 4 rows. You show it to Gramps who tells you he got it from his father, your great grandfather who was named after the second president of the USA.
He would like to learn more about this family treasure.

What web resources, from the hunt, can you use find out more about old U.S. Flags?

In which years do you believe it was the official U.S. Flag?

Listen to his descendents read the famous Frederick Douglass 4th of July speech.
Investigate Douglass' role in the emancipation of the slaves in the United States of America.

Embark on an electronic field trip - Freedom In America: Some Assembly Required

Fourth of July Celebration Plan

Done already?