Podcast #194 - Tips and Suggestions for Walking Boston's Historic Freedom Trail

Hello. Today I did something that I've always wanted to do as an 8th grade teacher who starts off each school year by teaching the American Revolution - walk Boston's historic Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a walking tour in Boston which covers roughly 23 historic locations over the distance of around 3.5 miles. I walked the length of the trail today and then doubled back to walk much of it again. I had a great time, learned a lot, took a ton of pictures and got my exercise by walking about 6 miles - what a day.

Instead of doing a site by site review of the trail, (there are plenty of places you can go online to learn about each location, like this one) I decide to offer a few tips and suggestions from my experience today.

I have included some pictures with this blog entry but have posted even more pictures as a set on Flickr here. Please feel free to use any of these photos in your class when you teach the Revolutionary War. Also, if you have any tips or suggestions for walking the Freedom Trail please share them here so that everyone can benefit from it.

Direct link to Podcast #194 - Tips and Suggestions for Walking Boston's Historic Freedom Trail

Podcast #193 - Visit to the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball in St. Paul, Nebraska

Hello. I'm a native of Nebraska, enjoy baseball and love museums so I was very excited to visit the Nebraska Major League Baseball Museum in St. Paul, Nebraska on a recent family trip. The museum honors all major league players with a tie to Nebraska - born in Nebraska or called Nebraska home with a residence. There are about 160 major league baseball players who have met these requirements - 7 of which are in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Some of the more famous Nebraskans to play major league baseball include Grover Cleveland Alexander, Richie Ashburn, Bob Gibson and Sam Crawford. The museum is located in St. Paul, Nebraska because it is the proud hometown of Cleveland - the pitcher in 3rd place for wins all time in major league baseball history.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about my experience at the Nebraska Baseball Museum and check out the pictures below from my trip. We had a great time and encourage anyone who loves baseball to visit St. Paul for a great experience. If you have visited the museum or would have a remark to share please leave a comment on this blog post. Thanks.

Direct link to Podcast #193 - Visit to Nebraska Major League Baseball Museum in St. Paul

Update to Buffalo Chip Cookout Podcast

We had an interested comment posted on Podcast #192 - Making Smores Over a Buffalo Chip Campfire from Peter Findler and wanted to share it with everyone. Thanks Peter for the comment and photo!

Photo by Peter Findler

Nice idea, I'm sure you were able to get your student's attention and imagination going with this one!

I recently visited a relative living in Armenia. It turns out that a similar practice is used in this part of the world as well (and in other places I'm sure). I ate lunch with a family in a small village north of the capital city, and while I was there I noticed brown blocks lining the wall in the backyard. I asked what they were, and sure enough they were blocks of cow dung, cut and dried for heating the home next winter. The family said that about 3-4 blocks will heat the home for hours, and doesn't smell as bad as one would think.

When I heard the podcast for this post I was reminded of this, and thought some might be interested in hearing it. Keep up the good work!

George Washington and Twitter

A funny comic from the Holy Kaw! blog

Bill Moyers and Historical Figures Tweeting

Bill Moyer and some thoughts (humor) on famous historical figures and Twitter:

Podcast #192 - Making Smores over a Buffalo Chip Campfire

Hello. Sometimes you just have to experience something to understand it a little better. For the past 15 years I have taught about western expansion and the how the pioneers and early settlers on the plains used Bison (Buffalo) chips as fuel in the absence of timber. This year I decided to get my hands on some Bison chips and burn them at a cookout. I invited some students, some parents and my principal over for a good ol’ fashioned Bison chip fire where we roasted marshmallows for smores. Listen to the podcast to find out how everything went.

You can see more pictures from the Bison chip cookout by checking this Flickr set. If you have any personal experiences with burning Bison chips, or if you would just like share a general thought about the topic, please leave a comment on this blog post. Thanks.

Direct link to Podcast #192 - Making Smores over a Buffalo Chip Campfire

Podcast #191 - Suggestions and Tips for Visiting Washington DC during NECC 2009

Hello. Some of the listeners of this podcast will be heading to Washington DC at the end of June to attend NECC 2009. I have been fortunate to attend several NECC conferences in recent years but will not be attending - in person – this year. The current financial situation along with a desire to spend some time at home means I’ll be attending this year’s NECC virtually through a collection of podcasts, blog posts and tweets. Please post often if you are attending.

I must admit that I’m a little jealous since Washington DC is my favorite city to visit. I’ve been able to visit DC several times in the past couple of years and several listeners have e-mailed me questions about suggestions on what to do, where to stay, etc. I don’t consider myself an expert on DC in any manner but today’s podcast is a collection of suggestions and tips for visiting Washington DC – either for NECC 2009 or another trip.

Crystal City, Virginia Hotels

Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC

National Museum of the American Indian

Newseum

Lincoln Cottage

Ford’s Theatre

Alexandria, Virginia

Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria

Alexandria Ghost Tour

If you have any suggestions for visiting DC - during NECC 2009 or any other time of year - please leave a comment on this blog for all to see and share. Thanks.

Direct link to Podcast #191 - Suggestions and Tips for Visiting Washington DC during NECC 2009

Podcast #190 - Review of "Our Documents" - Book and Website from the National Archives

Hello. Today's podcast is a review of a great book that every teacher should have in their classroom - "Our Documents : 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives". This book should be in each history classroom in America and each school library. The book also has a companion website with additional resources for teachers and copies of all the material in the book.

You can purchase the book here and check out the website here. Both great resources for any American history teacher.

Direct link to Podcast #190 - Review of "Our Documents" - Book and Website from National Archives

Live Video Feed of Shuttle Launch

Hello. I am constantly blown away by the ability for us as teachers to connect to the rest of the world via video. Today I'm sitting in my classroom in Liberty, Missouri working on some random projects and on my computer in the background I'm watching a live video feed from UStream and NASA. If you are reading his on May 11, 2009 go and check out the link below to watch the launch live. I just watched them strap in the astronauts prior to lift off.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/spacevidcast

Podcast #189 - Early Morning Walk to See Lincoln in DC

Hello. While I was in Washington DC earlier this week I took an early morning walk down the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial. It was peaceful and very few people were out yet. In today's podcast I discuss my walk to see Lincoln while sitting on the steps in front of the reflecting pool. I have added some pictures from my walk with this blog entry. If you would like to see more of my pictures please check out my Flickr set from the walk.

If you have any thoughts on this podcast please leave a comment on this blog or you can reach me directly at speakingofhistory@gmail.com Thanks.


Direct link to Podcast #189 - Early Morning Walk to See Lincoln in DC