Cyrus McCormick was born in 1809. He invented the first mechanical reaper, which allowed one farmer to harvest as much grain in a day as 20 workers were able to do before. One result of his invention was lowering the cost of food. How do you think lowering the cost of food helped people? List three ways.

Mustard was first made in the United States by German settlers in Pennsylvania, who brought the recipe from Europe. Do you like mustard on certain foods? Which ones? If you don't like mustard, what condiment do you prefer?

February is Black History Month. Write a paragraph about an African-American who is living today that you admire.

February 16:
In 1852, the Studebaker brothers open a shop making covered wagons. Later, their company made cars, but it went out of business because of the odd design of its cars. What are some things you have seen for sale that look strange to you? Describe the oddest or funniest thing you have ever seen on sale.

In 1878, the first silver dollar coin was minted. Before then, all dollar coins had been gold, and one-dollar coins did not exist, because the amount of gold needed for one was so small. Would you rather have a dollar coin or a dollar bill? Why do you prefer that form of money?

The Bee Gees won a Grammy award in 1979 for their album Saturday Night Fever. Some styles from that time are popular today, but others are not. What styles from today do you think will be popular in 25 years? Which ones will not be popular?

February 17:
In 1972, the 15th million VW Bug (the old style Bug) was manufactured in Germany, making it the most popular car of all time. It looked very different from all of the other cars made either before or since. Why do you think such an odd-looking car was so popular?

In 1801, the Presidential election was tied until today, when Thomas Jefferson defeated Aaron Burr to become our third President. Jefferson once said, "The fortune of our lives... depends on employing well the short period of our youth.” What are some things you can do now to prepare yourself for a successful life?

February 18:
Dale Earnhardt died in a crash at the 2001 Daytona 500. What are some of the qualities that make a good race car driver?

In 1930, the first cow flew on an airplane. The cow was even milked while on the airplane. What kind of problems do you think there would be trying to fly a cow or other large animal on an airplane?

During February we celebrate Presidents Day, a day to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, our nation’s two greatest Presidents. Both of them were born in February. Washington established the independence of our nation; Lincoln preserved our nation’s unity. Tell which one you think is the greatest, and why?

February 19:
In 1855, the first weather maps were prepared for the French Academy of Sciences, based on reports from all over France sent by telegraph to Paris. This is an important first step in developing dependable weather forecasting. How often do you check the weather report? What are some things you do that depend on the weather?

In 1473, Nicholas Copernicus was born. He was the first to suggest that the earth went around the sun, rather than the sun around the earth. His idea was so odd to the people of his time that it was not even published during his lifetime. What is the oddest idea about science you have learned?

February 20:
Fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt was born in 1924. She once said, of Black photographer Gordon Parks, "He had the greatest gift of all: the ability to love without fear.” Why do you think that she might have thought that love without fear was the greatest gift? Do you agree?

Today is John Glenn Day. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the earth. Later, he became a United States Senator. When he was in his seventies, he orbited the earth again in the space shuttle, becoming the oldest person ever to travel in space. If you could become a famous astronaut or a space explorer, which one would you choose to be? Why?

Enzo Ferrari, the designer and originator of the Ferrari motor car was born in 1898. Ferraris are very beautiful, very fast, and very expensive. Modern Ferraris can go over 150 miles an hour, a speed that is legal nowhere in the world. Why do you think a person would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a car that they can never drive as fast as it is designed to be driven?

February 21:
In 1925, the New Yorker magazine began publication. Despite its title, the magazine had stories about many aspects of American life, although New York was always its focus. If you were going to start a magazine, what would you want it to be about? Why that topic?

In 1866, Lucy Hobbs became the first American woman dentist. What are some reasons a person might try to be the first man or woman to try a certain job.

W.H. Auden, Pulitzer-prize winning poet was born in 1906. Here is a poem he wrote:

Funeral Blues

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone.
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead,
Put crépe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song,
I thought that love would last forever: 'I was wrong'

The stars are not wanted now, put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

In this poem, Auden says he was wrong about something. What was he wrong about? Why was he wrong?

The Arrowbile, a car that can be converted into an airplane, was successfully test-flown in 1937. Several successful car-plane combinations have been tried, but none have sold well. Why do you think car-planes aren't popular?

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