Sometimes change begins with just one person noticing a problem and deciding to take action. Meet an educator who is working to ensure their impact empowers more voices for change.
Tag Archives: Culture & Society
Cesar Chavez Day celebrates a lifetime fight for justice for farmworkers
Cesar Chavez knew the stories of farmworkers who worked hard to provide for their families, often under unfair conditions. Learn more about how Chavez dedicated his life to fight for farmworkers’ rights.
15 of the Smartest Animals in the World
The animal kingdom is full of surprises. Wait until you meet the lock-picking raccoon, the clever dolphin, and the mirror-savvy pig.
How Shops Deceive You – The Decoy Effect Explained
Do you sometimes feel like you made a choice you didn’t really want to make? Marketers use a lot of tricks to get you to spend more money than you meant to. One of the most popular is “the decoy effect.” When faced with two choices—like a small or large drink—most people can pick pretty easily. Watch this video to learn how adding a third choice, or a “decoy” (like a medium size), can actually manipulate you into buying the more expensive option—even if you didn’t really want to.
Artist M.C. Escher Spent a Lifetime Distorting Perspective
M.C. Escher was a Dutch graphic designer known for his innovative optical illusions, impossible drawings, and transforming tessellations, or interlocking tiles that slowly morphed from images like squares to fish to birds and back again. This video is from an exhibition of Escher’s art, which is no longer on display, but it nicely summarizes both his distinctive style and his continuing impact on popular culture.
The Joy and Misery of Hunting for Video Game Trophies
Many modern video games include a list of achievements that players can earn as they play. These trophies often reward the player for taking actions beyond the normal plot or path of the basic story. For some, achievements reward creative gameplay, add replayability, and encourage exploration. For others, they are annoying, repetitive distractions that artificially make a game seem bigger or more complex than it is. What do you think? Do achievements make games feel more or less enjoyable?
A lock of hair may have just changed what we know about life in the Incan Empire
Khipu, a system of record-keeping invented by the Inca Empire, uses a series of knots tied into fiber to record information. Learn more about khipus and what they can tell us about Incan society.
150 years of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, overlooked icon of Black classical music
Though countless music fans around the world celebrate the work of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, there are still many who have never heard of him. Learn about his impressive music career and the movement to keep his legacy alive.
Dude, the history behind the word dude is wild
| You’ve probably heard the word “dude” hundreds of times, but have you ever wondered about its origin? |
Self-taught pianist makes mark at graduation
| Lights, camera, action! Imagine turning your bedroom into a concert stage and teaching yourself to play piano. Meet Ana Castillo, a senior from San Antonio who did just that. |
WNBA Players Make a Statement with “Pay Us What You Owe Us” Shirts
With three words across their shirts, players called out a big issue in sports: fair pay. WNBA players chose not to be silenced, and made their message loud and clear on the courts.
‘Voices of Women’ exhibit honors local suffrage movement
| Deciding what to do with your future wasn’t so easy for women over 100 years ago. Learn about the women who refused to accept that, choosing to organize, march, and change history instead. |
The Legend of Halloween
Halloween is a celebrated each year on October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Learn more about the myths and legends surrounding this festival of frights by clicking this link.
Ireland: The Home of Halloween Traditions
The historical roots of Halloween date back to the Celtic celebration of Samwain (pronounced “sow-in” or “sah-win”). In modern times, Ireland plays host to some of the largest Halloween parties in the world, including a massive three-day festival in Derry and a Púca Festival in the towns of Trim and Athboy (a púca, or pooka, is a mischievous, shapeshifting spirit). Follow this link to learn more.
Students learning English perform Shakespeare play
Deciphering Shakespeare can be challenging for readers at all levels. However, these students are mastering English language skills by preforming an entire Shakespeare play!
Marian Anderson and the Concert at the Lincoln Memorial
Learn how the voice of Marian Anderson made a lasting impact in the history of music and Civil Rights.
What Helped Me Succeed as an International Student? A Mentor Who Believed in Me
Mentoring can be a huge benefit to anyone embarking on a new journey. Learn how getting a mentor, and later becoming a mentor, positively impacted this student’s life.
Why Lego Isn’t (Just) a Toy Company
Twenty-five years ago, Lego was losing $300-million annually and nearly went bankrupt. Plagued by a history of rigid, inflexible control, Lego refused to do partnerships, tried to stop fan creators, had a toy line consumers felt was stale and out-of-date, and was facing unprecedented competition for the attention of their users due to more modern toys—like home video game systems.
It wouldn’t stay that way.
Watch this video to learn how Lego finally learned to listen to its fans, signed its first partnerships, won over adults, innovated its products, and expanded its empire into TV, movies, video games, comic books, theme parks, and more—allowing it to rapidly become the biggest-selling, most profitable toy company on the entire planet.
Write your story, change history
People don’t need to be old to make history. In this talk, Brad Meltzer encourages young people to change the world by following three simple principles.
Why a Free Media Means a Free Society
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press. That essential freedom provides a powerful check to protect our democracy.