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Who Invented the Band-Aid?

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Band-Aids are a staple product for fixing kids' skinned knees, but they weren't always around. Before Band-Aids, people tied strips of cotton or muslin to a wound. Before that, people even used natural materials, such as leaves, to dress wounds. So, who invented the first Band-Aid?
Fun Facts

The story goes that in 1920, Earle E. Dickson, a worker at Johnson & Johnson, invented the Band-Aid because he was tired of dressing his accident-prone wife's fingers. She often burned or cut herself in the kitchen. At the time, his only option was to cut a piece of gauze and adhere it to the wound with surgical tape.

Dickson laid out a piece of surgical tape and laid pieces of gauze on it at intervals. He covered the outside of the surgical tape with a strip of fabric, rolled the tape up, and stored it. He was able to quickly cut off a piece whenever needed and the Band-Aid was born.

The first commercial Band-Aids were made available in 1921. Johnson & Johnson continued to make improvements, such as adding holes to the strips so the wound could breathe and packaging the strips individually.

Vocabulary

1. Commercial: available in a store

2. Dressing: applying protection to a wound

Questions and Answers
Question: Are Band-Aids used throughout the world?

Answer: Interestingly, another company, Smith & Nephew, developed a product called "Elastoplast" in 1924, which was very similar to Band-Aids. This product is still used in England and Australia.
Learn More
Learn more about Band-Aids here.

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Band-Aids are a staple product for fixing kids' skinned knees, but they weren't always around. Before Band-Aids, people tied strips of cotton or muslin to a wound. Before that, people even used natural materials, such as leaves, to dress wounds. So, who invented the first Band-Aid?

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1. Choose ONE invention that you want to research!
2. Scroll under each invention for multiple resources.
3. Click on the title that is underlined to read the book or watch the video.
4. Take notes about interesting facts!

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The Crayon Man

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The Crayon Man By Natascha Biebow and Steven Salerno I Storytime Read Aloud

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Who Invented Crayons?

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There's something exciting about opening a brand-new box of crayons. Today's Crayola crayons come in 152 colors, but the first box contained only 8 colors. A box of crayons cost a nickel back then and children were happy to have 8 colors, since previous crayons came only in black.
Fun Facts

Alice Binney, a school teacher, asked her husband to consider making a crayon to replace expensive European crayons. Edwin Binney got to work with his partner, Howard Smith, and came up with the modern crayon.

In 1903, their company, Crayola, was born.

Alice Binney chose the name for Crayola from the French word craie, which means "stick of chalk" and ola, or "oily" from the word

Today Crayola sells over billion crayons each year.

For generations, children had used chalk to write their schoolwork on small slates. Before that, children might use bits of charcoal or ashes.

In Europe, the first crayons were made from oil and charcoal. They were black and were not safe for children.

Binney and Smith's company, started by Binney's father, originally made lamp black, a pigment created from the soot of burnt oil. The company was called Peekskill Chemical Works.

When Binney and Smith took over, they started making pencils and chalk for schools.

Instead of making crayons from oil and charcoal, they made crayons from paraffin wax and nontoxic colored pigments.

Vocabulary

1. Pigment: powdered color that can be added to products

2. Soot: black powder left over after burning oil or charcoal

3. Nontoxic: safe; not poisonous

Questions and Answers
How do Crayola crayons get their funny names?

Workers at Crayola often start by looking in the dictionary for ideas. Crayons are often named after traditional artists' paints. And sometimes, Crayola asks the public for ideas.
Learn More
Visit the Crayola crayon factory.

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Who Invented Crayons? Easy Science for Kids

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There's something exciting about opening a brand-new box of crayons. Today's Crayola crayons come in 152 colors, but the first box contained only 8 colors. A box of crayons cost a nickel back then and children were happy to have 8 colors, since previous crayons came only in black.

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Invention of Play Doh

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Invention Of Play Doh - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz

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The Story of Play Doh

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The Story Of Play Doh - How A Wallpaper Cleaner Become The World's Most Popular Toy

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A Few Fun Facts About Play-Doh & Its History

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Play-Doh is part of every child's upbringing, whether it's through molding it into shapes at kindergarten or even through our teen years to being adults, playing the well know Play-Doh game: Rapidough.

It is a creative tool loved by everyone, but have you ever wondered where it comes from?

Who invented the stretchy colorful stuff? Let's explore the history and find out more about this mysterious molding material.

Who invented Play-Doh?

To start with, the invention of Play-Doh was an accident!

Noah McVicker had a family soap shop and one day was experimenting with flour, water, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil when he came up with the substance that is now called Play-Doh.

His soap company called, Kutol Products, based in Ohio, originally marketed his creation as a wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s.

Why was it originally wallpaper cleaner?

It turned out that it made the perfect wallpaper cleaner as it didn't contain any toxic chemicals, meaning that people could clean their walls without having to worry about staining their beautiful wallpapers.

It also had a rubbery texture therefore, you didn't have to clean any of the substance off the walls after use, as it remained as one solid compound.

It wasn't until teachers realized that it could be used as an alternative modeling compound for arts and crafts projects at school that McVicker began to sell out of his product.

This became a turning point for its use.

How did Play-Doh become so popular?

In the mid-1950s, the product was reworked, rebranded, and marketed to schools as a modeling compound.

At an educational convention for school supplies in 1956, there was a demonstration using Play-Doh, and this is when it caught the attention of many teachers.

1956 was the year for Play-Doh when McVicker formed a company called Rainbow Crafts in order to produce and sell Play-Doh in the toy industry.

Department stores across the US began to stock Play-Doh, and after it had been shown on various children's television shows in 1957, it became a popular toy.

Play-Doh's packaging history.

After much experimentation by McVicker, he decided to sell his product in cardboard cans with metal bottoms, as it would keep the modeling substance from drying out.

The substance needed to be kept moist for modeling, and paper packaging often made the product dry up over time.

It was essential for McVickers to create packaging to store Play-Doh that would keep it from drying out.

The cans allowed Play-Doh to be mass produced, stored, and shipped to various stores whilst keeping its moist texture.

In the 1980s, the product was changed to be packaged in plastic tubs, as the bottoms of the previous cans had a tendency to rust.

This also meant that the product had an even longer shelf life and therefore created the opportunity to expand the business.

Play-Doh goes worldwide!

In 1964 Play-Doh is sent to Britain, France, and Italy to be marketed to Europe.

This was the first time Europe had seen and come across the compound.

By 2005 Play-Doh was being sold in over 75 countries across the world. This was a landmark time for Play-Doh as it reached a global level of distribution.

How did Play-Doh as a business grow?

After beginning as a wallpaper cleaner, it was advertised as a toy from the mid-1950s, and its journey within the toy market began to expand.

The development in the can design allowed shipping across the world, which led to a growth in popularity among children as a staple toy.

There have been various merchandise objects and accessories for the use of Play-Doh on the market.

This includes items such as The Fun Factory (a set of tools and sculpting mechanisms to use alongside Play-Doh).

Product Recognition

In 2003 The Toy Industry Association selected Play-Doh to be part of its "Century of Toys list."

This created more attention around the product and credited it as an important part of children's lives across the world.

Between 1955 and 2005, more than 2 billion cans of Play-Doh were sold worldwide.

So this childhood favorite toy was originally designed as a cleaning product and is to this day still being used in schools across the world as an arts and crafts modeling tool.

Although you can make the product at home, it's not quite the same as opening up a tub of the original squishy stuff.

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A Few Fun Facts About Play-Doh & Its History - The Fact Site

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Play-Doh is a creative tool loved by everyone, but have you ever wondered where it comes from, or who invented it? Check out the history of Play-Doh here!

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Who Invented Play Doh?

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You'll probably want to grab a handful of today's Wonder of the Day and squish it between your fingers!

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The LEGO Story - How it all started

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The LEGO Story

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The LEGO Story/Could You be a LEGO Master?

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The surprising story behind the popular building toy

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A Brief History Of Lego

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What kid in the world doesn't love Lego? It's the most basic form of toy, with truly no limitations.

You simply build things with no set objective, and that's enough to keep anybody entertained for hours, days, or even longer.

Anyway, if you loved Lego as a child, or still love it even as a responsible adult, then here's a fun video I created for a University project, which gives a brief history of Lego.

If you love Lego, check out the video and share!

1932: The business was set up in Denmark by Ole Kirk Christian and his son, wooden toys were sold.

1949: The company produces Automatic Binding Bricks, which are the basics of the Lego bricks we know today.

1951: The building base with 10 x 20 studs was created.

1954: Lego windows and doors were created.

1959: Lego started to expand all over the world.

1961: Lego wheels were invented.

1964: Lego model cars were created.

1968: LegoLand Billund opened on and attracted over 3,000 visitors on the first day!

1972: Lego vehicles expanded to boat and ship sets which actually floated.

1978: The Lego man with moving arms, legs, and a friendly smile was invented.

1979: Lego space sets were introduced.

1984: Lego castle sets were invented.

1996: LegoLand Billund has had 25 million visitors since its opening in 1968.

1997: The first Lego video game was created.

1999: Lego Star Wars was introduced.

2001: Bob the Builder and Harry Potter Lego were created.

2003: Spiderman Lego was invented.

2006: Lego introduced SpongeBob SquarePants.

2008: Indiana Jones Lego was created.

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Here is a video I created for a University project which explains a brief history of Lego. If you love Lego, check out this video and share!

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The Amazing World of Video Game Development

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The Amazing World of Video Game Development 👾 Read Aloud for Kids - How to Make Video Games

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Invention Of VIDEO GAME

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Invention Of VIDEO GAME | The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Video for Kids | Preschool Learning

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🍕 Pizza! A Slice of History

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🍕 Pizza! A Slice of History Read Aloud Kid's Book

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Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball

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Saving The Day Garrett Morgan's Life Changing Invention Of The Traffic Signal

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Saving The Day Garrett Morgan's Life Changing Invention Of The  Traffic Signal Read Aloud

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Who Invented the Skateboard?

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You may want to wear a helmet while reading today’s Wonder of the Day!

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Bicycle Book

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Bicycle Book | Children's Book Read Aloud

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The History of Ice-Skating

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1 28   Scholastic News   History of Ice Skating   Read Aloud

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Why were traffic lights invented?

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How were bicycles invented?

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Who Invented Ice Skates?

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Who invented pizza?

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How was basketball invented?

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How were skateboards invented?

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Who invented football?

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How were LEGO bricks invented?

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Who invented the high five?

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WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON'S SUPER-SOAKING STREAM OF INVENTIONS

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Storytime Books Read Aloud: WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON'S SUPER-SOAKING STREAM OF INVE... by Chris Barton

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The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle

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The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle by Anne Renaud

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Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum

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The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring

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The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring

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Mr. Ferris and His Wheel

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The Hole Story of the Doughnut

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The Boo Boos That Changed the World

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The Boo Boos That Changed the World - Read Aloud

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Mr Crum’s Potato Predicament

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Mr Crum’s Potato Predicament by Anne Renaud

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Video Game History

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Video Game History | Mario, Minecraft & More! | Kids Wiki

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Who Invented Basketball?

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Dr. James Naismith was a Canadian physical instructor who invented the game of basketball in 1891 while working at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dr. Naismith had been challenged to a new game that could be played indoors in the cold Massachusetts winters to provide an " distraction " to a disruptive of students. With a two-week , Dr. Naismith decided to invent a game of skill, , and , rather than one that relied on pure .

He was inspired by a game he had played as a child called "duck on a rock," in which players a small rock at a "duck" placed on top of a large rock in an attempt to knock the "duck" off.

Using a soccer ball, two peach baskets placed 10 feet up in the air, nine players on each team, and a set of 13 basic rules, Dr. Naismith invented the game of "basket ball." The first game was played on December 21, 1891.

Initially, players could only advance the ball by passing it. Bouncing the ball along the floor - what we call "" today - did not become part of the game until later.

Players earned points by successfully tossing the soccer ball into the peach baskets. After each basket that was made, players had to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball from the basket. Iron hoops with open-ended nets didn't come along until 1913!
Interesting basketball facts:

Dr. Naismith was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959. The Basketball Hall of Fame is now called the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.

The first college basketball game was played on January 18, 1896, when the University of Iowa hosted a game with the University of Chicago. The final score was: Chicago 15, Iowa 12.

U.S. patent #1,718,305 was granted to G.L. Pierce on June 25, 1929, for the first version of what we now recognize as the "basketball."

"March Madness" began in 1939, when the first NCAA tournament took place at the University of Illinois.

Basketball became an official Olympic sport at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.

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Dr. James Naismith was a Canadian physical instructor who invented the game of basketball in 1891 while working at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Naismith had been challenged to a new game that could be played indoors in the cold Massachusetts winters to provide an " distraction " to a disruptive of students.

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When Were Ice Skates Invented?

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by carina from AL. carina Wonders, " How was skating invented " Thanks for WONDERing with us, carina!

Ice skates have been around for a really long time. An pair of ice skates was found at the of a lake in northern Europe. Scientists the skates may have been worn in about 3000 B.C.

The skates were made from the leg bones of large animals. Holes were drilled on each end of the , and skaters used straps as laces to tie the skates onto their feet.

In the 14th century, the Dutch invented skates with on the . Much like skiing, skaters would then use poles to push their body over the ice.

In the next century, the Dutch added a double-edged to the of ice skates, which meant poles were no longer . Skaters could themselves by pushing and gliding with their feet.

Until the 17 th century, ice skating was mostly used for transportation . Sometime in the 17th century, however, King Charles II saw ice skating in Holland and decided to it to England.

Historians believe that the British used the blades of their skates to make tracings and drawings on the ice. In 1763, England became the site of the first official ice skating competition, as skaters raced across 15 miles of canals.

Historians give credit to an American, Jackson Haines, for making figure skating what it is today. Haines developed a special skating in 1865.

With this new , he was able to accomplish new skating moves, jumps, and spins. A few years later, Haines added the toe pick to his skates, which allowed skaters to master all sorts of new leaps and jumps.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by carina from AL. carina Wonders, " How was skating invented " Thanks for WONDERing with us, carina! Ice skates have been around for a really long time. An pair of ice skates was found at the of a lake in northern Europe.

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Who Invented the Bicycle?

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What's the most frustrating thing you deal with as a kid? Homework? Going to bed too early? Stressing out over tests at school?

All kids with different things. For some kids, the desire to explore and move about the world is a . It's such a needing an adult to you around the world. Why can't you just get your driver's license when you're 12?

If you're an enterprising , though, you probably figure out how to get yourself where you want to be on your own. Even without being able to drive an automobile, there are a few of transportation available to you.

Of course, you can walk or run if you don't need to go far. You could also hop on your skateboard. The vehicle of choice for many kids, however, is the bicycle. And it's been a handy transportation tool for some time now. Let's take a look at how the bicycle came to be.

For such a simple invention, the bicycle has a rather long and convoluted history. Most historians trace its origin back to 1817, when a German aristocrat named Karl von Drais invented a wooden, two-wheeled machine that riders propelled forward with their feet.

Known by various names, including Draisienne, dandy horse, and hobby horse, his invention became popular in both England and France, where it eventually became known as the velocipede. Unfortunately, they were eventually as a danger to pedestrians and were rarely seen after the early 1820s.

Things were quiet for several decades until bicycle development took off in the 1860s. An important milestone in the development of the bicycle happened in Paris in 1863 when pedals were added to the front .

This development occurred in Pierre Michaux's workshop, but it's unclear whether he or his employee, Pierre Lallement, should be given credit for the innovation. Lallement moved to the United States, where he obtained a patent for "improvements in velocipedes" in 1866.

These new machines proved to be popular, and the name "bicycle" had come into use by 1869. However, many people referred to them as "bone shakers," which described their clunky ride due to the fact that they featured a heavy wooden frame and steel wheels.

The 1870s saw new designs and innovations. "Ordinary" bicycles, also known as "high wheelers" or "penny-farthings," became popular. They featured a large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel. They could be dangerous, though, if riders had to stop suddenly, as they would "take a header" when their carried them over the front wheel onto their heads.

Eventually, English inventor John Kemp Starley designed a "safety bicycle" with two small wheels of equal size, a chain drive, and a set of gears. Add in pneumatic tires and better brake systems in the following decades and bicycle production skyrocketed to over one million bicycles by 1899.

Mass production of bicycles increased their popularity greatly, since they became affordable for the average person. Over the course of the 20 th century, manufacturers continued to improve the features and design of bicycles as new technologies emerged.

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What's the most frustrating thing you deal with as a kid? Homework? Going to bed too early? Stressing out over tests at school? All kids with different things. For some kids, the desire to explore and move about the world is a . It's such a needing an adult to you around the world.

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Who Invented the High Five?

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Have you ever scored a hat trick on the soccer field? Have you done well on a big test at school? If so, you might have celebrated by raising your hand high in the air toward a friend or teammate. As they do the same and you slap hands together, you both join in the celebration.

That's right! We're talking about the high five. It may seem like the high five has been around forever. But the Oxford English Dictionary has only included the term as a since 1980. It was added as a in 1981.

The name "high five" comes from the fact that you're raising five fingers (your hand) up in the air (high). But exactly how did this time-honored way of celebrating get started? As it turns out, there are several different versions of how the high five started. The two most likely sources of the high five come from the sports of baseball and basketball.

For years, many people have believed that the first high five took place on October 2, 1977. That day, it happened in Dodger Stadium between Glenn Burke and Dusty Baker of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dusty Baker hit an important home run. He made the Dodgers the first team in baseball history to have four players with at least 30 home runs each.

It was a magical sports moment. It well for the Dodgers, who were heading into the playoffs. The next batter was Glenn Burke. He headed to home plate to congratulate Baker. Burke raised his hand in the air toward Baker, who returned the . They smacked hands. According to Baker, "[h]is hand was up in the air, and he was arching way back. So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do." And the rest, as they say, was history . . .

Or was it? There's another of high five history. It credits the invention of the hand to Louisville Cardinals basketball players Wiley Brown and Derek Smith during the 1978-79 . According to the players, Brown went to give a regular low five to teammate Smith during a practice session.

The low five had been a hand popular among Black Americans since at least World War II. Instead of returning the low five, Smith looked Brown in the eye and said, "No. Up high." Brown understood what Smith was getting at.

That year's Louisville Cardinals players were known as the Doctors of Dunk. They liked to play above the rim and slam dunk the ball. Brown thought, why stay low when we play so high? So they raised their hands and the high five was supposedly born.

Both stories are well-documented . But there are many other claims of high fives occurring in other sports even earlier. More than likely, the developed simultaneously in different sports in different areas until it gained popularity.

One thing's for certain, though. The high five is a part of popular culture that is not likely to go away anytime soon. So the next time you want to celebrate an achievement with a friend, just yell "High five!" and stick your hand in the air!

CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1

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Join us in Wonderopolis today for a look at a time-honored sports celebration!

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Who Invented the Super Soaker?

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Do you have a favorite toy? Really think about it. There are so many great toys out there that can create hours of fun. There's the yo-yo, of course, and the Slinky. There's the Rubik's Cube, bouncy ball, and Barbie. But the toy at the center of today's Wonder of the Day may eclipse them all!

What are we talking about? The Super Soaker, of course! For many kids, there's nothing better on a hot summer day. Shooting jets of water at friends and family members can be a lot of fun! It's no WONDER the Super Soaker is one of the most popular toys of all time.

Have you ever WONDERed who invented the Super Soaker? The toy was created by a man named Lonnie Johnson. And he isn't only a toy ! Johnson has worked for the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and today owns his own company.

Lonnie Johnson was born in 1949 in Mobile, Alabama. When Johnson was a kid, his father taught him about electricity . Together, they practiced fixing home appliances . For Johnson, this a deep interest in science and technology.

When he was a senior in high school, Johnson entered a science fair. It was held by the University of Alabama's Junior Engineering Technical Society. Johnson was the only Black student to enter. In fact, he had attended segregated schools his entire life at that point.

What was Johnson's science fair project? It was a robot named Linex that Johnson built himself. Linex impressed the judges and won Johnson first place. The next year, he began college at Tuskegee University.

In 1975, Johnson left Tuskegee with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in nuclear engineering. He spent the next four years working in the Air Force.

Johnson joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1979. There, he worked on the Galileo Mission. This mission sent an uncrewed spacecraft to study Jupiter. Johnson's work mainly dealt with developing a nuclear power source for the craft.

It was during his time at NASA that Johnson also started designing what would become the Super Soaker. And, like many great discoveries and inventions, it started as an accident! While experimenting at home with a for a new refrigeration system, he accidentally shot a stream of water across the room.

Right away, Johnson realized this accident could become a fun game. Over the next few years, he developed a prototype for a toy that could send water flying across long distances. Eventually, the was picked up by a toy company called Larami. The company began selling Johnson's in 1990. They originally called it the Power Drencher.

After some initial success, Larami renamed the toy the Super Soaker in 1991. That year, sales really took off. To date, over 250 million Super Soakers have been sold. It was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2015.

Today, Lonnie Johnson owns over 100 . He also started his own company, Johnson Research and Development. He is currently working to develop all-ceramic batteries and a new for solar power plants.

Johnson also mentors youths interested in technology and engineering. He's especially interested in supporting young inventors of color, who are currently underrepresented in the field of engineering.

It takes a great deal of creativity to become a successful . What toy would you invent? Would you improve upon the Super Soaker? Maybe you'll come up with an entirely new idea one day!

CCRA.R.4, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.R.3, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.SL.3, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.SL.2

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Do you have a favorite toy? Really think about it. There are so many great toys out there that can create hours of fun. There's the yo-yo, of course, and the Slinky. There's the Rubik's Cube, bouncy ball, and Barbie. But the toy at the center of today's Wonder of the Day may eclipse them all!

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Who Came Up With Chewing Gum?

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Today in Wonderopolis, learn what tree sap teaches us about blowing bubbles. The answer will blow your mind!

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How Was the Slinky Invented?

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Today's Wonder of the Day twists and turns and even walks down stairs!

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Who Invented Potato Chips?

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by charlie from Clarksville , OH. charlie Wonders, " Who was the first person to make potato chips and how did they make them? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, charlie !

Do you have a favorite snack? For many kids, nothing makes a picnic complete like a big handful of potato chips. Close your eyes and try to imagine it. We bet you can almost taste the crunchy, salty goodness right now!

Potatoes are the second most-eaten food on the planet (after rice). Some like mashed potatoes, while others would rather have French fries. For many people, though, nothing beats crunchy potato chips. But just how did these snacks come into ?

Would you believe it was an accident? It's true! Potato chips were accidentally made in 1853.

In the summer of 1853, George Crum was a chef. He worked at the Moon Lake in Saratoga Springs, New York. One of his specialties was thick-cut French fries that were eaten with a fork.

One day, a customer complained that Crum's French fries were too thick. Crum made a thinner batch. The customer still thought they were too thick. Frustrated , Crum made another batch so thin that they couldn't be eaten with a fork.

Crum didn't mean to please the customer with these paper-thin potato crisps. But the customer loved them! Others began to ask for them. That's when the potato chip was born. Crum added them to the Moon Lake menu as a new called "Saratoga Chips."

Potato chips remained a item available only in restaurants for many years. Then, towards the end of the nineteenth century, people started selling in grocery stores.

The first of these people may have been William Tappendon of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1895, he started making potato chips in his kitchen. Then, he delivered them to local stores. He eventually turned an old barn on his property into one of the first potato chip factories.

The potatoes had to be peeled and sliced by hand. That meant making potato chips was a lot of work. That all changed in the 1920s with the invention of the mechanical potato peeler. With this technology, potato chips grew from a local favorite into a nationwide .

Today, potato chips are one of the most popular snack foods in the world. Many claim potato chips are America's favorite snack food. They may be right! sales of potato chips in the United States total over $6 billion each year. Now that's a lot of chips!

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Today's Wonder of the Day is a chip off the old block!

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Who Invented Pizza?

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Mmmm...do you smell that? Fresh out of the oven, a steaming pie sits waiting to be eaten. Your senses are overtaken by the of hot bread, melted cheese, and simmering tomato sauce. Are you ready to dig into that favorite of all foods? What are we talking about? Pizza, of course!

Some kids like meat, and others don't. Some kids like vegetables, and others try not to eat them. Some kids love seafood, while others think fish should stay in the sea. But one thing most kids can agree on is this: Pizza is awesome!

Where did this much-loved food come from? We often pizza with Italian food. But do the Italians get the ? Or did someone else make the very first pizza? There's not an easy answer. Different historians have different ideas. A lot depends on how you "pizza."

Do you think of pizza as a flatbread cooked in an oven? If so, its roots go back to ancient times in the Middle East. The ancient Babylonians, Israelites, and Egyptians all ate flat bread baked in mud ovens.

Do you think a pizza has to have toppings? In that case, it dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. They both ate baked flatbreads topped with olive oil and spices. Today, we call this dish focaccia bread.

What about the pizza most are familiar with? You know, the kind with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings? That did start in Italy. Specifically, baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often given for making the first such pizza pie. Historians note, however, that street in Naples sold flatbreads with toppings for many years before then.

Legend has it that Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889. There, Esposito was asked to make them a pizza. He topped the pizza with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and . That pizza is still known as Pizza Margherita today.

Italian immigrants brought pizza with them to Spain, France, England, and the United States. It didn't gain popularity until after World War II, though. That's when returning soldiers looked for the food they had grown to love while fighting overseas.

The first United States pizzeria - G. Lombardi's - opened in 1905. The owner was Gennaro Lombardi. He opened his restaurant at 53 1/3 Spring Street in New York City. It is still open today using its oven, although it has changed location.

Today, pizza is one of the most popular foods in the United States and, indeed, around the world. Do you like pizza? What are your favorite toppings? Do you think toppings like pineapple belong on pizza? Everyone has their own preferences!

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Mmmm...do you smell that? Fresh out of the oven, a steaming pie sits waiting to be eaten. Your senses are overtaken by the of hot bread, melted cheese, and simmering tomato sauce. Are you ready to dig into that favorite of all foods? What are we talking about? Pizza, of course!

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Who Invented the First Video Game?

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You love them. You play them on large- televisions special consoles. You play them on your smartphones. You play them on your computer. What are we talking about? None other than video games! Today, video games remain as popular as ever. Each year, the video game industry in over $17 billion in .

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How are video games made?

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Who Invented Gum?

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Who Invented Gum? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS #CampYouTube #WithMe

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Who Invented Donuts?

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Who Invented Donuts? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

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How Were Bicycles Invented?

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How Were Bicycles Invented? | COLOSSAL INVENTIONS

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Who Invented Football?

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Who Invented Football? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

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Who Invented Basketball?

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Who Invented Basketball? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

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Who Invented Pizza?

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Who Invented Pizza? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

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Invention Of Ferris Wheel

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Invention Of Ferris Wheel | The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Video for Kids | Preschool Learning

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The Frozen Treat History

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The Frozen Treat History | Invention of Popsicles by 11 Years Old Frank Epperson | Dr. Binocs Show

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Who Invented Pizza?

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Who Invented Pizza? | Invention of Pizza | The Dr Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz

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INVENTION OF POTATO CHIPS

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INVENTION OF POTATO CHIPS - The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz

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Invention of Slinky Toy

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Invention of Slinky Toy | History of the Slinky | Story of Richard T. James | The Dr. Binocs Show

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Fun Facts about Chewing Gum

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We all absolutely love chewing gum. It is a sweet confection composed mainly of latex, a milky white fluid produced by a variety of seeds.

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Who Invented Popsicles?

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What would summer be without cool, sweet, and delicious popsicles? But have you ever wondered who invented them? Would you believe it was an 11-year-old boy?
Fun Facts

In 1905, Frank Epperson left a cup filled with soda and a stirring stick on his front porch in San Francisco, California. That night, a freak cold snap caused the soda to freeze with the stirring stick in it. Frank took the frozen treat out of the cup and ate it. Voila - the idea for popsicles was born. Frank was only 11-years-old.

Epperson named the treat the "Epsicle" and sold it at a park in Alameda, California in 1923.

Frank's children convinced him to change the name to Pop's Sicle because they called him "Pop." The name was later shortened to "Popsicle."

In 1925, Frank partnered with the Joe Lowe Company. Popsicles were sold throughout the country.

In 1939, the company created Popsicle Pete, a cartoon character who would become the company mascot for the next 50 years.

In 1986, Popsicle got rid of its two-stick treats. Moms said they were too messy, but kids liked them because they could be shared.

Today, Popsicle has new flavors like Jolly Rancher and White Lemonade; cherry is still the top seller though.

Vocabulary

1. Cold snap: a sudden drop in temperature

2. Mascot: a character or person who represents a company or team

Questions and Answers
What kinds of summer treats did people eat before Popsicles were invented?

Ice cream was a favourite treat, although making it was a chore. Before electric refrigeration, ice was hauled out of frozen lakes during the winter and stored covered with sawdust in large barns. The ice was used in the summer to make ice cream and cold drinks. Watermelon was another favourite treat.
Learn More
Visit a Popsicle factory.

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What would summer be without cool, sweet, and delicious popsicles? But have you ever wondered who invented them? Would you believe it was an 11-year-old boy? Fun Facts In 1905, Frank Epperson left a cup filled with soda and a stirring stick on his front porch in San Francisco, California.

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Fun Bike Facts for Kids

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Cycling has wonderful effects on our mental and physical health. It is something that requires immense amounts of dedication and focus.

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PebbleGo: Traffic Lights

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Britannica for Kids: Football

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A football game begins with a kickoff. One team, called the kicking team, kicks the football to the other team, called the receiving team. A player on the receiving team catches the ball. The player then runs toward the kicking team's goal line. The kicking team tries to stop him. Its players can tackle, or throw down, the ballcarrier. They can also push him out of the playing area. This is called being out of bounds.

The game continues from the spot where the ballcarrier was stopped. An official places the ball on the field. The teams line up facing each other on opposite sides of the ball. An imaginary line called the line of scrimmage runs through the football to each sideline. It separates the two teams.

A football team has some players who play offense and others who play defense. The two teams take turns playing offense and defense.

The team with the ball plays offense. It tries to move the ball down the field for a score. The offense can move the ball either by running with it or by throwing, or passing, it. The different types of running or throwing tactics that the offense uses are called plays. The offense designs plays to move forward by overpowering or fooling the defense. The offensive player called the quarterback begins most plays. The quarterback usually hands or passes the ball to a teammate.

The defense tries to prevent the other team from scoring. Defensive players can tackle the quarterback or any other player who has the ball. They can also catch a pass that the quarterback meant to throw to a teammate. This is called an interception. The team that makes the interception then switches to offense.

The offense has four tries, called downs, to move the ball at least 10 yards. If the offense fails to do this, the other team gets the ball. If the offense does move the ball 10 yards or more, it gets another four downs. This continues until the offense scores, the defense takes away the ball, or time runs out.

The offense can score touchdowns or field goals. Running or passing the ball across the goal line scores a touchdown. A touchdown is worth six points. After a touchdown the scoring team has a chance to earn extra points. Kicking the ball between the goalposts is worth one point. Getting the ball into the end zone by running or passing earns two points. When the offense does not score a touchdown, it can score three points by kicking the ball between the goalposts. This is a field goal.

Sometimes the defense scores, too. If an offensive player drops the ball, a defensive player can pick it up and carry it for a touchdown. Also, a defensive player can run with the ball after intercepting a pass. The defense scores two points by trapping the offense in its own end zone. This is called a safety.

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Millions of people in the United States consider autumn to be football season. Football is a very popular sport that is played at high schools, colleges, and professional...

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Who invented the Ferris Wheel?

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The Ferris Wheel was invented by a civil engineer named George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. He visited Chicago in 1891 and heard about a challenge for someone to design a superstructure that would be like the Eiffel Tower in France, but more American. This structure would be part of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Ferr

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PebbleGo: Potato Chips

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Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando

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Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang

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Story of invention of Instant Noodles by Momofuku Ando

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Story of invention of Instant Noodles by Momofuku Ando

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Ramen Facts for Kids

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Alternative names

shina soba, chūka soba

Type
Noodle soup

Place of origin
Japan

Region or state

Yokohama Chinatown

Serving temperature

Hot

Main ingredients

Chinese wheat noodles, meat- or fish-based broth, vegetables or meat

Variations

Many variants, especially regional, with various ingredients and toppings

Ramen is a Japanese kind of noodle soup. The noodles are made of wheat. Ramen are typically Japanese, though they originally came from China. Ramen has become very popular in Japan and there are many shops that sell it. Japanese also make " instant ramen" to eat ramen quickly and easily at home. Outside Japan, people have also started to eat ramen.

On the model of Spaghetti Western, there are even movies based on Ramen.

There are various types of thickness, shapes and lengths. The noodle may be thin or thick, straight or wrinkled.

In Japan, there are unique local Ramen in various areas where local tastes are enjoyed. It is called "gotouchi ramen" in Japan. For example, Hakata ramen is known for its pork ramen soup. The noodles are very thin and does not need to be boiled for very long to become soft. Sapporo ramen is known for its miso ramen soup. And Kitakata ramen is known for its Shoyu ramen soup. Shio (salty) ramen is also a popular flavor. These days, Gyokai-tonkotsu ramen is also popular.

Ramen is a Japanese adaptation of Chinese wheat noodles. One theory says that ramen was first introduced to Japan during the 1660s by the Chinese neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Shunsui who served as an advisor to Tokugawa Mitsukuni after he became a refugee in Japan to escape Manchu rule and Mitsukuni became the first Japanese person to eat ramen, although most historians reject this theory as a myth created by the Japanese to embellish the origins of ramen. The more plausible theory is that ramen was introduced by Chinese immigrants in the late 19th or early 20th century at Yokohama Chinatown. According to the record of the Yokohama Ramen Museum, ramen originated in China and made its way over to Japan in 1859. Early versions were wheat noodles in broth topped with Chinese-style roast pork.

The word ramen is a Japanese transcription of the Chinese (拉麵). In 1910, the first ramen shop named RAIRAIKEN(ja:来々軒) opend at Asakusa, Tokyo, where the Japanese owner employed 12 Cantonese cooks from Yokohama's Chinatown and served the ramen arranged for Japanese customers. Until the 1950s, ramen was called (支那そば, literally "Chinese soba") but today chūka soba (中華そば, also meaning "Chinese soba") or just ramen (ラーメン) are more common, as the word "支那" ( shina, meaning "China") has acquired a pejorative connotation.

Initial appearance

By 1900, restaurants serving Chinese cuisine from Canton and Shanghai offered a simple ramen dish of noodles (cut rather than hand-pulled), a few toppings, and a broth flavored with salt and pork bones. Many Chinese living in Japan also pulled portable food stalls, selling ramen and gyōza dumplings to workers. By the mid-1900s, these stalls used a type of a musical horn called a (チャルメラ, from the Portuguese charamela) to advertise their presence, a practice some vendors still retain via a loudspeaker and a looped recording. By the early Shōwa period, ramen had become a popular dish when eating out.

According to ramen expert Hiroshi Osaki, the first specialized ramen shop opened in Yokohama in 1910.

Postwar popularization

After Japan's defeat in World War II, the American military occupied the country from 1945 to 1952. In December 1945, Japan recorded its worst rice harvest in 42 years, which caused food shortages as Japan had drastically reduced rice production during the war as production shifted to colonies in China and Taiwan. The US flooded the market with cheap wheat flour to deal with food shortages. From 1948 to 1951, bread consumption in Japan increased from 262,121 tons to 611,784 tons, but wheat also found its way into ramen, which most Japanese ate at black market food vendors to survive as the government food distribution system ran about 20 days behind schedule. Although the Americans maintained Japan's wartime ban on outdoor food vending, flour was secretly diverted from commercial mills into the black markets, where nearly 90 percent of stalls were under the control of gangsters locally referred to as who extorted vendors for protection money. Thousands of ramen vendors were arrested during the occupation. In the same period, millions of Japanese troops returned from China and continental East Asia from their posts in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Some of them would have been familiar with wheat noodles. By 1950 wheat flour exchange controls were removed and restrictions on food vending loosened, which further boosted the number of ramen vendors: private companies even rented out starter kits consisting of noodles, toppings, bowls, and chopsticks. Ramen provided a rare opportunity for small scale postwar entrepreneurship. The Americans also aggressively advertised the nutritional benefits of wheat and animal protein. The combination of these factors caused wheat noodles to gain prominence in Japan's rice-based culture. Gradually, ramen became associated with urban life.

Modern period

In 1958, instant noodles were invented by Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese-Japanese founder and chairman of Nissin Foods. Named the greatest Japanese invention of the 20th century in a Japanese poll, instant ramen allowed anyone to make an approximation of this dish simply by adding boiling water.

Beginning in the 1980s, ramen became a Japanese cultural icon and was studied around the world from many perspectives. At the same time, local varieties of ramen were hitting the national market and could even be ordered by their regional names. A ramen museum opened in Yokohama in 1994.

Today ramen is arguably one of Japan's most popular foods, with Tokyo alone containing around 5,000 ramen shops, and more than 24,000 ramen shops across Japan. Tsuta, a ramen restaurant in Tokyo's Sugamo district, received a Michelin star in December 2015.

A wide variety of ramen exists in Japan, with geographical and vendor-specific differences even in varieties that share the same name. Ramen can be broadly categorized by its two main ingredients: noodles and broth.

Most noodles are made from four basic ingredients: wheat flour, salt, water, and kansui (from kansui ) a type of alkaline mineral water, containing sodium carbonate and usually potassium carbonate, as well as sometimes a small amount of phosphoric acid. Although Ramen noodles and Udon noodles are both made with wheat, they are different kinds of noodle.

The kansui is the distinguishing ingredient in ramen noodles, and originated in Inner Mongolia, where some lakes contained large amounts of these minerals and whose water is said to be perfect for making these noodles. Making noodles with kansui lends them a yellowish hue as well as a firm texture. Eggs may also be substituted for kansui. Some noodles are made with neither eggs nor kansui and should only be used for yakisoba, as they have a weaker structure and are more prone to soaking up moisture and becoming extremely soft when served in soup.

Ramen comes in various shapes and lengths. It may be thick, thin, or even ribbon-like, as well as straight or wrinkled.

Traditionally Ramen noodles were made manually, but with growing popularity many Ramen restaurants prefer to have in-house capacity to produce fresh noodles to meet the increased demand and improve quality. Automatic Ramen making machines imitating manual production methods have been available since the mid. 20th century produced by such Japanese manufacturers as Yamato MFG. and others.

Ramen soup is generally made from stock based on chicken or pork, combined with a variety of ingredients such as kombu (kelp), katsuobushi ( skipjack tuna flakes), niboshi (dried baby sardines), beef bones, pork bones, shiitake, and onions. Some modern Ramen broths can also be vegetable based.

The resulting combination is generally divided into four categories. (although new and original variations often make this categorization less clear-cut) Described from old ones.

(豚骨, "pork bone"; not to be confused with ) soup usually has a cloudy white colored broth. It is similar to the Chinese baitang(白湯) and has a thick broth made from boiling pork bones, fat, and collagen over high heat for many hours, which suffuses the broth with a hearty pork flavor and a creamy consistency that rivals milk, melted butter or gravy (depending on the shop).

Shōyu (醤油, "soy sauce") ramen has a clear brown broth, based on a chicken and vegetable (or sometimes fish or beef) stock with plenty of soy sauce added resulting in a soup that is tangy, salty, and savory yet still fairly light on the palate. Shōyu ramen usually has curly noodles rather than straight ones, but this is not always the case. It is often adorned with marinated bamboo shoots or , green onions, ninjin (carrot), kamaboko (fish cakes), nori (seaweed), boiled eggs, bean sprouts or black pepper; occasionally the soup will also contain chili oil or Chinese spices, and some shops serve sliced beef instead of the usual .

Shio (塩,"salt") ramen is the oldest of the four types. It has a pale, clear, yellowish broth made with plenty of salt and any combination of chicken, vegetables, fish, and seaweed. Occasionally pork bones are also used, but they are not boiled as long as they are for tonkotsu ramen, so the soup remains light and clear. Chāshū is sometimes swapped for lean chicken meatballs, and pickled plums and kamaboko (a slice of processed fish roll sometimes served as a frilly white circle with a pink or red spiral called narutomaki) are popular toppings as well. Noodle texture and thickness varies among shio ramen, but they are usually straight rather than curly.

Miso (味噌) ramen is a relative newcomer, having reached national prominence around 1965. This uniquely Japanese ramen, which was developed in Hokkaido, features a broth that combines copious miso and is blended with oily chicken or fish broth - and sometimes with tonkotsu or lard - to create a thick, nutty, slightly sweet and very hearty soup. Miso ramen broth tends to have a robust, tangy flavor, so it stands up to a variety of flavorful toppings: spicy bean paste or (豆瓣醤), butter and corn, leeks, onions, bean sprouts, ground pork, cabbage, sesame seeds, white pepper, and chopped garlic are common. The noodles are typically thick, curly, and slightly chewy.

Karē (カレー,"curry") ramen, ramen cooked with curry soup, is thought that was born spontaneously relatively recently in Japan. In Japan, several cities claim their origins. Muroran city claims, it occurred in there in 1965 (see also Muroran curry ramen). Also, Sanjō city claims, it founded over 80 years ago. Katori city claims also. Curry soup is mainly made with pork bones and vegetables and is seasoned with curry. The noodles are thick and curly. Toppings include chāshū, wakame, and bean sprouts.

After basic preparation, ramen can be seasoned and flavored with any number of toppings, including but not limited to:

Images for kids

In Spanish: Ramen para niños

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The Boy Who Invented the TV

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The Story Of Philo Farnsworth: The Kid Who Invented TV

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Ever wondered what life before TV must have been like? No movies, no Internet, not even a radio sight - what did kids do for fun? One boy who lived at a time like this was Philo Taylor Farnsworth - and he is credited with TV.

Philo lived in Utah in 1906 in a log cabin. He loved mechanical things like trains that pulled into the local station every so often. He often drew pictures of the insides of motors and other machines. He was also amazed by his neighbor's new crank telephone and phonograph (an old-school record player). The people who invented these machines became his heroes.

Philo Farnsworth

One day Philo's family decided to move to Idaho. As they traveled to their new home Philo looked up and saw his first power lines in the sky. In fact, the family's new home was completely wired for electricity, unlike the old log cabin. A generator ran lights, a water heater, hay stacker, grain elevator and other farm equipment.

Checking out the attic of the new house Philo found a stack of old Popular Science magazines. He read all about magnetism, electricity and radios. One of the magazines mentioned a word he'd never heard before: " television." It didn't exist yet but scientists were racing to a machine that was kind of like a radio but sent pictures instead of sounds.

As Philo filled his head with ideas the old generator at his house kept breaking down. He loved talking to the repairman who came to fix it. Eventually, he learned enough to fix the generator himself. After that he spent a lot of spare time tinkering with broken motors, reels of wire and old tools, creating mechanical inventions and machines to help make his regular chores - like laundry - easier!

At 13 Philo entered one of his inventions in a contest. It was a lock that could be used on one of the new Ford automobiles to make them harder to steal. He won the contest and went on to think more about television - the machine everyone wanted to be the first to .

It was while he was plowing one of the fields on his family's farm that a huge idea came to him. Looking at the straight rows of dirt he was making in the ground he suddenly saw how he could invent a television - by breaking down images into parallel lines of light, capturing them and transmitting them as electrons, then reassembling them on a screen for people to view.

But Philo's plans would have to wait - high school started and the teenager got caught up in studying, especially in science class. But when his dad died he had to drop out of school and take on extra work fixing radios. When he shared his idea for a television with his new girlfriend, she encouraged him to make it happen.

Philo grew a moustache and started calling himself Phil to seem more grown up. He traveled to California to discuss his idea with two businessmen, who gave him $6,000 and one year to build a first model. After a few failed attempts and various other investors Phil finally made a TV set that worked. He gathered a group in his San Francisco office, turned on the TV and broadcast the very first image - his girlfriend, who had since become his wife. Phil Farnsworth was 22 years old at the time and, thanks to him, we have TV.

Video: How TV Works

Related Stories:

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The Story Of Philo Farnsworth: The Kid Who Invented TV

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Ever wondered what life before TV must have been like? No movies, no Internet, not even a radio sight - what did kids do for fun? One boy who lived at a time like this was Philo Taylor Farnsworth - and he is credited with TV.

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Invention of Television

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Invention of Television | Who Invented The First TV? | Evolution of Television | The Dr. Binocs Show

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The LEGO Group history

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It has come a long way over the past 90 years - from a small carpenter's workshop to a modern, global enterprise that is now one of the world's largest manufacturers of toys.

The LEGO brick is our most important product. We are proud to have been named "Toy of the Century" twice. Our products have undergone extensive development over the years - but the foundation remains the traditional LEGO brick.

The brick in its present form was launched in 1958. The interlocking principle with its tubes makes it unique and offers unlimited building possibilities. It's just a matter of getting the imagination going - and letting a wealth of creative ideas emerge through play.

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The LEGO Group history - About Us - LEGO.com

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The name ‘LEGO’ is an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”. It’s our name and it’s our ideal.

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History of Popcorn

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19th Century Poppers

During the early nineteenth century Americans tried several methods of popping popcorn. Some threw kernels in hot ashes, stirred, and sifted out the popped corn. Others tried cooking popcorn in kettles filled with fat, lard or butter. A more popular method was cooking popcorn over an open fire in a wire box with a long wooden handle.

Charles Cretors, founder of C. Cretors and Company in Chicago, introduced the world's first mobile popcorn machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Scientific American reported: "This machine...was designed with the idea of moving it about to any location where the operator would be likely to do a good business. The apparatus, which is light and strong, and weighing but 400 or 500 pounds, can be drawn readily by a boy or by a small pony to any picnic ground, fair, political rally, etc. and to many other places where a good business could be done for a day or two."

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During the early nineteenth century Americans tried several methods of popping popcorn. Some threw kernels in hot ashes, stirred, and sifted out the popped corn. Others tried cooking popcorn in kettles filled with fat, lard or butter. A more popular method was cooking popcorn over an open fire in a wire box with a long wooden handle.

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The Popcorn Book

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Miss Sofie's Story Time - Kids Books Read Aloud

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THE POPCORN BOOK | READ ALOUD FOR KIDS | BED TIME STORY FOR CHILDREN | BY TOMMIE DE PAOLA