Transcript Places of our Past and Present A presentation by Dolphin Senior Public School, Mississauga, Canada.

Places of our Past and
Present
A presentation by Dolphin
Senior Public School,
Mississauga, Canada
Credits
The following is a presentation by the Learning Circle
Team at Dolphin Senior Public School in Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada, as part of the Places and Perspectives
iEarn Learning Circle (September-December, 2007). The
team consisted of Mr. Steeves, Mudassir, Fan,
Prabhdeep, Luke, and Shahrukh (“The Canadians”).
Participating schools included: Kothari International
School, Noida, India; Gymnasium #6, Langepas, Russia;
School #7, Korolev, Russia; School #7, Miass, Russia;
Mohamed Elsayed Experimental Languages School, Port
Said, Egypt; University Prep, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.; Hillview
College, Tunapuna, Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago;
Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria;
Hadley Middle School, Wichita, KA, U.S.A.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Korolov, Russia
Trinidad and Tobago
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A.
Miass, Russia
Noida, India
Port Said, Egypt
Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Introduction
As part of the Learning Circle, we decided to ask schools
to conduct a survey and send information and pictures
about the most important ‘sites’ in their area. By ‘site’ we
meant any kind of place, such as a park or monument, a
building, a wilderness reserve, or even a street or river.
By ‘important’ we meant either historically significant or
culturally relevant either in the past or the present.
Following is a summary of what teens from around the
world have sent us.
Mississauga, Canada
After 40 months of construction, the CN Tower was
opened to the public on June 26, 1976. Iit is the
centre of telecommunications for Toronto serving
16 Canadian television and FM radio stations, the
workplace of up to 550 people throughout the
year, and one of Toronto's premier entertainment
destinations.Defining the Toronto skyline, the CN
Tower is Canada's most recognizable and
celebrated icon. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft.,
5 inches), it was for a long time the World's Tallest
Building and Free-Standing Structure. Each year,
approximately 2 million people visit the World's
Tallest Building to take in the breathtaking view
and enjoy all of the attractions the CN Tower has
to offer. In past years, the CN Tower has
supported its vision of Toronto's premier
entertainment destination by totally renovating and
redesigning 360 Restaurant, building the World's
Highest Wine Cellar, and adding two new
elevators.
Mississauga (cont.)
Niagara Falls is a set of massive
waterfalls located on the Niagara River,
straddling the international border
separating the Canadian province of
Ontario and the U.S. state of New York.
Niagara Falls were formed when
glaciers receded at the end of the
Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age),
and water from the newly-formed Great
Lakes carved a path through the
Niagara Escarpment en route to the
Atlantic Ocean. More than six million
cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water fall
over the crest line every minute in high
flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet
(110,000 m³) on average. It is the most
powerful waterfall in North America.
Mississauga (cont.)
The Mississauga Civic Center is the
City Hall of the city Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada. The Center was
build in 1987 by Jones and Kirkland. It
stands 302 feet. The Barn-like
structure which includes a clock tower
was chosen as the winner of a design
competition that included 246
submissions.
The building has a 9000 square metre
court yard with a pool and ice rink. To
the west of the building is the floral
garden, often used for weddings.
South of the building it has the
Mississauga Central Library, one of
the biggest libraries in the Greater
Toronto Area, and Square One, a
large shopping mall.
Korolov, Russia
The Moscow Kremlin is the heart of the country. It is a great monument of
Russian and world architecture. There you can see the wonderful white-stone
monuments of the 15th-16th centuries.
There are three Cathedrals.
The Assumption Cathedral (1475-1479), arch. Aristotle Fioravante from
Italy. The Cathedral is oblong, with an arched roof supported by four columns
and crowned by fine golden domes. You can see very old frescoes there.
Korolov (cont.)
The Arhangelsky Cathedral
It is cubical in shape, with fine domes. There are tombs of the Moscow Princes
and tsars.
The Blagoveshchensky Church
It was built in 1484. The cathedral's icons include works by the oldest Russian
artists. The Majestic Campanile of Ivan Veliky was built in 1505-1508 and was
completed in 1600 during the reign of Boris Godunov. It was, in ancient times,
the Kremlin watchtower, it is 81 m high.
Korolov (cont.)
The whole St. Petersburg itself is a wonderful monument, a museum; it is
"music fixed in stone". There are 539 bridges in the city and more than 80
museums. St. Petersburg has always been the site of many political events:
the Decembrists' Uprising, the Russian Revolution in 1917. During the
Second World War, Leningrad withstood a terrible 900-day siege.
The city was founded by Peter the Great and used to be the capital of
Russia in the 18th century.
Korolov (cont.)
Going beyond the atmosphere of our planet is
one of the most outstanding events of our time,
connected with the name of a remarkable
scientist, the general constructor of rocketspace systems Sergey Korolev. It is hard to
overestimate the significance of what was done
by S. Korolev. Due to Korolev, the most
outstanding events of the history of humankind
were carried out: the first artificial Earth satellite,
reaching the Moon and Venus and the first flight
of Yuri Gagarin.
This year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of
the launch of Sputnik. In honor of this date the
monument to Sputnik was opened in our city.
The monument has the natural size of the
sputnik
Trinidad and Tobago
The Chimney at Hillview College is a relict from before the college
started. Prior to 1955 the campus was used as either a quarry or sugar
estate. The chimney was used as part of a boiler. Today it still stands and
is covered with ivy which blooms at certain points in the year. It is one of
the local highlights.
Trinidad and Tobago (cont.)
The Pitch Lake: There are many stories about our pitch lake. Our
favourite comes from the West Indian reading book. The legend goes that
the native people angered the Gods by killing the sacred humming birds to
get their brilliantly coloured feathers to decorate themselves. The Gods
caused a massive earthquake to occur which sank the village into a black
liquid lake which we call our pitch lake today.
Trinidad and Tobago (cont.)
Maracas Beach is the most popular beach in the North. It can be accessed
by the Saddle Road through Maraval or by the Saddle Road from San Juan
through Santa Cruz, and again onto the North Coast Road. It is about 45
minutes from Port of Spain. The beach is about 1850 m long and has off
white sand. Waves are an average height of 1.0 m. and are ideal for surfing.
Safety needs are met through the use of red flags indicating unsafe bathing
areas and the presence of life guards daily from 10 am-6 pm.
Facilities are well maintained and include a large car park, tables, benches,
changing rooms with showers, toilets and lockers. Visitors can enjoy the
tasty local food from nearby vendors or bake & shark on the pits provided.
On the hill above the Bay there is a restaurant and bar from which the visitor
can enjoy the scenery and tranquillity. For those who wish to stay a little
longer, the Timberline Nature Resort, located just off the 'look out' provides
accommodation and tours within the area.
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A.
The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot Cor-Ten steel
sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear
Bosin. It sits at the confluence of the Arkansas and
Little Arkansas rivers in Wichita, Kansas.
Exploration Place is a modern science museum,
located in the "museums on the river" district in
Wichita, Kansas, United States. Abilene became
home to Dwight D. Eisenhower when his family
moved to Abilene from Denison, Texas in 1892 where
he attended elementary school through high school.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library is
located in Abilene. It is now the final resting place for
wife, Mamie,
andbecause
one son.it is a remembrance of
ThePresident
keeper ofEisenhower,
the plains ishis
culturally
important
all the tribes that were in Wichita. Exploration place is culturally important
because it shows all the different things that were or are in Wichita. Abilene is a
historically important because Dwight D. Eisenhower lived there and is where
his burial site is.
Exploration Place: http://www.exploration.org/
http://www.abileneks.com/pages/attactions/eisenhower.htm
Miass, Russia
The Turgoyak is very beautiful and unique.
It takes the second place in the world after
the Baikal for the cleanliness.Its waters are
really mineral. The turgoyak is commonly
called the Pearl of the Urals for its purest
waters. Every year a lot of tourist come to
Miass just to admire the beauty of the
Turgoyak.
Ilmen Reserve is very famous not only in
Russia. Different flora and fauna is
represented here. On its territory there’s
Mineralogical Museum which contains all
samples of minerals existing in the
world.Ilmen Reserve is also called
Mineralogical Paradise. Entrance to the
museum is free.
Miass (cont.)
Miass is divided into three parts: the old part ( where you can see old
wooden houses and buildings, Avtozavod ( the central part) and
Mashgorodok where our students’ parents work and live. In Mashgorodok
there are only high and modern buildings. Though Miass is rather an old
town.( it was founded in 1773), Mashgorodok is very young – 45. The
founder of Mashgorodok is V.P.Makeev who was the best pupil of
Academician S. Korolev.
Noida, India
Centre Stage Mall in NOIDA: It’s a modern building representing
Modern India at par with the developed countries!
India (cont.)
Humayun’s Tomb: This is a replica of Taj Mahal constructed 140 years
before Taj Mahal . Another interesting point about this monument – It is
constructed by Humayun’s Wife in memory of her Husband !
India (cont.)
Akshardham Temple: India has been giving optimum importance to
Spirituality and promoting World Peace .Akshardham Temple has
entered the Guinness Book of World Record for being the largest
temple constructed in the modern age!
Egypt
Saladin Citadel
The location, part of the Mokattam hill near the center of Cairo, was once
famous for its fresh breeze and grand views of the city, and was fortified by
the Ayyubid ruler Salah al-Din (Saladin) between 1176 and 1183 AD, to
protect it from the Crusaders[1].
It is sometimes referred to as Mohamed Ali Citadel because it contains the
Mosque of Mohamed Ali (or Muhammad Ali Pasha), which was built
between 1828 and 1848, perched on the summit of the citadel.
This Ottoman mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad
Ali's oldest son, who died in 1816.
The citadel stopped being the seat of government when Egypt's ruler,
Khedive Ismail, moved to his newly built Abdin Palace in the Ismailiya
neighborhood in the 1860s.
There are two other mosques at the Citadel, the 13th/14th c. hypostyle
mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad[3] from the early Bahri Mamluk period, and
the 16th c. Mosque of Suleyman Pasha, first of the Citadel's Ottoman-style
mosques.
The citadel also contains Al-Gawhara palace, the National Military Museum
and the Police Museum.
Egypt (cont.)
Vallley of the Kings; Tombs of the Pharoahs
The Egyptian belief that "To speak the name of the dead
is to make him live again" is certainly carried out in the
building of the tombs. The king's formal names and titles
are inscribed in his tomb along with his images and
statues. Beginning with the 18th Dynasty and ending with
the 20th, the kings abandoned the Memphis area and
built their tombs in Thebes. Also abandoned were the
pyramid style tombs. Most of the tombs were cut into the
limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an
antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber.
These catacombs were harder to rob and were more
easily concealed. Construction usually lasted six years,
beginning with the new reign. The text in the tombs are
from the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Gates and
the Book of the Underworld.
Egypt (cont.)
Ramesses IV
Three white corridors descend to the
sarcophagus chamber. The chambers ceilings
depict the goddess Nut. The lid of the pink
granite sarcophagus is decorated with Isis and
Nephthys, which were meant to serve as
guardians over the body. Their duties fell short,
however, as the tomb was robbed in ancient
times. Originally the priests placed the
sarcophagus in Amenhotep II II's tomb in order
to hide the body, which was a common
practice.
Ramesses IX
Two sets of steps lead down to the tomb door that is decorated with the Pharaoh
worshipping the solar disc. Isis and Nephthys stand behind him on either side.
Three corridors lead into an antechamber that opens into a pillared hall. The
passage beyond that leads to the sarcophagus chamber
Egypt
(cont.)
Merneptah
The steep descent into the tomb is typical of the designs of the XIX
Dynasty. The entrance is decorated with Isis and Nephthys worshipping
the solar disc. Text from the Book of the Gates line the corridors. The
outer granite lid of the sarcophagus is located in the antechamber, while
the lid of the inner sarcophagus is located down more steps in the
pillared hall. Carved on the pink granite lid is the figure of Merneptah as
Osiris.
Ramesses VI
Originally built for Ramesses V, three chambers and a 4th pillared
chamber was added by Ramesses VI. Complete texts of the Book of
the Gates, the Book of Caverns and the Book of Day and Night line the
chambers. Portions of the Book of the Dead are located in the pillared
chamber, along with scenes of the skygoddess, Nut
Egypt (cont.)
Seti I
The longest tomb in the valley, 100m,
contains very well preserved reliefs in
all of its eleven chambers and side
rooms. One of the back chambers is
decorated with the Ritual of the
Opening of the Mouth, which stated
that the mummy's eating and drinking
organs were properly functioning.
Believing in the need for these
functions in the afterlife, this was a
very important ritual. The
sarcophagus is now in the Sir John
Soane Museum, London.
Egypt (cont.)
Tuthmosis III
The approach to this unusual
tomb is an ascent up wooden
steps, crossing over a pit, and
then a steep descent down into
the tomb. The pit was probably
dug as a deterrent to tomb
robbers. Two small chambers,
decorated with stars, and a
larger vestibule are in front of
the sarcophagus chamber,
which is uniquely rounded and
decorated with only red and
black.
Amenhotep II
A steep flight of stairs and a long
unadorned corridor lead to the
sarcophagus chamber. Three
mummies, Tuthmosis IV,
Amenhotep II III and Seti II, were
found in one side room and nine
mummies were found in another .
Horemheb
This tomb's construction is identical
to that of Seti I's with the exception
of some of the inner decorations.
Egypt (cont.)
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun's Tomb is probably the most famous, due to its late
discovery. Howard Carter's description upon opening the tomb in 1922
was, "At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber
causing the candle flames to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew
accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the
mist, strange animals, statues and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For
the moment - an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by - I
was dumb with amazement, and when Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the
suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, 'Can you see anything?' it was all
I could do to get out the words, "Yes, wonderful things."' The royal seal on
the door was found intact. The first three chambers were unadorned, with
evidence of early entrance through one of the outside walls. The next
chamber contained most of the funerary objects. The sarcophagus was
four guilded wooden shrines, one inside the other, within which lay the
stone sarcophagus, three mummiform coffins, the inner one being solid
gold, and then the mummy. Haste can be seen in the reliefs and the
sarcophagus, since Tutankhamun died at only 19 years of age.
Egypt (cont.)
Nefertari
There are between 75 and 80 tombs in the Valley of the Queens, or Biban
al-Harim. These belong to Queens of the 18th, 19th and 20th
Dynasties. These include The Tomb of Khaemwese: Scenes in
Khaemwese's tomb show him being presented to the guardians of the gates
to the afterlife along with his father. He is making an offering in the scene,
and is dressed in a robe, wearing a necklace and the sidelocks of youth.
The Tomb of Queent Titi: She is probably the queen of a 20th Dynasty. She
is depicted with the sidelocks common to the Egyptian young of the period
and in the presence of the gods Thoth, Atum, Isis and Nephthys. In the
next chamber the queen is shown making offerings to Hator the cow, and in
the last chamber the gods Neith, Osiris, Selquit, Nephthys and Thoth.
The Tomb of Amenhikhopeshef: Amenhikhopeshef was a son of Ramses III
and scenses show him with his father and the gods Thoth, Ptah and others.
He was probably about nine years old when he died. Scenes show him
being presented to various gods, including Anubis, the Jackal-headed god
of the dead, by his father, Ramses III. A premature baby was also found in
to tomb. This belonged to this mother, who aborted upon learning of
Amenhikhopeshef's death.
Egypt (cont.)
The Tomb of Nefertari: One of five wives of Ramses
II, Nefertari was his favorite and the tomb here has
been is said to be one of the most beautiful in
Egypt. The tomb is completely painted with scenes
though out. In most of these, Nefertari, known as
'the most beautiful of them', is accompanied by
gods. She is usually wearing a golden crown with
two feathers extended from the back of a vulture
and clothed in a white, gossamer gown. Be sure not
to miss the side room where one scene depicts the
queen worshipping the mummified body of
Osiris. Near the stairs to the burial chamber is
another wonderful scene with Nefertarti offering milk
to the goddess Hathor.
Egypt
Roman Theater (Kom Al-Dikka)
Over 30 years of excavation have uncovered many Roman remains
including this well-preserved theatre with galleries, sections of mosaicflooring, and marble seats for up to 800 spectators. In Ptolemaic times,
this area was the Park of Pan and a pleasure garden. The theater at one
point may had been roofed over to serve as an Odeon for musical
performances. Inscriptions suggest that it was sometimes also used for
wrestling contests. The theatre stood with thirteen semi-circular tiers of
white marble that was imported from Europe. Its columns are of green
marble imported from Asia Minor, and red granite imported from Aswan.
The wings on either side of the stage are decorated with geometric mosaic
paving. The dusty walls of the trenches, from digging in the northeast side
of the Odeon, are layered with extraordinary amounts of potsherds. Going
down out of the Kom, you can see the substantial arches and walls in
stone, the brick of the Roman baths, and the remains of Roman houses.
Source:
http://www.summ ittoursegypt.com/historicalinfo3a.htm#34
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Citadel
Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
We had an interesting response to our survey. Our
students found it impossible to get it down to three
places, so they picked three categories instead: City of
Seattle, natural landmarks, and businesses associated
with Seattle.
We were happy to find ourselves proud of so much that
Seattle has to offer that once we had three categories,
we still had trouble deciding which to pick within the
category!
Seattle (cont.)
For the City of Seattle, we picked two places: the Seattle Center and the
Pike Place Market.
The Seattle Center was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, and the most
prominent landmark is our famous Space Needle. The Seattle Center also
includes the Pacific Science Center, the Experience Music Project, and the
Fun Forest. The Pacific Science Center is a place where there are many
exhibitions and it’s a great place for field trips since they have many hands-on
experiences for the students.
The World’s Fair took place from April 21 to October 21, 1962. Almost
10,000,000 people attended, and the Fair did much to enhance the reputation
of Seattle in the country and the world.
The Space Needle is 605 feet/184 meters tall, but with the communications
tower on top it reaches 730 feet/222 meters into the sky. One of our students
describes it as tall, spiny, unique, and futuristic. It has a revolving restaurant
on top and its needle points to the sky. It weighs 9,550 tons and its center of
gravity is below ground! It is built to withstand winds of 200mph/322km per
hour. Seattle celebrates the arrival of each New Year with fireworks launched
from the sides and the top of the Space Needle.
Seattle (cont.)
The Pacific Science Center is a place where there are many exhibitions and
it’s a great place for field trips since they have many hands-on experiences
for the students. It is known for its beautiful, graceful arches.
The EMP – the Experience Music Project – is a rock’n’roll museum built by
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and designed by the world famous architect
Frank Gehry, who is best-known for the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao,
Spain. The EMP is a tribute to Seattle music legend Jimmy Hendrix, and the
museum building is meant to look like a smashed guitar from the sky. A
Science Fiction Museum recently opened in the building as well. (The first
time Mr. Cullen saw this building under construction he said to his students,
“It must be the new roller coaster!”) It is a very controversial building, and
people either like it or don’t. It’s hard to feel neutral about a building like this!
Seattle (cont.)
Seattle (cont.)
Pike Place Market – is a farmers’ market in the heart of downtown
Seattle that just celebrated its 100th anniversary. It is an energetic and
exciting place to be – the heart and soul of the city, perhaps most
famous now for the ‘fish toss’! When a customer orders a fish, the
people at the market toss it from one person on one side of the counter
to someone on the other side for processing.
Seattle (cont.)
Mt. St. Helens
On May 18, 1980, Mt. St. Helens erupted. The eruption was triggered by a 5.1
earthquake that shook loose a bulge that had been developing on the
northeast side of the mountain for some months. A devastating eruption and
landslide followed, and one cubic meter of material for every human on earth
was belched into the air!
The countryside was scoured of all living matter, and a huge mudslide flowed
down the mountain and into the surrounding valleys and river. Life was
destroyed in 180 sq km (70 sq miles). 57 people are known to have died in
the eruption. This is 100 miles/160km southwest of Seattle.
Seattle (cont)
Seattle (cont)
For Businesses, we picked Microsoft,
Starbucks, and Boeing.
The Microsoft Corporation is the brainchild of
two students from Lakeside High School in
Seattle, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who now are
among the richest people in the world. They
launched a computer revolution with the stated
goal of placing a computer on every desk in the
world. They have produced operating systems
and software packages that are dominant in the
computer industry. They have also been
controversial for their business practices, and
lost fair practices lawsuits in both the United
States and Europe. Microsoft now employs
79,000 people in 102 countries. Graduates of
University Prep have worked there and made
significant contributions; one wrote the Excel
program.
Seattle (cont.)
Starbucks
Starbucks was founded in Seattle in 1971
by three men (including a teacher!) who
sold only coffee beans and no beverages.
Later it was bought by an early employee of
the company, Howard Schultz, and he
turned it into the huge corporation that it is
today. It was his belief that the company
should also sell coffee beverages, and he
seems to have been correct! Starbucks is
named after a character in Moby Dick.
Starbucks recently opened its 15,000th
store, and its goal is to have 40,000 stores
worldwide.
The first Starbucks store - in
Pike Place Market – opened
in 1971.
Seattle (cont.)
Boeing
The Pacific Aero Products Company was
founded in 1916 by William Boeing
One year later the company’s name was
changed to the Boeing Airplane
Company.
It is now one of the two dominant airplane
companies in the world; the other is
Airbus.
We have chosen this photo of the 747
because in the 1970s the commercial
success of this airplane saved the
company when it was in deep financial
trouble.
Howard Hughes and the Boeing Army
Pursuit Plane in California in the 1940s.
Seattle (cont.)
We will finish with a funny story about Starbucks.
One of our teachers was speaking with Mr. Howard Schultz, thenCEO of Starbucks. She said, “Howard, we don’t have a Starbucks in
my neighborhood!” “How is that possible?” he asked. “Where do you
live?” She told him and said, “There’s a strip mall near my house with
an empty store – it would be the perfect place for a Starbucks.”
“Hang on,” he said as he whipped out his cell phone. He dialed
quickly and asked for someone in his company and then said to her,
“Now where did you say that strip mall is?” One year later a Starbucks
store opened in that exact location. It’s good to be in charge!