SEE THE WORLD IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE 1 …

[Pages:18]SEE THE WORLD IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE

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Educators Resource Guide

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square is the largest Ripley's museum attraction in North America. It features a collection of over 500 remarkable objects from all over the world as well as amazing interactive exhibits that are sure to make your students say "WOW!" A number of the displays featured in Ripley's Times Square showcase what inspired Ripley's renowned cartoons, books, radio broadcasts, television series and one of the most famous phrases in history ? "Believe It or Not!"

In this packet, you will find:

At The Odditorium: An overview of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square

With Your Students: Frequently Asked Questions

In the Classroom: Ripley's Ramble `Round the World, a Middle School Lesson Plan

Make a Connection: New York State Learning Standards

More to Come: Believe it or Not!

Ripley's Fun & Games: Ripley's Riddles, The Search is On, Explore & Learn

Make a Plan: School Group Order Form

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At Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, students of all ages immerse themselves in the unusual, the unexpected, and the unbelievable. From understanding diversity (embrace your "Inner Odd") to exploring the unexplainable through science, and discovering the extreme genetics of nature, a field trip to Ripley's is more educational than you might expect. Ripley's will awe your class with amazing displays of eccentric art, meticulously detailed sculptures constructed from used car parts, and extraordinary animals that greet you as you walk through Ripley's Courtyard. As a teacher, you'll be astonished by how much your students appreciate the eccentricity of Ripley's passion and the amazing oddities featured in the museum. This unimaginable collection is the ideal setting for your class to experience the most remarkable feats of science, history, artistry, and humanity in a way that is fun, engaging, and a perfect complement to your daily instruction. It's STEAM learning in the most unbelievable way. As you tour through over 20 themed galleries spanning two floors, you and your students will discover new surprises at almost every turn. Believe it or not, Ripley's is oddly educational!

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In preparation for your class visit to Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square, your students may have some questions about what they can expect on this unexpected field trip.

? Who is Robert Ripley? Robert L. Ripley was a cartoonist, explorer, reporter, and collector who traveled to 201 countries in 35 years seeking the odd, the unusual, and the unexplained. He led a life of adventure and excitement and will forever be remembered for coining the phrase "believe it or not."

? Why did he collect so many weird things? In his search for far-fetched stories to draw in his popular newspaper cartoons, Ripley acquired hundreds of exotic artifacts from around the world. He introduced his readers to incredible characters: sword swallowers, people who ate glass, a man who nailed his tongue to a piece of wood, a woman missing the lower half of her body. He sketched men with horns on their heads, a child cyclops, an armless golfer, and a fork-tongued woman. There were fish that climbed trees, wingless birds, four-legged chickens, and peg-legged cows. He loved quirks of language, word puzzles, palindromes, and number problems. Ripley first shared his unique collection at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago in an exhibit he called an "Odditorium."

? What are some of the cool things we will see? With over 500 astounding exhibits, you are bound to find something you have never seen before. How about 15 authentic shrunken heads or a massive gorilla made from 5,000 pounds of car tires? There's a 2,500 year old mummified human hand, 300 strands of Abraham Lincoln's hair, coal from the Titanic ? and so much more!

? Can we take selfies? Check with your teacher about bringing your phone with you on your field trip. There are amazing photo opportunities you won't find anywhere else! Post a picture of yourself as half a person, or covered by live cockroaches, or even hanging off the top of the Empire State building! Be sure to share them with us: #ripleysNY @ripleysNY

? What am I going to learn by studying all of this crazy stuff? Pick a school subject and you will find a surprising connection in the galleries at Ripley's Time Square.

Here are a few: Math: measurements, converting units (heights and weights), scale for models (micro-miniatures, Spanish Armada in matchsticks) Art: mixed media, found art (dog hair painting, postal stamp collage, keyboard Darth Vader, scrap metal Captain America) Science: genetics (albino giraffe, two-headed calf, methemoglobinemia), paleontology (megalodon, prehistoric fish), Earth Science (meteorite, fulgurite) Technology: evolution of media technology (radio to TV), changes in transportation, Vitaphone sound system for films History: New York City, sports/baseball, the Great Depression, Titanic, WWII, Napoleon

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Social Studies, Mathematics, English Language Arts Primary Sources, Geography, World History,

Ratios, the Number System, Literacy in History, Informational Reading Middle School Lesson Plan: Ripley's Ramble 'Round the World

Teacher Instructions

Robert Ripley (1890-1949) was the media pioneer of his time. He drew thousands of cartoons syndicated in newspapers around the world, starred in numerous radio shows, hosted early short "talkie" movies, and even had his own weekly television show. At a time when world travel was an expensive and extensive undertaking, Ripley allowed his fans to see places they never would otherwise.

Ripley's ability to draw, his love of travel, and his endless curiosity provided him a lifetime of opportunities to see the world. In 1914, he took his first trip to Europe. Six years later, he returned to cover the 1920 Olympics as a sports reporter for the New York Globe. In December of 1922, he set sail on the Laconia for a world cruise that brought him to Asia for the first time. Along the way, he sent in dispatches from every stop, which were then published in a syndicated newspaper series called "Ripley's Ramble `Round the World."

Many of Ripley's "Believe It or Not!" claims were true due to technicalities or the specific words he used. For example, his statement in 1927 that Charles Lindbergh was the 67th person, and not the first, to fly across the Atlantic Ocean is true because Ripley left out the word "solo" in his claim. Others had made the transatlantic flight, beginning in 1919, but Lindbergh was the first to do it alone.

An advertisement for the Laconia's trip, featured in Part 1 below, is worthy of Ripley's semantics. This 1922-1923 voyage is often described as the first wor5ld cruise since Magellan set out in 1519. True? Yes, prior to the Laconia, world cruises included a transcontinental

train trip between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Students will read an excerpt promoting this world cruise and answer questions about the trip and its ports of call in Part 1.

In the age of imperialism, powerful nations raced to establish as many colonies around the world as possible. As foreign governments, businesses, and languages took hold, place names changed often. For example, Port Arthur, one of the Laconia's stops in Asia, was named for William Arthur, a lieutenant in the British Navy who surveyed the area in 1860. After changing hands several times among China, Japan, and Russia in the early 20th century, it is now known as the L?shunkou District in China.

During his lifetime of travel, Ripley visited places that are now known by different names. After World War II, many countries in Asia and Africa changed their names when they gained independence from European countries. In Part 2, your students will match a list of historic locations to their modern English place names.

Ripley often broadcast his "Believe It or Not!" radio show live from places like the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the North Pole, in a shark tank, and while skydiving. Imagine what Ripley would do in today's world of travel blogs, reality TV, and social media! In Part 3, students will create a series of modern-day tweets, as Robert Ripley might have, describing some of the objects on display at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Time Square.

Part 1 1. Nov. 21, 2011; March 2. (a.) 230.77 miles per day, (b.) 9.62 mph, (c.) 8.37 knots 3. 1:14 4. San Francisco 5. 1959 6. Tsing-Tao (Shantung) 7. 2 canals: Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, Suez Canal connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. 8. Europe 9. Asia. Answers will vary but students might note that Asia was not as well known to Westerners as other continents at that time. Perhaps it seemed more exotic and more interesting to visit. 10. (a.) 85.5%, (b.) The U.S. government recognizes 195 sovereign nations. Other groups have different totals, but they are all less than 200.

Part 2: 1.e, 2.i, 3.b, 4.l, 5.f, 6.j, 7.h, 8.a, 9.k, 10.g, 11.c, 12.d

Part 3: Assessment based on completion. Each of the five tweets should contain a location, object description, and be 140 characters or less.

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Name

Class

Ripley's Ramble 'Round the World

Student Activities

Robert Ripley (1890-1949) was the media pioneer of his time. He drew wrote thousands of cartoons syndicated in newspapers around the world, starred in numerous radio shows, hosted early short "talkie" movies, and even had his own weekly television show. At a time when world travel was an expensive and extensive undertaking, Ripley allowed his fans to see places they never would otherwise.

Ripley's ability to draw, his love of travel, and his endless curiosity provided him a lifetime of opportunities to see the world. In 1914, he took his first trip to Europe. Six years later, he returned to cover the 1920 Olympics as a sports reporter for the New York Globe. In December of 1922, he set sail on the Laconia for a world cruise that brought him to Asia for the first time. Along the way, he sent in dispatches from every stop, which were then published in a syndicated newspaper series called "Ripley's Ramble `Round the World."

Many of Ripley's "Believe It or Not!" claims were true due to technicalities or the specific words he used. For example, his statement in 1927 that Charles Lindbergh was the 67th person, and not the first, to fly across the Atlantic Ocean is true because Ripley left out the word "solo" in his claim. Others had made the transatlantic flight, beginning in 1919, but Lindbergh was the first to do it alone.

An advertisement for the Laconia's trip, featured in Part 1 below, is worthy of Ripley's semantics. This 1922-1923 voyage is often described as the first worl7d cruise since Magellan set out in 1519. True? Yes, prior to the Laconia,

Date

world cruises included a transcontinental train trip between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. You will read an excerpt promoting this world cruise and answer questions about the trip and its ports of call in Part 1.

In the age of imperialism, powerful nations raced to establish as many colonies around the world as possible. As foreign governments, businesses, and languages took hold, place names changed often. For example, Port Arthur, one of the Laconia's stops in Asia, was named for William Arthur, a lieutenant in the British Navy who surveyed the area in 1860. After changing hands several times among China, Japan, and Russia in the early 20th century, it is now known as the L?shunkou District in China.

During his lifetime of travel, Ripley visited places that are now known by different names. After World War II, many countries in Asia and Africa changed their names when they gained independence from European countries. In Part 2, you will match a list of historic locations to their modern English place names.

Ripley often broadcast his "Believe It or Not!" radio show live from places like the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the North Pole, in a shark tank, and while skydiving. Imagine what Ripley would do in today's world of travel blogs, reality TV, and social media! In Part 3, you will create a series of modern-day tweets, as Robert Ripley might have, describing some of the objects on display at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Time Square.

Name

Class

Date

Terms to Know: cuisine, excursions, imperialism, knots, semantics, sovereign, stateroom, syndicated, transatlantic, transcontinental

Part 1 Read the excerpt below promoting the world cruise that brought Ripley to Asia for his first time. Then, answer the 10 questions that follow.

Cruise Around the World of the

American Express Travel Department from New York, November 21st, 1922 ? 130 days

via the S.S. Laconia [Cunard Line] oil burner

The Laconia is the largest and finest boat ever to go around the world--the first to make this cruise since 1914; a most luxurious home in comforts; a perfect club in atmosphere and companionship. World renowned Cunard Service and Cuisine.

Cost of the Cruise is little more than it will cost to stay at home. $1500 and upwards, according to stateroom. Shore excursions included.

American Express World Wide Tour experience and American Express offices in the chief ports, assures perfect arrangement for the comfort and interest of passengers ashore.

Long-to-be-remembered shore excursions at every port of call: Havana, Panama Canal, San Francisco, Hilo, Honolulu, Japan, China, Port Arthur, TsingTao (Shantung), Formosa, the Philippines, Java, Burma, India, the Suez Canal, Palestine, Egypt, the Mediterranean and Europe. The Laconia party visits India and the tropical lands of the Orient in February--the coolest and most delightful month of the year.

No such world Cruise has ever been offered. Every modern luxury of travel on sea and land, every opportunity for seeing the wonders of the world.

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