By JESSICA AVERY
Programs Coordinator

In the 1860s, Thomas Jefferson Smith, his wife Julia, and their children called the Long-Smith Cottage home. During that time, people made do without many modern conveniences such as running water, air conditioning and electricity.

To help them see in the dark, many people depended on candles and kerosene, an oily, petroleum fuel, for their light source. Kerosene became an affordable and popular choice throughout the country because it provided three times the brightness of a candle flame.

While kerosene and candles provided light, the smoke they generated posed a unique challenge, as it would leave black marks on ceilings. Thus, many people created special devices like the "revolving serpent" that would fan away the smoke and "smoke bells" that would collect the soot.

​Now you can create you own spinning serpent and watch it spin around and around. But, just to be on the safe side, we suggest holding it over a lightbulb instead of a flame!
 
The Science Behind the Spin
So what makes the serpent spin? Well, that’s science! When air is heated, it expands as its molecules begin to spread out and away from each other. In turn, the hot air begins to rise and the cooler air sinks; however, once the cooler air reaches the heat source, the process will begin again.  The warm moving air spins the spiral serpent around and around. The cycle of moving air is called a convection current and these currents are all around us. They play a part in our weather, ocean temperatures and are even used to cook food in our ovens. 

By ALLISON HARRELL
Texian Time Machine & Outreach Coordinator

We've got a new history game for you today! The instructions are pretty simple:

• Click here to download a set of history cards. Every person in the deck was pulled from the 2nd through 5th grade TEKS list.
• Cut out the cards along the lines, then give them a good shuffle.
• Using the lifetime years as a hint, your task is to arrange the cards in timeline order by what the person is best known for. (For example, what came first? Alexander Graham Bell's first practical telephone or Thomas Edison's first practical electric light bulb?)
• Once you think you have everything in the correct timeline order, click here to download the answer sheet!

​Did you get it right? What timing of events caught you by surprise?

BY JESSICA AVERY
​Programs Coordinator

The golden age of American radio lasted from 1930 through the 1940s, and grew into the fabric of daily life in the United States. Radio provided news and entertainment to a country struggling with economic depression and war. Programming was varied and included soap operas in the afternoon, adventure series for children, science fiction, comedies and, of course, music!

During World War II there was a growth in network news that covered events happening overseas on the front. Some programming was used for propaganda purposes, while others aimed at keeping up the morale of the public. Some of the most popular shows during this time were Dick Tracy, The Green Hornet, Howdy Doody Time, The Lone Ranger and Superman. 

Now an important part of making those shows come alive were the actors' voices, the music and  the sound effects! 

Foley is the art of creating and performing everyday sounds for television and movies. These sound effects include footsteps, wind blowing, rain, doors opening and closing and more. Many of the sound effects were developed by Jack Foley, and incredibly skilled sound effect artist, who developed a method for performing sound effects that were used during the live radio broadcasts in the 1920s. His sound effect techniques pioneered the methods that foley artists still use today.

Got cabin fever? Take your family back to early pioneer days of Texas with the board game created by staff member Allison!

Gone to Texas: Survival Game!

Provided: (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF)

• Game Board
  
• Settler’s Surprise cards
  
• Movement dice (will need to be assembled)
  
• Player sheet

Not provided:

• Two additional regular dice
  
• Game tokens
  
• Scissors (to cut things apart to get the game set up)
  
• Tape (to assemble the movement dice)

 
Directions:

1. Cut apart all of the Settler’s Surprise cards and stack them on top of the game board
2. Assemble the movement dice. (Cut along the outside of the shape, fold all the lines, and assemble it into a cube using tape to hold all the edges together.)
3. Cut apart the player sheets and give one to every player (more than four can play at a time, just make sure there is a player card for every person playing.)
4. Follow the rules listed on the game board to play:
   1. Start all game tokens on the “Fall square”
   2. Roll the “movement” dice to see how far to move each turn
   3. Draw a “Settler’s surprise” card if you land on a season square or if you don’t have the resources to complete the task you have been given.
   4. Track all changes on the player sheet.
   5. Have fun!
5. The game ends when everyone gets to the “End of Year” square the third time (the end of the second year).
   1. The winner is the person who has the highest total resource score at the end of the game

 
Discussion Questions:

1. Was it easy to survive the two years?
2. Did you feel that you brought enough resources with you? What do you think you should have brought more of? What would you have brought less of?
3. Did you run out of any resources? If so, what resources? What sort of impact would running out of that resource have on your family?
4. Were there any resources that you ran low on? What sort of impact would running low of that resource have on your family?

This single book book was designed to get children through eighth grade (after eighth grade, they were considered adults). The primers featured a number of subjects, including reading, writing and arithmetic. Use the following questions (in bold) to start your one-room school lesson!

Reading, Writing and Arithmetic were the three main subjects (these were also called the "Three Rs" – Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic). Sometimes, the lessons would also include recitation and geography; however, science and history were typically not taught as they are today.

Since paper was a rare commodity in pioneer times, memorization was frequently used to teach lessons. Children would begin the school day reciting their homework to the class. It was called "toeing the line."

• HOMEWORK: Have your children practice recitation! Choose a few lines from a poem or another passage from the book and have your child recite it from memory the next day. 

With the uncertain and evolving COVID-19 health situation here in our community and around the world, our top priority is ensuring that our guests, volunteers and staff members stay healthy.
In response to the latest guidelines and information from the CDC and local officials, the Fort Bend History Association's Board of Trustees has decided to close the Fort Bend Museum through March 31. Additionally, acting out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our guests, supporters and staff, the following upcoming events will be impacted:  

• ONLINE: Lone Star Stomp (April 18) – The annual gala, which raises funds critical for sustaining the educational programming at the Fort Bend Museum, will be converted into a virtual event this year. Please watch your inbox for more information on how to participate; if you are currently a sponsor, underwriter or donor, Director of Development Zarinah K. Poole will be reaching out to you personally over the next few days.
• CANCELLED: Yoga on the Lawn

Finally, please know that we are closely monitoring the situation and will notify you of any additional changes in schedule or programming. Thank you for being a valuable partner in Texas and Fort Bend County history. We look forward to welcoming you back to the George Ranch Historical Park, Fort Bend Museum and DeWalt Heritage Center soon.