Weekly MUSE: Indiana

Photo Credit: Don France

I traveled to my home state of Indiana this past week to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and friends. And while I was there, I was reminded of how unique this small Midwestern state really is.

Hoosiers, we’ve found another MUSE!

What? What is a Hoosier? Oh, that’s what we call people from Indiana. Yep, that means that I, Professor Watermelon, am a Hoosier.

You are probably wondering how to pronounce this funny word. Try saying it this way: “who-zure”.

James Whitcomb Riley, Hoosier Poet

Nobody really knows where this funny word comes from. James Whitcomb Riley, a famous Hoosier poet, said that the word comes from “whose-ear”. Apparently, back in the old days, pioneers were known to get into some hefty fights. After one of those fights, someone found a stray ear on the floor. They shouted, “Whose ear?”

Even if this story is bogus, it is still hear-larious. Okay, enough play-on-words.

Most people know Indiana for the most famous automobile race in the world, The Indianapolis 500. This race has captured a world audience since 1911. In fact, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is the home of the original Indy Car. Take a look at this site to learn more about the history of the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar.

Beyond racing, Indiana also has a rich BASKETBALL heritage. The most famous Hollywood basketball movie features the true story of a small town high school basketball team that, against all odds, wins a state championship. This is an OLD movie, but I bet it would still make a great movie night for you and your family. Here is the movie trailer. Take a look. If you like what you see, ask your parents to rent the movie or buy it from Amazon. Here is the Amazon link.

And if we are talking about Indiana Basketball, we cannot forget the 1955 Crispus Attucks High School team. Sadly, Indiana has had some learning to do when it comes to equality between white and black people. And during the 1950’s Indianapolis school kids were still being segregated. (White kids and black kids were forced to go to separate schools.)

Photo Credit: IPS Crispis Attucks Museum

Crispus Attucks High School was an all-black high school. And in 1955, their basketball team made it all the way to the state championships. AND THEY WON!!!  This was the first time an all-black high school basketball team had ever won a state championship in the WHOLE country.  

Today, Indiana basketball is still going strong. Take a look at Indiana’s NBA team, the Indiana Pacers, and the WNBA team, the Indiana Fever.

Indianapolis Children's Museum

Indiana is also the home of the world’s largest children’s museum.  With over 110,000 artifacts and 400 employees, this museum provides over 4,000 programs and activities each year. My favorite exhibit is The Power of Children: Making a Difference. This exhibit features the stories of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White. Take a look at this page to learn about these extraordinary children.

On a fun and whimsical note, Indiana is home to Garfield and Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis. You know who I’m talking about – the famous persnickety orange cartoon cat? In 1978, Jim Davis’ Garfield comic strip was published in 41 newspapers across the country. One year later, he more than doubled that to 100. Today, Garfield has been featured in comic strips, cartoons, and movies. If you would like to learn more about Garfield and Friends check out this really cool website!

Did you know that the world famous pop star Michael Jackson was also born in Indiana. Yep. Michael Jackson’s birthplace is Gary, Indiana. Other famous people from Indiana include: David Letterman, Larry Bird…. And PROFESSOR WATERMELON! Well, not quite famous…..yet.

So, I have shared some people, places and events with you, but what else comes from Indiana?

The Empire State Building

Did you know that the Empire State Building in New York City is made from Indiana limestone? More than 200,000 cubic feet of limestone was dug from the Indiana ground to fill a train more than 400 flatcars long. WOW!

Indiana farmers also grow one of the largest supplies of popcorn in the United States. Field corn, soybeans, and wheat are also grown in Indiana. Livestock such as cows, pigs, and chickens, are also raised on Indiana farms.

And since we are talking about agriculture, I must inform you that the legend of Johnny Appleseed also ends in Indiana. This famous apple tree planter is buried near Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Well, I could go on and on about my FAVORITE state, but it looks like I have babbled enough. If you want to know more about Indiana, just ask me. My brain is overflowing with HOOSIER knowledge. Speaking of…

With this new knowledge, what kind of story could you write? Maybe these WHAT IF questions will help you get started.

WHAT IF your main character was lost inside the Indianapolis Children’s Museum overnight?

WHAT IF your main character met one of the men from the Crispus Attucks Tigers Basketball Team of 1955?

WHAT IF your main character was the first kid to win the Indianapolis 500?

The possibilities are endless, and please leave your own what if questions in the comment section below. I’d love to see what you come up with.

So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, a pencil and a piece of paper, and let’s begin. With your imagination, we can go anywhere. I look forward to seeing where you take us.

With Imagination,

Professor Watermelon

The word of the day is “agriculture”. Here is the definition: the production of crops, livestock and/or poultry.

MUSEBOX: The ZarBomBos Want to be STARS!

Professor Watermelon!

We are from the Planet Zaztar, and we have come to Earth to seek fame and fortune. We heard that you lead a pack of Earthlings who create stories. It is our hope and desire that these Earthlings write stories in which we become the STARS! This is our only road to fame and fortune! Your creative writers must help us, or we may land in their backyards and cause mischief of one kind or another.

HooppaScootcha (Zaztarian for "Sincerely")

The ZarBomBos


Dear ZarBomBos,

Although alien mischief sounds quite exciting, I will certainly let my Creative Writers know of the challenge you have put before them. My Creative Writers are great at making EXTRAORDINARY character, and by the looks of you all, this task my be quite simple. (Chuckle)

Wishing you FAME and FORTUNE!

Professor Watermelon

Dear Creative Writers,

I may have the ZarBomBos on my hands, but you have a CREATIVE WRITING CHALLENGE on yours. Can you take these EXTRAORDINARY creatures and make them the STARS of your next story. You are welcome to share some ideas in the comment section below, and that will earn you $10 Melon Dollars. But if you write a full length story, I would love to publish it on this blog. If you work really hard, you will earn $100 Melon Dollars!

With Imagination,

Professor Watermelon

WEEKLY MUSE: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I can’t wait for Thanksgiving Day! First of all, I LOVE food, especially PUMPKIN PIE! Secondly, I LOVE spending time with my family! And thirdly, I LOVE watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble! We’ve found another MUSE!

Since 1924, Macy’s Department Stores have ushered in the holiday season with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Herbert Straus (far left)

In 1924 Macy’s President, Herbert Straus, wanted to show gratitude to a community who had made Macy’s the world’s largest department store. He decided to give New York City a parade. It would start at 145^th Street in Harlem and end at Harold Square at 34^th Street in Manhattan.

The original route was six miles long, but the parade length itself was only two city blocks. This didn’t matter to New Yorkers at the time. Once the parade passed them, they trailed it all the way down to Macy’s original store at Harold Square. Some estimate that up to a million people viewed the parade that year.

Every year since, Macy’s has continued this tradition. Now, 3.5 million people line the streets of Manhattan to watch the parade, and 65 million people watch it on television.

But, why? What is all the fuss? I will tell you!

Today the parade is 2.5 miles of marching bands, lavishly animated floats, performers, clowns, and GIGANTIC BALLOONS!

And these GIGANTIC BALLOONS are what I consider the signature and main attraction of this spectacular parade. Balloon makers spend all year creating these monstrosities, and it isn’t easy work. Click here and take a look for yourself.  

These balloons are made in a studio in Hoboken, New Jersey, and all 40 of them are driven through the Lincoln Tunnel the night before. The Lincoln Tunnel is a tunnel that carries traffic under the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York City (Manhattan).

Balloon Inflation (Photo by: Kristine Paulus)

Over 300,000 people watch the inflation of the balloons the morning of the parade. Click here and watch this spectacle for yourself.

Hello Kitty, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Spiderman, Spongebob Squarepants, and Kermit the Frog are just a few of the GIGANTIC BALLOONS you will see at the 86^th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thursday, November 22^nd from 9am to Noon on NBC.

If you want to learn more about this SPECTACULAR event, click here to find the parade’s official website.

With this new knowledge, what kind of story could you write? Maybe these WHAT IF questions will help you get started.

WHAT IF all the balloons in the parade came to life?

WHAT IF the parade marched all the way across the country? How long would it take to get to Seattle?

WHAT IF your main character found out that somebody was planning to pop all of the balloons, and it is your main character’s mission to stop them?

The possibilities are endless, and please leave your own what if questions in the comment section below. I’d love to see what you come up with.

The Five New York City Boroughs

So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, a pencil and a piece of paper, and let’s begin. With your imagination, we can go anywhere. I look forward to seeing where you take us.

With Imagination,

Professor Watermelon

The word of the day is “Manhattan”. Here is the definition: Manhattan is one of five New York City boroughs. These boroughs operate like city’s within a city. Take a look at the map.

Bookworm Bookmark: Two New Candidates for President of the United States

Dear Creative Writers!

It looks like two new candidates have stepped up for the election tomorrow night. These two bookworm bookmarks are standing up for bookworms everywhere. Bookworms deserve rights, too! Can you write a few paragraphs through these Bookworms' perspectives explaining the type of AMERICA they want!

Remember that these are bookworms, not people. So try to really think what a bookworm would want. Have Fun!!! This challenge is worth $10 Melon Dollars!

With Imagination,
Professor Watermelon

WEEKLY MUSE: The White House

The White House (Photo by: Phil Roeder)

What house in the United States of America has a Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, and a Queen’s Bedroom?

The WHITE HOUSE!

And this week everybody’s attention is on this stately mansion because we all wonder who will be living there for the next four years. Will it be President Barack Obama or Governor Mitt Romney?

Regardless of who will live there, the White House itself is a Spectacular Star Spangled MUSE!

Did you know that every President of the United States has lived in the White House except President George Washington?  That’s right.

Mount Vernon

George Washington chose the land where the White House would be built, but he never lived there. Instead, he lived at his estate called Mount Vernon. Here is a link to the Mount Vernon website if you are curious to learn more about the first presidential estate.

President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved into unfinished White House in 1800.

During the War of 1812, the British set fire to the White House. It was not completely destroyed since the house is made of stone, but the inside of the house would have to be rebuilt. Take a look at this video and see traces of this fire left on the White House today.

The White House has been renovated, remodeled, and added-on-to by almost every President. Some of the White House’s most interesting features include a bowling alley, added by President Richard Nixon.  In 1944, a cloak room was transformed into a home theatre by President Franklin Roosevelt. This theatre can hold 44 people.

The White House currently has 6 levels, 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators. WOW!!! Can you imagine living in a home that BIG?

Take a look at these White House floor plans to get a better idea of what is inside. Here is the Ground Floor. Here is the First Floor. Here is the Second Floor where the First Family (The President and his family) actually lives. And here is the Third Floor.

The basement of the White House is where most of the food is cooked. Five chefs run the White House kitchen. Take a look at this video to see the chefs preparing for the first ever state dinner for KIDS! That’s right. Not until 2012 has there ever been a formal state dinner served especially for CHILDREN. I think there should be at least one a year, don’t you think so too?

And for those who can’t get enough of the “spooky” side of life, many believe that the White House is haunted by the ghost of President Abraham Lincoln. Even the late Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill, said that he saw President Lincoln’s ghost in the Lincoln Bedroom. If you would like to see a picture of the Lincoln Bedroom click here.

And we can’t forget about the Nation’s First Bees. For the first time in White House history, Michelle Obama invited a hive of honey bees to work their magic on the White House gardens. Take a look at this video to meet them.

And if we are going to meet the Nation’s First Bees, we must meet some of the Nation’s First Pets. Take a look at this slideshow and meet the Obamas’ dog, Bo. Also meet, President Bush’s dog, Barney and President Clinton’s cat, Socks!

With this new knowledge, what kind of story could you write? Maybe these WHAT IF questions will help you get started.

WHAT IF your main character is the first kid to be the President of the United States?

WHAT IF your main character is a mouse who is part of a mouse family that has lived in the White House since it was built? They even lived through the fire!

WHAT IF your main character met the ghost of President Lincoln in the White House?

The possibilities are endless, and please leave your own what if questions in the comment section below. I’d love to see what you come up with.

So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, a pencil and a piece of paper, and let’s begin. With your imagination, we can go anywhere. I look forward to seeing where you take us.

With Imagination,

Professor Watermelon

The word of the day is “estate”. Here is the definition: a piece of land property, especially one of large extent with an elaborate house on it.