Surfing the Net with Kids: Skyscrapers

Instructions on changing your email address or canceling this newsletter can be found
at the bottom of this message.

April 17, 2002

Dear Reader,

It all started two years ago on a conference call with a
supplier who suggested that I add online games to my
Surfnetkids site. My first reaction was negative.
I was a columnist. My site was an archive of my newspaper
columns. No games.

But as I thought about it, I warmed up
to the idea. Soon I figured out how to create word searches,
crosswords, sliders, scramblers, jigsaws and more. And each
week, after I wrote my column, I whipped up a few games to go
with it. Then, while no one was watching, my games became more
popular than my columns — and organizations were asking me
to help them build games for their sites too! Isn’t life funny?

So, not being one to ignore an opportunity, I decided to jump
even further into this game business thing — and I now have
THREE ways to help organizations add games to their sites. Here
they are:

1) A how-to manual titled “How to Add Games to Your Site.”
This is so new it won’t even ship for two more weeks — but I’m
so excited I have to tell you about it — and offer you a
pre-publication discount.

2) Syndicated Flash games you can place on your site for as
little as $4 each:

3) For those that still aren’t convinced they need games on
their site, a free email course titled “9 Reasons to Add Games to Your
Site.”

And so, without further ado, today’s Skyscrapers feature is accompanied
by the following games:

Skyscraper Scrambler (this one is REALLY COOL)
Skyscraper Mix & Match

Today’s newsletter is made possible by:

TEACHERS, get a FREE Internet Safety Kit! Garfield, the world’s favorite cat, needs your help to protect
kids online. Use this FREE kit to teach your students about the
dangers on the Internet. It includes a lesson plan, handouts,
awards and more. Great for Scout troops, kids clubs & at home.

FACT: 1 in 5 kids has been contacted by an online predator.
TALK to your kids NOW about Internet Safety. GET your FREE Kit!

See ya on the Net,
Barbara J. Feldman
“Surfing the Net with Kids”

Skyscrapers

https://www.surfnetkids.com/skyscrapers.htm

Purchase a printable handout for just $1.00

The world’s infatuation with big buildings began in 1889 when the 984-foot Eiffel Tower was erected in Paris. By the early twentieth century, American architects and builders were racing to outdo each other. In 1909 the Metropolitan Life Tower rose 700 feet, quickly followed by the 792-foot Woolworth Building in 1913. The first American building to surpass the Eiffel Tower was the Chrysler Building in 1930, which stood at 1046 feet with the help of a metal spire. Despite the World Trade Center tragedy of September 11, the worldwide skyscraper race continues.

Building Big

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/

Budding engineers and architects will flip over this interactive exploration of big bridges, big dams, big domes, big tunnels and skyscrapers (which, by definition, are all big.) Get virtual hands-on experience with the Labs (learn about forces and materials) and Challenges (design a structure.) Other great clicks are the searchable Wonders of the World data bank with a form for submitting your own local wonders, and the activities and experiments found in the Educators’ Guide.

Damien’s Skyscraper Page

http://members.iinet.net.au/~paulkoh/

Damien is a Australian skyscraper enthusiast, and an excellent illustrator. Visit his site to marvel at his skyscraper renderings, which you’ll find listed under Contents. Must clicks include Larger and More Detailed Diagrams of Skyscrapers (Parts One, Two, Three and Four), Diagrams of Buildings (which click through to fact sheets with photos), and Diagram Comparing Tall Buildings to Other Tall Structures. Okay, so the titles aren’t that catchy, but the detail in his work is awesome.

Skyscrapers.com

http://www.skyscrapers.com/

Take a whirlwind skyscraper tour by clicking on the World Map. Each country has a detailed entry, with high-rises and photo galleries organized by city. Another fun section is found under Diagrams. Select one of a dozen big cities to view an illustration graphing its skyscrapers. Each building links through to its very own page with scads of stats and even more photos. The depth and quality of this skyscraper database make Skyscrapers.com my pick of the day.

Skyscraper Wars

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork/laic/episode5/topic5/e5_topic5.html

Part of the PBS kids’ site Learning Adventures in Citizenship, Skyscraper Wars tells the story of the battle of the buildings that occurred in New York in the twenties, concluding with the history of the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building was finished on May 1, 1931, and held the title as the world’s tallest building until 1973, when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (the tallest of which reached 1368 feet) were dedicated.

World Trade Center History

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/wtc1.html

“The twin towers of the World Trade Center were more than just buildings. They were proof of New York’s belief in itself. Built at a time when New York’s future was cloudy, the towers restored confidence and stopped the decline of lower Manhattan. Brash, glitzy, and grand, they quickly became symbols of New York.” But the idea wasn’t universally liked. Critics argued that the skyscrapers would ruin New York’s skyline and strain city services. With support from David Rockefeller (chairman of Chase Manhattan bank) and his brother Nelson (governor of New York) the project was approved and construction began in 1965.