Intro to Deutschland

Artful maps; Magnet Shreveport
Originally uploaded by trudeau

Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz (Daimler Benz) are names that remind us of the awesome technological achievements of the German people.

Add the name Nikolaus August Otto (14 June 1832, Holzhausen an der Haide, Nassau - 26 January 1891, Cologne). He was the German inventor of the first internal-combustion engine to efficiently burn fuel directly in a piston chamber. Although other internal combustion engines had been invented (e.g. by Étienne Lenoir) these were not based on four separate strokes. The concept of four strokes is likely to have been around at the time of Otto's invention but he was the first to make it practical.

Congrats to all the students who completed the Artful Map project. Thanks to the parents who bought the mats and supported the special activity.

Thanks to the many families who sent me holiday gifts! To all, Happy holidays!