Crash Course Animations in Literature, Philosophy, Art History, and More
By Crash Course on YouTube
Crash Course is a YouTube channel that was created by The Fault in Our Stars author John Green and his brother, Hank. It features brief (10-20 minute) educational videos accompanied by animations, and has a number of playlists in all kinds of school subjects from physics to media literacy. I’ve linked the ones below which deal with subjects we learn about in Odyssey, but all of them provide relatively easy-to-understand (logically organized, but very fast), educational content accompanied by fun cartoons. While the information may be too fast-moving for very small children, anyone from middle-school to adulthood should be able to enjoy it. If you are interested in Crash Course videos for younger children, they also have a science channel aimed at that audience.
Be warned, this series is a little spicier than the US History one (Green “swears” by saying the names of his favorite authors–
Ex: “what the Fitzgerald?”).
if you’re a current or post Odyssey student, you’ll know what I mean.
Podcast: “In Our Time”
By BBC Radio (1998-present)
For those of you that enjoy history, “In Our Time” is a podcast that shouldn’t be missed. It’s very fact-focused, and centers on Melvyn Bragg interviewing historical experts. I’ve linked the Neanderthal episode, but there are episodes on periods of time from prehistory to the near-present, and locations all across the world. All of the episodes are linked on the official BBC Podcast YouTube channel.
Those of you in Odyssey classes this semester know that we’ve been laser-focused in our examination of history, looking primarily at America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This podcast is a wonderful opportunity to listen to experts talk (and even argue!) about other areas of history. Bragg is wonderful because he’s wonderful at asking difficult followup questions about the information the experts present on the podcast, which leads to fascinating insights.
Apple Fritter Recipe from 18th Century America!
Demonstrated on YouTube by Townsends (2014)
Feeling gloomy in the winter cold? No worries! This recipe for apple fritters is over 200 years old, but it still is just as effective at warming one up. It’s easy enough that, if you like, you can try it at home (at your own risk)!
There are only six total ingredients, and some of them are optional. If you want to give it a try, you will need:
- Flour
- Ale or cider
- Chopped apples
- Currants (optional)
- Oil for frying
- Powdered sugar (optional)
The recipe is simple enough that you could add some cinnamon or other spices without hurting anything. It’s interesting to see how stable the stuff people find tasty endures across time; Americans have been frying dough for centuries, and so have many other cultures worldwide! For more information on ingredient quantities, the history of the recipe, and a demonstration, see the video below…but be warned, this channel is unbelievably addictive!
Odyssey, Extra! 