SEE THE WORLD IN THE HEART OF TIMES SQUARE

Educators Resource Guide1

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is the largest Ripley’s museumattraction in North America. It features a collection of over 500 remarkableobjects from all over the world as well as amazing interactive exhibits thatare sure to make your students say “WOW!” A number of the displaysfeatured in Ripley’s Times Square showcase what inspired Ripley’srenowned cartoons, books, radio broadcasts, television series and one of themost famous phrases in history – “Believe It or Not!”

In this packet, you will find:

✓ At The Odditorium: An overview of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square

✓ With Your Students: Frequently Asked Questions

✓ In the Classroom: Ripley’s Ramble ‘Round the World, a Middle School Lesson Plan

✓ Make a Connection: New York State Learning Standards

✓ More to Come: Believe it or Not!

✓ Ripley’s Fun & Games: Ripley’s Riddles, The Search is On, Explore & Learn

✓ Make a Plan: School Group Order Form

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At Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square, students of all ages immersethemselves in the unusual, the unexpected, and the unbelievable. Fromunderstanding diversity (embrace your “Inner Odd”) to exploring theunexplainable through science, and discovering the extreme genetics ofnature, a field trip to Ripley’s is more educational than you might expect.

Ripley’s will awe your class with amazing displays of eccentric art,meticulously detailed sculptures constructed from used car parts, andextraordinary animals that greet you as you walk through Ripley’sCourtyard.

As a teacher, you’ll be astonished by how much your students appreciatethe eccentricity of Ripley’s passion and the amazing oddities featured in themuseum. This unimaginable collection is the ideal setting for your class toexperience the most remarkable feats of science, history, artistry, andhumanity in a way that is fun, engaging, and a perfect complement to yourdaily instruction. It’s STEAM learning in the most unbelievable way.

As you tour through over 20 themed galleries spanning two floors, you andyour students will discover new surprises at almost every turn. Believe it ornot, Ripley’s is oddly educational!

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In preparation for your class visit to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square, your students may have somequestions about what they can expect on this unexpected field trip.

• Who is Robert Ripley?Robert L. Ripley was a cartoonist, explorer, reporter, and collector who traveled to 201 countries in 35 yearsseeking the odd, the unusual, and the unexplained. He led a life of adventure and excitement and will foreverbe remembered for coining the phrase “believe it or not.”

• Why did he collect so many weird things?In his search for far-fetched stories to draw in his popular newspaper cartoons, Ripley acquired hundreds ofexotic artifacts from around the world. He introduced his readers to incredible characters: sword swallowers,people who ate glass, a man who nailed his tongue to a piece of wood, a woman missing the lower half ofher body. He sketched men with horns on their heads, a child cyclops, an armless golfer, and a fork-tonguedwoman. There were fish that climbed trees, wingless birds, four-legged chickens, and peg-legged cows. Heloved quirks of language, word puzzles, palindromes, and number problems. Ripley first shared his uniquecollection at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago in an exhibit he called an “Odditorium.”

• What are some of the cool things we will see?With over 500 astounding exhibits, you are bound to find something you have never seen before. How about15 authentic shrunken heads or a massive gorilla made from 5,000 pounds of car tires? There’s a 2,500 yearold mummified human hand, 300 strands of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, coal from the Titanic – and so muchmore!

• Can we take selfies?Check with your teacher about bringing your phone with you on your field trip. There are amazing photoopportunities you won’t find anywhere else! Post a picture of yourself as half a person, or covered by livecockroaches, or even hanging off the top of the Empire State building! Be sure to share them with us:#ripleysNY @ripleysNY

• What am I going to learn by studying all of this crazy stuff?Pick a school subject and you will find a surprising connection in the galleries at Ripley’s Time Square.

Here are a few:Math: measurements, converting units (heights and weights), scale for models (micro-miniatures, SpanishArmada in matchsticks)Art: mixed media, found art (dog hair painting, postal stamp collage, keyboard Darth Vader, scrap metalCaptain America)Science: genetics (albino giraffe, two-headed calf, methemoglobinemia), paleontology (megalodon,prehistoric fish), Earth Science (meteorite, fulgurite)Technology: evolution of media technology (radio to TV), changes in transportation, Vitaphone soundsystem for filmsHistory: New York City, sports/baseball, the Great Depression, Titanic, WWII, Napoleon

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Social Studies, Mathematics, English Language ArtsPrimary Sources, Geography, World History,

Ratios, the Number System, Literacy in History, Informational Reading

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Middle School Lesson Plan: Ripley’s Ramble ’Round the World Teacher Instructions

Robert Ripley (1890-1949) was the media

pioneer of his time. He drew thousands of

cartoons syndicated in newspapers

around the world, starred in numerous

radio shows, hosted early short “talkie”

movies, and even had his own weekly

television show. At a time when world

travel was an expensive and extensive

undertaking, Ripley allowed his fans to

see places they never would otherwise.

Ripley’s ability to draw, his love of travel,

and his endless curiosity provided him a

lifetime of opportunities to see the world.

In 1914, he took his first trip to Europe. Six

years later, he returned to cover the 1920

Olympics as a sports reporter for the New

York Globe. In December of 1922, he set

sail on the Laconia for a world cruise that

brought him to Asia for the first time.

Along the way, he sent in dispatches

from every stop, which were then

published in a syndicated newspaper

series called “Ripley’s Ramble ‘Round

the World.”

Many of Ripley’s “Believe It or Not!”

claims were true due to technicalities or

the specific words he used. For example,

his statement in 1927 that Charles

Lindbergh was the 67th person, and not

the first, to fly across the Atlantic Ocean

is true because Ripley left out the word

“solo” in his claim. Others had made the

transatlantic flight, beginning in 1919, but

Lindbergh was the first to do it alone.

An advertisement for the Laconia’s trip,

featured in Part 1 below, is worthy of

Ripley’s semantics. This 1922-1923

voyage is often described as the first

world cruise since Magellan set out in

1519. True? Yes, prior to the Laconia,

world cruises included a transcontinental

train trip between the Atlantic and

Pacific Oceans. Students will read an

excerpt promoting this world cruise and

answer questions about the trip and its

ports of call in Part 1.

In the age of imperialism, powerful

nations raced to establish as many

colonies around the world as possible. As

foreign governments, businesses, and

languages took hold, place names

changed often. For example, Port

Arthur, one of the Laconia’s stops in Asia,

was named for William Arthur, a

lieutenant in the British Navy who

surveyed the area in 1860. After

changing hands several times among

China, Japan, and Russia in the early 20th

century, it is now known as the Lüshunkou

District in China.

During his lifetime of travel, Ripley visited

places that are now known by different

names. After World War II, many

countries in Asia and Africa changed

their names when they gained

independence from European countries.

In Part 2, your students will match a list of

historic locations to their modern English

place names.

Ripley often broadcast his “Believe It or

Not!” radio show live from places like the

bottom of the Grand Canyon, the North

Pole, in a shark tank, and while skydiving.

Imagine what Ripley would do in today’s

world of travel blogs, reality TV, and

social media! In Part 3, students will

create a series of modern-day tweets, as

Robert Ripley might have, describing

some of the objects on display at Ripley’s

Believe It or Not! Time Square.

Part 11. Nov. 21, 2011; March2. (a.) 230.77 miles per day, (b.) 9.62 mph, (c.) 8.37 knots3. 1:144. San Francisco5. 19596. Tsing-Tao (Shantung)7. 2 canals: Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean andPacific Ocean, Suez Canal connects the Red Sea andMediterranean Sea.8. Europe9. Asia. Answers will vary but students might note that Asiawas not as well known to Westerners as other continents atthat time. Perhaps it seemed more exotic and more interestingto visit.10. (a.) 85.5%, (b.) The U.S. government recognizes 195sovereign nations. Other groups have different totals, but theyare all less than 200.

Part 2: 1.e, 2.i, 3.b, 4.l, 5.f, 6.j, 7.h, 8.a, 9.k, 10.g, 11.c, 12.d

Part 3: Assessment based on completion. Each of the five

tweets should contain a location, object description, and be 140

characters or less.

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Name Class Date

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Ripley’s Ramble ’Round the World Student Activities

Robert Ripley (1890-1949) was the media

pioneer of his time. He drew wrote

thousands of cartoons syndicated in

newspapers around the world, starred in

numerous radio shows, hosted early short

“talkie” movies, and even had his own

weekly television show. At a time when

world travel was an expensive and

extensive undertaking, Ripley allowed his

fans to see places they never would

otherwise.

Ripley’s ability to draw, his love of travel,

and his endless curiosity provided him a

lifetime of opportunities to see the world.

In 1914, he took his first trip to Europe. Six

years later, he returned to cover the 1920

Olympics as a sports reporter for the New

York Globe. In December of 1922, he set

sail on the Laconia for a world cruise that

brought him to Asia for the first time.

Along the way, he sent in dispatches

from every stop, which were then

published in a syndicated newspaper

series called “Ripley’s Ramble ‘Round

the World.”

Many of Ripley’s “Believe It or Not!”

claims were true due to technicalities or

the specific words he used. For example,

his statement in 1927 that Charles

Lindbergh was the 67th person, and not

the first, to fly across the Atlantic Ocean

is true because Ripley left out the word

“solo” in his claim. Others had made the

transatlantic flight, beginning in 1919, but

Lindbergh was the first to do it alone.

An advertisement for the Laconia’s trip,

featured in Part 1 below, is worthy of

Ripley’s semantics. This 1922-1923

voyage is often described as the first

world cruise since Magellan set out in

1519. True? Yes, prior to the Laconia,

world cruises included a transcontinental

train trip between the Atlantic and

Pacific Ocean. You will read an excerpt

promoting this world cruise and answer

questions about the trip and its ports of

call in Part 1.

In the age of imperialism, powerful

nations raced to establish as many

colonies around the world as possible. As

foreign governments, businesses, and

languages took hold, place names

changed often. For example, Port

Arthur, one of the Laconia’s stops in Asia,

was named for William Arthur, a

lieutenant in the British Navy who

surveyed the area in 1860. After

changing hands several times among

China, Japan, and Russia in the early 20th

century, it is now known as the Lüshunkou

District in China.

During his lifetime of travel, Ripley visited

places that are now known by different

names. After World War II, many

countries in Asia and Africa changed

their names when they gained

independence from European countries.

In Part 2, you will match a list of historic

locations to their modern English place

names.

Ripley often broadcast his “Believe It or

Not!” radio show live from places like the

bottom of the Grand Canyon, the North

Pole, in a shark tank, and while skydiving.

Imagine what Ripley would do in today’s

world of travel blogs, reality TV, and

social media! In Part 3, you will create a

series of modern-day tweets, as Robert

Ripley might have, describing some of

the objects on display at Ripley’s Believe

It or Not! Time Square.

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Name Class Date

Terms to Know: cuisine, excursions, imperialism, knots, semantics, sovereign,

stateroom, syndicated, transatlantic, transcontinental

Part 1

Read the excerpt below promoting the world cruise that brought Ripley to Asia for his first

time. Then, answer the 10 questions that follow.

Cruise Around the World

of the

American Express Travel Department

from New York, November 21st, 1922 – 130 days

via the S.S. Laconia [Cunard Line] oil burner

The Laconia is the largest and finest boat ever to go around the world—the first

to make this cruise since 1914; a most luxurious home in comforts; a perfect club

in atmosphere and companionship. World renowned Cunard Service and

Cuisine.

Cost of the Cruise is little more than it will cost to stay at home. $1500 and

upwards, according to stateroom. Shore excursions included.

American Express World Wide Tour experience and American Express

offices in the chief ports, assures perfect arrangement for the comfort and

interest of passengers ashore.

Long-to-be-remembered shore excursions at every port of call: Havana,

Panama Canal, San Francisco, Hilo, Honolulu, Japan, China, Port Arthur, Tsing-

Tao (Shantung), Formosa, the Philippines, Java, Burma, India, the Suez Canal,

Palestine, Egypt, the Mediterranean and Europe. The Laconia party visits India

and the tropical lands of the Orient in February—the coolest and most delightful

month of the year.

No such world Cruise has ever been offered. Every modern luxury of

travel on sea and land, every opportunity for seeing the wonders of the world.

https://www.studenthandouts.com/1ads/travel6.jpg]

Name Class Date1. When does the trip leave New York? In which month will the cruise end?

2. Over the course of 130 days, the Laconia traveled 30,000 miles. (a.) What was the average number of miles per day the

ship traveled? (b.) What was the average speed the ship traveled in miles per hour? (c.) The sailing speed of a ship is

measured in a unit called “knots.” If one knot equals 1.15 mph, calculate the average speed in knots. Round all your

answers to the nearest hundredth.

3. In today’s money the cost of the cruise, $1500 in 1922, equals about $21,000. How does a dollar today compare to a

dollar in 1922? Write your answer as a ratio.

4. Which US city will the cruise visit before it sets off across the Pacific?

5. In 1922-1923, Hilo and Honolulu were part of the Territory of Hawaii. When did Hawaii officially become a state?

6. One of the ports of call changed names as it passed from Japanese to Chinese control in 1923. Which port of call has two

names?

7. How many canals are mentioned in the advertisement? What are they and which bodies of water does each one

connect?

8. Which port of call in the list is simply the name of continent, with no specific locations included?

9. Which continent has the most individual ports of call listed in the advertisement? Why do you think that continent has

more locations identified?

10. During his lifetime, Robert Ripley claimed to have visited 201 out a possible 235 countries. (a.) What percentage of the

countries did he visit? (b.) How many sovereign nations are in the world today?

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Name Class DatePart 2

Match these locations to their modern English names. You will see remarkable objects from

some of these exotic places during your field trip to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square.

a. Thailandb. Sri Lanka c. Beijing d. Ghana e. Taiwan

f. Irang. Zimbabwe & Zambia

h. Ethiopiai. Jakarta

j. Myanmar

k. Mumbail. Shandong

Part 3

On separate paper, write five tweets as Robert Ripley might have sent to describe five of

the ten objects listed below from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Time Square. Include the

location where it was discovered and limit each tweet to 140 characters.

• Albino giraffe: taken from a national park in Zimbabwe in 2004, 17 feet tall, the thirdrecorded albino giraffe after the first in 1969.

• World’s rarest egg: elephant birds were large flightless birds that once lived on theisland of Madagascar; became extinct in the 17th or 18th century; 183 times largerthan a regular chicken egg.

• Postage stamp mural: artist Alban Watkins pays homage to British Columbia with a30-foot postal stamp mural featuring 70,000 stamps; includes details of Vancouver’searly history and a view of Victoria Harbor.

• Padaung neck rings: neck coils were a symbol of status and wealth for the Padaungwomen of Burma; their necks were elongated by adding a ring year until they totaled25; the weight of the brass coils has resulted in deformed collarbones and ribcages

• Lighthouse man: found in 1923 Robert Ripley; this street guide in Chungking, China,had a hole drilled on the top of his head into which he set a lit candle to give nighttours of the city’s dark neighborhoods.

1. Island of Formosa

2. Indonesian city of Batavia

3. Country of Ceylon

4. Chinese province of Shantung

5. Country of Persia

6. Country of Burma

7. Country of Abyssinia

8. Country of Siam

9. Indian city of Bombay

10. Country of Rhodesia

11. Chinese city of Peking

12. Country of Gold Coast

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Albino Giraffe

World’s Rarest Egg

Postage Stamp Mural

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Name Class Date

• Blue-faced man: Ching Foo ofChina had methemoglobinemia, ablood disorder in which the bodyproduces an abnormal amount ofmethemoglobin -- a form ofhemoglobin; it makes the skinappear blue; also found in families inKentucky.

• 3,197-pound meteorite: found inChina in 1958;believed to have fallento Earth during the Ming Dynasty,on June 11, 1520; contains 92% iron. • English bronze cannon: cannon

salvaged from the Pass ofKilliecrankie in Scotland, whereScottish Highlanders supportingKing James defeated British loyalistssupporting King William of Orange;July 27, 1689.

• Shrunken head collection: Ripleywas fascinated by the shrunkenhuman heads made by JivaroIndians, an indigenous people inSouth America.

• Defeat of the Spanish armadamodel: artist Len Hughes used250,000 matchsticks to recreate thisbattle in which the British defeatedthe Spanish in 1588; all 234 galleonsand 97 other vessels are perfectlyscaled; each galleon took over 16hours to make.

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Ripley’s Ramble ‘Round the World

NATIONAL

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

• Standards for Mathematical Practice: CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1, CCSS.Math.Practice.MP2, CCSS.Math.Practice.MP6

• Grade 6: CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.1, CCSS.Math.Content.6.RP.A.3, CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.2, CCSS.Math.Content.6.NS.B.3

• Grade 7: CCSS.Math.Content.7.RP.A.2, CCSS.Math.Content.7.NS.A.3

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies

• Grades 6-8: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7

• Grade 6: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.7• Grade 7: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.7• Grade 8: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.7

C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards

• By the end of grade 8: D2.Geo.4.6-8., D2.Geo.6.6-8., D2.Geo.7.6-8., D2.Geo.10.6-8., D2.His.1.6-8., D2.His.3.6-8., D2.His.4.6-8., D3.1.6-8.

NEW YORK LEARNING STANDARDS

Mathematics

• Mathematical Practices: 1, 2, 6• Grade 6: 6.RP.1, 6.RP.3, 6.NS.2, 6.NS.3• Grade 7: 7.RP.2, 7.NS.3

English Language Arts & Literacy

• Grade 6: RI.1, RI.4, RI.7• Grade 7: RI.1, RI.4, RI.7• Grade 8: RI.1, RI.4, RI.7• Grades 6-8: RH.1, RH.4, RH.7

Social Studies

• Grade 6: A.1, A.2, C.4, D.1, D.6, 6.1a, 6.1b, 6.1d• Grade 8: A.1, A.2, C.4, 8.3, 8.3c

Believe it or Not, There’s More to Come!

As a companion to your field trip experience to Ripley’s Believe It

or Not! Times Square, a comprehensive Study Guide for Grades

6-8 will soon be available for you to download and use before,

during, and after your school visit. A sample lesson plan,

“Ripley’s Ramble ‘Round the World,” is included in this packet.

The Study Guide will contain additional STEAM-related

classroom lesson plans along with inquiry-based interdisciplinary

activities and project ideas for you to use and share. You will also

find ready-to-copy activity worksheets with detailed instructions

for teachers and students plus answer keys for straight-forward

assessment.

We know how important it is to be able to justify field trips and

document how instructional time is spent outside of your

classroom. To that end, this Ripley’s Study Guide will be

correlated to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

and English Language Arts along with the Next Generation

Science Standards, the C3 Framework for Social Studies State

Standards, and the National Core Arts Standards. For your

planning needs, the New York Learning Standards, the New

Jersey Student Learning Standards, and the Connecticut

Academic Standards will also be included.

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Name Class Date

Ripley’s Riddles New York Style

• What has many stories but none to tell?

• Although I am originally from France, I am now the ideal New Yorker. Even though I am over 100 years old, I have only had work done to my face one time. Who am I?

• My first syllable wears my second; my third might be what my first would acquire if he was out in the sun all day. Put together my one, two, three and this borough of New York is the place for me!

The Search is On in Times Square!Find these twelve words associated with Robert Ripley’s life and work.

ARTIFACTBASEBALL

BIONCARTOONIST

CURIOSITYNEWSPAPER

ODDITORIUMRADIO

RELICTELEVISION

TRAVELUNIQUE

K C Y O M R A X G X U R B L N

N U B N I U D R M K I O Y C O

F Q U C X D I Q T S V T R I I

A V R M P K A R K I I J C L S

T E S E J Z U R O S F T U E I

B Z T T S I N O O T R A C R V

A E U Q I N U I N A I R C R E

S E H G X W R A V W M D I T L

E N Q F J U L E E V S W D V E

B M Z S C D L L H Y Y P T O T

A I W U Q J R X N Z H A S B E

L D O C T N D T X D F X R K V

L B J N D X N E W S P A P E R

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Name Class Date

EXPLORE & LEARN

These questions can be answered as you follow the adventures of Robert Ripley through the galleries at

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square.

During the preparation for your field trip, advise students to read through this list of questions carefully,

perhaps on the bus on the way over. This way, they will know what to look for once they are inside.

Consider assigning categories (“People,” “Art,” etc.) to different teams of students. Upon returning to

school, students can share and compare answers. By working in groups or as a whole class, have them

complete all of the questions. Enjoy the hunt as you explore and learn. It’s unbelievably fun!

PEOPLE

How tall was the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow?

What was the name of Robert Ripley’s charity baseball team?

Of what is the portrait of Frank Sinatra made?

ANIMALS

From where is the rare albino giraffe?

How many legs does the calf have?

What are the two types of mummified Egyptian birds?

How many bathing suits were found inside the shark?

The pre-historic megalodon shark is the same size as what?

SCIENCE & NATURE

Jade is considered a precious stone because it is believed to possess which spiritual powers?

How much does the meteorite weigh?

Of what material is the Buddha made?

How many shrunken heads are on display?

ART

Which presidents are painted on the back of a common house fly?

How many matchsticks were used to make the Spanish Armada display?

The “Our Lady of Liberty” portrait is composed of how many puzzle pieces, from how many puzzles?

Of what is the guitar in the symphony made?

The dress in the glass case is made of what unique material?

HISTORY

What year was the collapse of the Berlin Wall?

The phrase “I wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole” came from which era of witchcraft?

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K C Y O M R A X G X U R B L N

N U B N I U D R M K I O Y C O

F Q U C X D I Q T S V T R I I

A V R M P K A R K I I J C L S

T E S E J Z U R O S F T U E I

B Z T T S I N O O T R A C R V

A E U Q I N U I N A I R C R E

S E H G X W R A V W M D I T L

E N Q F J U L E E V S W D V E

B M Z S C D L L H Y Y P T O T

A I W U Q J R X N Z H A S B E

L D O C T N D T X D F X R K V

L B J N D X N E W S P A P E R

Answer Keys for Fun & GamesRipley’s Riddles New York Style1. The Empire State Building2. The Statue of Liberty3. ManhattanThe Search is On in Times Square!

ARTIFACT 7, 1, SEBASEBALL 1, 6, SBION 1, 10, SECARTOONIST 13, 6, WCURIOSITY 5, 10, NENEWSPAPER 7, 13, EODDITORIUM 14, 10, NWRADIO 8, 5, NWRELIC 14, 6, NTELEVISION 15, 10, NTRAVEL 12, 5, SWUNIQUE 7, 7, W

Explore & Learn

People1. 8’ 11”2. The Believe It or Nots 3. ButterfliesAnimals1. Zimbabwe 2. Six3. Ibis and Falcon4. Two5. A school busScience and Nature 1. To heal and protect 2. 1.6 tons3. One million shredded dollars4. 15Art1. Lincoln, Washington, & Kennedy2. 250,0003. 3,600 pieces from over 30 puzzles4. A turtle shell5. Egg beaters or whisksHistory1. 19892. Medieval

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