Young people are losing touch with once-common household objects that the rest of us grew up with, back in the days before the smartphone. But they might still use words and expressions that relate to those quickly fading artifacts.
For example, why do we say dial up, turn on, spin clockwise, and rewind?
Pretend you are speaking to a 6 year old child who has heard all 4 of the expressions above but never seen the 4 objects in the photos below. Your challenge is to explain to this young person which expression goes with which object and why. Specifically, explain the mechanics involved in these 4 expressions.
Good luck!
Answer:
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Answers to give your 6-year-old:
1. This is why we say "spin clockwise": The Mechanical Clock
Well, Youngster, on the face of old mechanical clocks, the hands went sweeping around, always in the same direction, from left to right as they passed the top. This spinning direction became known as "clockwise."
2. This is why we say "dial up": The Rotary Telephone
Once upon a time, people had enormous speaking devices connected by a wire to a wall in your house. A round dial on its face had numbered finger holes that you stuck your finger in and twirled around to call a friend.
3. This is why we say "rewind": The Tape Recorder
Imagine two spinning reels that moved tape from one to the other and kept it from dribbling out all over the floor. If you are confused, so am I. Anyway, to play the tape again from the beginning required winding all the tape back on to the first reel.
4. This is why we say "turn on": The Gas Stove (among other things)
Long ago people had many machines with knobs. You had to turn the knobs to get anything done. One example is a gas stove. To start the burner burning to heat up your porridge, you used your hand to twist the control knob.
Give yourself 25 points for each correct answer. If you scored 100, you are OLD.
For example, why do we say dial up, turn on, spin clockwise, and rewind?
Pretend you are speaking to a 6 year old child who has heard all 4 of the expressions above but never seen the 4 objects in the photos below. Your challenge is to explain to this young person which expression goes with which object and why. Specifically, explain the mechanics involved in these 4 expressions.
Good luck!
Answer:
Scroll down...
Scroll down...
Scroll down...
Answers to give your 6-year-old:
1. This is why we say "spin clockwise": The Mechanical Clock
Well, Youngster, on the face of old mechanical clocks, the hands went sweeping around, always in the same direction, from left to right as they passed the top. This spinning direction became known as "clockwise."
2. This is why we say "dial up": The Rotary Telephone
Once upon a time, people had enormous speaking devices connected by a wire to a wall in your house. A round dial on its face had numbered finger holes that you stuck your finger in and twirled around to call a friend.
3. This is why we say "rewind": The Tape Recorder
Imagine two spinning reels that moved tape from one to the other and kept it from dribbling out all over the floor. If you are confused, so am I. Anyway, to play the tape again from the beginning required winding all the tape back on to the first reel.
4. This is why we say "turn on": The Gas Stove (among other things)
Long ago people had many machines with knobs. You had to turn the knobs to get anything done. One example is a gas stove. To start the burner burning to heat up your porridge, you used your hand to twist the control knob.
Give yourself 25 points for each correct answer. If you scored 100, you are OLD.
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