TedEd: Gerrymandering: How drawing jagged lines can impact an election

A TedEd by Christina Greer

Gerrymandering is a word that comes up often during election cycles. But what exactly is it? The term first appeared in Massachusetts in 1812. Then-governor Elbridge Gerry wanted to supported a bill that would allow redrawing of district lines so that his part, the Democratic-Republicans, would have an advantage. People said that his newly drawn districts looked like a salamander. A newspaper took that and added his surname to get the word gerrymander. The process of dividing up and redrawing districts to give your political party an advantage. There are two types. Packing and cracking a district. Packing is redrawing the lines so that the supporters of the opposition are crammed into just a few districts. Cracking is splitting the supporters into your districts so that they are immersed. And so, Elbridge Gerry’s salamander has completed changed political redistricting.

TedEd: How do virus tests actually work?

A TedEd by Cella Wright

In order to stop a new virus from spreading, two tests are critical. PCR and Immunoassay testing. PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction testing, and it can identify whether a person is currently carrying a disease. First, a sample is taken from a person, and tested to identify genetic material from the virus. However, this material is often very faint. Here, PCR can amplify this by copying the enzymes of DNA. Of only RNA is present in the sample, the PCR first creates cDNA by reverse transcribing. A machine can now use a fluorescent eye to find any existing viruses. Immunoassay testing is antibody testing. It scans the body’s immune system memory to find proteins that help fight the virus. There may be two different types. IgM antibodies are created at the outset of a sickness and indicate recent infection. IgG enzymes, on the other hand, circulate the body for weeks after it is gone, and suggests that one was infection a while back. These are especially important because the blood plasma from people who have antibodies can be used to help current patients fight the virus.

The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze

The Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze

By Rick Riordan

Read in 8th Grade

*Read previous Rick Riordan Greek myth books for context

Book 3 in series

Click here for Book 4!

Book 1

Book 2

Book 5 

Apollo has saved Indianapolis from Emperor Commodus, and extracted a prophecy from the Dark Oracle. Being told to find a "cloven guide" to lead him through the maze to the next Oracle. Meg manages to summon Grover Underwood, satyr, the Lord of the Wild. They travel through the maze to his current shelter, where he is trying to solve the mysterious fires plaguing Southern California. The place is also Meg's former home. Her father came from a line of people trying to recreate the ancient Meliai, supposedly superpowerful dryads created from the blood of the Earth. Because of this Caligula, the next emperor they will face, destroyed his home. He wants to be the new Apollo, and he is trying to capture Apollo.

The Trials of Apollo: The Tyrant's Tomb

The Trials of Apollo: The Tyrant's Tomb

By Rick Riordan

Read in 8th Grade

*Read previous Rick Riordan Greek myth books for context

Book 4 in series

Click here for Book 5! (Coming soon)

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

The fight against the Triumvirate gets ever harder. On Caligula's boat, Jason, Lester's half brother, dies saving him. To honor his death, Lester (formerly Apollo) and his master Meg take him to Camp Jupiter for his burial. But of course, they can't do even this without monsters attacking. Ghouls sent by Tarquin, an ancient Roman emperor allied with the Triumvirate, attack. They narrowly escape thanks to a legionnaire named Lavania, but not before Apollo is scratched. Due to his mortal state, he has just days to live before he becomes an undead himself. Meanwhile, Caligula and Commodus ride in their boats toward the camp, armed with killer machines. The only hope is to summon godly help, apparently possible with "the last breath of the silent god".