Mysteries of vernacular: Miniature - Jessica Oreck
Let’s Begin…
Miniature’s root may be Latin, but its meaning is rooted in books, where red pigment was used to denote chapter breaks. Jessica Oreck explains how we got from there to the meaning of miniature today: something smaller than others of its class.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Minium, which means red lead, is the naturally occurring form of lead tetroxide, Pb2+2Pb4+O4 also known as red lead.
Willard Wiggan learned to create art so tiny that it can't be seen with the naked eye. His slideshow of figures, as seen through a microscope, can only be described as mind-boggling.
This website is all about miniature things, and it features the hand-crafted work of Lottie Clinedinst. Mini Things specializes in hand-crafted accessories for Department 56 Village displays. train gardens, miniature villages, and dollhouses.
How do we see things too small to be detected by the human eye? What about things inside our own bodies? At TEDYouth 2012, Dee Breger uses a scanning electron microscope to give us a glimpse of images including blood clots, thyroid glands, and lungs with pneumonia.
See all the other Mysteries of Vernacular Lessons here.
Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Video created by TED-Ed
- Lesson Plan created by TED Ed
