A strange little side quest
A small trivia drop for Kids Tangram: The first crossword puzzle book appeared in 1924 in a cautious initial printing of 3,600 copies, complete with a free pencil. There is another connection worth keeping in the same mental pocket: The Oregon Trail began in 1971 when three student teachers created a computer simulation to help Minnesota schoolchildren learn American history. It is a good reminder that simple game mechanics can carry a surprising amount of history.