Good Questions: Kindergarten, Rulers & Tickling Yourself

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Every Friday, WCCO takes a closer look at some of the Good Questions that came our way that weren't selected for earlier segments. This week, John Lauritsen looks at the origins of kindergarten, rulers and tickling yourself.

Some viewers wanted to know: Why is it called kindergarten?

Many historians credit a German named Friedrich Froebel for inventing kindergarten. Froebel set up a school for children in Blankenberg in 1837.

He referred to the children as plants and the teachers as gardeners. In German, 'kinder' means child and 'garten' means garden.

That's how kindergarten came to be.

CeAnne from Eden Prairie wants to know: Why aren't rulers made to start at zero?

There are a couple theories to this. One is that zero is not a measurement.

"Another reason is because most rulers have about one-eighth of an inch at the end in case it gets damaged or something like that," said Molly Ortner, a kindergarten teacher at Clear Springs in Minnetonka.

That's why a lot of people just start measuring at one and then subtract one from whatever their final measurement is.

Jeff from Stacy wants to know: Why can't you tickle yourself?

University College in London actually studied this.

Researchers found that your cerebellum can predict sensations when your own movement causes them.

So if you try to tickle yourself, your brain's prediction cancels your body's response to the sensation.