Celebrate and Learn

Norway Celebrates Constitution Day

Events

May 172025

Flag of Norway

Norway celebrates Constitution Day. Norway adopted its constitution on 1814. This long and skinny country, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, has an area slightly larger than that of New Mexico. Mountains and fjords alternate with valleys. About 4.7 million people live in this Scandinavian country, and most of the population lives in the warmer, southern region. The country exports petroleum and petroleum products. Oslo is the capital. Children can learn more at: Norway.

New York Stock Exchange Was Created in 1792

Events

May 172025

New York Stock Exchange was created in 1792. Approximately 20 businessmen would meet under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street in New York City and trade stock. If the weather was bad, they met in a coffeehouse.

Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Decision Was Announced in 1954

Events

May 172025

Thurgood Marshall

Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision was announced in 1954. The Supreme Court ruled against segregation in education. “Separate but equal” was not equal. Thurgood Marshall, pictured here, was one of the lawyers representing Brown. Children can learn more at: Brown v. Board of Education.

Birthdays

May 172025

Eloise Greenfield (born Parmele, North Carolina, 1929; died Washington, DC, August 5, 2021) wrote at least 48 books (fiction, biographies, non-fiction, and poetry) for children. Her biography Paul Robeson received the 1976 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. Africa Dream earned Greenfield the 1976 Coretta Scott King Medal. She received the 2018 Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Edward Jenner (born Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England, 1749; died Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England, January 26, 1823) discovered the vaccine for smallpox. In 1980 health experts declared that the world was free from smallpox. Children can learn MUCH more at this very interesting website: Edward Jenner.

Grace Lin (born New Hartford, New York, 1974) has written and/or illustrated at least 25 books for children. Her book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon received a 2010 Newbery Honor Award. Her book Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! received a 2011 Theodor Geisel Award. Her work A Big Mooncake for Little Star received a 2019 Caldecott Honor Award. Children can learn more at her website: Grace Lin.

Gary Paulsen (born Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1939; died Tularosa, New Mexico, October 13, 2021) wrote more than 200 books for young adults. Dogsong earned a 1986 Newbery Honor Award. His book The Winter Room received a 1990 Newbery Honor Award. Perhaps his most notable work was Hatchet. He received the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1997 for his body of work.

International Museum Day

Events

May 182025

International Museum Day reminds us of the importance of museums. This year’s theme is “Museums, Sustainability and Well-being.”

Apollo 10 Was Launched in 1969

Events

May 182025

Crew before the Mission

Apollo 10 was launched in 1969 and carried astronauts Thomas Stafford, John W. Young, and Eugene Cernan. The three traveled toward the moon and brought Snoopy, the lunar module, within nine miles of the moon. They circled the moon over thirty times and came back to earth on May 26, 1969. Children can learn more at: Apollo 10.

Mount St. Helens Erupted in 1980

Events

May 182025

Mount St. Helens

Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. The volcano, located in the state of Washington, discharged debris and steam eleven miles into the air. It had erupted previously in 1857. The eruption, even though expected, killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars in damages. Children can learn more at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens.

Gertrude Belle Elion 1991 – National Inventors Hall of Fame

Events

May 182025

Gertrude Belle Elion became the first woman in 1991 to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 1988 she was one of two people to earn the Nobel Prize in medicine for her work finding anti-leukemia drugs. She received 45 patents before she died in 1999. Children can learn more at: Gertrude Belle Elion.

Amendment Twenty-Seven to the Constitution Was Adopted in 1992

Events

May 182025

Amendment Twenty-Seven to the Constitution was adopted in 1992. It stated that Senators and Representatives can vote for a salary change. However, that change cannot go into effect until an election of representatives has taken place.

Birthdays

May 182025

Debbie Dadey (born Morganfield, Kentucky, 1959) has written or co-written at least 160 books for children. Her books include The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series and Slime Wars. Children can visit her website at: Debbie Dady.

Margot Fonteyn (born Margaret Hookman in Reigate, Surrey, England, 1919; died Panama City, Panama, February 21, 1991) was a ballerina for 45 years. She often performed with Rudolph Nureyev.

Lillian Hoban (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1924; died New York, New York, July 17, 1998) was an author and illustrator, some of which were in collaboration with her husband Russell Hoban. One source states she published at least 326 books in eleven different languages. Her books include the Arthur series and Here Come the Raccoons! Children can visit a website devoted to her at: Lillian Hoban.

Irene Hunt (born Pontiac, Illinois, 1907; died Savoy, Illinois, May 18, 2001) wrote books for children. Her book Across Five Aprils received a 1965 Newbery Honor Award, and Up a Road Slowly earned the 1967 Newbery Medal. Children can learn more at: Irene Hunt.

Gloria D. Miklowitz (born New York, New York, 1927; died Pasadena, California, January 20, 2015) wrote at least 47 books for young adults. Her books include Camouflage and Secrets in the House of Delgado.

Pope Saint John Paul II (born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, 1920; died Vatican, April 2, 2005) was the 264th leader of the Catholic Church. He was elected in 1978, and he was the first Polish Pope. He was canonized on April 27, 2014.

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