Sieur de La Salle Discovered the Mississippi River in 1682

 Events
Apr 092024
 

Mississippi River Basin

Sieur de La Salle, a French explorer, found the Mississippi River in 1682 and claimed it and the waters draining into it for France. The Mississippi River, 2,348 miles long, is the longest river in the United States. It ranges in depth from nine feet to 100 feet, and its drainage basin includes over one million square miles. Idea: Trace a map of the United States. Color the states whose rivers empty into the Mississippi. Add tributaries, such as the Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas Rivers.

Civil War Ended in 1865

 Events
Apr 092024
 

McLean House

Civil War ended in 1865 when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia. Over 600,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, more than all the wars in total the United States has ever fought. Because most of the war had been waged in the South, many of the southern states suffered severe damages. The war, however, ended slavery and reunited all the states. Idea: The Civil War changed ideas regarding battle. Children could research the new machinery and novel battle strategies were used.

First Astronauts (Mercury Seven) Were Named in 1959

 Events
Apr 092024
 

First United States astronauts (Mercury Seven) were appointed in 1959. All seven original astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton) were men, and they were all in the military. Children could investigate present astronaut requirements. Who are some of our present astronauts? How have astronaut requirements changed since the beginning of the program? Children could learn more at: Mercury Seven.