May 252024
 

Flag of Argentina

Argentina celebrates Revolution Day. It became free of Spanish rule in 1810. Spaniards explored the area around 1515. Argentina is about 30 percent the size of the United States. Known for its vast Pampas, the country is famous for its large cattle herds. About 42.6 million people live in Argentina, and Buenos Aires is the capital. Children could learn more about Argentina at: Argentina.

May 252024
 

Flag of Jordan

Jordan celebrates Independence Day. This Middle Eastern country became free of a League of Nations mandate by British occupation in 1946 and adopted a monarchy. According to the CIA World Factbook, Jordan is a bit smaller than Indiana. Mostly a desert country, Jordan needs water and oil. It exports clothing. About 6.4 million people live in Jordan. Amman is the capital. Children can learn more at: Jordan.

May 252024
 

National Tap Dance Day is held on the birthday of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1878. He started his dancing career in vaudeville. He opened on Broadway in 1927. Robinson appeared in several movies with Shirley Temple, including The Littlest Rebel and The Little Colonel. He died in New York, New York, on November 25, 1949.

May 252024
 

flagConstitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. While the delegates came with ideas of revising the Articles of Confederation, they realized they had to create a new type of government. The Constitutional Convention concluded on September 17, 1787. Idea: Children could read Jean Fritz’s Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution.

May 252024
 

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch was dedicated in 1968. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the arch is also called the Gateway to the West or the Saint Louis Arch. It honors our country’s westward expansion and the courage of American settlers. One of the reasons Saint Louis was chosen was because the Corps of Discovery began and ended its journey here. At 630 feet tall, the monument is the world’s tallest arch. The idea of the arch began around 1933. Building the steel-clad arch started on February 12, 1963 and was finished on October 28, 1965. It opened to the public on June 10, 1967. The area became the Gateway Arch National Park on February 22, 2018. Children can learn more at: Gateway Arch.

May 252024
 

Skylab 2

Skylab 2 was launched in 1973. This first manned mission to Skylab circled the earth for 28 days while astronauts Pete Conrad, Joseph Kerwin, and Paul Weitz made repairs to Skylab and conducted 392 hours of experiments. At that time, the crew held the record for longest time in space. They successfully returned to earth on July 22, 1973. Children could learn more at: Skylab 2.

May 252024
 

Artist’s Conception of Phoenix on Surface of Mars

Phoenix landed on Mars in 2008. It was launched August 4, 2007. The spacecraft landed on a polar region of Mars and conducted tests on water and surface chemistry until November 2, 2008. Then the Martian winter set in, and the fragile equipment could no longer send data.  Children could learn more at: Phoenix.