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.
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.
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.
Constitutional 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.
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.
Barbara Bottner (born New York, New York, 1943) writes books for children. Her books include Bootsie Barker Bites and Raymond and Nelda. Children can visit her website at: Barbara Bottner.
Miles Davis (born Alton, Illinois, 1926; died Santa Monica, California, September 28, 1991) was a jazz trumpeter. He experimented with different kinds of music.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1803; died Boston, Massachusetts, April 27, 1882) was a writer and philosopher. Older children can read some of his work at: Project Gutenberg.
Ann McGovern (born New York, New York, 1930; died New York, New York, May 8, 2015) was a children’s author. She wrote 55 books, including Too Much Noise and If You Lived in Colonial Times. Children can visit a website devoted to her at: Ann McGovern.
Igor Sikorsky (born Kiev, Russia, 1889; died Easton, Connecticut, October 26, 1972) was an engineer. He created the first functioning helicopter in 1939.
Joyce Carol Thomas (born Ponca City, Oklahoma, 1938; died Stanford, California, August 13, 2016) wrote more than 30 books. She received a 1984 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Bright Shadow and another in 1994 for Brown Honey in Broom Wheat Tea. She also earned a 2000 Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Award for You Are My Perfect Baby.
Flag of Georgia
Georgia celebrates Independence Day. The country declared its freedom from Russia on this day in 1918. However, in 1921 the Soviet Union conquered Georgia. On April 9, 1991, it broke away from the Soviet Union. Located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and possessing a Mediterranean climate, Georgia, according to the CIA World Factbook, is about the size of South Carolina. About 4.6 million people live in Georgia. Industries include steel, machines and tools, and timber products. Tbilisi is the capital. Children could learn more at: Georgia.
Last Model T was produced in 1927. Henry Ford and his son Edsel decided to stop making the Model T and move on to the production of the Model A. The last car to be made was number 15,000,000! The car could travel up to 45 miles per hour, and it sold for as little as $260.00. Children could read more at: Model T.
Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy (born Colonie, New York, 1981) are twins who write books for children and young adults. DeVillers’s works include Lynnvisible and How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Best Seller. Roy’s works include the Math All Around series and Yellow Star.
Sheila Greenwald (born New York, New York, 1934) writes and illustrates books for children. Her works include the Rosy series and The Secret Museum. Children could visit her website at: Sheila Greenwald.
Sally Ride
Sally Kristen Ride (born Encino, California, 1951; died La Jolla, California, July 23, 2012) was the first American woman to travel in space. Dr. Ride flew on a six-day Challenger mission that was launched June 24, 1983. She co-wrote five books for children regarding space and science. Children could learn more at: Sally Ride.
Lisbeth Zwerger (born Vienna, Austria, 1954) has illustrated at least 30 children’s books and stories.. She received the 1990 Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lifetime achievements. She illustrated J. K. Rowling’s “The Tales of Beedle the Bard.” She also illustrated the 1999 version of Alice in Wonderland.
Piano was invented in 1796 by James S. McLean. Two types of pianos exist: uprights and grands. Children can learn more at: Piano.