Alfred Nobel
Nobel Prizes will be announced this week.
The Nobel Prize in Medicine will be announced on Monday.
The Nobel Prize in Physics will be announced Tuesday.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be announced Wednesday.
The Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced Thursday.
The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday.
The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on Monday, October 14.
Thomas Stone
Thomas Stone died in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1787. He was born in Charles County, Maryland, sometime in 1743. Representing Maryland, he signed the Declaration of Independence. He also served on the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He did not attend the Constitutional Convention because his wife was very ill. She died in June 1787, and he died four months later. Children could learn more at: Thomas Stone.
Babe Ruth played in the World Series for the Yankees
World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time in 1921. The New York Giants ultimately beat the New York Yankees in a best of nine games series. The games were broadcast through Pittsburgh’s KDKA.
President Harry Truman made the first telecast speech from the White House in 1947. He asked citizens of the United States to eat no meat on Tuesdays, no eggs or chickens on Thursdays, and to eat one slice of bread less per day so that food could be sent to Europe. That continent’s food production had been greatly reduced because of World War II.
Public Broadcasting Service came into being in 1970. Today 354 member stations exist.
Chester Alan Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur (born Fairfield, Vermont, 1830; died New York, New York, November 18, 1886) was the twenty-first president (1881-1885) of the United States. He became president after James A. Garfield was killed. During his presidency, even his own party was not happy with him. He was not renominated in 1884. Idea: Children could find out why Arthur was not renominated. Children can learn more at: Chester A. Arthur.
Carson Ellis (born Vancouver, Canada, 1975) writes and illustrates books for children. She wrote and illustrated Du Iz Tak? The book earned her a 2017 Caldecott Honor Award. She illustrated the Mysterious Benedict Society books.
Goddard and an Early Rocket
Robert Hutchings Goddard (born Worcester, Massachusetts, 1882; died Baltimore, Maryland, August 10, 1945) is known as the “Father of the Space Age.” He was taunted because he thought space travel was a real possibility. He designed and launched a liquid fuel powered rocket in 1926. Idea: Children could find out how today’s rockets are fueled. Older children could see how today’s rockets are fueled at: Aluminum.
Louise Fitzhugh (born Memphis, Tennessee, 1928; died Bridgewater, Connecticut, November 19, 1974) was a children’s author. She wrote, among other works, Harriet the Spy, published in 1964.
Bil Keane (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1922; died Paradise Valley, Arizona, November 8, 2011) was a cartoonist. He created “Family Circus.” Currently his son Jeff carries on the family tradition.
David Shannon (born Washington, DC, 1960) has written and illustrated at least 35 books for children. He received the 1998 Caldecott Medal for No, David! Children can “read” his picture book A Bad Case of Stripes with Sean Astin at: http://www.storylineonline.net/
Gene Zion (born New York, New York, 1913; died New York, New York, December 5, 1975) wrote books for children. He often collaborated with his wife, Margaret Bloy Graham. Their works include Harry the Dirty Dog and Dear Garbage Man. Children can “read” Harry the Dirty Dog with Betty White at: http://www.storylineonline.net/harry-the-dirty-dog/.
National Noodle Day is today! Almost every culture incorporates noodles in its cuisine, and everyone is the better for that. Idea: Children could list cultures and their noodles. Then they could make some simple noodle dishes and share them with friends and family.
National German-American Day is celebrated by Presidential Proclamation since 1987. This day was chosen because in 1683 German immigrants founded the community of Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Award-Winning Books
American Library Association was founded in 1876 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today the nonprofit organization has 62,000 members and a staff of 300. It sponsors a number of awards, including the John Newbery Awards, Randolph Caldecott Awards, Pura Belpré Awards, and Coretta Scott King Awards. Adults can find a list of the award-winning books at: Book Lists.
Ulysses
Ulysses, a space probe sponsored by NASA and the European Space Agency, was launched from Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990. It completed its second trip around the sun on September 29, 1995. Ulysses conducted three series of experiments regarding the sun. It also investigated three comets. Communications with Ulysses stopped on June 30, 2009. Children could learn more at: Ulysses.
51 Pegasi
51 Pegasi was discovered in 1995. It is the first sun-like star to have an exoplanet orbiting it. Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz first announced the discovery, and other scientists have confirmed the presence of the planet, now called Bellerophon. Children can enjoy the GREAT infographic of the star at: 51 Pegasi.
Jason Lewis in 2007 completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the earth. He began his odyssey in July 1994 when he and a friend left London. He pedaled a small boat across oceans, line-skated across North America, bicycled through Australia, and had other experiences. He traveled a total of 46,505 miles.