celebrateandlearn

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Oct 202026
 

James Chadwick (born Bollington, United Kingdom, 1891; died Cambridge, United Kingdom, July 24, 1974) discovered the neutron in 1932. He was awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize in Physics.

John Dewey (born Burlington, Vermont, 1859; died New York, New York, June 2, 1952) was an educator and a philosopher.

John R. Erickson (born Midland, Texas, 1942) is a cowboy and an author. He has written about 70 books, and he is best-known for his Hank the Cowdog series. Children can visit his very interesting website: Hank the Dog.

Nikki Grimes (born New York, New York, 1950) has written at least 50 books for children and young adults. She received a 1999 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Jazmin’s Notebook and another Coretta Scott King Honor Award in 2003 for Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman. Her book Bronx Masquerade received the 2003 Coretta Scott King Medal. Children can visit her website at: Nikki Grimes.

Crockett Johnson

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Crockett Johnson (born David Liesk in New York, New York, 1906; died Norwalk, Connecticut, July 11, 1975) was a children’s author and illustrator. His works include the Barnaby series and  Harold and the Purple Crayon. Older children (and adults) could enjoy his many fascinating paintings about interesting math concepts at: Crockett Johnson.

Mickey Mantle (born Spavinaw, Oklahoma, 1931; died Dallas, Texas, August 13, 1995) was a baseball player. From 1951 through 1968, he played for the New York Yankees. He hit 536 homeruns in regular play. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. Children could learn more at: Mickey Mantle.

Christopher Wren (born East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England, 1632; died London, England, February 25, 1723) was an architect, astronomer and mathematician. He designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. According to his son, Wren created over 50 inventions and theories.

Ferdinand Magellan and his Ships Entered the Strait of Magellan in 1520

 Events
Oct 212026
 
Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan and his ships entered the Strait of Magellan in 1520. The strait offers challenges to navigators due to narrow channels, high winds, and strong currents. He had begun his voyage that would take his ship around the world on September 20, 1519. He left with five ships and around 265 men. He died before the voyage was over, but the ship Vittoria and about eighteen men did complete the journey on September 6, 1522. Children could read Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? by S. A. Kramer.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Oct 212026
 

Janet Ahlberg (born England, 1944; died England, November 13, 1994) illustrated books for children. She worked with her husband, Allen Ahlberg. He wrote the books, and she illustrated them. She received the Kate Greenaway Medal twice: in 1979 for Each Peach Plum Pear, and in 1992 for The Jolly Christmas Postman.

Ann Cameron (born Rice Lake, Wisconsin, 1943) writes books for children. Her works include the Julian series and Spunky Tells All. Children can visit her website at: Ann Cameron.

Eugene B. Ely (born Williamsburg, Iowa, 1886; died Macon, Georgia, October 19, 1911) became, on January 18, 1911, the first pilot to land a plane on a warship and take off from a warship. Unfortunately he died in a plane crash just before his 25th birthday. Children can learn more and view some fascinating photos at: Eugene B. Ely

Caroline Carmichael McIntosh Fillmore (born Morristown, New Jersey, 1813; died New York, New York, August 11, 1881) was the second wife of Millard Fillmore, the thirteenth President of the United States. However, she was not married to Fillmore while he was president.

Ursula K. Le Guin (born Berkeley, California, 1929; died Portland, Oregon, January 22, 2018) wrote fantasy books for young adults. She earned a 1972 Newbery Honor Award for The Tombs of Atuan, and she received the 2004 Margaret A. Edwards Award for her body of works. Young adults can visit a website dedicated to her at: Ursula K. Le Guin.

William A. Mitchell (born Raymond, Minnesota, 1911; died Stockton, California, July 26, 2004) received at least 70 patents while he worked for General Foods. He created instant Jell-O, Cool-Whip, Tang, powdered egg whites, and Pop Rocks.

Alfred Nobel

Alfred Bernhard Nobel (born Stockholm, Sweden, 1833; died San Remo, Italy, December 10, 1896) was a chemist. He invented dynamite and became wealthy. However, the invention of dynamite came with costs, including human lives. Nobel left his estate, about nine million dollars, to the Nobel Fund. The interest from the fund would reward individuals in six areas: physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economics, and peace. The Nobel Prize is the most prestigious award in the world. Older children can read a biography at: Alfred Nobel.

National Nut Day

 Events
Oct 222026
 

Pecans

National Nut Day is today! Today celebrates the many tree nuts and other plant nuts that contribute to our health and to our economy. Idea: Children could list all the nuts they can think of and then learn how we use some of the nuts.

Parachute Jump Was Made for the First Time in 1797

 Events
Oct 222026
 
parachute

First Parachute

Parachute jump was made for the first time in 1797. André-Jacques Garnerin dropped from a hot air balloon 3,200 feet above the city of Paris. His parachute resembled an umbrella. On the ascent, the parachute was closed. At the designated height, he cut the balloon away, opened the parachute, and landed with the gondola.

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