Flag of Lebanon
Lebanon celebrates Independence Day. The country was under French control from the end of World War I until 1943. Lebanon is about three-fourths the size of Connecticut. Over four million people live in the country, and about half of population live in the capital, Beirut. Its resources include limestone, salt, and iron ore. Lebanon is a “water-surplus state in a water-deficit region.”
My Friend’s Dog
Humane Society of United States was founded in 1954. The goal of the organization is to protect animals. Older children could learn more at: Humane Society.
SOS became the international distress signal in 1906. SOS is • • • ▬ ▬ ▬ • • • in the International Alphabet. Children could learn a bit about Morse code. They could practice sending SOS in Morse code.
China Clipper, a “flying boat,” left San Francisco, California, and arrived in Manila about sixty hours later. The route it took included stops at Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam. This 1935 flight started the first trans-Pacific mail delivery system. An interesting fact is that the plane’s navigator was Fred Noonan. He was Amelia Earhart’s navigator when they both disappeared somewhere in the Pacific in 1937.
Sieur de La Salle (born Rouen, France, 1643; died in Texas, March 19, 1687) was an explorer. He traveled down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed all the lands that emptied into the Mississippi River for France. Children could view an excellent video at: Sieur de La Salle.
Abraham Baldwin (born North Guilford, Connecticut, 1754; died Washington, DC, March 4, 1807) represented Georgia at the Constitutional Convention. He was a chaplain during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he became an attorney and moved to Georgia. He decided to be a politician, and during the Constitutional Convention he kept the discussion going regarding Congress. He served in the House of Representatives for ten years and the Senate for eight years when he died during his second term. Children can learn more at: Abraham Baldwin.
Guion S. Bluford, Jr. (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1942) is the first African American astronaut to travel in space. He was a mission specialist on four space shuttle missions: STS-8. STS-61-A, STS-39, and STS-53. Children could visit a website at: Guion Bluford.
George Eliot (born Mary Ann Evans in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, England, 1819; died Chelsea, England, December 22, 1880) was a poet, journalist, and novelist. Two of her seven novels are Silas Marner and Middlemarch. Older children can read many of her works at: Project Gutenberg.
Jerrie Mock (born Newark Ohio, 1925; died Quincy, Florida, September 30, 2014) was an aviator, most known as the first woman to fly solo around the world. She took off from Columbus, Ohio, on March 19, 1964. Over 29 days later, she returned to Columbus on April 17, 1964. She also accomplished a number of other aviation records. Children could learn more at: Jerrie Mock. They could also read The Jerrie Mock Story: The First Woman to Fly Solo around the World by Nancy Roe Pimm.
Wiley Post (born Grand Plain, Texas, 1898; died near Port Barrow, Alaska, August 15, 1935) was an early aviator and stunt parachutist. The self-taught pilot flew the Winnie Mae. He co-authored, along with his navigator Harold Gatty, Around the World in Eight Days. He and Will Rogers were traveling from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Point Barrow, Alaska, when their plane crashed.
Thanksgiving is only three days away! Children could contribute to the celebration by making a special tablecloth. Give children a paper tablecloth and some festive markers. Place scrap paper under the tablecloth to protect underlying surfaces. Children could draw Thanksgiving foods, symbols, or family likenesses. They could also write messages about giving thanks. Children could read A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting or learn more from the Plimoth Plantation website at: Thanksgiving.
National Eat a Cranberry Day is today! Traditionally served at Thanksgiving, cranberries are packed with antioxidants and nutrients. The berries release those nutrients best when they are raw, but they are definitely tart! Children could learn about the cranberry bounce test.
Fibonacci Day is today! The mathematical Fibonacci Sequence is a pattern of numbers where the last two numbers are added to make the next number. So.. 1 + 1 = 2; 1 + 2 = 3; 2 + 3 = 5; 3+ 5 = 8; 5 + 8 = 13; 8 + 13 = 21; 13 + 21 = 34 and so on and on…
So how is today Fibonacci Day? Today is 11/23, the start of the Fibonacci Sequence.
What do we do with the Fibonacci Sequence? Many scientists have found examples of the series in nature, such as the arrangement of petals within a flower. Children could view a great TED talk about Fibonacci Numbers at: Fibonacci Numbers. Kids also have fun just extending the pattern to very large numbers. So…you still want more information? The sequence is named after Fibonacci (real name Leonardo Pisano Bigollo), a famous Italian mathematician who lived from around 1170 to 1250. He did not invent the series, but he did broadcast it via his books. He is also famous for spreading the Hindu-Arabic math system, the system we use, throughout Europe.
Pencil Sharpener Patent
Pencil sharpener was patented by John Lee Love in 1897. The African American inventor also patented an improved plasterer’s hawk that is still used today. Children can view his pencil sharpener patent at: Pencil Sharpener Patent.
Jenny Coupler Patent
Jenny Coupler was patented by Andrew Jackson Beard in 1899. The African American inventor knew how dangerous it was to couple railroad cars together because he had lost a leg in a railroad car coupling accident. His invention allowed cars to join together by bumping into one another and thus saving many human hands and feet. He sold the rights to his patent for $50,000. Children can examine his patent at: Jenny Coupler Patent.