Williamsburg, Virginia, began restoration processes in 1926. Colonial Williamsburg, along with Jamestown and Yorktown, form the Historic Triangle. About four million people visit the region each year. Colonial Williamsburg has a great website for children at: Williamsburg.
Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope discovered first example of atmosphere around an exoplanet in 2001. Hubble spotted a hydrogen atmosphere around the exoplanet with the unofficial name of Osiris. The exoplanet’s official name is HD 209458b, and it is a “hot Jupiter” body, because its atmosphere temperature is 2150 degrees Fahrenheit. Located in the constellation Pegasus, it is 150 light years away from us. It is 220 times the mass of the earth. Children could learn more at: Osiris.
Anders Celsius (born Uppsala, Sweden, 1701; died Uppsala, Sweden, April 25, 1744) was an astronomer. However, he is most famous for his Celsius temperature scale. In the Celsius (centigrade) Scale, water freezes at zero degres, and water boils at one hundred degrees. Children could compare and contrast the Fahrenheit Scale with the Celsius Scale. They could also research where these scales are used.
Kevin Henkes (born Racine, Wisconsin, 1960) is a children’s author and illustrator. One of his books is Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. His Circle Dogs received the 1999 Charlotte Zolotow Award: Highly Commended. Henkes received a 2004 Caldecott Honor Award for Owen. Kitten’s First Full Moon was awarded the 2005 Caldecott Medal, and Olive’s Ocean received a 2004 Newbery Honor Award. He earned a 2014 Newbery Honor Award for The Year of Billy Miller. He received a 2016 Caldecott Honor Award for Waiting. Notice that Henkes has received both Caldecott and Newbery Awards – what an accomplishment! His amazing website is absolutely loaded with activities: Kevin Henkes.
Robert R. Livingston (born New York, New York, 1746; died Clermont, New York, February 26, 1813) was a patriot, a member of the Continental Congress, and a diplomat. Representing New York, he was one of the Committee of Five, the representatives who drafted the Declaration of Independence. A fervent believer in independence, he was recalled to New York and did not sign the Declaration. He delivered the presidential oath to George Washington at the inauguration in 1789. He was Minister to France from 1801 to 1804 and therefore he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. Children could learn more at: Robert R. Livingston.
Katherine Milhous (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1894; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1977) was a writer and an illustrator. She wrote and/or illustrated over fifteen books. One of her books, The Egg Tree, received the 1951 Caldecott Medal.
Bill Nye (born Washington, DC, 1955) is an educator, writer, scientist, and TV personality. He hosted “Bill Nye the Science Guy” on television from 1993 to 1998. He continues to be active in the combined fields of science and education. Children could spend days at his amazing website: Bill Nye.
Mars Surface
Red Planet Day is today! Mars, the red planet, is honored today because Mariner 4 was launched on November 28, 1964. It reached Mars on July 14, 1965, sending back to NASA 22 photos of the planet. Mars is a cold desert planet, the fourth from the sun. It is red because a great deal of iron is in the soil. It has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. Children can learn more at: Mars.
Flag of Albania
Albania celebrates Liberation Day. The Ottoman Empire gave up control of Albania in 1912. Located in southeastern Europe, the country is a bit smaller than the state of Maryland (according to the CIA World Factbook). Almost three million people live in this mountainous and hilly country. Tirana is the capital. Albania’s major industries are food processing and textiles.
Mauritania celebrates Independence Day. It gained its freedom from France in 1960. The country, located in northwestern Africa, is larger than the state of Texas. Over three million people live in Mauritania, and the capital is Nouakchott. Located in the Sahara Desert, the country derives most of its income from livestock, iron ore, and gypsum.
Flag of Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste celebrates Independence Day. The day marks the 1975 end of Portuguese rule. Located in Southeast Asia, the islands experience tropical weather with rainy and dry seasons. The area of the islands is about half the area of Maryland. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, and gold. About 1.41 million people live in Timor-Leste, and the capital is Dili.
Duryea and His Motorized Wagon
First automobile race in the United States took place in 1895. This is an interesting story. Cars had been invented only two year earlier. The Chicago Times-Herald wanted to promote cars and boost newspaper circulation, so the newspaper sponsored the race. Approximately 83 cars were entered, but only six cars participated in the 54-mile race from Chicago to Evanston and back. The cars and drivers had to battle cold weather, snow, and local laws to finish. The winner, Charles Duryea in his motorized wagon, averaged seven miles per hour. He won $5000 (over $100,000 in today’s money). Children could learn more at: First Automobile Race.
Lady Astor became the first woman to be elected to the British Parliament. Born in the United States, Lady Astor was elected in 1919. She served until 1945. Children could find out if British Parliament elections differ from American elections by watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs-9B3FRXCA.
Stephanie Calmenson (born Brooklyn, New York, 1952) has written at least 35 books for children. Her works include The Principal’s New Clothes and Dinner at the Panda Palace. Children can learn more at: Stephanie Calmenson.
Ed Young (born Tientsin, China, 1931; died Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, September 29, 2023) was a children’s author and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated 17 books and illustrated more than 60 books written by other authors. He wrote among other works Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding-Hood Story from China (1990 Caldecott Medal). His Emperor and the Kite received a 1968 Caldecott Honor Award. His Seven Blind Mice earned a 1992 Caldecott Honor Award. In 1992 and again in 2000 he was the United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. Children can visit an interesting In Memoriam website: Ed Young.
Tomi Ungerer (born Strasbourg, France, 1931; died Cork, Ireland, February 9, 2019) published over 140 children’s books. His books have been translated into many different languages. He illustrated Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley in 1964. Children can visit Ungerer’s website at: Tomi Ungerer.