New Zealand remembers Waitangi Day. In 1840 the Maori and the Europeans signed the Treaty of Waitangi, permitting Great Britain to develop New Zealand. About the size of the state of Colorado, New Zealand is comprised of mostly mountains with some coastal plains. Slightly over four million people live on the islands. Wellington is the capital. The country exports dairy products, meat, wool, and wood products. The kiwi is native to New Zealand. Children can learn more at: New Zealand.
Amendment Twenty to the Constitution was adopted in 1933. It moved the inauguration day of the President to January 20th at noon. It also changed the first day of a Congressional session to January 3rd. Prior to 1933 the President was inaugurated on March 4th. During colonial times, a period of four months between election and inauguration was reasonable due to travel time and communication limitations. However, as travel and technology improved, four months became much too long to have a lame duck President. Therefore, the inauguration date was moved up to January 20th. Children can read the actual amendment at: Amendment Twenty.
Alan Shepard in 1971 became the first person to play golf on the moon. Commander of Apollo 14, he and his crew left earth on January 31, 1971. They reached the moon on February 5, 1971. He smuggled two golf balls on the Apollo 14 flight and hit both of them with an assembled golf club. He stated that the balls went “miles and miles and miles.” However, the golf balls probably traveled between 200 and 400 yards. The crew returned safely to earth February 9, 1971. Students could learn more about Shepard at: Alan Shepard.
Aaron Burr (born Newark, New Jersey, 1756; died Staten Island, New York, September 14, 1836) was a senator and the third vice president of the United States. He ran against Thomas Jefferson for the presidency in 1800. Each received the same number of electoral votes. According to the Constitution at that time, the House of Representatives decided who was to be president, and Jefferson won. Burr was not renominated in 1804, and he did not win the governorship of New York. Burr blamed Alexander Hamilton for these losses and challenged Hamilton to a duel. Burr killed Hamilton, but Burr’s career was ruined.
Betsy Duffey (born Atlanta, Georgia) writes books for children. Her books include Dog Diaries and How to Be Cool in Third Grade.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan (born Tampico, Illinois, 1911; died Bel Air, California, June 5, 2004) was the fortieth president (1981-1989) of the United States. One of his first jobs was being a radio sports announcer. He became an actor and appeared in over fifty movies. He was elected governor of California, although he had no political experience. He became president in 1980 and created the term “Reaganomics.” Children could visit a website at: Ronald Reagan. Idea: He was the country’s oldest president when he left office. Children could debate whether there should be an age limit to the office.
Babe Ruth
George Herman “Babe” Ruth (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1895; died New York, New York, August 16, 1948) was one of baseball’s greatest players. Nicknamed the “Great Bambino,” he was an outstanding pitcher with a record of 94 games won and 46 games lost. He was a greater batter, hitting 714 homeruns during his career. He also played in the outfield. He played for the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves. Children could learn more at: Babe Ruth. Idea: Children could decide whether or not Babe Ruth was the greatest baseball player of all time.
Flag of Grenada
Grenada celebrates Independence Day. Although it became free of British rule in 1974, it still recognizes King Charles III as its head of state. Carib Indians inhabited the island, located in the Caribbean, in the 1600’s. St. George’s is the capital. The 108,000 inhabitants depend a great deal on tourism. The island is about twice the size of Washington, DC. Nutmeg and mace are leading exports. Idea: Children could learn how nutmeg and mace are grown. Are nutmeg and mace different?
Ballet was performed for the first time in America in 1827. The Bowery Theater in New York City hosted a performance of The Deserter by Madame Francisquy Hutin and her troupe. Idea: Invite a ballet student to visit the class and demonstrate some basic ballet moves.
Stardust Dust Collector with Aerogel
Stardust was launched by NASA in 1999. Scientists sent it into outer space to collect samples from comets. So how did Stardust collect those samples? It contained plates of aerogel, a type of sticky stuff that attracted and kept the comet materials. It traveled three billion miles before returning to earth January 15, 2006, with samples it took from comet Wild 2. Children can have a great time exploring the Stardust NASA site for kids at: Stardust.
Shonto Begay (born Kayenta, Arizona, 1954) is a children’s author and illustrator. He illustrated The Mud Pony, published in 1988.
Eubie Blake (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1883; died Brooklyn, New York, February 12, 1983) was a pianist and composer. He wrote almost 1000 songs, including I’m Just Wild about Harry.
Charles Dickens (born Portsmouth, England, 1812; died Gad’s Hill, England, June 9, 1870) was an English novelist. His works include A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist. He is buried at Westminster Abbey. Children can read his works at: Project Gutenberg. They could learn more about him at: Charles Dickens.
Fred Gipson (born Mason, Texas, 1908; died Mason, Texas, August 14, 1973) wrote books and screenplays. His most famous work is Old Yeller, which received a 1957 Newbery Honor Award.
Sinclair Lewis (born Harry Sinclair Lewis in Sauk Center, Minnesota, 1885; died Rome, Italy, January 10, 1951) was a novelist. His works include Main Street. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930. Young adults can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (born Pepin, Wisconsin, 1867; died Mansfield, Missouri, February 10, 1957) was an author. She wrote nine novels called the “Little House” books. The works are somewhat based on actual events from her life and those of her husband, Almanzo Wilder. Works include Little House in the Big Woods and Farmer Boy. Five of her books were named Newbery Honor Books: On the Banks of Plum Creek (1938), By the Shores of Silver Lake (1940), The Long Winter (1941), Little Town on the Prairie (1942), and These Happy Golden Years (1944).
Natasha Wing (born Milford, Connecticut, 1960) writes books for children. She has written a series of books called The Night Before… She has also written other books, including The Story of Eliza Hamilton. Children can visit her website at: Natasha Wing.
Opera was first performed in America in 1735 in Charleston, South Carolina. Colley Cibber wrote the opera, Flora; or Hob in the Well. Idea: Children could learn about the components of opera.
Boy Scouts of America was started in 1910 by William Boyce in Washington, DC. The foundation was the work of Sir Robert Baden-Powell and the British Boy Scouts. Children can learn more about scouting at: http://www.scouting.org/