Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980. The volcano, located in the state of Washington, discharged debris and steam eleven miles into the air. It had erupted previously in 1857. The eruption, even though expected, killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars in damages. Children can learn more at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens.
Gertrude Belle Elion became the first woman in 1991 to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 1988 she was one of two people to earn the Nobel Prize in medicine for her work finding anti-leukemia drugs. She received 45 patents before she died in 1999. Children can learn more at: Gertrude Belle Elion.
Amendment Twenty-Seven to the Constitution was adopted in 1992. It stated that Senators and Representatives can vote for a salary change. However, that change cannot go into effect until an election of representatives has taken place.
Debbie Dadey (born Morganfield, Kentucky, 1959) has written or co-written at least 160 books for children. Her books include The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series and Slime Wars. Children can visit her website at: Debbie Dady.
Margot Fonteyn (born Margaret Hookman in Reigate, Surrey, England, 1919; died Panama City, Panama, February 21, 1991) was a ballerina for 45 years. She often performed with Rudolph Nureyev.
Lillian Hoban (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1924; died New York, New York, July 17, 1998) was an author and illustrator, some of which were in collaboration with her husband Russell Hoban. One source states she published at least 326 books in eleven different languages. Her books include the Arthur series and Here Come the Raccoons! Children can visit a website devoted to her at: Lillian Hoban.
Irene Hunt (born Pontiac, Illinois, 1907; died Savoy, Illinois, May 18, 2001) wrote books for children. Her book Across Five Aprils received a 1965 Newbery Honor Award, and Up a Road Slowly earned the 1967 Newbery Medal. Children can learn more at: Irene Hunt.
Gloria D. Miklowitz (born New York, New York, 1927; died Pasadena, California, January 20, 2015) wrote at least 47 books for young adults. Her books include Camouflage and Secrets in the House of Delgado.
Pope Saint John Paul II (born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, 1920; died Vatican, April 2, 2005) was the 264th leader of the Catholic Church. He was elected in 1978, and he was the first Polish Pope. He was canonized on April 27, 2014.
Prince Arthur
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon and Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, were married by proxy in 1499. He was twelve years old, and she was thirteen years old. He was supposed to become King of England when his father died. However, Arthur died first at the age of fifteen, and his brother, Henry VIII, eventually took the throne. Henry married his brother’s widow, Catherine. She became the first of his six wives. How history can change as the result of a death!
Ringling Brothers Circus performed for the first time in 1884 in their home town of Baraboo, Wisconsin. They then began to perform in the 
Midwest. After they acquired their first elephant in 1888, business rapidly expanded. More expansion was possible after they used the train system to move from place to place. Ringling Brothers held its final performance on May 21, 2017. Children can learn more at: http://www.ringling.com/.
Simplon Tunnel from Iselle, Italy, to Brig, Switzerland, opened in 1906. Construction began in 1898. It was the longest railway tunnel until 1988 when Seikan Tunnel opened, connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Idea: Children could locate Italy and Switzerland on a map.
Arthur Dorros (born Washington, DC, 1950) writes and illustrates books for children. He has written at least 26 books, including Abuela and Ten Go Tango. His Papá and Me received a 2009 Pura Belpré Honor Award. Children can visit his website at: Arthur Dorros.
Tom Feelings (born Brooklyn, New York, 1933; died Mexico, August 25, 2003) wrote and illustrated books for children. Moja Means One: Swahili Counting Book received a 1972 Caldecott Honor Award, and Jambo Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book earned a 1975 Caldecott Honor Award. Something on My Mind received a 1979 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration. His book Soul Looks Back in Wonder received a 1994 Jane Addams Honor Award and a 1994 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. The Middle Passage, perhaps his most known book, earned a 1996 Special Commendation from the Jane Addams Award Committee. Children can learn more at: Tom Feelings.
Lorraine Hansberry (born Chicago, Illinois, 1930; died New York, New York, January 12, 1965) was a playwright. One of her most famous works is A Raisin in the Sun.
Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, 1925; assassinated in New York, New York, February 21, 1965) was a civil rights activist. Idea: Children could locate more information on Malcolm X. They could predict what might have happened if he had not been killed.
Still Life with Peaches by Sarah Peale
Sarah Miriam Peale (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1885) painted portraits and still lifes. She was a member of the famous Peale family, daughter of James and niece of Charles Willson. Many experts recognize her as the first American woman to be a successful professional artist. Children could see some of her works at: Sarah Miriam Peale. Idea: Children could make a family tree of the Peales. Did any offspring of the next generation become artists?
Elise Primavera (born West Long Branch, New Jersey, 1954) illustrates and writes books for children. She has written and illustrated at least twelve books, include the Fred and Anthony series and Auntie Claus. She has illustrated at least twenty books written by other others, including Jane Yolen and Diane Stanley. Children can learn more at her website: Elise Primavera.
Francis R. Scobee (born Cle Elum, West Virginia, 1939; died in Challenger disintegration, January 28, 1986) was the commander of the Challenger. Children could learn more at: Francis R. Scobee.
Sue, the skeleton of a T Rex
Dinosaur Day is today! Celebrated on the third Tuesday in May and on June 1, the day can be filled with all things dinosaurs: facts about dinosaurs, songs about dinosaurs, posters about dinosaurs. Children could make plaster of Paris dinosaur eggs or footprints. Foodies could make dinosaur-shaped cookies. Children could learn more at: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric.
Flag of Cameroon
Cameroon celebrates Republic Day. Declared a republic in 1972, Cameroon, according to the CIA World Factbook, is about the size of California. Its climate varies from tropical in the south to semiarid in the north. About 20.5 million people live in this African country, with most of the population located in the south. Approximately 70 percent of the population are farmers. Yaoundé is the capital. Kids can discover some great facts about Cameroon at: Cameroon.