Events » Celebrate and Learn

Committee of Five – 1776

Events

Jun 112025

Committee of Five

Continental Congress in 1776 organized the Committee of Five to write the Declaration of Independence. The committee was comprised of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Robert Livingston. The group met and decided that Thomas Jefferson would write the first draft. He worked on the document over the next few days, and then the group edited his work. The committee presented their work to the full Continental Congress on June 28, 1776. Children could view a bas relief of the five at: Committee of Five.

Comstock Lode – Nevada – 1859

Events

Jun 112025

Comstock Lode was discovered in Nevada in 1859. This time the metal was silver, and a “silver rush” took place similar to the gold rush ten years earlier. By 1882 the mines had produced $397,000,000 worth of silver. However, by 1898 the mines were pretty much played out.

Mount Pinatubo Erupted in 1991 in the Philippines

Events

Jun 112025

Mount Pinatubo

Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991 in the Philippines. The volcano, dormant for some time, disgorged ash and gas 60 miles into the air. Sulfuric acid droplets formed a layer in the earth’s atmosphere. It actually lowered the earth’s temperature by about one degree for several years. Children could learn about volcanoes in general at: Volcanoes.

Samantha Cristoforetti in 2015 Set a New Record for the Longest Space Flight for a Woman (199 days 16 hours)

Events

Jun 112025

Samantha Cristoforetti in 2015 set a new record for the longest space flight for a woman (199 days 16 hours). On November 23, 2014, she and two other astronauts were launched from Kazakhstan and reached the International Space Station. The Italian astronaut was to return to earth in May 2015, but setbacks occurred in the rockets meant to bring them back. Interesting tidbit: she became the first person to brew an espresso coffee in space. Another interesting tidbit: American astronaut Peggy Whitson broke Cristoforetti’s record in April 2017.

Philippines Celebrate Independence Day

Events

Jun 122025

Flag of Philippines

Philippines celebrate Independence Day. The country received its independence from Spain in 1898. An archipelago between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea, the country’s combined area is about the size of Arizona. The islands are mostly mountainous, and the country experiences a tropical climate with monsoon seasons. Over 105 million people live in the country, and it exports clothing, electronic products, and fruits. Manila is the capital. Children can learn more at: Philippines.

Russia Celebrates Russia Day

Events

Jun 122025

Flag of Russia

Russia celebrates Russia Day. According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia is about 1.8 times the size of the United States. About 142 million Russians live there, mostly in southern locations. Lake Baikal, located in Russia, is the deepest lake in the world and retains about 20% of all our fresh water. Moscow is the capital.

Big Bend National Park Was Established in 1935

Events

Jun 122025

Anna’s Hummingbird in Big Bend

Big Bend National Park was established in 1935. The Texas park, encompassing over 800,000 acres, is located in the northern portion of the Chihuahuan Desert. Temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. However, temperatures can be extremely low in winter. Children can visit a website at: http://www.nps.gov/bibe.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum – 1939

Events

Jun 122025

Babe Ruth

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1939 in Cooperstown, New York. The first players to be honored included Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. Children can learn more at: http://baseballhall.org/.

Gossamer Albatross – 1979

Events

Jun 122025

Gossamer Albatross

Bryan Allen became the first person to pedal an aircraft across the English Channel. He pedaled the Gossamer Albatross from Folkestone, England, to Cape Gris-Nez, France, in 1979. The trip took almost three hours. His average altitude was only five feet! The Gossamer Albatross is now housed within the Smithsonian Museums. Children could learn more at: Gossamer Albatross.

Marquis de Lafayette Arrived in Colonies in 1777

Events

Jun 132025

Marquis de Lafayette landed near Charleston, South Carolina, in 1777 to help train patriot forces. Nineteen years old, he became a major-general in the American army without pay. He worked closely with American soldiers, and he also helped America’s cause among the French. After the American Revolution he returned to France to help his own country establish a democracy. Children can learn more from the Liberty’s Kids series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCFnDuouqxM.

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