Street Sweepers after the Earthquake
San Francisco suffered a severe earthquake in 1906. The quake and subsequent fires, occurring at 5:13 AM, killed almost 4,000 people and destroyed much of the city. Children can compare San Francisco then and now at: San Francisco.
Babe Ruth
Yankee Stadium opened in 1923. Nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built,” it hosted 74,000 fans. Babe Ruth made the day really special by hitting a three-run homer that won the game. Yankee Stadium closed in 2008, and a new stadium opened nearby.
Easter Bunny by Sandie Obrin
Easter is tomorrow! Today may be the day to dye Easter eggs, make spring placemats, or create signs welcoming the Easter bunny. Children could read The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing.
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord, in 1775, marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. About 700 British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord to destroy military supplies. Approximately 70 Minutemen met the redcoats in Lexington. Records do not indicate clearly who fired the first shot, but eight Minutemen died. Ten more Minutemen were injured. One British soldier was wounded. The British continued on to Concord and then turned back toward Boston. Along the way, patriots shot at the redcoats. British casualties came to 250, and American casualties numbered 90. Children could learn more at: Minute Man National Historical Park.
Boston Marathon Premiered in 1897. It was created to honor the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord. The marathon is the world’s oldest such race. Fifteen men participated that day, Patriots’ Day. Women unofficially began running in the race in 1966 and officially in 1967. In 1975 the Marathon began a wheelchair divison. Today the race attracts about 30,000 participants and 500,000 spectators. The race is still held on Patriots’ Day, but that day is now the third Monday in April.
Ingenuity became the first invention to fly on another planet in 2021. Ingenuity, also called Ginny, is a robotic helicopter that flew above the surface of Mars. It is part of NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission. It, with the robotic Perseverance rover, landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. It is equipped with sensors and two cameras. Ginny was created to send back photos and data regarding Mars. Ginny, as of April 15, 2023, had conducted 50 flights. It performed its last flight on January 18, 2024. It then sustained damaged to its rotor blade.
Easter is today! Children might want to read The Story of the Easter Bunny, written by Katherine Tegen and wonderfully illustrated by Sally Anne Lambert. Children can find some great puzzles and activities at: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/index.html.
Marie Curie
Radium was isolated by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1902. They also isolated another new element, polonium. She, her husband, and a third scientist received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics. She was the first woman to receive any Nobel Prize. She also won the 1911 Nobel Prize in chemistry for her extended work on radium. Radium is a radioactive element that should be handled with great care. Children could read Vicki Cobb’s DK Biography: Marie Curie.
Site of the Colony after the Battle
Ludlow Massacre happened in 1914 in Ludlow, Colorado. Striking miners were attacked by National Guardsmen. Nineteen men, women, and children were either shot to death or died in a fire. Children could read The Ludlow Massacre of 1913-1914 by Rosemary Laughlin. They could also examine some great primary resources at: https://guides.library.csupueblo.edu/ludlow.
Electron microscope was first demonstrated in 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Idea: Children could compare the electron microscope with a traditional microscope.