Crispus Attucks Day harkens back to the Revolutionary War in 1770. The Boston Massacre occurred between colonists and British soldiers. Crispus Attucks, possibly a fugitive slave, was the first person killed in the fight. Several other men died, and others were wounded. Children can learn more about the Boston Massacre and Crispus Attucks at: America’s Library.
Hula Hoop was patented by Arthur “Spud” Melin, co-founder of Wham-O, in 1963. About 25 million hula hoops were sold in the first four months of production. Hula Hoops are still popular today. Children could check this website for great games/exercises to play with Hula Hoops.
Oreo Cookies
National Oreo Day is today! Oreo cookies went on sale this day in 1912. Today 2,000 Oreos are produced a minute, and more Oreos have been sold than any other type of cookie. Children can learn more about the famous cookie at: Oreo History.
Flag of Ghana
Ghana celebrates Independence Day. It became free from the rule of Great Britain in 1957. According to the CIA World Factbook, Ghana is a bit smaller than the state of Oregon. Located on the southern coast of West Africa, the country surrounds Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world. About 25 million people live in Ghana. Accra is the capital, and farmers grow cocoa, rice, and coffee. Children could learn more at: Ghana.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan discovered Guam in 1521. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, the island became an important stopover for Spanish ships for 200 years. It became an American territory in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War. Children could learn more about Guam at: Guam.
Alamo fell to Mexico in 1836. The Texas mission-turned-fort had been under siege since February 23, 1836. The last of the soldiers died, and General Santa Anna was victorious for a short time. Children might want to read Sherry Garland’s A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence. They could also check an excellent website at: Alamo.
Dred Scott
Dred Scott case decision was delivered by the Supreme Court in 1857. Dred Scott was a slave trying to gain his freedom. Since his owner had moved to states where there was no slavery and had taken Scott with him, Scott felt he should be free. He took his case all the way to the Supreme Court. The court majority ruled against Scott in a way that caused major turmoil in the United States. Some scholars believe the decision was one cause of the Civil War. Children could look at copies of original documents at: Dred Scott.
National Cereal Day is today! Many cereals are high in fiber, and some cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals. About 49% of the US population start their day with a bowl of cereal. Around 2.7 billion boxes of cereal are sold each year. Idea: Children could create a new type of cereal. What is its name?
Husky Sled Dog
Iditarod sled dog race begins today. The race begins on the first Saturday in March and often lasts about two weeks. The sixteen-dog teams race from Anchorage to Nome, a distance of 1,049 miles. Children could view an excellent website at: Iditerod.
Artist’s Conception of Kepler Space Observatory
Kepler Space Telescope was launched from Florida in 2009. Named after the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, the observatory searched for earth-like planets in other parts of the galaxy. Before it was decommissioned on October 30, 2018, it had provided more information than any observatory on earth. The Kepler Space Telescope and other instruments have located at least 5312 new exoplanets. Children can participate in some interactives at: Kepler Space Telescope.