Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase was finalized in 1803. The United States bought more than a million square miles of land from France for about twenty dollars a square mile. Children could find out why France sold the land to the United States. What is that land worth now? Children could find more information at: Louisiana Purchase.
Sacagawea died in 1812 at Fort Manuel on the Missouri River. Her exact birth is unknown; most experts agree on the year 1787. Sacajawea was an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She was a Shoshone Indian who had been captured by enemies. She was sold as a slave to a French-Canadian trapper. She and the trapper joined the expedition. Idea: Many experts believe the expedition would have failed if she had not gone along. Children could investigate and list all that she accomplished by visiting: Sacagawea. They could also read Sacajawea: Crossing the Continent with Lewis and Clark by Emma Carlson Berne.
Montgomery Bus Boyctt
Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott ended in 1956. A Supreme Court decision forced the bus company to end segregation. The boycott had begun December 5, 1955, over a year before. Children can learn more at: Bus Boycott.
Can’t Wait for Summer Beach Days
Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The word solstice means “the sun stands still.” The amount of daylight is shortest and the amount of darkness is the most for the whole year today in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the amount of daylight is the longest, and the amount of darkness is the shortest. Different cultures mark the day in different ways. Children could read about some of those celebrations in The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Caroline McVicker Edwards. They could also visit a very interesting website at: Winter Solstice.
Phileas Fogg won his wager in 1872. The main character of Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days returned to the Reform Club in London under the time limit of 80 days. He won the bet of 20,000 pounds. Could children find out how much 20,000 pounds was in dollars in 1872? Children can read Around the World in Eighty Days at: Project Gutenberg.
First crossword puzzle was created in 1913 by Arthur Wynne and published in the New York World newspaper. He called his puzzle Word-cross, but the name soon changed to Crossword. The puzzle was an immediate success, and he began publishing weekly puzzles. Soon readers were sending in their own crossword puzzles. Children can see the first crossword puzzle and read more about it at: First Crossword Puzzle.
Earthrise by Apollo 8 Astronauts
Apollo 8 was launched in 1968. Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to leave earth’s orbit, orbit the moon, and return to earth safely. One of the main goals was to view the dark side of the moon. Commander Frank Borman, Lunar Module Pilot William Anders, and Command Module Pilot James Lovell orbited around the moon on December 24 and returned to earth on December 27. On Christmas Eve they broadcast live from space and read the first ten verses of Genesis. The television show was the most watched program at that time. Children could learn more at: Apollo 8.
Christmas is three days away! Children enjoy being crafty and being outside. Let’s combine those two interests. Children could make simple centerpieces from bits of pine branches, holly, and holly berries. They can add pinecones, twigs, ribbon, tissue paper flowers, and other goodies. They could read a great book. Christmas Is… by Gail Gibbons.
Lincoln Tunnel opened in 1937. It connects New Jersey with Manhattan and goes under the Hudson River. The tunnel is 1.5 miles long, and over 100,000 cars use it every day. Its original name was the Midtown Vehicular Tunnel, but officials named it after Abraham Lincoln.
Coelacanth, a species of fish scientists thought had been extinct for 65 million years, was found off the shores of Africa in 1938. Children could learn more by reading Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth by Sally M. Walker. They could also learn more at: Coelacanth.