2023 February 19 » Celebrate and Learn

World Whale Day

Events

Feb 192023

World Whale Day is today. Celebrated on the third Sunday in February, the day was was started by a group in 1980 in Maui, Hawaii. They were concerned about the humpback whale, which is found in the waters off the island. Gregg Kauffman founded the Pacific Whale Foundation because he was concerned about the decline in whale populations. Whales are now protected by international laws. Prior to such laws whales were hunted. Even today bycatch and pollution threaten whale populations. Whales are the largest mammals. Two types of whale exist: baleen whales and toothed whales. Children could learn more at: Whales.

Tin-type Camera Was Patented by Hamilton Smith of Gambier, Ohio, in 1856

Events

Feb 192023

Tin-type camera was patented by Hamilton Smith of Gambier, Ohio, in 1856. Idea: Children could learn how the tin-type was different from other kinds of cameras.

Gramophone, Later Called the Phonograph, Was Patented by Thomas Edison in 1878

Events

Feb 192023

Gramophone

Gramophone, later called the phonograph, was patented by Thomas Edison in 1878. He received patent number 200,521. Older children could learn more about the history of sound recording at: Gramophone.

President Roosevelt Ordered the Internment of about 110,000 Japanese-Americans in 1942

Events

Feb 192023

President Roosevelt ordered the internment of about 110,000 Japanese-Americans in 1942. They were sent to concentration camps in western states. They lost their property, valued at about four hundred million dollars. Children could find out more about the reasons behind Roosevelt’s decision. What was life like in the concentration camps? They could learn more at: Japanese Relocation. Students might also read Farewell to Manzanar by Jeane W. Houston and James D. Houston.

Birthdays

Feb 192023

Nicolaus Copernicus (born Torun, Poland, 1473; died Fromborck, Poland, May 24, 1543) was an astronomer and priest. He caused great upheaval among authorities when he proposed that the sun and not the earth was the center of our planetary arrangement. Children could learn more at: Copernicus.

Jeff Kinney (born Fort Washington, Maryland, 1971) is a cartoonist, game designer, and author of children’s books. He has written the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Children can visit his website at: http://www.wimpykid.com/.

Louis Slobodkin (born Albany, New York, 1903; died Miami Beach, Florida, May 8, 1975) was a sculptor, writer, and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated over 20 books. He and his wife, Florence, collaborated on five more books. In addition, he illustrated books by other authors, including Eleanor Estes and Mabel Leigh Hunt. He received the 1944 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations of Many Moons, written by James Thurber. Children can learn more at: Louis Slobodkin.