Hindenburg before last Flight
Hindenburg dirigible exploded in 1937 at 7:20 PM. Thirty-six of the 97 passengers and crew died. It was approaching its mooring mast at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Children could learn how modern-day airships work at: Airships.
Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister was the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes in 1954. In Oxford, England, about 3,000 spectators watched the young doctor complete the mile run in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. His record lasted only 46 days when John Landy ran the mile in 3 minutes 58 seconds.
The Channel Tunnel, also called the Chunnel, connecting the United Kingdom and France, opened in 1994. It is 31 miles long, 23 of those miles under water. Digging beneath the English Channel began in 1988. Today about 18 million people travel on trains through the Chunnel each year. Children could learn more at a very interesting site: http://www.eurotunnel.com/build/.
Judy Delton (born Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1931; died Saint Paul, Minnesota, December 31, 2001) wrote more than 100 books for children. Her books include the Pee Wee Scouts series, The Goose Who Wrote a Book and Angel in Charge. Children can learn more at: Judy Delton.
Sigmund Freud (born Freiberg, Moravia, 1856; died London, England, September 23, 1939) changed the field of psychiatry. He believed that most behavior was caused by unconscious parts of the brain.
Ted Lewin (born Buffalo, New York, 1935; died July 28, 2021) wrote and/or illustrated at least 200 books for children. He often worked with his wife Betsy. I Was Teenage Professional Wrestler was his autobiography. His illustrations in Peppe the Lamplighter earned him a 1994 Caldecott Honor Award. Children can learn more at: Ted Lewin.
Giulio Maestro (born New York, New York, 1942) has illustrated over 125 books for children. Many of those books were written by his wife Betsy. He has also written some riddle books.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays (born Westfield, Alabama, 1931; died Palo Alto, California, June 18, 2024) was a famous and influential baseball player. An outfielder, he hit 660 homeruns during his career. He is remembered for making a spectacular catch during the 1954 World Series. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Robert E. Peary (born Cresson, Pennsylvania, 1856; died Washington, DC, February 20, 1920) was an explorer. He led eight expeditions to the Arctic. He claimed he found the North Pole on April 6, 1909. Children could learn more at: Peary.
John Penn (born Caroline County, Virginia, 1740; died Williamsburg, North Carolina, September 14, 1788) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented North Carolina. A lawyer, he also signed the Articles of Confederation. Idea: Children could read about a duel he almost fought. They could also learn more at: John Penn.