Molly Pitcher
Lithograph
Mary Hays in 1778 carried pitchers of water to American soldiers during the Battle of Monmouth. When her husband, an artilleryman, could no longer load the cannon, Mary took over and swabbed and loaded the cannons. She later became known as Molly Pitcher. Children could learn more at: Molly Pitcher.
Archduke Ferdinand of Austria
Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Bosnia in 1914. This event ignited the flames that would eventually become World War I.
Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, concluding World War I. Idea: Children could gather statistics on the war. They could also learn how the war changed military tactics. Children could learn more at: World War I.
Early Bird satellite (Intelsat I) in 1965 made telephone calls from the United States to Europe more practical. It also helped television transmissions. Expected to last about eighteen months, it was active for four years four months. It was reactivated briefly in 1990 to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and it remains in orbit. Idea: Children could find out how calls were made before the satellite and how the satellite worked. They could also learn more at: Early Bird.
Esther Forbes (born Westborough, Massachusetts, 1891; died Worcester, Massachusetts, August 12, 1967) wrote books for both children and adults. She won the 1943 Pulitzer for Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. In 1944 she won the Newbery Award for Johnny Tremain, illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward. Children can learn more at: Esther Forbes.
Bette Greene (born Parkin, Arkansas, 1934; died Lakewood Ranch, Florida, October 2, 2020) was a children’s author. She wrote Summer of My German Soldier, published in 1973. Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe received a 1975 Newbery Honor Award.
Dennis Haseley (born Cleveland, Ohio, 1950) writes books for children and young adults. His works include The Sky Writer and Shadows.
Maria Goeppert Mayer (born Kattowitz, Germany, 1906; died San Diego, California, February 20, 1972) was part of the Manhattan Project team. She experimented with the separation of uranium isotopes. She became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in physics when she shared it with J. Hans Daniel Jensen and Eugene Wigner in 1963. Children could learn more at: Maria Goeppert Mayer.
Self-Portrait
Peter Paul Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens (born Siegen, Westphalia, 1577; died Antwerp, Belgium, May 30, 1640) was an artist and a diplomat. By age 21 he had earned the status of master painter. He was also prolific in several languages. He became so busy that his shop was similar to a production line. He made the original sketches. His apprentices filled in the work. He came along and completed the details. Children could view some of his works at: Rubens. Idea: Students could look at some of his works. They could try his assembly line approach.