Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky’s ballet, opened in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1895. Idea: Children could listen to a portion of the music and perhaps transfer what they hear to art. Children could read Swan Lake, written by Mark Helprin and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg.
Boston Molasses Disaster
Boston Molasses Disaster occurred in 1919. No, this is not a hoax; this was a terrible disaster. On this day in 1919 a huge tank holding about 2,300,000 gallons of molasses ruptured, sending a tsunami of molasses into the streets of the North End part of Boston. Moving at 35 miles per hour, the molasses wave leveled buildings, trapped people, and even hurled a truck into Boston Harbor. About 21 people died, and 150 more were injured. Children could read The Great Molasses Flood by Deborah Kops. They could also watch a very interesting video at: Boston Molasses Disaster.
Super Bowl I was played in 1967. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Idea: Sports fans could compile statistics on the various Super Bowl Games. Which team holds the most championships? Which person played in the most games?
Wikipedia was started by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001. It is supported by a non-profit group, Wikimedia. Today the online encyclopedia has 18 billion articles in 287 languages. Over 70,000 volunteers work to make the articles accurate and current. Children can check out Wikijunior at: Wikijunior.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (born Atlanta, Georgia, 1929; assassinated Memphis, Tennessee, April 4, 1968) was a civil rights leader and a minister. He was an excellent student and skipped two years of high school. He entered Morehouse College at age fifteen. He graduated in 1948 and decided to become a minister. He obtained a divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in theology from Boston University. In 1954 he became the pastor of a congregation in Montgomery, Alabama. He became active in civil rights in 1955. He urged people to use nonviolent methods to obtain their rights. He was arrested and jailed several times. King and other leaders organized a march to Washington, DC, in 1963. There he gave his famous I Have a Dream speech. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. While supporting a strike of garbagemen in Memphis Tennessee, he was killed by James Earl Ray. Idea: The children could read excerpts from the I Have a Dream speech and illustrate his words. They could also view photos of King at: Martin Luther King.
Bijou Le Tord (born Saint Raphael, France, 1945) writes and illustrates books for children. The illustrations of her 22 books definitely remind the reader of impressionist paintings. Children can wind their way through her website at: Bijou Le Tord.
Philip Livingston (born Albany New York, 1716; died York, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1778) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented New York. Born into wealth and prestige, he made his own fortune by being a merchant. He became involved in politics and legislation at a variety of levels, including the Continental Congress. During the Revolutionary War, he actively raised funds for the troops. He died in York when the Continental Congress was in session there. Children could learn more at: Phillip Livingston.
Edward Teller (born Budapest, Hungary, 1908; died Stanford, California, September 9, 2003) was a renowned physicist. He is known as the father of the hydrogen bomb. Children could learn more at: Edward Teller.
International Hot and Spicy Food Day is today! Scientists have found evidence that people as long ago as 6000 years were adding spices to their foods. Idea: Children could list hot and spicy dishes that they enjoy!
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5, both Soviet space craft, docked and conducted the first transfer of crew members in space in 1969. The transfer actually happened through a space walk. The transfer was successful, but the return of Soyuz 5 was truly amazing. The cosmonaut in Soyuz 5 barely survived a landing that would make a great movie. Idea: The children could research the problems of space docking and returning to earth.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the 24th president of Liberia in 2006. She won the 2005 elections and was re-elected in 2011. She, with Leymah Gbowee of Liberia and Tawakel Karman of Yemen, received the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for their nonviolent work to help women. Educated in the United States, Sirleaf is the first elected female head of state of an African country. Her term of office ended January 22, 2018. Older children could learn more at: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Dizzy Dean (born Jay Hanna Dean in Lucas, Arkansas, 1911; died Reno, Nevada, July 17, 1974) was a baseball pitcher and a baseball game announcer. Idea: Sports announcing is difficult. Record a baseball game. Replay it, but eliminate the sound. Have children try to be the commentators. Children could learn more at: Dizzy Dean.
Marla Frazee (born Los Angeles, California, 1958) writes and illustrates books for children. She earned a 2009 Caldecott Honor Award for A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. She also earned a 210 Caldecott Honor Award for All the World. Children can learn more at: Marla Frazee.
Robert Lipsyte (born New York, New York, 1938) is a sports journalist and a writer of sports books for juveniles. His works include Center Field and Yellow Flag. He received the 2001 Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Young adults can visit his website at: Robert Lipsyte.
Kate McMullan (born Saint Louis, Missouri, 1947) has written over 100 books for children. Her books include Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig and the Myth-O-Mania Series. Children can visit her website at: Kate McMullan.
Rebecca Stead (born New York, New York, 1968) writes books for children and young adults. Her book When You Reach Me received the 2010 Newbery Medal. Children should visit her very interesting website at: Rebecca Stead.
Sarah Rosetta Wakeman (born Chenango County, New York, 1843; died New Orleans, Louisiana, June 10, 1864) fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. Using the name Lyons Wakeman, she enlisted as a private in Company H of the 153rd New York State Volunteers. She died of dysentery in the Marine General Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was buried with full military honors in Chalmette National Cemetery. The name on her tombstone is Lyons Wakeman.
Ben Franklin
Kid Inventors’ Day is today! This day was chosen because it is Benjamin Franklin’s birthday. Franklin was a prolific inventor, creating bifocals, the Franklin stove, and even Daylight Saving Time. Children can learn more at: http://www.kidinventorsday.com/.