Stardust Dust Collector with Aerogel
Stardust was launched by NASA in 1999. Scientists sent it into outer space to collect samples from comets. So how did Stardust collect those samples? It contained plates of aerogel, a type of sticky stuff that attracted and kept the comet materials. It traveled three billion miles before returning to earth January 15, 2006, with samples it took from comet Wild 2. Children can have a great time exploring the Stardust NASA site for kids at: Stardust.
Shonto Begay (born Kayenta, Arizona, 1954) is a children’s author and illustrator. He illustrated The Mud Pony, published in 1988.
Eubie Blake (born Baltimore, Maryland, 1883; died Brooklyn, New York, February 12, 1983) was a pianist and composer. He wrote almost 1000 songs, including I’m Just Wild about Harry.
Charles Dickens (born Portsmouth, England, 1812; died Gad’s Hill, England, June 9, 1870) was an English novelist. His works include A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist. He is buried at Westminster Abbey. Children can read his works at: Project Gutenberg. They could learn more about him at: Charles Dickens.
Fred Gipson (born Mason, Texas, 1908; died Mason, Texas, August 14, 1973) wrote books and screenplays. His most famous work is Old Yeller, which received a 1957 Newbery Honor Award.
Sinclair Lewis (born Harry Sinclair Lewis in Sauk Center, Minnesota, 1885; died Rome, Italy, January 10, 1951) was a novelist. His works include Main Street. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930. Young adults can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (born Pepin, Wisconsin, 1867; died Mansfield, Missouri, February 10, 1957) was an author. She wrote nine novels called the “Little House” books. The works are somewhat based on actual events from her life and those of her husband, Almanzo Wilder. Works include Little House in the Big Woods and Farmer Boy. Five of her books were named Newbery Honor Books: On the Banks of Plum Creek (1938), By the Shores of Silver Lake (1940), The Long Winter (1941), Little Town on the Prairie (1942), and These Happy Golden Years (1944).
Natasha Wing (born Milford, Connecticut, 1960) writes books for children. She has written a series of books called The Night Before… She has also written other books, including The Story of Eliza Hamilton. Children can visit her website at: Natasha Wing.
Opera was first performed in America in 1735 in Charleston, South Carolina. Colley Cibber wrote the opera, Flora; or Hob in the Well. Idea: Children could learn about the components of opera.
Boy Scouts of America was started in 1910 by William Boyce in Washington, DC. The foundation was the work of Sir Robert Baden-Powell and the British Boy Scouts. Children can learn more about scouting at: http://www.scouting.org/
Warren Harding
First radio in the White House was installed in 1922 during Warren Harding’s administration. Radios were not common household items at the time, and radio broadcasting stations were still in their infancy.
Rebecca Lee Crumpler (born Delaware, 1831; died Boston, Massachusetts, March 9, 1895) was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree. She graduated from New England Female Medical College in 1864. She started her practice in Boston, but at the end of the Civil War she worked with African American women and children in Richmond, Virginia. Ultimately she returned to Boston and continued to serve impoverished African Americans. Children can learn more at: Rebecca Lee Crumpler.
William Tecumseh Sherman (born Lancaster, Ohio, 1820; died New York, New York, February 14, 1891) served as a general for the Union army during the Civil War. He is best known for his march through Georgia. Children can learn more at: Sherman.
Jules Verne (born Nantes, France, 1828; died Amiens, France, March 24, 1905) was a French novelist, playwright, and poet and is considered “the Father of Science Fiction.” He wrote at least 54 books, including Around the World in Eighty Days and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Children can read his work at: Project Gutenberg. Which of his ideas have actually become real inventions?
John Williams (born New York, New York, 1932) is a composer, conductor and pianist. His works include the scores for Star Wars and Jurassic Park. Idea: Show a clip from a movie that includes some of his music. How does his music contribute to the mood of the scene?
Homemade Pizza
National Pizza Day is today! Statistics regarding pizza are astounding. Around three billion pizzas are sold every year. That means that around 350 slices of pizza are gobbled down every second. Pepperoni is the favorite type of pizza. Children could poll their friends as to everyone’s favorite type of pizza. That could include all kinds of pizzas: thin crust, Chicago style, gluten-free, even cauliflower crust. And the toppings! Where do we begin?
1943 Photo of Weather Service Office
United States Weather Service was created in 1870. Today the Weather Service is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Children can find out more about the Weather Service at: Weather Service.
Volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan of Massachusetts in 1895. He invented the game to be played indoors and that would provide good exercise but not as much physical contact as other sports, for example basketball.
Beatles
Beatles appeared for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Over 73 million people watched the program. Idea: Have the class create acts for a variety show.