National Football League was created in Canton, Ohio, in 1920.
Sep 172025
Sep 172025
Elizabeth Enright (born Oak Park, Illinois, 1909; died Wainscott, New York, June 8, 1968) wrote and illustrated works for both children and adults. She received the Newbery Medal in 1939 for Thimble Summer and a 1958 Newbery Honor Award for Gone-Away Lake. Children could learn more at: Elizabeth Enright.
Rube Foster (born Andrew Foster in Calvert, Texas, 1879; died Kankakee, Illinois, December 9, 1930) was “The Father of Negro Baseball.” He was a pitcher and manager of the Chicago Lelands and the Chicago American Giants before he organized the Negro National League. He was the League’s president from its inception until his death. Children can learn more at: Rube Foster.
Gail Carson Levine (born New York, New York, 1947) has written at least 25 books for children. Her Ella Enchanted was a 1998 Newbery Honor book. She also wrote A Tale of Two Castles and The Wish. Children could visit her website at: Gail Carson Levine.
John Rutledge (born Charleston, South Carolina, 1739; died Charleston, South Carolina, July 18, 1800) represented South Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. He started his law career at age eleven, and he eventually served in South Carolina’s Supreme Court. Children could learn more at: John Rutledge.
David H. Souter (born Melrose, Massachusetts, 1939; died Hopkinton, New Hampshire, May 8, 2025) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court. He served on the Supreme Court from October 8, 1990 to June 29, 2009. Children can learn more at: David H. Souter.
James Smith (born Ulster, Ireland, 1719; died York, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1806) signed the Declaration of Independence. Representing Pennsylvania at the Second Continental Congress, he was a lawyer and surveyor. Children can learn more at: James Smith.
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (born Magdeburg, Prussia, 1730; died Remsen, New York, November 28, 1794) aided the American army during the Revolutionary War. General George Washington made him a major general. He was in charge of the army’s training. He taught them how to march and to use muskets and bayonets. Older children could read a biography of him at: Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben.
Sep 182025
National Play-Doh Day is today! The modeling compound was originally used to remove soot from wallpaper. However, a nursery school teacher saw the value of using the compound for art projects. In 1956 the Rainbow Crafts Company began selling Play-Doh. Today Hasbro owns the rights to Play-Doh. People bought more than two billion cans of Play-Doh between 1955 and 2005. Idea: Children could make Play-Doh “balloons” to celebrate the day.
Sep 182025
Flag of Chile
Chile celebrates Independence Day. It became free of Spanish rule in 1810. This long, narrow country, about twice the size of Montana, is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and to the east by the Andes Mountains. About 17.2 million people live in Chile, and Gran Santiago is the capital. Copper is one of its major exports. Children could learn more at: Chile.
Sep 182025
Capitol Building
Capitol Building cornerstone in Washington, DC, was laid by President Washington in 1793. The exact location of that cornerstone is now lost. Some experts believe it lies below National Statuary Hall. Children can learn many facts about the Capitol by visiting: Capitol Building.
Sep 182025
New York Times published its first issue in 1851. It was founded by Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones. The initial cost of the newspaper was a penny. Its slogan is “All the News That’s Fit to Print.” Children could visit the newspaper’s very comprehensive kids website at: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/
Sep 182025
Old Faithful
Photograph by Jon Brown
Old Faithful Geyser was discovered in 1870. Located in Yellowstone National Park, the geyser was named by Henry D. Washburn. He was part of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition to Yellowstone. The geyser erupts every 35 to 120 minutes. It shoots approximately 3,700 gallons of boiling water to a height of up to 185 feet. Children can view a webcam of Old Faithful Geyser at: Old Faithful.
Sep 182025
Air Force was created as an independent service in 1947. There has been an air force component of the military since 1907. Children can learn more at: Air Force.
Sep 182025
Jean Bernard Leon Foucault (born Paris, France, 1819; died Paris, France, February 11, 1868) was a scientist. He measured the speed of light through different materials. His experiments with pendulums proved that the earth rotated on its axis. Children could read an excellent biography, Come See the World Turn, written by Lori Mortensen and illustrated by Raul Allen.
George Read (born Cecil County, Maryland, 1733; died New Castle, Delaware, September 21, 1798) signed the Declaration of Independence. Representing Delaware, he also signed the Constitution. As governor of Delaware, he was instrumental in making sure Delaware was the first state to approve the Constitution. After the Revolutionary War, he was a United States senator and then the chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. Children could read more at: George Read,
Sep 192025
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis celebrate Independence Day. The two islands, located in the eastern portion of the Caribbean Sea, became free of British rule in 1983, but they remain a part of the British Commonwealth. They are about 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC. Sugar was a large part of the economy, but the country has now shifted to tourism and diversified farming. About 51,000 people live on the islands, and Basseterre is the capital.