Flag of Libya
Libya celebrates Liberation Day. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, and other north African countries, Libya is slightly larger than the state of Alaska. Over six million people live in Libya, and Tripoli is the capital and largest city. The country exports much of its oil and imports much of its food.
War of Jenkins’ Ear began in 1739. The war began when a Spanish soldier cut off the ear of English officer Robert Jenkins. American colonial officers and soldiers fought for the British. The war somewhat ended in 1742, but politics swept up further events.
Cliff Swallow Courtesy of Marlin Harms
Swallows leave Capistrano, California, for the winter. They fly to Argentina, but they will return March 19th.
Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson (born Potsdam. New York, 1961) writes books for children and young adults. Her book Speak received a 2000 Michael L. Printz Honor Award. Chains earned the 2009 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. She also received the Margaret A. Edwards Medal for lifetime achievement in 2009. Young adults can view her website at: Laurie Halse Anderson.
Nicolas Appert (born Chalons-Sur-Marne, France, 1752; died Massy, France, June 3, 1841) is known as the “Father of Canning.” He invented ways of sealing and preserving food in containers. Idea: Children could find out all the ways we preserve food today.
Michael Crichton (born Chicago, Illinois, 1942; died Los Angeles, California, November 4, 2008) was a writer. His works include The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park.
Gertrude Caroline Ederle (born New York, New York, 1906; died Wyckoff, New Jersey, November 30, 2003) was a swimmer. At one point she held 29 national and world records. She won a gold medal and two bronze medals in the 1924 Olympics. In 1926 she became the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Although the channel is 21 miles wide, a storm actually forced her to swim 35 miles. She returned to New York to a ticker tape parade.
Pelé (born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Tres Coracoes, Brazil, 1940; died Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 29, 2022) was a legendary and much-loved soccer player who won three World Cups.
Freshwater Dolphins
International Freshwater Dolphin Day is today! Also called River Dolphins, the animals are similar to but are smaller than marine dolphins. These dolphins live in large rivers: the Amazon, the Orinoco River Basin, the Ganges, the Indus, and the Mekong. All the species are either endangered or critically endangered. They have small eyes, no sense of smell, and perhaps no sense of taste. However, they have excellent echolocation skills to find food and to avoid obstacles. Idea: Children could locate the rivers listed above on a world map and see if they can find common attributes.
Flag of United Nations
United Nations Day celebrates the founding of the organization in 1945. Membership has increased from 51 countries to 193 countries. António Guterres is the current Secretary General. Children could learn more at: United Nations.
Flag of Zambia
Zambia celebrates Independence Day. It was declared free of British control in 1964. The country, larger than Texas, is located in southern, central Africa. One of Zambia’s major industries is copper mining and processing. Over fourteen million people live in Zambia, and Lusaka is the capital.
Morse’s Conception of Transcontinental Telegraph
Transcontinental Telegraph was completed in 1861. It was constructed in units and then joined together. Ending the need for the Pony Express, the telegraph operated until 1869 when a multi-line telegraph was constructed parallel to the Transcontinental Railroad. Children could learn more at: America’s Library.
Annie Edson Taylor on the day of her event
Annie Edson Taylor, celebrating her 63rd birthday, in 1901 became the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. The teacher from Michigan sustained only minor injuries.
Minimum wage was instituted in 1938 at 25 cents per hour, and the work week was defined as 40 hours of work per week. Children can see the interesting history of minimum wage at: minimum wage.