Record low temperature was recorded in 2010 at Vostok Station in Antarctica. The temperature reached a low of -136 degrees F. That temperature is colder than dry ice! This record broke the July 21, 1983, temperature of -128.6 degrees F.
Aug 102026
Aug 102026
Lettuce grown on International Space Station was consumed by astronauts in 2015. This event marked the first time space travelers grew and ate their own food. American astronauts Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren grew the “Outredgous” red romaine lettuce aeroponically. Half the harvest was eaten by the astronauts, and half was frozen and returned to earth for analysis. The vegetable is very significant because astronauts on future, lengthy space trips will need to grow their own food.
Aug 102026
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover (born West Branch, Iowa, 1874; died New York, New York, October 20, 1964) was the thirty-first president (1929-1933) of the United States. His parents died when he was eight years old, and he was raised by Quaker relatives. He became a mining engineer and was a millionaire by age forty. During World War I he saved Americans remaining in Europe and distributed food to needy people in Belgium. His political slogan during his campaign was a “chicken in every pot.” The Great Depression took place during his administration, but he felt government should not take responsibility for what was happening. People who lost their homes built shack cities and called them Hoovervilles. He was soundly defeated by Franklin Roosevelt and was not elected to a second term. He lived another thirty years after his presidency. Children could visit a website at: Herbert Hoover. Idea: Children could watch a portion of the musical Annie to learn more about the conditions during the Depression.
Tony Ross (born London, England, 1938) writes and illustrates books for children. He wrote and illustrated the Little Princess books. He illustrated the Horrid Henry series and the Amber Brown series.
Margot Ladd Tomes (born Yonkers, New York, 1917; died New York, New York, June 25, 1991) illustrated more than 60 children’s books. She illustrated books written by Jean Fritz and Aileen Fisher. Children can learn more at: Margot Ladd Tomes.
Aug 112026
Flag of Chad
Chad celebrates Its Independence Day from France. Chad became a sovereign country in 1962. It is a landlocked country, about three times the size of California. This African country’s arid climate allows some farming and some pastoral activity. It has huge oil reserves. Over eleven million people live in Chad. N’Djamena is the capital. Idea: Children could make a map of Chad and its neighbors.
Aug 112026
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run in 1929. The first baseball player to reach this milestone, he was playing in League Park in Cleveland, Ohio. He went on to hit 714 home runs during his career. Only 28 baseball players have hit more than 500 home runs. Children could view a list of those players at: 500 Homerun Club.
Aug 112026
Joanna Cole (born Newark, New Jersey, 1944; died Sioux City, Iowa, July 12, 2020) was a children’s author. She wrote over 250 books that were published in thirteen countries. One of her enterprises was the Magic School Bus Series.
Don Freeman (born San Diego, California, 1908; died New York, New York, February 1, 1978) was a painter, cartoonist, author, and illustrator. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 20 children’s books, including the classic Corduroy. His book Fly High, Fly Low received a 1958 Caldecott Honor Award. Children could learn more about him at: Don Freeman.
Alex Haley (born Ithaca, New York, 1921; died Seattle, Washington, February 13, 1992) was a writer. One of his most famous works is Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The book, a Pulitzer Prize-winner in 1975, has been translated into 37 languages. He also wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Steven Kroll (born New York, New York, 1941; died New York, New York, March 8, 2011) wrote at least 96 books for children. His works include Jungle Bullies and Sweet America. Children can learn more at: Steven Kroll.
George Sullivan (born Lowell, Massachusetts, 1927) has written at least 100 nonfiction books for children and young adults. His works include Matthew Brady: His Life and Photographs and Trapped.
Catherine Woolley (born Chicago, Illinois, 1904; died Truro, Massachusetts, July 23, 2005) wrote children’s books. Often using the pen name Jane Thayer, she wrote 86 books. She is best known for The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy and Sandy and the Seventeen Glasses.
Aug 122026
African Elephant
World Elephant Day is today! The day was first celebrated on August 12, 2012, by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. Three types of elephant exist, the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. The African bush elephant is listed as endangered, the African forest elephant in critically endangered, and the Asian elephant is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The elephant is the largest land mammal, and all three types of elephant are herbivores.
Aug 122026
Hawaii’s Flag
Hawaii was annexed to the United States in 1898. Children could find out how the United States obtained the islands at: Hawaii.
Aug 122026
Echo 1A, the first passive communications satellite, was successfully launched in 1960. The 100-foot diameter balloon reflected communications signals to desired locations. Only one other passive communications satellite was launched until NASA decided to use active satellites. Experts predicted Echo 1A would last only until 1964. However, Echo 1A remained intact and reentered earth’s atmosphere on May 24, 1968. The satellite was destroyed by friction and heat. Children could learn more at: Echo 1A.
Aug 122026
Sue, the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil skeleton, was discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota in 1990. Sue is 42 feet long and probably weighed 6.4 tons when alive. After a dispute over ownership was solved, she was sold to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. Children could learn more at the Museum’s website at: Sue.