Spacecraft Dawn was launched by NASA in 2007. Its mission was to explore Vesta and Ceres, the two largest extraterrestrial bodies in the Asteroid Belt. Dawn began orbiting around Vesta on July 16, 2011, and sent back data. It left Vesta on September 5, 2012, and it reached Ceres on March 6, 2015. It currently remains in orbit around Ceres. Children can learn more at: Spacecraft Dawn.
Samuel Adams (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1722; died Boston, Massachusetts, October 2, 1803) was a leader during the American Revolution. He attended the First and Second Continental Congresses. He signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Older children could learn more at Samuel Adams. Upper elementary students may want to read Jean Fritz’s Why Don’t You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?
Paul Goble (born Haslemere, England, 1933; died Rapid City, South Dakota, January 5, 2017) wrote and illustrated at least 40 children’s books. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses received the Caldecott Medal in 1978. He also wrote Dream Wolf.
G. Brian Karas (born Milford, Connecticut, 1957) has written and illustrated at least 110 book for children. His works include The Windy Day and I Know an Old Lady. Children can visit his website at: G. Brian Karas.
Nicholas Mordvinoff (born Saint Petersburg, Russia, 1911; died Hampton, New Jersey, May 5, 1973) was an artist. He earned a 1951 Caldecott Honor Award for The Two Reds. Then he received the 1952 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in Finders Keepers.
Thomas Nast (born Landau, Germany, 1840; died Guayaquil, Ecuador, December 7, 1902) was a political cartoonist. He created the symbols of the donkey and the elephant for the two political parties. Children can view some of his political cartoons at: Thomas Nast.
Bernard Waber (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1924; died Long Island, New York, May 16, 2013) wrote and illustrated at least 33 books for children. He wrote among other works Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and The House on East 88th Street. Children can learn more at: Bernard Waber.
William the Conqueror arrived in England in 1066. The Duke of Normandy was expanding his realm. Born in France, he was the first Norman king of England, ruling from 1066 until his death in 1087.
Battle of Yorktown commenced in 1781. George Washington and 17,000 American and French troops laid siege against General Cornwallis and 9,000 British soldiers in Yorktown at the mouth of the Chesapeake. French ships cut off his retreat into the bay. Cornwallis surrendered three weeks later on October 17, 1781. Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Children could learn more at: Battle of Yorktown.
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, somewhat by accident, in 1928. He had been researching effective germ killers when he noticed that a discarded petri dish containing penicillin was killing staph bacteria. He conducted further research and discovered the amazing strength of penicillin. However, he could not figure out how to mass produce penicillin. Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, however, solved that problem. All three shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1945. They have saved millions of lives. Older children could learn more at: Alexander Fleming.
Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore was established in 1962. Located along the Gulf of Mexico, the national seashore is the longest unprotected barrier island in the world. Five species of sea turtles (Kemp’s ridleys, loggerheads, leatherbacks, hawksbills, and greens) nest on the island. More than 380 species of birds live on the island or migrate through the area. Children can learn more at: Padre Island.
Aaron Judge in 2022 Tied Roger Maris’s record of 61 homeruns in one season. The Yankees were playing the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. Tim Mayza threw the pitch. Judge joined the Yankees in 2016. Roger Maris in 1961 broke Babe Ruth’s record of 60 homeruns in a single season.
Kate Douglas Wiggin (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1856; died Harrow, England, August 24, 1923) established kindergartens in California. However, she is most known for being a children’s author. She wrote at least 40 books, some co-authored with her sister Nora A. Smith, for children. One of her most famous works is Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Children can read many of her books at: Project Gutenberg. They can also learn more at: Kate Douglas Wiggin.
Carol Lynch Williams (born Orlando, Florida, 1959) writes books for young adults. Her books include The Haven and Pretty Like Us. Young adults can visit her website at: Carol Lynch Williams.
Washington National Cathedral
Washington National Cathedral cornerstone was laid in 1907. Construction was completed on this day in 1990. The building was damaged by the August 23, 2011, earthquake; repairs are still being made. The cathedral boasts 288 angels, 112 gargoyles, and 215 stained glass windows. At least 220 people are interred there, including Helen Keller, Ann Sullivan, and President Woodrow Wilson and his wife Edith. Children can learn more at: National Cathedral.
Concept of Ulysses
Ulysses, a space probe sponsored by NASA and the European Space Agency, completed its second trip around the sun in 1995. Launched from Space Shuttle Discovery on October 6, 1990, Ulysses conducted three series of experiments regarding the sun. It also investigated three comets. Communications with Ulysses stopped on June 30, 2009. Children could learn more at: Ulysses.