Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787. While the delegates came with ideas of revising the Articles of Confederation, they realized they had to create a new type of government. The Constitutional Convention concluded on September 17, 1787. Idea: Children could read Jean Fritz’s Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution.
Mass production of penicillin was patented by Andrew Moyer in 1948. Prior to that patent, penicillin was produced in small batches, and people died from infection because penicillin was not widely available. Representing the federal government, Moyer outlined the results of his team’s research in the patent application. The process saved and continues to save millions of lives. Moyer received no money from the patent results. Children can view the patent at: Penicillin.
Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch was dedicated in 1968. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the arch is also called the Gateway to the West or the Saint Louis Arch. It honors our country’s westward expansion and the courage of American settlers. One of the reasons Saint Louis was chosen was because the Corps of Discovery began and ended its journey here. At 630 feet tall, the monument is the world’s tallest arch. The idea of the arch began around 1933. Building the steel-clad arch started on February 12, 1963 and was finished on October 28, 1965. It opened to the public on June 10, 1967. The area became the Gateway Arch National Park on February 22, 2018. Children can learn more at: Gateway Arch.
Skylab 2
Skylab 2 was launched in 1973. This first manned mission to Skylab circled the earth for 28 days while astronauts Pete Conrad, Joseph Kerwin, and Paul Weitz made repairs to Skylab and conducted 392 hours of experiments. At that time, the crew held the record for longest time in space. They successfully returned to earth on July 22, 1973. Children could learn more at: Skylab 2.
Artist’s Conception of Phoenix on Surface of Mars
Phoenix landed on Mars in 2008. It was launched August 4, 2007. The spacecraft landed on a polar region of Mars and conducted tests on water and surface chemistry until November 2, 2008. Then the Martian winter set in, and the fragile equipment could no longer send data. Children could learn more at: Phoenix.
Barbara Bottner (born New York, New York, 1943) has written over 50 books for young readers and young adults. Her books include Bootsie Barker Bites and Raymond and Nelda. Children can visit her website at: Barbara Bottner.
Miles Davis (born Alton, Illinois, 1926; died Santa Monica, California, September 28, 1991) was a jazz trumpeter. He experimented with different kinds of music.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1803; died Boston, Massachusetts, April 27, 1882) was a writer and philosopher. Older children can read some of his work at: Project Gutenberg.
Ann McGovern (born New York, New York, 1930; died New York, New York, May 8, 2015) was a children’s author. She wrote 55 books, including Too Much Noise and If You Lived in Colonial Times. Children can visit a website devoted to her at: Ann McGovern.
Igor Sikorsky (born Kiev, Russia, 1889; died Easton, Connecticut, October 26, 1972) was an engineer. He created the first functioning helicopter in 1939.
Joyce Carol Thomas (born Ponca City, Oklahoma, 1938; died Stanford, California, August 13, 2016) wrote more than 30 books. She received a 1984 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Bright Shadow and another in 1994 for Brown Honey in Broom Wheat Tea. She also earned a 2000 Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Award for You Are My Perfect Baby.
Flag of Georgia
Georgia celebrates Independence Day. The country declared its freedom from Russia on this day in 1918. However, in 1921 the Soviet Union conquered Georgia. On April 9, 1991, it broke away from the Soviet Union. Located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and possessing a Mediterranean climate, Georgia, according to the CIA World Factbook, is about the size of South Carolina. About 4.6 million people live in Georgia. Industries include steel, machines and tools, and timber products. Tbilisi is the capital. Children could learn more at: Georgia.
Last Model T was produced in 1927. Henry Ford and his son Edsel decided to stop making the Model T and move on to the production of the Model A. The last car to be made was number 15,000,000! The car could travel up to 45 miles per hour, and it sold for as little as $260.00. Children could read more at: Model T.
Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy (born Colonie, New York, 1981) are twins who write books for children and young adults. DeVillers’s works include Lynnvisible and How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Best Seller. Roy’s works include the Math All Around series and Yellow Star.
Sheila Greenwald (born New York, New York, 1934) has written and illustrated at least 30 books for children. Her works include the Rosy series and The Secret Museum. Children could visit her website at: Sheila Greenwald.
Sally Ride
Sally Kristen Ride (born Encino, California, 1951; died La Jolla, California, July 23, 2012) was the first American woman to travel in space. Dr. Ride flew on a six-day Challenger mission that was launched June 24, 1983. She co-wrote five books for children regarding space and science. Children could learn more at: Sally Ride.
Lisbeth Zwerger (born Vienna, Austria, 1954) has illustrated at least 30 children’s books and stories. She received the 1990 Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lifetime achievements. She illustrated J. K. Rowling’s “The Tales of Beedle the Bard.” She also illustrated the 1999 version of Alice in Wonderland.
North American River Otter
World Otter Day is today. Created by the International Otter Survival Fund, the day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in May. Thirteen species of otters exist, and these species live in either fresh water or salt water. Otters are carnivorous, eating mostly fish. Some species use rocks to break open shellfish. Children can learn more at: IOSF.