Marie Curie
Radium was isolated by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1902. They also isolated another new element, polonium. She, her husband, and a third scientist received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics. She was the first woman to receive any Nobel Prize. She also won the 1911 Nobel Prize in chemistry for her extended work on radium. Radium is a radioactive element that should be handled with great care. Children could read Vicki Cobb’s DK Biography: Marie Curie.
Site of the Colony after the Battle
Ludlow Massacre happened in 1914 in Ludlow, Colorado. Striking miners were attacked by National Guardsmen. Nineteen men, women, and children were either shot to death or died in a fire. Children could read The Ludlow Massacre of 1913-1914 by Rosemary Laughlin. They could also examine some great primary resources at: https://guides.library.csupueblo.edu/ludlow.
Electron microscope was first demonstrated in 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Idea: Children could compare the electron microscope with a traditional microscope.
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French (born Exeter, New Hampshire, 1850; died Stockbridge, Massachusetts, October 7, 1931) was a famous American sculptor. His most famous works include the Minute Man statue in Concord, Massachusetts, and the seated Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial. Children could learn more at: Daniel Chester French. Children could view several of his artworks at: Met.
Mary Hoffman (born England, 1945) has written over 90 books for children and teenagers. Her books include Troubadour and The Falconer’s Knot. Children can visit her website at: Mary Hoffman.
Joan Miro (born Barcelona, Spain, 1893; died Majorca, Spain, December 25, 1983) was a surrealistic painter. One of his famous works is Dutch Interior, painted in 1928. Children could view a number of his works at: Joan Miro.
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens (born Chicago, Illinois, 1920; died Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 16, 2019) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court. He was nominated by Gerald Ford in 1975. He retired June 29, 2010. Idea: Children could research the process whereby a person becomes a Supreme Court justice. Is there a term limit for the justices? Should there be a term limit? Children could learn more about him at: John Paul Stevens.
Coliseum
Rome was born in 753 BC. Over two million people live in Rome. It is the home of numerous famous sites, including the Coliseum, the Fountain of Neptune, and the Pantheon. Idea: Children could prepare a travel brochure about Rome. The website http://www.neok12.com/Ancient-Rome.htm has some great videos, but they must be previewed for content.
Battle of San Jacinto occurred in 1836 in Texas. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his 1,200 soldiers attacked General Sam Houston and his 910 men. The Texans retreated but then caught the Mexicans in surprise. In less than one half hour, the Texans won. As a result of this battle, Texas won its independence from Mexico. Children could read Journey to San Jacinto (Mr. Barrington’s Mysterious Trunk) by Melodie A. Cuate. Children could also learn more at: San Jacinto.
First discovery of extrasolar planets (now called exoplanets) was announced in 1994. As of mid-March, 2023, NASA announced that data from the Kepler Space Observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, and other instruments had located 5,312 new exoplanets. Scientists have observed another 9,245 exoplanets yet to be confirmed. Children could learn more at the NASA site, especially the Interactives Tab, at: http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Charlotte Bronte (born Hartshead, Yorkshire, England, 1816; died Haworth, Yorkshire, England, March 31, 1855) was a novelist, best known for Jane Eyre. She wrote three other novels. Children can read some of her works at: Project Gutenberg.
Queen Elizabeth II (born London, United Kingdom, 1926; died Balmoral Castle, United Kingdom, September 8, 2022) served as the monarch of the United Kingdom for over 70 years. During her tenure she worked with fifteen Prime Ministers, fourteen US Presidents, and seven Popes. She has stated, “Change has become a constant. Managing it has become an expanding discipline. The way we embrace it defines our future.”
President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir
John Muir (born Dunbar, Scotland, 1838; died Los Angeles, California, December 24, 1914) was a naturalist and writer. He helped establish Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. He started the Sierra Club, and Muir Woods was dedicated to him in 1908. Children can read some of his writings at: Project Gutenberg. Children can learn more about Muir at: John Muir.
Barbara Park (born Mount Holly, New Jersey, 1947; died Scottsdale, Arizona, November 15, 2013) was a children’s author. She was the author of the Junie B. Jones books. Children can visit a website at: http://juniebjones.com/.
Jane Breskin Zalben (born New York, New York, 1950) has written and illustrated at least 50 books for children and young adults. Her books include Mousterpiece and Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World. Children can visit her website at: Jane Breskin Zalben.
matzah
Passover begins at sundown tonight and ends at sundown on April 30. Passover (Pesach) celebrates the freedom of Jews from Egyptian slavery. During Passover, Jews cannot eat any leavened bread, but they can eat unleavened bread called matzah. Children could read the chapter about Passover from Celebrate! Stories of the Jewish Holidays, written by Gilda Berger and illustrated by Peter Catalanotto.
Earth Day is today! This year’s theme is Invest in Our Planet. The original theme was Invest in Our Planet. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. Today is a good day to plant trees or clean up litter or build a compost pile or make a bird house or…Children could learn more at: Earth Day. Children could also read Earth Day – Hooray! by Stuart J. Murphy. The book incorporates some great math concepts with an emphasis on the environment.