Birthdays

 Birthdays
Dec 172025
 

Raúl Colón (born New York, New York, 1952) has illustrated more than 30 books for children. He illustrated Celebration! by Jane Resh Thomas and A Weave of Words by Robert D. San Souci. Children could watch a video at: Draw! where he talks about his book Draw!

William Floyd (born Brookhaven, Long Island, 1734; died Westernville, New York, August 4, 1821) signed the Declaration of Independence. Born to a wealthy farming family, he had little formal education. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774. During the Revolutionary War he continued to serve in Congress. He was also major general of a New York militia. The British discovered his strong political views and confiscated his estate. His wife and children were able to escape before the British arrived. The British turned his home into a barracks and ruined his property. After the war, he rebuilt his home. He was elected to the first House of Representatives and served from 1789 to 1791. Children could learn more at: William Floyd.

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1938; died Vatican, April 21, 2025) was the 266th (and current) pope. Children could learn more about Pope Francis at: Vatican.

Deborah Sampson (born Plympton, Massachusetts, 1760; died Sharon, Massachusetts, April 29, 1827) actually fought during the Revolutionary War. Since women were not accepted into the army during the Revolutionary War, she disguised herself as a man. For over a year, she was a capable fighter. She was wounded and chose to dress the wound herself because she was afraid she would be discovered. She became very ill and had to seek medical attention. Her secret was discovered, and she was discharged from the army. She received a military pension for a number of years. Idea: Children might want to read Ann McGovern’s The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson. Now women are part of the military. Children could interview a woman in the military. How is military service for women different from service in the past?

Whittier

John Greenleaf Whittier

John Greenleaf Whittier (born Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1807; died Hampton Fall, New Hampshire, September 7, 1892) was a poet. A Quaker, he was active in the anti-slavery movement. One of his most famous poems is “Ichabod,” published in 1850. The poem criticizes the Compromise of 1850 and Daniel Webster. Children can view his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Niger Celebrates Republic Day

 Events
Dec 182025
 
Niger

Flag of Niger

Niger celebrates Republic Day. It became a republic in 1958 before it became free of French control in 1960. This landlocked country, located in north central Africa, is a bit less than twice the size of Texas. Niger is mostly covered with deserts and mountains. Almost seventeen million people live in Niger, and Niamey is the capital.

Happy Birthday, New Jersey!

 Events
Dec 182025
 

New Jersey Flag

New Jersey became the third state by ratifying the Constitution in 1787. It was named after an island in the English Channel. The state’s nickname is the Garden State, and Trenton is the capital. During the American Revolution, at least one hundred battles were fought in New Jersey. It is one of the most densely populated states. While it contains large cities, it also boasts about its farms and shores. The honeybee is the state insect.  They could locate on a map the sites of the Revolutionary War battles. They could find out why so many battles happened in New Jersey.

Amendment Thirteen to the Constitution Was Adopted in 1865

 Events
Dec 182025
 

amendmentAmendment Thirteen to the Constitution, outlawing slavery, was adopted in 1865. Congress proposed the amendment on January 31, 1865. By the end of February eighteen states had ratified it. Georgia ratified it on December 6, 1865. Enough states had then ratified the amendment to become official. Older children could research the background behind the amendment at: Amendment Thirteen.

The Nutcracker Premiered in Russia in 1892

 Events
Dec 182025
 
A Western Nutcracker

A Western Nutcracker

The Nutcracker, created by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovksy, was performed for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. The ballet was based on Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann’s story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The ballet is performed countless times, especially in the United States, at holiday time. Children can read the wonderfully illustrated The Nutcracker, by Susan Jeffers, to understand the ballet’s story.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Dec 182025
 

Joseph Grimaldi (London, England, 1778; died London, England, May 31, 1837) was known as Joey the Clown. His antics added much to theater humor. Children could become clowns today and wear clown makeup. They could organize into small groups and create clown skits.

Judith Heumann (born Brooklyn, New York, 1947; died Washington, DC, March 4, 2023) was called the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement.” She contracted polio when she was eighteen months old and used a wheelchair the rest of her life. She organized the 504 Sit In that ultimately produced the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Children could read Fighting for Yes! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann, written by Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger.

Paul Klee (born near Bern, Switzerland, 1879; died Muralto, Switzerland, June 29, 1940) was an artist. His paintings exude a dreamlike, fantasy quality. Children could visit a website at: Paul  Klee.

Marilyn Sachs (born Bronx, New York, 1927; died San Francisco, California, December 28, 2016) wrote 35 children’s books. Her books include Lost in America and A Pocket Full of Seeds.

Steven Spielberg (born Cincinnati, Ohio, 1946) is a film producer and director. Among his credits are Jurassic Park and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Idea: Spielberg’s movies are very popular. Children could visit: Spielberg. Scholars could investigate the revenues from the movies and make a bar graph to indicate the results.

Thomas Paine Published The American Crisis in 1776.

 Events
Dec 192025
 

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine published the first of a series of pamphlets called The American Crisis in 1776. His goal was to improve morale of both citizens and soldiers. His words were and still are very effective. His first words were:

THESE are the times that try men’s souls.
The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph…”

The last of the pamphlets was printed December 9, 1783. Children can view the entire work at: The American Crisis.

George Washington Encamped at Valley Forge in 1777

 Events
Dec 192025
 

Valley Forge Headquarters
Photo by Carol Highsmith

Valley Forge was the site of Washington encampment during the winter of 1777 and 1778. The army of 10,000 soldiers had to make their own huts. Food and clothing were scarce. About one-fourth of the troops died, and a smallpox epidemic made matters worse. The British, on the other hand, had quite nice conditions in Philadelphia. The arrival of Baron von Steuben and his drilling techniques strengthened the army, and they experienced battle success by June. Children could learn more at: Valley Forge. Children could also read the wonderful book The Riddle of Penncroft Farm, by Dorothea Jensen. It portrays the horrors of the Revolutionary War and the conditions of Valley Forge through the eyes of two adolescents.

Gaia Was Launched in 2013

 Events
Dec 192025
 

Gaia

Gaia was launched in 2013. The unmanned spacecraft, sponsored by the European Space Agency, took off from French Guiana. It had three responsibilities. It marked positions of stars. It measured the luminosity of stars. It measured the velocity of space objects. After many years of successfully fulfilling its missions, it was deactivated March 27, 2025.

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