Amendment Fifteen to the Constitution was adopted in 1870. A person’s right to vote could not be denied on the basis of “race, color, or previous servitude.” Children can examine a photo of the original document, read a transcript of the document, and learn more about the background of the amendment at: Amendment Fifteen.
Van Gogh Self Portrait
Vincent van Gogh (born Groot Zundert, Holland, 1853; died Auvers-sur-Oise, France, July 29, 1890) was an artist. He never received formal training. He often applied the paint with a palette knife. Children can visit the Metropolitan Museum website at: Vincent van Gogh. Idea: Children could compare and contrast the works of Goya and van Gogh.
Agnes Danforth Hewes (born Tripoli, Lebanon, 1874; died San Francisco, California, September 30, 1963) was a Protestant minister and an author of children’s books. She earned three Newbery Honor Awards: in 1931 for Spice and the Devil’s Cave (illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward), in 1934 for Glory of the Seas (illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward), and in 1937 for The Codfish Musket (illustrated by Armstrong Sperry).
Francisco Jose de Goya (born Aragon, Spain, 1746; died Bordeaux, France, April 16, 1828) was a Spanish artist. He produced more than 1,800 artworks. Children can visit the Metropolitan Museum website at: Francisco Jose de Goya.
Anna Sewell (born Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, 1820; died Catton, Norfolk, England, April 25, 1878) wrote Black Beauty. Children can read Black Beauty at: Project Gutenberg. They could also learn more at: Anna Sewell.
National Crayon Day is today! The concept of crayons, using beeswax, has been around for thousands of years. Today’s crayons are made by melting paraffin wax and adding pigment. Although at one time around 300 companies produced crayons, only a few companies remain. Now Crayola is the biggest producer of crayons. So what can children do today? They could make a poster (using crayons) celebrating National Crayon Day. They could advocate for a new crayon color. You could gently melt old crayons and make crayon blocks that produce multihued effects.
Is there anything better than a new box of crayons?
Flag of Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands celebrate Transfer Day. The United States bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million. Located in the Caribbean Sea, the islands are about twice the size of Washington, DC. Many of the 100,000 inhabitants depend on tourism for income. Charlotte Amalie is the capital. Children could learn more at: Virgin Islands.
1889 Photo of Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889. It was constructed for the 1889 Paris Exhibition. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed the structure. Children can learn some interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower at: Eiffel Tower.
Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (born Gottingen, Germany, 1811; died Heidelberg, Germany, August 16, 1899) was a professor of chemistry. He found an antidote to arsenic poisoning, and he discovered how geysers operate. He invented the Bunsen burner. However, he never applied for patents for any of his discoveries. Children can learn more at: Robert Bunsen.
Harvesting Hope: A biography of Cesar Chavez, a Pura Belpre Medal Book
Cesar Estrada Chavez (born Yuma, Arizona, 1927; died San Luis, Arizona, April 23, 1993) was a leader of the migrant workers. He founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962 to improve migrant workers’ working and living conditions. Children could read Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Morales received a 2004 Pura Belpré Illustration Honor Award. Children could also visit: Cesar Chavez.
Rene Descartes (born La Haye, Touraine, France, 1596; died Stockholm, Sweden, February 11, 1650) was a mathematician and a philosopher. He is famous for saying, “I think, therefore I am.” Idea: Children could read about his philosophies. Do they agree with him?
Albert Gore (born Washington, DC, 1948) was the forty-fifth vice president of the United States. After he lost to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential race, he turned his attention to the environment. He received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for his concern over global warming. Children could learn more at: Al Gore.
Franz Josef Haydn (born Rohrau, Austria-Hungary, 1732; died Vienna, Austria, May 31, 1809) was a composer. He composed over one hundred symphonies, twelve operas, and hundreds of other pieces of music.
Steve Jenkins (born Hickory, North Carolina, 1952; died Boulder, Colorado, December 26, 2021) wrote and/or illustrated at least 80 books for children. He co-authored some books with his wife, Robin Page. Their book What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? received a 2004 Caldecott Honor Award. Children can visit his website at: Steve Jenkins.
Beni Montresor (born Bussolengo, Italy, 1926; died Verona, Italy, October 11, 2001) was a film designer, artist, and children’s book illustrator. He illustrated at least twenty books. He received the 1965 Caldecott Medal for May I Bring a Friend? Children can learn more at: Beni Montresor.
matzah
Passover begins at sundown tonight and ends at sundown on April 20. 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.
April Fool’s Day is today! The custom of April Fool’s Day may have begun in France in the 1500’s. Before then, New Year’s started on March 25th and ended April 1st. People gave gifts on April 1st to mark the beginning of the new year. Then New Year was moved to January 1st, but some people still gave gifts on April 1st as jokes. The custom spread to Britain in the eighteenth century and then to other countries.
John Morton died in 1777. His date of birth is unknown. Active in politics, he was elected from Pennsylvania to serve in both the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and he was part of the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He was the first Declaration of Independence signer to die. Children could learn more at: John Morton.
Oliver Pollock created the dollar sign ($) in 1778.