Early Bird satellite (Intelsat I) in 1965 made telephone calls from the United States to Europe more practical. It also helped television transmissions. Expected to last about eighteen months, it was active for four years four months. It was reactivated briefly in 1990 to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and it remains in orbit. Idea: Children could find out how calls were made before the satellite and how the satellite worked. They could also learn more at: Early Bird.
Esther Forbes (born Westborough, Massachusetts, 1891; died Worcester, Massachusetts, August 12, 1967) wrote books for both children and adults. She won the 1943 Pulitzer for Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. In 1944 she won the Newbery Award for Johnny Tremain, illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward. Children can learn more at: Esther Forbes.
Bette Greene (born Parkin, Arkansas, 1934; died Lakewood Ranch, Florida, October 2, 2020) was a children’s author. She wrote Summer of My German Soldier, published in 1973. Philip Hall Likes Me, I Reckon Maybe received a 1975 Newbery Honor Award.
Dennis Haseley (born Cleveland, Ohio, 1950) writes books for children and young adults. His works include The Sky Writer and Shadows.
Maria Goeppert Mayer (born Kattowitz, Germany, 1906; died San Diego, California, February 20, 1972) was part of the Manhattan Project team. She experimented with the separation of uranium isotopes. She became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in physics when she shared it with J. Hans Daniel Jensen and Eugene Wigner in 1963. Children could learn more at: Maria Goeppert Mayer.
Self-Portrait
Peter Paul Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens (born Siegen, Westphalia, 1577; died Antwerp, Belgium, May 30, 1640) was an artist and a diplomat. By age 21 he had earned the status of master painter. He was also prolific in several languages. He became so busy that his shop was similar to a production line. He made the original sketches. His apprentices filled in the work. He came along and completed the details. Children could view some of his works at: Rubens. Idea: Students could look at some of his works. They could try his assembly line approach.
Flag of Seychelles
Republic of Seychelles celebrates Independence Day. It gained its freedom from the United Kingdom in 1976, but it remains a member of the British Commonwealth. The collection of about 80 islands lies in the western Indian Ocean. The area is slightly greater than twice the size of Washington, DC. Victoria is the capital. Its leading exports are coconuts and spices. Idea: Children could learn about the spices it exports. Children could learn more at: Seychelles.
Cliff Palace
Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde National Park was created in 1906. Located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, it is famous for its ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings, including 5000 sites and 600 buildings. Paleo-Indians began living there around 7500 BC. These farmers struggled constantly to cultivate their crops of corn, beans, and squash. Today this World Heritage Site is also home to over 640 plant species, 74 mammal species, 200 bird species, and 1000 insect species. Children could visit a website at: http://www.nps.gov/meve.
Lake Crescent
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park was created in 1938. The Washington park has 57 miles of coastline and a temperate rain forest. It averages 145 inches of rain per year. Children could visit a website at: http://www.nps.gov/olym. Idea: Children could research Mesa Verde National Park and Olympic National Park. They could compare and contrast the two parks. Which would they rather visit?
George Washington Goethals (born Brooklyn, New York, 1858; died New York, New York, January 21, 1928) was the chief engineer and the first governor of the Panama Canal. Idea: Children could learn about the problems he faced as he built the Panama Canal.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery (born Lyons, France, 1900; died in a military plane crash, July 31, 1944) was an author. He wrote The Little Prince.
Flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, celebrates Independence Day. Belgium relinquished control of this African country in 1960. It is about one and a half times the size of Alaska. The country is famous for its minerals and forest products. Over 75 million people live in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The capital is Kinshasa. Children could learn more at: Democratic Republic of Congo.
Charles Blondin
Charles Blondin walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope in 1859. Approximately 25,000 people watched the five-minute walk. On other occasions he walked across the falls on a tightrope pushing a wheelbarrow or on stilts. Idea: Children could draw a line on the playground. They could pretend the line was a tightrope. They could see if they could walk the line on stilts. Older children could read more at: Blondin.
Black-footed Ferrets
Fish and Wildlife Service was established in 1940. Its purpose is “working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” Children can learn more at: http://www.fws.gov/.
Amendment Twenty-Six to the Constitution was adopted in 1971. It changed the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen years. Idea: Children could find out why the voting age was changed. They could debate whether age eighteen is the right age to vote.