RMS Queen Mary made her first voyage in 1936. She traveled from Southampton, England, to New York, New York. She shuttled passengers between North America and Europe for many years. During World War II the ship was refitted to transport troops. After the war she again became a luxury liner until 1967 when she was retired to Long Beach, California. Today the RMS Queen Mary is a tourist attraction.
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic in 1937, and vehicles could cross the bridge on May 28. Construction began on January 5, 1933. About 4,200 feet long, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge until 1964 when the Verrazano Narrows Bridge opened. Children can learn more at: Research. They could also learn more at America’s Library: Golden Gate.
Francis Beaufort (born Ireland, 1774; died England, December 17, 1857) was a scientist and naval officer. He created the Beaufort Wind Force Scale. Children can view the scale at: Beaufort Scale.
Amelia Jenks Bloomer (born Homer, New York, 1818; died Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 30, 1894) was a women’s rights activist. Her name is associated with “bloomers.”
Rachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson (born Springdale, Pennsylvania, 1907; died Silver Springs, Maryland, April 14, 1964) was an environmentalist and an author. Her book Silent Spring sparked discussion over the use of pesticides. Children could read Rachel Carson, Caring for the Earth by Elizabeth Ring. They can also learn more at: Rachel Carson.
Nathaniel Gorham (born Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1738; died Charlestown, Massachusetts, June 11, 1796) represented Massachusetts at the Constitutional Convention. During the convention, he was president of the Committee of the Whole. When representatives wanted to speak more informally, the Committee of the Whole took over the session. Children could learn more at: Nathaniel Gorham.
Wild Bill Hickok (born James Butler Hickok in Troy Grove, Illinois, 1837; died Deadwood, South Dakota, August 2, 1876) was a frontiersman and a lawman. He was killed while playing poker in a saloon.
Julia Ward Howe
Julia Ward Howe (born New York, New York, 1819; died Newport, Rhode Island, October 17, 1910) was a fervent abolitionist and women’s suffragist. She wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Children could learn more at: Julia Ward Howe.
M. E. Kerr (born Auburn, New York, 1927; died Springs, New York, November 21, 2022) is one of Marijane Meaker’s pen names. M. E. Kerr wrote books for young adults, and she received the 1993 Margaret A. Edwards Award for her body of work.
Lynn Sweat (born Alexandria, Louisiana, 1934) writes and illustrates books for children. He illustrates Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia series.
Flag of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan celebrates the 1918 founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the CIA World Factbook, Azerbaijan is a bit smaller than the state of Maine. This landlocked country is composed of semiarid steppes. Almost 10 million people live in the country, and oil and natural gas provide a fairly solid economy. Baku is the capital. Children can learn more at: Azerbaijan.
A Solar Eclipse
Solar eclipse ended a battle in 585 BC. The Medes were battling the Lydians in the Battle of Halys in what is now Turkey. The two sides decided the eclipse was a sign from the gods that battle had to stop. A truce was hastily arranged, and the daughter of the king of Lydia married the son of the king of Medea. Children could learn more about solar eclipses at: Solar Eclipse.
John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt
Sierra Club was organized in 1892 in San Francisco, California. John Muir was the first president. Children could visit the group’s website at: http://www.sierraclub.org.
First color and talking film was produced in 1929. “On with the Show” premiered in New York, New York.
Debby Atwell (born Providence, Rhode Island, 1953) writes and illustrates books for children. Her books include Barn and Pearl.
Ian Lancaster Fleming (born London, England, 1909; died Canterbury, England, August 12, 1964) was an author. In addition to his James Bond books, he wrote for children. One of his children’s books is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, published in 1964.
Jim Thorpe
James Francis Thorpe (born Prague, Oklahoma, 1888; died Lomita, California, March 28, 1953) was an Olympic athlete, a baseball player, and a football player. Part-Native American, he was raised on the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma. Controversy surrounded his career as to when he became a professional athlete. Children could read Jim Thorpe, Original All-American by Joseph Bruchac.
Johann David Wyss ( born Bern, Switzerland, 1743; died Bern, Switzerland, January 11, 1818) and his family wrote Swiss Family Robinson. He also wrote the Swiss national anthem. Children can learn more at: Johann Wyss. Children can read Swiss Family Robinson at: Project Gutenberg.
Flag of Nepal
Nepal celebrates Republic Day. It declared itself a republic in 2008. Located in the Himalayas between China and India, the country is about the size of Arkansas. Eight of the ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest, are within the country’s boundaries. Almost 31 million people live in Nepal, and Kathmandu is the capital. Children could learn more at: Nepal.
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island became the thirteenth state in the United States by ratifying the Constitution in 1790. Its name relates back to the island of Rhodes. It was the last of the original thirteen colonies to join the Union. The smallest of all the states, it manufactures jewelry, silver and textiles. Rhode Island ranks 45th in population. Providence is the state capital, and the state nicknames are the Ocean State and Little Rhody. The state bird is the Rhode Island Red, a hen that can lay up to 300 eggs per year. IDEA: Children might want to boil some eggs and make egg salad. They could also visit an Internet site at: Rhode Island.