Birthdays

 Birthdays
Jun 272026
 

Lucille Clifton (born DePew, New York, 1936; died Baltimore, Maryland, February 13, 2010) wrote poetry and children’s books. Her book Amifca received a Jane Addams Special Recognition Award in 1978. Everett Anderson’s Good-bye earned the 1984 Coretta Scott King Medal. Children could learn more at: Lucille Clifton.

File:Paul Laurence Dunbar circa 1890.jpg

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (born Dayton, Ohio, 1872; died Dayton, Ohio, February 9, 1906) was the son of former slaves. He wrote novels, but he is best remembered for his poetry. He published twelve books. Children can read his works at: Project Gutenberg.

James Lincoln Collier (born New York, New York, 1928) is an author. He wrote with his brother, Christopher Collier, My Brother Sam Is Dead.

Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan

Helen Adams Keller (born Tuscumbia, Alabama, 1880; died Westport, Connecticut, June 1, 1968) was a lecturer despite being deaf and blind. When she was nineteen months old, she became very sick and lost her sight and hearing. At age seven, she met Anne Sullivan. Anne taught her Braille; and she even learned how to speak. She graduated with honors from Radcliffe in 1904. She traveled and lectured for most of her adult life. The play The Miracle Worker was written in 1959. It became a movie in 1962. Children could learn more at: http://www.braillebug.org/hkfacts.asp.

Helen Sewell (born Mare Island, California, 1896; died New York, New York. February 24, 1957) illustrated at least 60 books for children. She received a 1955 Caldecott Honor Award for her illustrations in The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh. She early on illustrated some of the Little House on the Prairie series until Garth Williams replaced her in 1953. Children can learn more at: Helen Sewell.

World War I Start and Conclusion

 Events
Jun 282026
 

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Bosnia in 1914. This event ignited the flames that would eventually become World War I.

Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, concluding World War I. Idea: Children could gather statistics on the war. They could also learn how the war changed military tactics. Children could learn more at: World War I.

Early Bird Satellite – 1965

 Events
Jun 282026
 

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.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Jun 282026
 

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.

Republic of Seychelles Celebrates Independence Day

 Events
Jun 292026
 

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.

Mesa Verde National Park Was Created in 1906

 Events
Jun 292026
 
Cliff Palace

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.

Olympic National Park Was Created in 1938

 Events
Jun 292026
 
Lake Crescent sunset

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?

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Jun 292026
 

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.

Democratic Republic of Congo Celebrates Independence Day

 Events
Jun 302026
 

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.

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