Eileen Collins
Eileen Collins became the first female commander of a space vehicle, Columbia, in 1999. During the mission she and the crew deployed the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which provides data on black holes and exploding stars. Older children could visit a website at: Eileen Collins.
Solar Impulse completed its circumnavigation of earth in 2016. Using only solar energy, the Swiss airplane started its flight from Abu Dhabi, United Emirates, on March 9, 2015. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the co-founders, wanted to show that flight was possible using only solar energy. Children could learn more at: Solar Impulse.
Patricia Coombs (born Los Angeles, California, 1926) writes and illustrates books for children. She writes the Dorrie the Little Witch series.
Robert Quackenbush (born Hollywood, California, 1929; died New York, New York, May 17, 2021) wrote at least 110 books and illustrated at least 60 books. He wrote both the Miss Mallard series and the Detective Mole series. Children could learn more at: http://www.rquackenbush.com/.
Vera Rubin (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1928; died Princeton, New Jersey, December 25, 2016) was an astronomer who studied galactic rotation curves. Her work led to the concept of dark matter. Children can learn more about her at: Vera Rubin. Children can learn about dark matter and dark energy at a GREAT site: Dark Matter.
Detroit was founded in 1701. Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac arrived at the site of present-day Detroit. Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit was the area’s first construction. The French built the fort originally to keep British settlers from moving west. After the French and Indian War, the fort was turned over to the British. During the Revolutionary War, the fort was too far west to see much action. The British did not relinquish control of Fort Detroit until 1796, thirteen years after the Treaty of Paris. A conflagration hit the Detroit area in 1805, and experts believe no part of the original fort still stands.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Built around 1450 high in the Andes, the “Lost City of the Incas” was probably built for their leader Pachacuti. Bingham, a historian from Yale University, was looking for another city when a local guide brought him to Machu Piccu. The area was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Children can learn more at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/274.
Cousins Day was created by Claudia A. Evart. Idea: Children could write postcards to their cousins.
Esther Averill (born Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1902; died New York, New York, May 19, 1992) wrote and illustrated books for children. She is best known for The Cat Club series, twelve books about a cat named Jenny Linsky and her feline friends.
Simon Bolivar (born Caracas, Venezuela, 1783; died Santa Marta, Colombia, December 17, 1830) was a South American patriot, often known as “The Liberator.” Children could read A Picture Book of Simon Bolivar, by David A. Adler.
Alexandre Dumas (born Villers-Cotterets, France, 1802; died near Dieppe, France, December 5, 1870) was a prolific French writer of action/adventure books. His works include The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Children can read many of his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart (born Atchison, Kansas, 1898; disappeared Pacific Ocean, July 2, 1937) was a famous aviator. In 1932 she became the first woman to solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip took thirteen hours and thirty minutes. She also flew from Hawaii to California in 1935. Around July 2, 1937, she and her navigator, while attempting to circumnavigate the world, went missing under unusual circumstances; their bodies and plane have yet to be found. Children could learn more at: Amelia Earhart.
Amy Ehrlich (born New York, New York, 1942) has written at least 35 books for children. Her works include Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson and Kazam’s Magic.
Sherry Garland (born McAllen, Texas, 1948) writes fiction and nonfiction for children. Her more than 30 books include The Buffalo Soldier and Voices of the Alamo. Children can visit her website at: http://www.sherrygarland.com/.
Charlotte Pomerantz (born Brooklyn, New York, 1930; died Charlottesville, Virginia, July 24, 2022) wrote at least 35 books for children. The Princess and the Admiral received the 1975 Jane Addams Book Award, and If I Had a Paka: Poems in Eleven Languages earned a 1983 Jane Addams Honor Award.
Flag of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico celebrates Constitution Day. Also called Commonwealth Day, the day celebrates the island’s 1952 constitution adoption. A United States territory, this Caribbean island is a bit less than three times the size of Rhode Island. Although it has a tropical climate, the country often experiences droughts and hurricanes. About 3.7 million people live in Puerto Rico, and many of the inhabitants have jobs related to dairy farming, sugar production, or tourism. More than 3.6 million tourists visit Puerto Rico each year. San Juan is the capital. Children could learn more at: Puerto Rico.
James VI, King of Scotland, also became King of England in 1603. He took the name James I in England. He succeeded Queen Elizabeth I, who had no children. The king had the Bible translated into English (King James Version). Jamestown and the James River were named after him.
Louis Bleriot before take-off
Louis Bleriot became the first person to fly a plane across the English Channel. He left Les Baraques, France, in 1909 and landed in Dover, England. The trip took 36 minutes 30 seconds. The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, had offered a reward of £1000 to the first successful aviator. Bleriot received the reward, and he instantly became famous. Children could read the 1984 Caldecott Medal book The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot, July 25, 1909 by Alice Provensen and Martin Provensen.