Children Waiting for Polio Vaccine
First mass inoculations of Salk polio vaccine took place in 1954. Polio was a terrifying disease affecting thousands of children. Jonas Salk’s vaccine brought relief for families around the world. To understand more about polio’s devastation, children can read Peg Kehret’s excellent autobiography, Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio.
Solar powered battery was first demonstrated in 1954. Scientists of Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey, used solar powered batteries to activate a toy Ferris Wheel and a radio transmitter. Children can review a timeline of solar energy at: Solar Energy.
Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister was the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes in 1954. In Oxford, England, about 3,000 spectators watched the young doctor complete the mile run in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. His record lasted only 46 days when John Landy ran the mile in 3 minutes 58 seconds.
Thurgood Marshall
Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision was announced in 1954. The Supreme Court ruled against segregation in education. “Separate but equal” was not equal. Thurgood Marshall, pictured here, was one of the lawyers representing Brown. Children can learn more at: Brown v. Board of Education.
Helicopter
VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Land) craft was demonstrated for the first time in 1954. Today’s helicopters are the most popular form of VTOL, but other forms do exist. Children can learn how helicopters work at: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/helicopter.html.
Sports Illustrated appeared for the first time in 1954. Currently three million people subscribe to the magazine, and 23 million people read the weekly magazine.
Inner Workings of Transistor Radio
Transistor radio was sold for the first time in 1954. Texas Instruments created the small and portable radio. These radios allowed people to hear music wherever and whenever. Billions of transistor radios were sold during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Flag of Algeria
Algeria celebrates Revolution Day, remembering its 1954 revolution against France. The country, located in northern Africa, is about 3.5 times the size of Texas. Its natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, lead, zinc, and phosphates. It is a member of OPEC. Over 38 million people live in Algeria, and Algiers is the capital. Children could learn more at: Algeria.
Humane Society of United States was founded in 1954. The goal of the organization is to protect animals. Older children could learn more at: Humane Society.