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.
Irwin with Lunar Rover I
Apollo 15 was launched in 1971. Astronauts David Scott and James Irwin landed safely on the moon on July 30 and used a four-wheeled vehicle, Rover 1, to travel across the surface. Astronaut Alfred Worden remained in the command module, Endeavor. The crew returned safely to earth on August 7, 1971. Apollo 15 was the fourth crewed mission to land on the moon. Children can learn more at: Apollo 15.
LRV in Final Resting Place
Astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) for six hours on the moon in 1971. The two men, plus Command Module Pilot Alfred M. Worden, lifted off aboard Apollo 15 on July 26, 1971. They spent close to three days on the moon and made two more trips aboard the LRV. The LRV could travel at rates between six and eight miles per hour. The crew successfully returned to earth on August 7, 1971. Children could learn more at: Apollo 15.
Flag of Qatar
Qatar celebrates Independence Day. It declared its freedom from Great Britain in 1971. About the size of Connecticut, Qatar is now ruled by Sheik Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The country obtains most of its income from oil and banking. Over two million people live in Qatar, and Doha is the capital.
London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
London Bridge was moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1971. Spanning the River Thames, London Bridge was built in 1831. However, by around 1970 the bridge was not structurally sound for modern traffic. The government planned to dismantle it. Robert P. McCulloch, founder of Lake Havasu City, purchased the bridge. The pieces were dismantled, numbered, shipped to Arizona, and reassembled. The bridge, connecting portions of Lake Havasu City, has become a tourist attraction.
Arches National Park in Utah was created in 1971. In 1929 the wind-eroded rock formations were declared a national monument. Then it became a national park. Children can visit a website at: Arches. There you will find excellent photographs, videos, and information for children. The video on Fiery Furnace is amazing!
Flag of United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates was formed in 1971 when seven sheikdoms united and formed one country that gained its independence from the United Kingdom. According to the CIA World Factbook, the country’s area is slightly smaller than the area of the state of Maine. About five million people live in this desert country. Abu Dhabi is the capital, and the UAE is known for its petroleum reserves.
Flag of Bahrain
Bahrain celebrates National Day. The country broke away from Great Britain in 1971. This archipelago of 33 islands lies in the Persian Gulf. According to the CIA World Factbook, Bahrain is about 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC. About 1.2 million people live in this desert country, and Manama is the capital. Bahrain’s economy depends on oil exports and tourism.
Capitol Reef National Park was establishe
d in 1971. Located in southern Utah, the park follows a one hundred-mile wrinkle in the earth’s crust. Visitors can view fossils, petrified trees, and Native American ruins. Children can visit the park’s website, featuring great panoramas and wonderful photos, at: http://www.nps.gov/care.
Apollo 14
Apollo 14 was launched in 1971! It was the third manned expedition to land on the moon. Commander Alan Shepard and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell walked on the moon on February 5, while Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa stayed in lunar orbit. Shepard and Mitchell collected over 94 pounds of lunar rocks, and Roosa carried several hundred seeds that were later germinated after their return to earth. Shepard actually “played golf” on the moon on February 6. Apollo 14 successfully returned to earth on February 9, 1971. Older children could learn more at: Apollo 14.