Romulus Augustulus Was Deposed in AD 476

 Events
Sep 042026
 

Romulus Augustulus, leader of the Roman Empire, was deposed in AD 476. This is a very confusing story. Romulus was made the Roman emperor by his father Orestes on October 31, 475. Poor Romulus was only about ten years old. After Romulus had been emperor for about ten months, barbarian leader Odoacer defeated Orestes and took over the leadership on this day in AD 476.  However, he did not declare himself a Roman emperor. Many experts believe this event marks the fall of the Roman Empire. Idea: Children could find maps of the Roman Empire. How far did its power reach?

Mark Spitz in 1972 Became the First Person to Win Seven Gold Medals in One Olympic Competition

 Events
Sep 042026
 

Mark Spitz in 1972 became the first person to win seven gold medals in one Olympic competition. He received gold medals in: 100 meter freestyle, 200 meter freestyle, 4 X 100 meter freestyle relay, 4 X 200 meter freestyle relay, 100 meter butterfly, 200 meter butterfly, and 4 X 100 meter medley relay. His record lasted until Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympics.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Sep 042026
 

Syd Hoff (born New York, New York, 1912; died Miami Beach, Florida, May 12, 2004) was a children’s book author and illustrator. One of his books is Danny and the Dinosaur. Children could visit a website devoted to him at: Syd Hoff.

Sarah Childress Polk (born Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1803; died Nashville, Tennessee, August 14, 1891) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1845 to March 4, 1849. She was the wife of James Polk, eleventh president of the United States. She was a very active First Lady, serving as her husband’s secretary. Children could visit a website at: Sarah Childress Polk.

Amazon Rainforest Day

 Events
Sep 052026
 

Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest Day is today! The Amazon rainforest takes up 2.1 million square miles of land, occupying parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Suriname, Peru, French Guiana, Guyana, Ecuador, and Colombia. About ten percent of all plant and animal species live in the Amazon rainforest. Twenty percent of all bird and fish species live there, and scientists are still identifying insect species native to the region. The Amazon rainforest has been experiencing deforestation as farmers slash and burn to create farmland. Children could learn more at: Amazon.

National Hummingbird Day

 Events
Sep 052026
 

Anna’s Hummingbird in Big Bend

National Hummingbird Day is today! Celebrated on the first Saturday of September, the day honors our smallest types of birds. About 336 species of hummingbirds exist, and they are native to the Americas. These small birds can quickly stop midair, and they are the only birds that can fly backward. Their needle-like bills allow them to extract flower nectar. Their eggs are about the size of a pea. They are called hummingbirds because their wings beat so many times in a second that they produce a low hum.

International Vulture Awareness Day

 Events
Sep 052026
 

Turkey Vulture

International Vulture Awareness Day is today! Designated for the first Saturday in September, the day recognizes vultures, birds that may be unattractive but are vital to the world’s ecology. Vultures eat carrion, dead animals. These scavengers help rid our planet of dead matter. Ornithologists list 23 species of vultures living today. Unfortunately several of the species are endangered or even critically endangered. Children could learn more at: Vultures.

National Cheese Pizza Day

 Events
Sep 052026
 

National Cheese Pizza Day is today! Cheese pizza accounts for about 41 prcent of all pizzas consumed. Idea: Children could poll friends and family as to how they like their cheese pizza, New York thin crust of Chicago deep dish. They could munch on cheese pizza while they research Amazon Rainforest Day, also celebrated today.

First Continental Congress Met Secretly in 1774 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 Events
Sep 052026
 
First Prayer of First Continental Congress

First Prayer of First Continental Congress

First Continental Congress met secretly in 1774 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In response to the Intolerable Acts, 56 representatives from 12 colonies discussed their grievances. Georgia did not send members. Peyton Randolph from Virginia was the president. The First Continental Congress, which ended on October 26, 1774, had accomplished two goals. The group decided that the colonies would boycott British goods starting in September 1775. Also they agreed to meet again in May 1775. Idea: Children could find out how people were chosen to attend the First Continental Congress. They could also read the journals of the meetings at: Journals.

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