Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman governor. She became Wyoming’s top executive in 1925. Her husband was governor, but he died of complications from an appendectomy. She then ran for the governorship and won. The National Governors Association provides a great database regarding governors at: http://www.nga.org/cms/home.html. Children could find out how many of today’s governors are women.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver Recognition Day remembers his death in 1943 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Carver’s exact birthday is unknown, but he was probably born a slave in 1864. He worked hard to earn an education. Booker T. Washington brought him to Tuskegee University in 1896, and Carver stayed there for 47 years. There he taught farmers to rotate crops and to grow crops other than cotton. He is famous for devising many uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes. Children could read more at: George Washington Carver.
Alvin Ailey (born Rogers, Texas, 1931; died New York, New York, December 1, 1989) was a choreographer and dancer. He created the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and he strove to increase the importance of African Americans in dance. Idea: Children could learn more about different types of dancing.
Lynne Cherry (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1952) is a children’s author and illustrator. She has over 30 books to her credit. Her books include The Great Kapok Tree and A River Ran Wild. Children could visit her website at: Lynne Cherry.
Stephen Decatur (born Sinepuxent, Maryland, 1779; died Bladenburg, Maryland, March 22, 1820) was a naval officer. He is famous for saying, “Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.” He was killed in a duel with Commodore James Barron.
Kate Feiffer (born New York, New York, 1964) has written eleven books for children. Her father, Jules Feiffer, has illustrated at least four of the eleven books. Her books include Double Pink and Signed by Zelda. Children can check out her website at: Kate Feiffer.
Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Pike (born Lamberton, New Jersey, 1779; died near Toronto, Canada, April 27, 1813) was an explorer. In 1805 he investigated the source of the Mississippi River. In 1806 he became intrigued with a large mountain in Colorado. Thinking the mountain was close, he and his party started walking toward it. They were fooled by the mountain’s height and its true distance from them. That mountain was named Pike’s Peak. Later he signed up to fight in the War of 1812. He was killed in battle. Idea: Pike’s Peak hosts a very important road race every year. Create a “road race” of questions regarding mountains. Each time a student answers a question correctly, he/she speeds more up the mountain. Children could also visit: http://www.zebulonpike.org/. The website provides maps of his explorations and information about him.
Christmas is celebrated by members of the Armenian Church.
Epiphany is celebrated by some Christians. Some people believe the magi visited Jesus on this day. In some cultures gifts are exchanged, and special dinners take place.
La Befana visits children in Italy. The “Befana,” or witch, enters homes the previous night through the chimney. She leaves good children nice toys in their stockings. Bad children find coal in their stockings. The day is celebrated with parades and feasts. Children could read a classic, The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola.
New Mexico State Flag
New Mexico became the forty-seventh state of the United States in 1912. Although New Mexico is one of the youngest states, it boasts some of the oldest American structures. Spaniards traveled on El Camino Real (the Royal Highway) in 1581; and Santa Fe, the capital, was built in 1609 or 1610. New Mexico ranks fifth in area but 36th in population. Children could visit an Internet site at: New Mexico. Idea: Children could create some math problems regarding how long ago New Mexico’s historical treasures were created.
George Washington Carver received Patent Number 1522176 in 1925. The patent concerned a “pomade or vanishing cream” made from peanuts. Prior to his patent, most pomades were made from animal fat.
Joan of Arc (born Domremy, France, 1412; died Rouen, France, May 30, 1431) led French troops against the British. Declaring she had religious visions, she persuaded Charles VII to give her an army. She was successful for quite some time. She was captured by the British. She was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in 1431. Idea: Children could research her battles and plot them on a map. They could read Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley.
Vera Cleaver (born Virgin, South Dakota, 1919; died Florida, August 11, 1992) wrote books for children. She and her husband Bill Cleaver wrote about sixteen books, including Ellen Grae (a 1968 Newbery Honor Book), Where the Lilies Bloom (a 1970 Newbery Honor Book), and I Would Rather Be a Turnip. Children can learn more at: Vera Cleaver.
Sherlock Holmes (born 1854) was a fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. You can read many of the Sherlock Holmes stories at: Project Gutenberg.
Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg (born Galesburg, Illinois, 1878; died Flat Rock, North Carolina, July 22, 1967) was a poet, writer, and historian. His free verse poetry depends on strong imagery. One of his books of poetry is Corn Huskers, written in 1918. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for his biographies of Abraham Lincoln. Children could read some of his poetry at: http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/28. They could also take a virtual trip of Connemara, his home in North Carolina for the last 22 years of his life: http://www.nps.gov/carl/index.htm.
Jedediah Strong Smith (born Jericho, New York, 1799; died on the Santa Fe Trail, Kansas, May 27, 1831) was an American explorer. He claimed to be the first American to arrive in California. Children could read a biography, Jedediah Smith (Watts Library) by Sharlene Nelson and Ted Nelson.
Wendelin Van Draanen (born Chicago, Illinois, 1965) is a children’s author. She has written the Sammy Keys series, the Shredderman series, and the Gecko and Sticky series. Her first Sammy Keys book, Sammy Keys and the Hotel Thief, was awarded the 1999 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Writing. Children could visit her website at: Wendelin Van Draanen.
National Old Rock Day is today! Scientists estimate that some of earth’s rocks are over four billion years old. Children could celebrate the day by examining rocks or by learning about the rock cycle.
Model of First Balloon
Dr. John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight across the English Channel in 1785. Jeffries, an American physician and meteorologist, and Blanchard, a French aviation inventor, flew from Dover, England, to Calais, France. They almost dropped into the English Channel and had to jettison almost everything to keep themselves in the air. Legend indicates that Blanchard even threw his trousers overboard!
Presidential elections occurred in the United States for the first time in 1789. Basically George Washington ran unopposed. He received 69 electoral votes. John Adams won 34 electoral votes. Therefore, according to the Constitution at that time, Washington became president, and Adams became vice president. Children can check out an absolutely amazing website and see ANY presidential election result at: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/.