My Caramel Apple Pie
National Pie Day is celebrated through tastings and competitions. Children could celebrate the day by first listing all the types of pies that they can think of (flavors of fruit pies, cream pies, pot pies, pizza pies). Then they could make a simple “pie” by filling a pie pan with chunky applesauce and covering with a mixture of 1 stick melted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 cup uncooked oatmeal, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. The “pie” can be baked or microwaved.
John Hancock’s Signature
National Handwriting Day stresses the importance of legibility. The day honors John Hancock’s birthday. John Hancock clearly and prominently signed the Declaration of Independence. Idea: Children could write, using their best penmanship, a thank you note to someone.
Presidential Election Day Act was passed by Congress in 1845. It established the presidential election day as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Prior to this act, states established their own day for voting. The days varied from early November to early December, leading to chaos, voter intimidation, and fraud.
Elizabeth Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical doctor’s degree in the United States in 1849. Children could learn more about Blackwell at: Elizabeth Blackwell. They could read Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell, written by Tanya Lee Stone and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. They could also interview an expert to find out how someone becomes a doctor.
Amendment Twenty-Four to the Constitution was adopted in 1964. It eliminated poll taxes and other taxes designed to prevent people from voting. Children can learn more about the background of the amendment at: Amendment Twenty-Four.
John Hancock
John Hancock (born Braintree, Massachusetts, 1737; died Quincy, Massachusetts, October 8, 1793) was an American patriot. He deliberately made his signature on the Declaration of Independence very prominent. His political activities irritated the British, and they started the famous march to Concord. After the war, he served as governor of Massachusetts for a number of years. Idea: Show the children a copy of the Declaration of Independence and his famous signature. Have a signature writing event where they try to copy his style. Jean Fritz wrote Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? Children might enjoy reading the book. Children could also learn more at: John Hancock.
Gertrude Belle Elion (born New York, New York, 1918; died Chapel Hill, North Carolina, February 21, 1999) was a scientist and inventor. In 1988 she was one of two people to earn the Nobel Prize in medicine for her work finding anti-leukemia drugs. In 1991 she became the first woman to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. She received 45 patents before she died in 1999. Children can learn more at: Gertrude Belle Elion.
Joseph Hewes (born Kingston, New Jersey, 1730; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1779) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented North Carolina. The son of Quakers, he started his career as an apprentice to a merchant. Soon he moved to North Carolina and became a very successful merchant using many ships. At first he opposed a break with England, but he changed his mind. He worked tirelessly to establish a navy for the colonies. However, he died before the Revolutionary War ended. Children could learn more at: Joseph Hewes.
Edouard Manet (born Paris, France, 1832; died Paris, France, April 30, 1883) was an impressionist painter. Born into a wealthy family, he counted Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Pissarro as friends. His brother married the painter Berthe Morisot. His paintings shocked the art community at the time. Children could visit a website at: Manet.