Feb 032024
 

Challenger STS-41-B lifted off into space in 1984. The crew included Robert Gibson, Vance Brand, Ronald McNair, Robert Stewart, and Bruce McCandless. Stewart and McCandless became the first people to move freely in space without tethers. They were able to move about by using backpack jets.

Eileen Collins

Discovery STS-63 lifted off into space in 1995. On this mission Eileen Collins was the first woman pilot of a space shuttle. Discovery docked with the Russian space station Mir. Children can learn more about her at: Eileen Collins.

Children can examine all the missions at: STS Missions.

Feb 032024
 

Lowest Wind Chill of -108 degrees was recorded on Mount Washington, New Hampshire, in 2023. Experts believe it may be the lowest recorded temperature in the continental United States. Winds exceeded 100 miles per hour. Mount Washington recorded its strongest wind ever at 231 miles per hour in 1934. Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast (6,288 feet). The weather at the peak is harsh and difficult to predict. Children can find current weather conditions atop Mount Washington at: https://www.mountwashington.org/. The weather will probably be very windy and very chilly, even in the hottest days of the summer!

Feb 032024
 

Horace Greeley

Horace Greeley (born Amherst, New Hampshire, 1811; died New York, New York, November 29, 1872) was a journalist and an anti-slavery advocate prior to the Civil War. He started the New York Herald, and he encouraged settlement of the west. He is known for his statement, “Go west, young man.” Older children can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Walt Morey (born Hoquiam, Washington, 1907; died Wilsonville, Oregon, January 12, 1992) wrote fourteen books for children. Many of his books centered around conflicts/relationships between people and animals. He also wrote survival stories. Two of his most famous works are Gentle Ben and Kavik the Wolf Dog.

Felix Mendelssohn (born Hamburg, Germany, 1809; died Leipzig, Germany, November 4, 1847) was a pianist and a classical composer. He was playing in concerts by age nine and was performing his own compositions by age eleven. One of his most famous pieces of music is the Wedding March.

James Michener (born New York, New York, 1907; died Austin, Texas, October 16, 1997) was a novelist. His book of short stories, Tales of the South Pacific, published in 1947, was the basis for the musical, South Pacific. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1948. Other works are Hawaii and Texas. Children could visit the Michener Museum website that provides a virtual field trip regarding his life at: James Michener.

Joan Lowery Nixon (born Los Angeles, California, 1927; died Houston, Texas, June 28, 2003) wrote 102 books for children. One of her most well known works is the series A Family Apart, published in 1987. Children can learn more at: Joan Lowery Nixon.

Norman Rockwell (born New York, New York, 1894; died Stockbridge, Massachusetts, November 8, 1978) was an artist. He is probably most famous for his illustrations for the covers of the Saturday Evening Post. Idea: Students could view some of his works. They could list the works’ qualities that endeared him to so many other people. Children can view some of his works and enjoy a timeline of Rockwell’s life at: http://www.nrm.org/.

Gertrude Stein (born Allegheny, Pennsylvania, 1874; died Paris, France, July 29, 1946) was a writer and a friend to many avant-garde artists, including Pablo Picasso. She is famous for her saying, “A rose is a rose is a rose.” Older children can read some of her work at: Project Gutenberg.

Feb 042024
 
Sri Lanka

Flag of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day. The United Kingdom relinquished control of the island in 1948. The country, located southeast of India, exports tea, coconuts, and rubber. According to The CIA World Factbook, Sri Lanka is slightly larger than the state of West Virginia. Colombo is the capital. Over 21 million people live in this country that has a tropical monsoon climate. Idea: Children could open up coconuts and enjoy the milk. They could toast the coconut flesh and enjoy it. Older children could learn more at: Sri Lanka.

Feb 042024
 

Barbara Shook Hazen (born Dayton, Ohio, 1930) has written about 80 books for children. Her books include Katie’s Wish and The Knight Who Was Afraid of the Dark. Children can visit her website at: Barbara Shook Hazen.

Russell Hoban (born Lansdale, Pennsylvania, 1925; died London, England, December 13, 2011) was an author and an artist. He wrote over 60 books for children and over 15 books for adults. He also wrote poetry and plays. One of his books is Bedtime for Frances. Children could learn more at: Russell Hoban.

Charles Lindbergh

Charles Lindbergh

Charles A. Lindbergh (born Detroit, Michigan, 1902; died Kipahula, Maui, Hawaii, August 27, 1974) was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. He made the trip May 20-21, 1927. Called “Lucky Lindy,” he immediately became a hero. Children can read more about him at: Charles Lindbergh.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko (born Lithuania, 1746; died Solothurn, Switzerland, October 15, 1817) is often called the “Hero of Two Wars” because he fought for freedom in both America and Poland. He came to America in 1776 and presented himself to the Continental Congress. He had excellent engineering skills and built fortifications near Saratoga, West Point, and other locations. After the war, he received the rank of brigadier general. In 1784 he returned to Poland and became embroiled in a fight for freedom there. While his side won for a time, ultimately he was imprisoned. Children can visit a website at: Kosciuszko.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks

Rosa Louise Parks (born Tuskegee, Alabama, 1913; died Detroit, Michigan, October 24, 2005) was a civil rights leader. She refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, and was arrested on December 1, 1955. Children could read Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks and Jim Haskins. They can learn more at: Rosa Parks.

Feb 052024
 

Hermitage Museum opened to the public in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1852. Catherine the Great created the museum in 1764. One of the oldest museums in the world, the Hermitage houses nearly three million artifacts. Children can participate in a virtual tour or see virtual exhibits at the museum’s very interesting website at: Hermitage Museum.