World Space Week October 4 through October 10

 Events
Oct 042024
 

World Space WeekWorld Space Week, sponsored by the United Nations, is from October 4 through October 10. Created in 1999, the week commemorates events in space. This year’s theme is “Space Entrepeneurship.” Two events sparked the choice of these days:

  • Sputnik I, a Soviet spacecraft, was launched on October 4, 1957. It was the first successful man-made satellite, weighing 184 pounds and remaining in space for 21 days. Sputnik marked the beginning of the space race.
  • Members of the United Nations signed on October 10, 1967, the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

Other events related to space and air travel on this date are:

  • Jet passenger service began in 1958. The British airliner Comet flew from London to New York.

    SpaceShipOne

  • Luna 3 was launched in 1959 by the Soviets. It was the first spacecraft to photograph the moon’s far side.
  • SpaceShipOne became in 2004 the first private, successful, manned venture into space. Its owners received the $10 million Ansari X Ten Prize for their efforts. SpaceShipOne is now in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Oct 042024
 

Julia Cunningham (born Spokane, Washington, 1916; died Santa Barbara, California, February 27, 2008) wrote books for children. Her books include Dorp Dead and The Treasure Is the Rose. Children can learn more at: Julia Cunningham.

Karen Cushman (born Chicago, Illinois, 1941) is a children’s author. Catherine, Called Birdie was a 1995 Newbery Honor book. The Midwife’s Apprentice was the 1996 Newbery Award winner. Children can visit her website at: Karen Cushman.

Hays

Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford Birchard Hayes (born Delaware, Ohio, 1822; died Fremont, Ohio, January 17, 1893) was the nineteenth president (1877-1881) of the United States. He attended Harvard Law School. During the Civil War he was wounded five times. At the end of the war, he found himself with the rank of general. He returned to Ohio and eventually became its governor. He ran for president. He lost the popular vote, but he won the Electoral College vote. He concerned himself with improving civil service, and he ended a major railroad strike. He chose to run for only one term. Children could visit a website at: Rutherford B. Hayes.

Robert Lawson (born New York, New York, 1862; died Rabbit Hill, Westport, Connecticut, May 26, 1957) wrote and/or illustrated at least 45 books for children. He is the only person to earn both a Newbery Medal (in 1945 for Rabbit Hill) and a Caldecott Medal (in 1941 for They Were Strong and Good). He also received a 1958 Newbery Honor Award for The Great Wheel. Children can learn more at: Robert Lawson.

Eliza Johnson

Eliza McCardle Johnson

Eliza McCardle Johnson (born Leesburg, Tennessee, 1810; died Carter’s Station, Tennessee, January 15, 1876) was America’s First Lady from April 15, 1865 to March 4, 1869. She was the wife of Andrew Johnson, seventeenth president of the United States. She was frail and did not always serve as hostess in the White House. Her daughter, Martha Johnson Patterson, took over the role for her when she was ill. Children could visit a website at: Eliza McCardle Johnson.

Frederic Remington (born Canton, New York, 1861; died Ridgefield, Connecticut, December 26, 1909) was an artist. He was particularly interested in the Old West. His paintings are filled with action and adventure. He is also famous for his bronze works. Children could view many of his works at: Frederic Remington.

Damon Runyon (born Manhattan, Kansas, 1884; died New York, New York, December 10, 1946) was an author and a reporter. He is famous for his witty stories, including Guys and Dolls and Butch Minds the Baby.

Donald Sobol (born New York, New York, 1924; died Miami, Florida, July 11, 2012) wrote more than 65 books for children. He was best known for his Encyclopedia Brown series. Children can learn more at: Donald Sobol.

StratemeyerEdward Stratemeyer (born Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1862; died Newark, New Jersey, May 10, 1930) developed the Stratemeyer Syndicate that published more than 800 books for children and young adults. His Stratemeyer Syndicate produced such series as The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, The Bobbsey Twins, and Tom Swift. Idea: The Tom Swift series generated puns called Tom Swifties. Children could visit a website at: Tom Swifties. Students could enjoy the puns and then create some of their own.

Thomas Stone Died in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1787

 Events
Oct 052024
 
Thomas_Stone

Thomas Stone

Thomas Stone died in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1787. He was born in Charles County, Maryland, sometime in 1743. Representing Maryland, he signed the Declaration of Independence. He also served on the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He did not attend the Constitutional Convention because his wife was very ill. She died in June 1787, and he died four months later. Children could learn more at: Thomas Stone.

Interesting Communication Events

 Events
Oct 052024
 
Ruth

Babe Ruth played in the World Series for the Yankees

World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time in 1921. The New York Giants ultimately beat the New York Yankees in a best of nine games series. The games were broadcast through Pittsburgh’s KDKA.

President Harry Truman made the first telecast speech from the White House in 1947. He asked citizens of the United States to eat no meat on Tuesdays, no eggs or chickens on Thursdays, and to eat one slice of bread less per day so that food could be sent to Europe. That continent’s food production had been greatly reduced because of World War II.

Public Broadcasting Service came into being in 1970. Today 354 member stations exist.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Oct 052024
 
Chester Arthur

Chester Alan Arthur

Chester Alan Arthur (born Fairfield, Vermont, 1830; died New York, New York, November 18, 1886) was the twenty-first president (1881-1885) of the United States. He became president after James A. Garfield was killed. During his presidency, even his own party was not happy with him. He was not renominated in 1884. Children could visit a website at: Chester A. Arthur. Idea: Children could find out why Arthur was not renominated.

Carson Ellis (born Vancouver, Canada, 1975) writes and illustrates books for children. She wrote and illustrated Du Iz Tak? The book earned her a 2017 Caldecott Honor Award. She illustrated the Mysterious Benedict Society books.

Goddard and an Early Rocket

Goddard and an Early Rocket

Robert Hutchings Goddard (born Worcester, Massachusetts, 1882; died Baltimore, Maryland, August 10, 1945) is known as the “Father of the Space Age.” He was taunted because he thought space travel was a real possibility. He designed and launched a liquid fuel powered rocket in 1926. Idea: Children could find out how today’s rockets are fueled. Older children could see how today’s rockets are fueled at: Aluminum.

Louise Fitzhugh (born Memphis, Tennessee, 1928; died Bridgewater, Connecticut, November 19, 1974) was a children’s author. She wrote, among other works, Harriet the Spy, published in 1964.

Bil Keane (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1922; died Paradise Valley, Arizona, November 8, 2011) was a cartoonist. He created “Family Circus.” Currently his son Jeff carries on the family tradition.

David Shannon (born Washington, DC, 1960) has written and illustrated at least 35 books for children. He received the 1998 Caldecott Medal for No, David! Children can “read” his picture book A Bad Case of Stripes with Sean Astin at: http://www.storylineonline.net/

Gene Zion (born New York, New York, 1913; died New York, New York, December 5, 1975) wrote books for children. He often collaborated with his wife, Margaret Bloy Graham. Their works include Harry the Dirty Dog and Dear Garbage Man. Children can “read” Harry the Dirty Dog with Betty White at: http://www.storylineonline.net/harry-the-dirty-dog/.

National Noodle Day

 Events
Oct 062024
 

National Noodle Day is today! Almost every culture incorporates noodles in its cuisine, and everyone is the better for that. Idea: Children could list cultures and their noodles. Then they could make some simple noodle dishes and share them with friends and family.

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