James Monroe
Monroe Doctrine was established in 1823 in James Monroe’s address to Congress. He stated that the American continents were not to be further colonized by European nations. Older children could visit the State Department Historian website to understand more about the doctrine at: Monroe Doctrine. They can also read a transcript of the doctrine at: Monroe Doctrine Transcript.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve was formed in 1980. Visitors can view tidewater glaciers and both brown and black bears at this 3.3 million acre park in Alaska. Children could visit the National Park website that provides outstanding etours, children’s activities, and even coloring sheets at: http://www.nps.gov/glba.
Photo by Kent Miller
Denali National Park and Preserve was created in 1980. The six million acre park contains Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet. Children could visit the National Park website to see amazing panoramas and interactive activities at: http://www.nps.gov/dena. Denali is home to many kinds of animals. Children could research Denali and its inhabitants. Each child could make a postcard, featuring an animal, from the national park.
Peter Carl Goldmark (born Budapest, Hungary, 1906; died Westchester, New York, December 7, 1977) invented long-playing records and color television.
Don Lessem (born 1951) is a children’s author and dinosaur aficionado. He has written at least 50 science books, including Feathered Dinosaurs and Great Plant-Eating Dinosaurs. Children could visit his website, loaded with information about dinosaurs, at: Don Lessem.
David Macaulay (born Burton-on-Trent, United Kingdom, 1946) has written and illustrated at least 30 books for children. He received a 1974 Caldecott Honor Award for Castle: The Story of Its Construction. He earned the 1978 Caldecott Medal for Castle and the 1991 Caldecott Medal for Black and White. Idea: Macaulay’s Motel of the Mysteries is great fun to read. He makes fun of the conclusions archeologists sometimes make. Enjoy the book with the children. Then see if they can think of other “artifacts,” draw and label them Motel of the Mysteries style. Children could view his very interesting TED talk at: David Macauley.
Georges Pierre Seurat (born Paris, France, 1859; died Paris, France, March 29, 1891) was a painter who developed pointillism. Rather than painting with brush strokes, Seurat made dots of paint side by side. When the viewer stepped away from the artwork, images appeared. One of his most famous works is Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte, painted in 1886. Children can view some of his works at: Georges Pierre Seurat. Children can make great pointillism works. Markers with angled tips seem to work best. Remember to place scrap paper under the art paper.
Flag of Laos
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) celebrates Republic Day when in 1975 the country ended its monarchy. This land-locked country in Southeast Asia is about the size of Utah. About 6.5 million people live in this mountainous, forested country. Vientiane is the capital. The country exports coffee and tin. Children could learn more at: Laos.
Illinois Flag
Monarch Butterfly
Illinois became the twenty-first state of the United States in 1818. Its name derives from the word iliniwek, meaning tribe of the superior men. The state’s nickname is the Prairie State. While Springfield is the state capital, Chicago is a very large transportation center for rail, air, and water. Springfield was the site of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates. Illinois still grows large amounts of corn and soybeans, but it also has deposits of coal and gas. The monarch butterfly is the state insect. Children could visit an Internet site at: Illinois. Monarch butterflies make annual migrations to winter in trees in Mexico, California and Florida. Children could find out more about the monarch butterfly and its migration patterns.
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass in 1847 printed the first issue of North Star, an abolitionist newspaper. Older children could read his words from the Library of Congress collection at: North Star.
Joseph Conrad (born Jozef Teodor Konrad Nalecz Kozeniowski in Poland, 1857; died Bishopsbourne, Kent, England, August 3, 1924) was a writer. He came to England when he was sixteen; he could not speak English. He worked for the British navy for sixteen years and perfected his English. Most of his works relate to the sea. One of his most famous works is Lord Jim, published in 1900. Older children can read his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Gilbert Stuart Self Portrait
Gilbert Charles Stuart (born Narragansett, Rhode Island, 1755; died Boston, Massachusetts, July 9, 1828) was an artist, known particularly for his portraits of over 1000 people, including the first six United States Presidents. Stuart is known for a painting of George Washington that he never completed. He actually made copies of that portrait and sold them. Students could generate reasons why he never completed the project. Children can view a large selection of his art at: Gilbert Stuart.
National Cookie Day is today! In 1987 Matt Nader of the San Francisco Blue Chip Cookie Company decided cookies needed their own holiday. Idea: Children could certainly make their own cookies today. They could also poll friends and family members as to everyone’s favorite type of cookie.
First Thanksgiving in North America was held in 1619 when 38 colonists from Berkeley Parish (England) reached the New World in Virginia and prayed, thanking God for a safe voyage.