Zebras
International Zebra Day is today! Three species of zebras exist today: Grévy’s zebra, plains zebra, and mountain zebra. Located in southern Africa in protected areas, zebras will graze on whatever they can find. The zebra is a relative of the horse. However, zebras have never been domesticated.
Backwards Day is celebrated today. Children could wear shirts or hats backward today.
Flag of Nauru
Nauru celebrates Independence Day. It gained its independence from a United Nations Trusteeship managed by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom in 1968. Nauru is a small island, only 8.1 square miles (one-tenth the size of Washington, DC), and supports about 10,000 inhabitants. Yaren is the capital. The interior used to hold reserves of phosphates, used to make fertilizers. However, the phosphates have been exhausted. Located just south of the equator in Micronesia, the country has a tropical climate. Children can learn more at: Nauru.
A. G. MacDonald in 1905 drove an automobile for the first time faster than 100 miles per hour. The speed trial was located in Daytona Beach, Florida.
First Social Security check was issued in 1940. Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, Vermont, received check 00-000-001 for $22.54. She lived to the age of 100. Today over 64 million people receive Social Security checks. Children can learn more at: https://www.ssa.gov/history/imf.html.
First US Satellite Explorer I was launched in 1958, four months after Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2 were sent into space. It returned data, including confirmation of the Van Allen Radiation Belts, to the United States for four months until the batteries died. More than 90 more Explorer projects followed. Children could view a table of all the Explorer projects at: Explorer Projects.
Apollo 14
Apollo 14 was launched in 1971! It was the third manned expedition to land on the moon. Commander Alan Shepard and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell walked on the moon on February 5, while Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa stayed in lunar orbit. Shepard and Mitchell collected over 94 pounds of lunar rocks, and Roosa carried several hundred seeds that were later germinated after their return to earth. Shepard actually “played golf” on the moon on February 6. Apollo 14 successfully returned to earth on February 9, 1971. Older children could learn more at: Apollo 14.
Denise Fleming (born Toledo, Ohio, 1950) writes and illustrates children’s books. Her book In the Small, Small Pond received a 1995 Caldecott Honor Award. She has published 20 books using an unusual illustrating technique. She produces her own paper pulp, adds vivid dyes, and forces the pulp through stencils. Then she combines these images to produce her illustrations. Children can learn more about her techniques and participate in her many, many amazing activities at: Denise Fleming.
Zane Grey (born Zanesville, Ohio, 1872; died Altadena, California, October 23, 1939) was a novelist best known for his westerns. Two of his most famous works were Riders of the Purple Sage and The Last of the Plainsmen. He wrote more than 50 books. Young adults can read many of his books at: Project Gutenberg.
Gerald McDermott (born Detroit, Michigan, 1941; died Los Angeles, California, December 26, 2012) was a children’s book author and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated 20 books. He illustrated at least ten books written by other authors. His book Anansi the Spider received a 1973 Caldecott Honor Award. Next, Arrow to the Sun earned the 1975 Caldecott Medal. In 1993 Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest received a Caldecott Honor Award. Children could learn more at: Gerald McDermott.
Gouverneur Morris (born Morrisania, New York, 1752; died Morrisania, New York, November 6, 1816) was an American patriot. He attended the Continental Congress and after the war helped Robert Morris settle the United States financially. He was minister to England and France and was a senator from New York. Children could learn more at: Gouverneur Morris.
Robert Morris (born Liverpool, England, 1734; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1806) was an American patriot and a merchant. He was one of only two men who signed all three important documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. After the Revolutionary War, he helped the new country get on its feet financially. He was also a senator from the state of Pennsylvania. Later he was forced into bankruptcy and had to go to debtor’s prison. Children could visit a website at: Robert Morris.
Jackie Robinson (born Cairo, Georgia, 1919; died Stamford, Connecticut, October 24, 1972) was a baseball player. He left the army in 1945 as a first lieutenant and played baseball for the Monarchs, a team in the Negro American League. He was then signed to the Royals, a minor league team. After one season, he moved to the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African American to play for the major leagues. He played second base from 1947 to 1956. He was also the first African American to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Children could read a great biography, A Picture Book of Jackie Robinson, by David A. Adler. Older children could learn more at: Jackie Robinson.
Franz Schubert (born Vienna, Austria, 1797; died Vienna, Austria, November 19, 1828) was a composer. His music combined classicism and romanticism. He created over six hundred pieces of music, but he was not popular during his own lifetime. His works include Unfinished Symphony and Die Zauberharfe (The Magic Harp).