Flag of Mauritius
Mauritius celebrates Independence Day. It became a free nation in 1968, but it is still part of the British Commonwealth. About 2/3 the size of Rhode Island, this island country is located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The island had been colonized by various countries and often served as a way station for navies. About 1.3 million people live on the island, and sugar cane is the predominant crop. Port Louis is the capital. Children could learn more at: Mauritius.
Girl Scouts of the United States of America was established in 1912. A week of celebrations usually revolves around March 12. Children could visit a website at: Girl Scouts.
“Fireside Chats” were held for the first time by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. These radio broadcasts from the White House were his way of communicating his concerns and triumphs to America. He delivered 30 Fireside Chats over eleven years. He started a trend that other presidents followed. For example, President Obama delivered an online weekly address. Older children could see the list of Fireside Chats at: Fireside Chats. Then they can click on each one to see the text.
Daniel Cohen (born Chicago, Illinois, 1936; died Cape May, New Jersey, May 6, 2018) wrote over 100 nonfiction books for children. His books include Allosaurus and other Jurassic Meat-Eaters and Civil War Ghosts.
Charles Cunningham Boycott (born Norfolk, England, 1832; died Suffolk, England, June 19, 1897) is famous because his last name is so much a part of our language. He owned a number of properties. He charged high rents, and he evicted those who could not pay the money. The tenants refused to rent from him, and thus the word boycott came into being. Idea: Brainstorm a list of words that have come from someone’s name.
Virginia Hamilt
on (born Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1936; died Yellow Springs, Ohio, February 19, 2002) wrote at least 41 books for children. She received many, many honors and awards, including the 1992 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the 1995 Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, and several Coretta Scott King Awards. Her book M. C. Higgins the Great received the 1975 Newbery Medal. She also wrote In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World which received a 1989 Newbery Honor Award. Children could visit a website devoted to her at: Virginia Hamilton.
Carl Hiaasen (born Plantation, Florida, 1953) writes books for children and young adults. His book Hoot received a 2003 Newbery Honor Award. Children can visit his website at: Carl Hiaasen.
Naomi Shihab Nye (born Saint Louis, Missouri, 1952) writes poetry and novels. Her book Sitti’s Secrets received the 1998 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award.
Jane Pierce
Jane Means Appleton Pierce (born Hampton, New Hampshire, 1806; died Andover, Massachusetts, December 2, 1863) was America’s First Lady from March 4, 1853 to March 4, 1857. She was the wife of Franklin Pierce, fourteenth president of the United States. She did not want her husband to run for the office. Mourning the death of one of their sons, she was not a very active First Lady. Children could visit a website at: Jane Pierce.
Wally Schirra (born Hackensack, New Jersey, 1923; died La Jolla, California, May 3, 2007) was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts. He was the first person to travel into space three times. In 1962 he piloted Mercury-Atlas 8 and orbited the earth six times. Then he was part of the crew of Gemini 6A. He was commander of Apollo 7. He and his crew spent eleven days in space, carrying out experiments. He received an Emmy for his transmissions from space to earth. After his NASA years, he became a television commentator regarding the space program. Children can visit a website devoted to him at: Wally Schirra.
Andrew Young (born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1932) is a civil rights leader. He was a Congressperson from Georgia 1973 to 1977, United States ambassador to the United Nations in the Carter administration from 1977 to 1979, and mayor of Atlanta from 1982 to 1990, . Children could learn more at: Andrew Young.
Earmuff Patent
National Earmuff Day is today! Earmuffs were patented by Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine, in 1877. He was fifteen years old when he invented the Champion Ear Protectors. He had his grandmother add some fur to the ends of a piece of wire. He received Patent Number 188,292. His invention became a factory, employing community members. Children can view the patent at: Earmuff Patent.
2007 Image of Uranus and Rings
Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1781. The planet is actually a gas giant, composed of methane, helium and hydrogen. Its temperature hovers around -355 degrees Fahrenheit. Some scientists believe that despite the cold surface temperatures, a core about fifteen times the size of earth has a temperature of approximately 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It possesses at least five major moons, ten minor moons, and thirteen rings. Idea: Encourage children to try to develop some kind of transport that could land on the gas giant. They could learn more at: Uranus.
Not the First Uncle Sam but perhaps the most famous
“Uncle Sam” cartoon was published for the first time in 1852. Frank Bellew developed the political cartoon for The New York Lantern, a newspaper.
World Standard Time was accomplished in 1884. The International Meridian Conference met in Washington, DC. The group established the Prime Meridian through Greenwich and established 24 time zones. Prior to that conference, different countries used different times. In the United States, different railroads used different time systems. It was all very confusing! Children can find the time in different cities world wide at: World Clock.
Diane Dillon (born Glendale, California, 1933) is a picture book illustrator. She and her husband Leo Dillon, who died in 2012, are the only people to have received two Caldecott Medals back to back. They illustrated, among other works, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale (1976 Caldecott Medal) and Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (1977 Caldecott Medal). They also received a 2005 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for The People Could Fly: A Picture Book.
Percival Lowell (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1855; died Flagstaff, Arizona, November 12, 1916) was an astronomer. Lowell instigated the research that ultimately found Pluto. The former planet was found fourteen years after he died. He created the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona Territory in 1894. The observatory is still in operation.
Abigail Powers Fillmore (born Stillwater, New York, 1798; died Washington, DC, March 30, 1853) was America’s First Lady from July 9, 1850 to March 4, 1853. She was the first wife of Millard Fillmore, thirteenth president of the United States. A teacher, she was the first First Lady to work before and after she was married. After they moved into the White House, she created its first library. She also had the first bathtub installed, and the first kitchen stove was added. Prior to that, food had been prepared over an open fireplace. Children could visit a website at: Abigail Fillmore.
Joseph Priestley (born Fieldhead, England, 1733; died Northumberland, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1804) was a scientist and a cleric. While he is most famous for discovering oxygen, he actually isolated nine other gases, including carbon dioxide. He lived in the United States for ten years.
Ellen Raskin (born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1928; died New York, New York, August 8, 1984) was a children’s author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated twelve picture books. She illustrated at least 25 books written by other authors, including Rebecca Caudhill and Aileen Fisher. She wrote four novels for children. She received a 1975 Newbery Honor Award for Figgs and Phantoms. One of her most well-known books is The Westing Game, which earned Raskin the well-deserved 1979 Newbery Medal. Children could visit a website at: Ellen Raskin.
Thomas Rockwell (born New Rochelle, New York, 1933; died Danbury, Connecticut, September 27, 2024) wrote books for children. The son of Norman Rockwell, he is known for his book How to Eat Fried Worms.
Pi Pie
Pi Day is today (3.14)! Larry Shaw started Pi Day in 1988 when he was a physicist at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Today schools across the country will host Pi Day activities and then students might eat slices of pie. Pi is the relationship of a circle’s circumference divided by its diameter. An irrational number, pi has been calculated to 62.8 trillion decimal places. Several wonderful websites are devoted to Pi Day, but probably the best one is the Exploratorium site at: pi day.