Surveyor 3
Surveyor 3 was launched in 1967. It made a soft landing on the moon on April 20, 1967. Astronauts from the Apollo 12 mission to the moon brought back parts of the Surveyor. Children could analyze this photograph of the Surveyor. They could find out how it worked and how it was able to land without sinking into the moon’s dusty surface. Children could learn more at: Surveyor 3.
Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase (born Somerset County, Maryland, 1741; died Baltimore, Maryland, June 19, 1811) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented Maryland. He also served on the Supreme Court as an associate justice from 1796 until he died. Children could learn more at: Samuel Chase.
Martyn Godfrey (born Birmingham, England, 1949; died St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, March 10, 2000) wrote at least 30 fantasy and science fiction books for children. His books include More than Weird and the Ms. Teenie-Wonderful series.
John Pierpont Morgan (born Hartford, Connecticut, 1837; died Rome, Italy, March 31, 1913) was a financier and corporate executive. He helped finance American Telegraph and Telephone, and he reorganized several railroads after a panic in 1893. He enjoyed collecting art, and his collections were often loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Idea: Children could brainstorm a list of famous paintings. Each could then create a fictional personal art gallery of his/her favorites.
Jillian Tamaki (born Ottawa, Canada, 1980) is an illustrator. Her illustrations in This One Summer earned her a 2015 Caldecott Honor Award.
Thornton Wilder (born Madison, Wisconsin, 1897; died Hamden, Connecticut, December 7, 1975) was a playwright and novelist. He received a Pulitzer Prize in 1928 for his novel, The Bridge of San Luis Rey. He also won Pulitzers for his plays, “Our Town” and “The Skin of Our Teeth.” Children can learn more at: Thornton Wilder.
National Animal Crackers Day is today! Invented in England, the slightly sweet biscuits made their way to the United States in the late 19th century. Several companies produce animal crackers today. Nabisco bakes Barnum Animal Crackers, selling 40 million boxes per year. Idea: Children could open a box of animal crackers and see which animals are in their boxes. They could make a parade of the circus animals and then consume with a big glass of milk.
Flag of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe celebrates Independence Day. The country gained its independence from Great Britain in 1980. According to the CIA World Factbook, Zimbabwe is slightly bigger than Montana. Located in southern Africa, this landlocked country is home to about 13 million people. The country exports gold, platinum, and textiles. Harare is the capital. Children could learn more at: Zimbabwe.
Paul Revere
William Dawes
Paul Revere and William Dawes conducted their famous horse ride at 10:00 PM in 1775. They warned their fellow patriots that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. Children could read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s account of the ride, “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” at: Midnight Ride. They could learn more at: Revere and Dawes.
Street Sweepers after the Earthquake
San Francisco suffered a severe earthquake in 1906. The quake and subsequent fires, occurring at 5:13 AM, killed almost 4,000 people and destroyed much of the city. Children can compare San Francisco then and now at: San Francisco.
Babe Ruth
Yankee Stadium opened in 1923. Nicknamed “The House that Ruth Built,” it hosted 74,000 fans. Babe Ruth made the day really special by hitting a three-run homer that won the game. Yankee Stadium closed in 2008, and a new stadium opened nearby.
Clarence Darrow (born Kinsman, Ohio, 1857; died Chicago, Illinois, March 13, 1938) was a lawyer. He defended John Scopes in the famous case of creationism versus evolution, sometimes known as “The Monkey Trial.” That trial was the basis for the play and movie, Inherit the Wind.
Mitchell Sharmat (born Brookline, Massachusetts, 1927; died Tucson, Arizona, July 25, 2011) wrote books for children. He wrote Gregory, the Terrible Eater, and he wrote with his wife, Marjorie Sharmat, the Nate the Great series.
Easter Bunny by Sandie Obrin
Easter is tomorrow! Today may be the day to dye Easter eggs, make spring placemats, or create signs welcoming the Easter bunny. Children could read The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing.
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord, in 1775, marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. About 700 British troops were marching toward Lexington and Concord to destroy military supplies. Approximately 70 Minutemen met the redcoats in Lexington. Records do not indicate clearly who fired the first shot, but eight Minutemen died. Ten more Minutemen were injured. One British soldier was wounded. The British continued on to Concord and then turned back toward Boston. Along the way, patriots shot at the redcoats. British casualties came to 250, and American casualties numbered 90. Children could learn more at: Minute Man National Historical Park.