Inventions and Patents

 Events
Apr 082025
 

Fire escape was patented in England in 1766. The system included a wicker basket on a series of pulleys and chains.

Fire escape ladder was invented in 1879 by J. R. Winters. He received patent number 214,224. Children could view his patent at: https://www.google.com/patents/US214224.

Margarine was patented by Alfred Paraf in 1873. The New York resident received patent number 137,564. Children could read about his process at: http://www.google.com/patents/US137564. They could do some research to see which is healthier, margarine or butter.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Apr 082025
 

Kofi Annan (born Kumasi, Ghana, 1938; died Bern, Switzerland, August 18, 2018) was the United Nations Secretary General from 1997 to 2006.

Ruth Chew (born Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1920; died Castro Valley, California, May 13, 2010) wrote and illustrated at least 30 books for children. Her works include The Wednesday Witch and The Enchanted Book. 

Linda Crew (born Corvallis, Oregon, 1951) writes books for children and young adults. Her books include Children of the River and Nekomah Creek. Children can visit her website at: Linda Crew.

Betty Ford

Betty Ford

Elizabeth “Betty” Bloomer Ford (born Chicago, Illinois, 1918; died Rancho Mirage, California, July 8, 2011) was America’s First Lady from August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977. She was the wife of Gerald Ford, the thirty-eighth President of the United States. Children could visit a website at: Betty Ford.

Trina Schart Hyman (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1939; died Lebanon, New Hampshire, November 19, 2004) wrote and/or illustrated more than 100 books for children. She received the 1985 Caldecott Medal for Saint George and the Dragon. She earned three Caldecott Honor Awards: in 1984 for Little Red Riding Hood, in 1990 for Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, and in 2000 for A Child’s Calendar. Children can learn more at: Trina Schart Hyman.

Harold Keith (born Lambert, Oklahoma Territory, 1903; died Norman, Oklahoma, February 24, 1998) wrote about fourteen books for children. His book Rifles for Watie received the 1958 Newbery Medal.

Lewis Morris (born Westchester County, New York, 1726; died Westchester County, New York, January 22, 1798) signed the Declaration of Independence. He represented New York. Prior to the Revolutionary War, he was a judge in a British court. During the Revolution, he was active in New York politics. Children could learn more at: Lewis Morris.

Julia Sauer (born Rochester, New York, 1891; died Rochester, New York, June 26, 1983) was a writer of children’s books and a librarian. Her Fog Magic, illustrated by Lynd Kendall Ward, earned a 1944 Newbery Honor Award. Her Light at Tern Rock received a 1952 Newbery Honor Award.

Sieur de La Salle Discovered the Mississippi River in 1682

 Events
Apr 092025
 

Mississippi River Basin

Sieur de La Salle, a French explorer, found the Mississippi River in 1682 and claimed it and the waters draining into it for France. The Mississippi River, 2,348 miles long, is the longest river in the United States. It ranges in depth from nine feet to 100 feet, and its drainage basin includes over one million square miles. Idea: Trace a map of the United States. Color the states whose rivers empty into the Mississippi. Add tributaries, such as the Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas Rivers.

Civil War Ended in 1865

 Events
Apr 092025
 

McLean House

Civil War ended in 1865 when Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia. Over 600,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, more than all the wars in total the United States has ever fought. Because most of the war had been waged in the South, many of the southern states suffered severe damages. The war, however, ended slavery and reunited all the states. Idea: The Civil War changed ideas regarding battle. Children could research the new machinery and novel battle strategies were used.

First Astronauts (Mercury Seven) Were Named in 1959

 Events
Apr 092025
 

First United States astronauts (Mercury Seven) were appointed in 1959. All seven original astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton) were men, and they were all in the military. Children could investigate present astronaut requirements. Who are some of our present astronauts? How have astronaut requirements changed since the beginning of the program? Children could learn more at: Mercury Seven.

Birthdays

 Birthdays
Apr 092025
 

Margaret Peterson Haddix (born Washington Court House, Ohio, 1964) has written at least 30 books for children. Her books include The Missing series and the Shadow Children series. Children could read more at: http://haddixbooks.com/.

Mary Jackson (born Hampton, Virginia, 1921; died Hampton, Virginia, February 11, 2005) was a mathematician and NASA’s first Black female aerospace engineer. She was featured in the movie Hidden Figures. Children can learn more at: Mary Jackson.

Onion John

Onion John

Joseph Krumgold (born Jersey City, New Jersey, 1908; died Hope Township, New Jersey, July 10, 1980) wrote books for children. He was the first author to receive two Newbery Medals. He received the 1954 Medal for …And Now Miguel, and his book Onion John earned the 1960 Medal. Children can learn more at: Joseph Krumgold.

Paul Bustill Robeson (born Princeton, New Jersey, 1898; died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1976) was an African American singer and actor.

Leonard Wibberley (born Dublin, Ireland, 1915; died Santa Monica, California, November 22, 1983) wrote at least 100 books. His most famous book is The Mouse that Roared. Children can learn more at: Leonard Wibberley.

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