Henry Hudson discovered Hudson Bay in 1610. Aboard the Discovery, he felt the bay might really be the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean. In November his ship became icebound in the bay, and the men wintered on shore. The next year his crew mutinied, and he, his son, and some crew members were set adrift in a small boat. Children can learn more at: Henry Hudson.
Declaration of Independence was officially signed in 1776. Most people believe the Declaration was signed July 4, 1776. However, only John Hancock and Charles Thompson signed a draft on that day. Fifty delegates were at the official signing on August 2. Five more people signed the document before the end of the year. One more person signed it the following year. Children can examine a GREAT table of information regarding the signers of the Declaration of Independence at: Signers.
Census was taken in the United States for the first time in 1790. The census is taken every ten years; a number of economic and government decisions are based on the census and changes in census data. Idea: Children could take a mock census in their classrooms. They could also learn more at an amazing website: https://www.census.gov/schools/.
Positron was discovered by Carl D. Henderson in 1932. The positron is the anti-particle to the electron.
James Arthur Baldwin (born New York, New York, 1924; died Saint Paul-de-Vence, France, November 30, 1987) was a noted African-American writer. One of his most famous works is Go Tell It on the Mountain.
Vera Brosgol (born Moscow, Russia, 1984) illustrates books for children. She is also known as Verabee. Her works include Be Prepared! and The Little Guys. She received a 2016 Caldecott Honor Award for Leave Me Alone!
Holling C. Holling (born Holling Allison Clancy in Holling Corners, Michigan, 1900; died September 7, 1973) was a children’s author and illustrator. He received a 1942 Caldecott Honor Award for Paddle-to-the-Sea. He also received two Newbery Honor Awards: one in 1949 for Seabird, and one in 1952 for Minn of the Mississippi. He and his wife also created World Museum comic strips in the 1930s that promoted history and creativity. Children could learn more at: Holling C. Holling.
James Howe (born Oneida, New York, 1946) has written over 90 books for children and young adults. His books include the Bunnicula series and There’s a Monster under My Bed. He received the 2007 E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Houndsley and Catina. Children could learn more at: James Howe.
Pierre Charles L’Enfant (born Paris, France, 1754; died Prince Georges County, Maryland, June 14, 1825) was an American Revolutionary War hero and an architect. He drew up the plans for Washington, DC.
Christian Robinson (born 1986) has illustrated at least seventeen books for children. His illustrations in Last Stop on Market Street earned him a 2016 Caldecott Honor Award, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, and a Charlotte Zolotow Award. Children can learn more at: Christian Robinson.
Smokey Bear
Smokey Bear was “born” in 1944. The United States Forest Service created Smokey to teach children about preventing forest fires. Children can visit a VERY INTERESTING website at: https://smokeybear.com/en/smokey-for-kids.