National Voter Registration Day is today! This day, always a Tuesday in September, encourages people to register to vote. People eighteen years and older can vote on election day, but they have to first register to vote. Children can learn more at: Register.
United Nations Flag
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is today! The United Nations commemorates this day in 1987 when nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. We need the ozone layer, so today is a good day to respect our layers of atmosphere.
Flag of Mexico
Mexico celebrates Independence Day. It declared its freedom from Spain in 1810. Mexico, a bit smaller than three times the size of Texas, is home to 116.2 million people. Bordering the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, the country experiences earthquakes and hurricanes. Mexico City is the capital. Children could learn more at: Mexico.
Flag of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea celebrates Independence Day. The country became independent in 1975, but it remains part of the British Commonwealth. It is composed of the larger island of New Guinea, the second biggest island in the world, and 600 smaller islands. About 6.4 million people live in Papua New Guinea, and Port Moresby is the capital. Older children could learn more at: Papua New Guinea.
Mayflower set sail in 1620 with 102 passengers and a meager crew. Its destination was Jamestown in Virginia, but it encountered terrible storms and was blown off course. It arrived at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1620. The passengers went ashore at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 26, 1620. Children could read On the Mayflower by Kate Waters. They could also visit: Mayflower.
Participants Waiting for the Land Rush
Cherokee Strip Land Rush occurred in 1893. At noon 100,000 settlers raced to stake parcels of land in what is now Oklahoma. Over 6.5 million acres were settled in just one day. Older children can learn more at: Land Rush.
Curious George Flies a Kite
H. A. Rey (born Hans Augustus Reyersbach, Hamburg, Germany, 1898; died Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 26, 1977) was a children’s author and illustrator. He and his wife Margaret Rey are best known for their books featuring Curious George. Children can learn more about his amazing life by reading The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey by Louise Borden. Children can learn more at: H. A. Rey.
Joanne Ryder (born Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey, 1946) has written at least 25 books for children. Her works, incorporating poetry and science, include My Father’s Hands and Wild Birds. She is married to Laurence Yep. Children can view a list of her books and read reviews of those books at: Joanne Ryder.