World Manta Day is today! Manta rays live in tropical or sub-tropical waters. They feed on large quantities of zooplankton by swimming with their mouths open. The giant manta (Mobula birostris) lives in more open ocean waters and can have a wing span of 23 feet. The reef manta (Mobula alfredi) can have a wing span of up to 18 feet. Both are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Interesting fact: mantas visit cleaning stations where cleaner fish remove parasites from the mantas’ skins.
Scene at the Signing of the Constitution by Howard Chandler Christy
Constitutional Convention unanimously approved the Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Almost all of the 42 delegates signed the document. It then had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states. Children could find some very interesting questions about the members of the Convention at: Archive
Today is also Constitution Day, when school children across the country learn about the Constitution and its signers. A wonderful book about the signers is Dennis Brindell Fradin’s The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the U. S. Constitution. Children could also visit http://www.constitutionday.cc/. There they could take a quiz and construct a poster.
Citizenship Day recognizes all new citizens. Presidential Proclamation has acknowledged this day since 1952. Over a million immigrants a year become United States citizens. Idea: Children could interview someone who has become a United States citizen. How does someone become a citizen? They could follow a simple flow chart at: http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/apply-citizenship.
Antietam National Cemetery
Battle of Antietam occurred in 1862. This Civil War battle was called America’s bloodiest day because over 25,000 soldiers were killed on the shores of the Potomac River. Children could learn more at: Battle of Antietam.
First Successful Transcontinental Flight Started in 1911. Calbraith Perry Rodgers left Sheepshead Bay, New York, on September 17, 1911. After making 70 stops, mostly crash landings, he landed in Pasadena, California, on November 5, 1911. Although the trip took 50 days, Rodgers was flying for only 3 days, 10 hours, and 14 minutes. About all that was left of the original plane was the drip pan and the vertical rudder.
National Football League was created in Canton, Ohio, in 1920.
Elizabeth Enright (born Oak Park, Illinois, 1909; died Wainscott, New York, June 8, 1968) wrote and illustrated works for both children and adults. She received the Newbery Medal in 1939 for Thimble Summer and a 1958 Newbery Honor Award for Gone-Away Lake. Children could learn more at: Elizabeth Enright.
Rube Foster (born Andrew Foster in Calvert, Texas, 1879; died Kankakee, Illinois, December 9, 1930) was “The Father of Negro Baseball.” He was a pitcher and manager of the Chicago Lelands and the Chicago American Giants before he organized the Negro National League. He was the League’s president from its inception until his death. Children can learn more at: Rube Foster.
Gail Carson Levine (born New York, New York, 1947) has written at least 25 books for children. Her Ella Enchanted was a 1998 Newbery Honor book. She also wrote A Tale of Two Castles and The Wish. Children could visit her website at: Gail Carson Levine.
John Rutledge (born Charleston, South Carolina, 1739; died Charleston, South Carolina, July 18, 1800) represented South Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. He started his law career at age eleven, and he eventually served in South Carolina’s Supreme Court. Children could learn more at: John Rutledge.
David H. Souter (born Melrose, Massachusetts, 1939) is a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court. He served on the Supreme Court from October 8, 1990 to June 29, 2009. Children can learn more at: David H. Souter.
James Smith (born Ulster, Ireland, 1719; died York, Pennsylvania, July 11, 1806) signed the Declaration of Independence. Representing Pennsylvania at the Second Continental Congress, he was a lawyer and surveyor. Children can learn more at: James Smith.
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (born Magdeburg, Prussia, 1730; died Remsen, New York, November 28, 1794) aided the American army during the Revolutionary War. General George Washington made him a major general. He was in charge of the army’s training. He taught them how to march and to use muskets and bayonets. Older children could read a biography of him at: Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben.