International Archaeology Day is today! The day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October. Created by the Archaeological Institute of America, the day promotes knowledge of our many archaeological sites. The National Park Service is one of the day’s sponsors. Children could learn more at: International Archaeology Day.
Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley gained her freedom in 1773. Born around 1753 probably in Gambia or Senegal, she was sold into slavery when she was seven years old. Purchased by the Wheatley family, she was well-educated. She began writing poetry in 1767. She was emancipated after her book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published on September 1, 1773. Children can read some of her works at: Project Gutenberg. Children can learn more about her life at: Phillis Wheatley.
Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloth
International Sloth Day is today! Celebrated on the third Saturday in October, the day raises awareness of sloths and their importance to the environment. Six types of sloth exist today; some species are three-toed and some are two-toed. All six types eat leaves of the group Cecropia. Two-toed sloths are omnivorous, eating fruits, carrion, and insects for example. Three-toed sloths are herbivorous. All living species of sloths today live in trees, but ancient, extinct ground-dwelling sloths could be the size of elephants. Interesting fact: about every eight days sloths slowly climb down their trees to pee and poop. Then they cover up their droppings and climb back up the trees.
Inner Workings of Transistor Radio
Transistor radio was sold for the first time in 1954. Texas Instruments created the small and portable radio. These radios allowed people to hear music wherever and whenever. Billions of transistor radios were sold during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology for theorizing the double-helix structure of DNA. Children could learn more at: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1962/summary/. Notice that Rosalind Franklin was not included in the Nobel Prize.
First All-Woman Space Walk occurred in 2019. Ms. Christina Koch and Dr. Jessica Meir conducted a 7-hour 19-minute walk outside the International Space Station and replaced a broken power controller. The first such walk was supposed to happen in March 2019, until project managers realized the International Space Station did not have two suits suitable for women. Children can learn more at: All-Woman Space Walk.
James Brooks (born St. Louis, Missouri, 1906; died Brookhaven, New York, March 8, 1992) was an artist. He began his artistic career painting murals for the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration. Later his works became more abstract. Children can learn more and view some of his works at: James Brooks.
Joyce Hansen (born New York, New York, 1942) writes books for children. She has received four Coretta Scott King Honor Awards: in 1987 for Which Way Freedom, in 1995 for The Captive, in 1998 for I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl, and in 1999 (with Gary McGowen) for Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York’s African Burial Ground. Children can visit her website at: Joyce Hansen.
Ntozake Shange (born Trenton, New Jersey, 1948; died Bowie, Maryland, October 27, 2018) was a playwright, a poet, and an author. She wrote several books for children, including Ellington Was Not a Street and Coretta Scott.
Colin Thompson (born London, England, 1942) writes and illustrates fantasy books for children. His works include The Floods series and Looking for Atlantis. Children can visit his very interesting website, including some great illustrations, at: Colin Thompson.