Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase was finalized in 1803. The United States bought more than a million square miles of land from France for about twenty dollars a square mile. Children could find out why France sold the land to the United States. What is that land worth now? Children could find more information at: Louisiana Purchase.
Sacagawea died in 1812 at Fort Manuel on the Missouri River. Her exact birth is unknown; most experts agree on the year 1787. Sacajawea was an interpreter for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. She was a Shoshone Indian who had been captured by enemies. She was sold as a slave to a French-Canadian trapper. She and the trapper joined the expedition. Idea: Many experts believe the expedition would have failed if she had not gone along. Children could investigate and list all that she accomplished by visiting: Sacagawea. They could also read Sacajawea: Crossing the Continent with Lewis and Clark by Emma Carlson Berne.
Montgomery Bus Boyctt
Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott ended in 1956. A Supreme Court decision forced the bus company to end segregation. The boycott had begun December 5, 1955, over a year before. Children can learn more at: Bus Boycott.
Richard Atwater (born Chicago, Illinois, 1892; died Chicago, Illinois, August 21, 1948) was a children’s author. He and his wife, Florence Atwater, are famous for writing Mr. Popper’s Penguins. The book won a 1939 Newbery Honor Award.
Sandra Cisneros (born Chicago, Illinois, 1954) is an author. She has written at least eight books, and she has contributed to several anthologies. She is best known for The House on Mango Street, published in 1984.
Lulu Delacre (born Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, 1957) writes and illustrates bilingual books for children. She published Arroz Con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America in 1989. She has won three Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Awards: The Bossy Gallito (1996), Arrorró, Mi Niño : Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games (2006), and The Storyteller’s Candle: La velita de los cuentos (2010). The Storyteller’s Candle is about Pura Belpré. Children can visit Delacre’s website and find some “fun freebies” at: Lulu Delacre.
Harvey Samuel Firestone
Harvey Samuel Firestone (born Columbiana, Ohio, 1868; died Miami Beach, Florida, February 7, 1938) created Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. At first he produced solid rubber tires. Then he experimented and developed air-filled tires. He, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford sponsored joint projects regarding synthetic rubber.
Dennis Brindell Fradin (born Chicago, Illinois, 1945; died Evanston, Illinois, August 29, 2012) wrote over 300 nonfiction children’s books. One excellent, excellent book is The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence.
Can’t Wait for Summer Beach Days
Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The word solstice means “the sun stands still.” The amount of daylight is shortest and the amount of darkness is the most for the whole year today in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the amount of daylight is the longest, and the amount of darkness is the shortest. Different cultures mark the day in different ways. Children could read about some of those celebrations in The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Caroline McVicker Edwards. They could also visit a very interesting website at: Winter Solstice.
Phileas Fogg won his wager in 1872. The main character of Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days returned to the Reform Club in London under the time limit of 80 days. He won the bet of 20,000 pounds. Could children find out how much 20,000 pounds was in dollars in 1872? Children can read Around the World in Eighty Days at: Project Gutenberg.
First crossword puzzle was created in 1913 by Arthur Wynne and published in the New York World newspaper. He called his puzzle Word-cross, but the name soon changed to Crossword. The puzzle was an immediate success, and he began publishing weekly puzzles. Soon readers were sending in their own crossword puzzles. Children can see the first crossword puzzle and read more about it at: First Crossword Puzzle.
Earthrise by Apollo 8 Astronauts
Apollo 8 was launched in 1968. Apollo 8 was the first manned mission to leave earth’s orbit, orbit the moon, and return to earth safely. One of the main goals was to view the dark side of the moon. Commander Frank Borman, Lunar Module Pilot William Anders, and Command Module Pilot James Lovell orbited around the moon on December 24 and returned to earth on December 27. On Christmas Eve they broadcast live from space and read the first ten verses of Genesis. The television show was the most watched program at that time. Children could learn more at: Apollo 8.
Benjamin Disraeli (born London, England, 1804; died London, England, April 19, 1881) was an English politician and writer. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1837. He was the country’s prime minister in 1868 and from 1874 to 1880.
Susan Pearson (born Boston, Massachusetts, 1946) has written at least 35 children’s books. A favorite is How to Teach a Slug to Read. Other books include The Drowsy Hour: Poems for Bedtime and Squeal and Squawk: Barnyard Talk.
Roger Williams (born London, England, circa 1603; died Providence, Rhode Island, April 18, 1683) was a colonial theologian who believed in freedom of religion. He was banished from the Massachusetts Colony in 1636. He and his followers bought land from the Native Americans and founded the colony of Providence. Children could learn more at: Roger Williams.
Christmas is three days away! Children enjoy being crafty and being outside. Let’s combine those two interests. Children could make simple centerpieces from bits of pine branches, holly, and holly berries. They can add pinecones, twigs, ribbon, tissue paper flowers, and other goodies. They could read a great book. Christmas Is… by Gail Gibbons.