2025 December » Celebrate and Learn

Nobel Prizes Are Awarded Today!

Events

Dec 102025

Alfred Nobel

Nobel Prizes are awarded today. This day marks the 1896 death of Alfred Nobel, the creator of the Nobel Prizes. He stipulated that the income from his estate of about nine million dollars was to be awarded to people who have made contributions to the betterment of humanity. The categories are physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, economics, and peace. The first award was given in 1901. Children could go on the Internet and find the recipients. They could then find the countries these people represent and do some statistics. Research shows that about 60 percent of the recipients represent the United States. Children could visit the website at: http://www.nobelprize.org/.

Birthdays

Dec 102025

Melvil Dewey (born Adams Center, New York, 1851; died Highlands County, Florida, December 26, 1931) created the Dewey decimal book classification system. He advocated the use of the metric system as well. You can read some of his works at: Project Gutenberg.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (born Amherst, Massachusetts, 1830; died Amherst, Massachusetts, May 15, 1886) was a poet. A very shy individual, she rarely traveled. Only a few of her poems were published during her lifetime. After her death, her sister Lavinia found hundred of poems among her effects. Lavinia was able to publish some of the poems. People appreciated Dickinson’s work and more poems were issued. About 1,775 poems have been published, and Emily Dickinson is now regarded as one of America’s best poets. Children can find many of her poems at: Project Gutenberg.

Cornelia Funke (born Dorsten, Germany, 1958) writes fantasy and adventure stories for children. Her books include Dragon Rider, The Thief Lord, and the Inkheart Trilogy. Children could visit her absolutely amazing website at: Cornelia Funk.

Ada Lovelace (born London, United Kingdom, 1815; died Marylebone, United Kingdom, November 27, 1852) was a mathematician. She is best known for her work regarding Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Some experts credit her with being the first computer programmer. Children could read Ada Lovelace: Poet of Science by Diane Stanley.

Mary Norton (born London, England, 1903; died Hartland, England, August 29, 1992) was a children’s author. One of her most famous works is Bedknobs and Broomsticks, published in 1957. She also wrote several books about the Borrowers. Children could learn more at: Mary Norton.

Ernest Howard Shepard (born London, England, 1879; died London, England, March 24, 1976) was an artist and illustrator of children’s books. He illustrated Wind in the Willows and Winnie-the-Pooh. Children can learn more at: Ernest Howard Shepard.

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Was Created in 1946

Events

Dec 112025

United Nations Flag

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was created in 1946 to help post-World War II children. Today UNICEF provides services, including education, vaccination, and nutrition, to children in 190 countries. Children can visit the UNICEF website at: http://www.unicef.org/.

International Mountain Day

Events

Dec 112025

United Nations Flag

International Mountain Day is today! Created in 2003 by the Food and Agriculture Commission of the United Nations, the day asks us to keep mountains safe. Mountains house fifteen percent of our population and half of our plant and animal species. Mountains also provide us with fresh water. This year’s theme is Restoring Mountain Ecosystems.

Burkina Faso Celebrates Republic Day

Events

Dec 112025

Flag of Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso celebrates Republic Day. In 1958 the Republic of Upper Volta became a self-governing colony of France. Eventually the country changed its name to Burkina Faso and became independent of France. Slightly larger than the state of Colorado, this African country is landlocked. Its land is mostly flat, and its climate is tropical. Over eighteen million people live in Burkina Faso, and Ouagadougou is the capital. Older children can learn more at: Burkina Faso.

Happy Birthday, Indiana!

Events

Dec 112025

Indiana Flag

Indiana became the nineteenth state of the United States in 1816. Indianapolis is the state capital, and the state’s nickname is the Hoosier State. Mound builders lived in the area around AD 1000. It is about 36,185 miles square, placing it thirty-eighth in area. It ranks fourteenth in population. Farming is a leading source of employment in the north, and rich coal deposits can be found in the southern parts of the state. It is the leading U. S. producer of limestone. Children could visit an Internet site at: Indiana. The Indianapolis 500 has been running since 1911. Children could make a board game about Indiana. The board could be a speed track. The students who know the most about Indiana would win the game.

Aurora Borealis Was First Documented in North America in New England in 1719

Events

Dec 112025

Aurora Borealis was first documented in North America in New England in 1719. Stories state that Cotton Mather observed the natural phenomenon and considered it an omen of evil. An aurora borealis (northern lights) occurs when charged particles from a solar wind interact with earth’s atmosphere. Children can learn more at: Aurora Borealis.

Orion Successfully Returned to Earth in 2022

Events

Dec 112025

Orion successfully returned to earth in 2022. Artemis I sent Orion, its upper stage without humans aboard, toward the moon on November 16, 2022. Orion traveled 1.4 million mles and circled the moon for 25.5 days before returning to earth. Data regarding both the project and the moon will indicate how to improve Artemis II that will send four astronauts to the moon in 2024. The rocket launched from Cape Kennedy Space Center. Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean when it returned. Older children can learn more at: Artemis I.

Birthdays

Dec 112025

Annie Jump Cannon

Annie Jump Cannon (born Dover, Delaware, 1863; died Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 13, 1941) was an astronomer. She located several hundred new stars. However, she is best known for cataloging and classifying more than 225,000 stars. She developed a system that used the letters O, B, A, F, G, K, and M. O=blue stars (the hottest stars), B=blue-white stars, A=white stars, F=yellow-white stars, G=yellow stars, K=orange stars, M= red stars (the coolest stars). Children could read Annie Jump Cannon, Astronomer, written by Carole Gerber and illustrated by Christina Wald. Older children could learn more at: Annie Jump Cannon.

Robert Koch (born Clausthal, Germany, 1843; died Baden-Baden, Germany, May 27, 1910) was one of the earliest bacteriologists. He discovered the specific bacteria that cause tuberculosis, anthrax, cholera, and other diseases. He also conducted experiments on sleeping sickness. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1905 for his studies regarding tuberculosis. Children could read Robert Koch and the Study of Anthrax by Kathleen Tracy. Perhaps a nurse could visit and discuss the importance of getting rid of bacteria.

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (born Kislovodsk, USSR, 1918; died Moscow, Russia, August 3, 2008) was a Russian author, activist, and dissident. One of his best known works is One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. He was awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Poinsettia Day Is Today!

Events

Dec 122025

Poinsettia Day marks the death of Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett. A United States diplomat assigned to Mexico, he was the first person to bring the poinsettia plant from Central America to the United States. The plant was named in honor of him. He died in 1851 near Statesburg, South Carolina. Now the poinsettia is associated with the Christmas season. The red portions of a poinsettia are actually a type of bracket leaf. The real flowers are the yellow dots in the center of the red bracket leaves. Children could read Tomie dePaola’s The Legend of the Poinsettia.

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