Flag of Bahrain
Bahrain celebrates National Day. The country broke away from Great Britain in 1971. This archipelago of 33 islands lies in the Persian Gulf. According to the CIA World Factbook, Bahrain is about 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC. About 1.2 million people live in this desert country, and Manama is the capital. Bahrain’s economy depends on oil exports and tourism. Older children can learn more at: Bahrain.
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party was a protest against a duty placed on imported tea. In 1773 over 100 men, dressed as Native Americans and led by Samuel Adams, boarded three English ships moored in Boston’s harbor. They dumped at least 300 chests of tea overboard. They did not wish to pay the tax for the tea. The British retaliated by imposing the Intolerable Acts on the colonists. These acts led to further opposition on the part of the colonists and eventually the meeting of the First Continental Congress. Children could read The Boston Tea Party, by Russell Freedman. Were the patriots right in what they did?
Jane Austen (born Steventon, Hampshire, England, 1775; died Winchester, England, July 18, 1817) was a writer. Two of her most famous works are Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Children can read many of her works at: Project Gutenberg.
Ludwig van Beethoven (born Bonn, Germany, 1770; died Vienna, Austria, March 26, 1827) was one of the greatest composers. He created nine symphonies, a number of overtures and chamber music, an opera and about 35 sonatas. He grew deaf in his later years, but he still was able to compose. Children could read Beethoven Lives Upstairs by Barbara Nichol.
Quentin Blake (born Sidcup, Kent, England, 1932) is a children’s author and illustrator. While he has written and/or illustrated at least 323 books, he is perhaps best known for his illustrations of books by Raold Dahl. He won the 1980 Kate Greenaway Award for his book Mister Magnolia. In 2002 he won the very prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for his body of works. He was knighted in 2013. Children could visit his website at: Quentin Blake.
Bill Brittain (born Rochester, New York, 1930; died Asheville, North Carolina, December 16, 2011) was an author. One of his books is All the Money in the World. Another of his most well-known works is The Wish Giver. It received the 1984 Newbery Honor Award.
Arthur Charles Clarke (born Minehead, England, 1917; died Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 19, 2008) was an author. He is best known for his science fiction, including 2001: A Space Odyssey. Children could learn more about him at: Clarke Foundation.
Marie Hall Ets (born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1895; died Inverness, Florida, January 17, 1984) was an author and/or illustrator of more than 20 children’s books. She received the 1960 Caldecott Medal for Nine Days to Christmas. Children could learn more at: Marie Hall Ets.
Wassily Kandinksy (born Moscow, Russia, 1866; died Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, December 13, 1944) was an abstract painter. He moved from Russia to Germany and eventually to France where he became a French citizen. Many experts consider him to be the founder of abstract art. Children can view some of his work at: Wassily Kandinsky.
Margaret Mead (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1901; died New York, New York, November 15, 1978) was an anthropologist and a writer. Coming of Age in Samoa, published in 1928, showed her strong interest in other cultures. Her writings often compared and contrasted two cultures. Older children could learn more at: Margaret Mead.
George Santayana (born Madrid, Spain, 1863; died Rome, Italy, September 26, 1952) was a philosopher. One of his most famous quotes is, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Children can read some of his earlier works at: Project Gutenberg.
Saturnalia was celebrated by the ancient Romans from December 17 through December 23. The festival was organized around the time of the winter solstice. The celebrations began with a festival honoring Saturn. Thereafter people wore their best clothing and sometimes peaked hats. Banquets and parties abounded. Gifts were exchanged on the third day of the festival.
Flag of Bhutan
Bhutan celebrates a national holiday, marking the 1907 beginning of the reign of King Ugyen Wangchuck. Ugyen Wangchuck successfully quelled some rebellions and peacefully united his country. He received many awards from other countries. Bhutan is a country about the size of Maryland and is located in the Himalayan Mountains. About 60 percent of the population (700,000 people) depends on subsistence farming or forestry. It exports hydropower to India. The capital is Thimphu. Older children could learn more at: Bhutan.
Aztec Calendar Stone
Aztec stone calendar was discovered in Mexico City in 1790. The huge stone, weighing almost 25 tons and measuring over eleven feet in diameter, was probably carved around 1479. It was buried soon after the Spanish arrived. The stone demonstrated how the Aztec 52-year calendar cycle worked. Children could also see how to make a simple calendar stone at:
Aztec Calendar Stone.
A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, was published in 1843. Dickens started working on the novella in September 1843, and it was finished only days before it was published. While Dickens did not receive the royalties he desired, the work was highly acclaimed. The work was adapted for the stage as early as February, 1844. Children can read the novella at: A Christmas Carol.
First Flight
Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first airplane in 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville piloted the first successful flight. Then Wilbur had his turn. Each flight lasted less than a minute. The flights were results of years of experimentation. Children could read Russell Freedman’s The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane.
Raúl Colón (born New York, New York, 1952) has illustrated more than 30 books for children. He illustrated Celebration! by Jane Resh Thomas and A Weave of Words by Robert D. San Souci. Children could watch a video at: Draw! where he talks about his book Draw!
William Floyd (born Brookhaven, Long Island, 1734; died Westernville, New York, August 4, 1821) signed the Declaration of Independence. Born to a wealthy farming family, he had little formal education. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774. During the Revolutionary War he continued to serve in Congress. He was also major general of a New York militia. The British discovered his strong political views and confiscated his estate. His wife and children were able to escape before the British arrived. The British turned his home into a barracks and ruined his property. After the war, he rebuilt his home. He was elected to the first House of Representatives and served from 1789 to 1791. Children could learn more at: William Floyd.
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1938) is the 266th (and current) pope. Children could learn more about Pope Francis at: Vatican.
Deborah Sampson (born Plympton, Massachusetts, 1760; died Sharon, Massachusetts, April 29, 1827) actually fought during the Revolutionary War. Since women were not accepted into the army during the Revolutionary War, she disguised herself as a man. For over a year, she was a capable fighter. She was wounded and chose to dress the wound herself because she was afraid she would be discovered. She became very ill and had to seek medical attention. Her secret was discovered, and she was discharged from the army. She received a military pension for a number of years. Idea: Children might want to read Ann McGovern’s The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson. Now women are part of the military. Children could interview a woman in the military. How is military service for women different from service in the past?
John Greenleaf Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittier (born Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1807; died Hampton Fall, New Hampshire, September 7, 1892) was a poet. A Quaker, he was active in the anti-slavery movement. One of his most famous poems is “Ichabod,” published in 1850. The poem criticizes the Compromise of 1850 and Daniel Webster. Children can view his works at: Project Gutenberg.
Flag of Niger
Niger celebrates Republic Day. It became a republic in 1958 before it became free of French control in 1960. This landlocked country, located in north central Africa, is a bit less than twice the size of Texas. Niger is mostly covered with deserts and mountains. Almost seventeen million people live in Niger, and Niamey is the capital. Older children can learn more at: Niger.