Polaroid camera was patented in 1947 in New York, New York, by Edwin H. Land. Older children can read an interesting article about Land and the Polaroid at: Polaroid Camera.
Feb 212024
Mar 042024
Slinky
Slinky was patented by Richard and Betty James in 1947. Richard was trying to develop a spring that would suspend ship instruments even in turbulent waters. He accidentally dropped one of his springs, and the toy was born. Children can “walk” slinkies down an inclined plane by following the easy directions at: Slinky.
Apr 272024
Kon-Tiki
Thor Heyerdahl set sail on the Kon-Tiki in 1947. He and a five-person crew left Peru on a hand-made raft and arrived in Polynesia over one hundred days later, on August 7, 1947. He proved that ancient mariners could have made long sea voyages to establish new colonies. He wrote The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas.
Sep 182024
Air Force was created as an independent service in 1947. There has been an air force component of the military since 1907. Children can learn more at: Air Force.
Nov 062024
Meet the Press premiered in 1947. It is the oldest running show on television. A panel of news reporters interviews a different guest, often a politician, each week. Every President since John F. Kennedy has appeared on the show.
Dec 062024
Everglades
Everglades National Park was founded in 1947. The park contains over 1,500,000 acres of land. It is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist. The park provides an amazing array of photos, audio programs, and videos. Children could visit the park’s website at: http://www.nps.gov/ever. They could use a Venn diagram to show the differences between alligators (left) and crocodiles (right).
Dec 232024
Bardeen, Shockley, and Brattain
Transistor was invented in 1947 by John Bardeen, William Shockley, and Walter Brattain at Bell Laboratories. They received the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics for their creation. Children could go to: Transistor to read LOTS of information and view photos of transistors. Transistors made everything from radios to computers to factory equipment smaller, smarter, and more powerful.
Dec 272024
Howdy Doody
Photograph by Volcan Yuksel
Howdy Doody appeared on television for the first time in 1947. The extremely popular children’s show featured a combination of people and puppets. Cartoons were also shown. It last aired September 24, 1960. Idea: Children could create a puppet show relating to the upcoming New Year’s Eve.