America Recycles Day is today! Also called National Recycling Day, the day was created in 1994 when President Bill Clinton issued a proclamation recognizing the day. Today Keep America Beautiful sponsors the day. Idea: Children could carry out a local recycling project. They could learn some great recycling facts at: Recycling Facts.
Japan celebrates Shichi-Go-San. The day translates as “Seven-Five-Three.” Parents take their seven-year-old girls, five-year-old boys, and three-year-olds of either sex to the temples. They thank the guardian spirits for protecting the children and keeping them healthy.
Jeremiah Dixon and Charles Mason started to survey the Mason-Dixon Line in 1763. This line marked the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland. They finished their work on December 26, 1767. Originally their work was to settle a very contentious land dispute between the Penn family (Pennsylvania) and the Calvert family (Maryland). Later, as the Civil War approached, the line somewhat divided the country into the north and the south. Older children could read about the history of the Mason-Dixon Line at: Mason-Dixon Line.
Pikes Peak – 1899 print
Zebulon Pike recorded seeing Pikes Peak in Colorado in 1806. The mountain, with an elevation of 14,115 feet, is a National Historic Landmark. Katharine Lee Bates wrote “America the Beautiful” after visiting the peak.
Uranus
William Herschel (born Hanover, Germany, 1738; died Slough, England, August 25, 1822) was an astronomer. He discovered Uranus in 1781 and found that it rotated in a direction different from the directions of other planets. He was also active in star astronomy, and he discovered infrared radiation. Older children could learn more at: William Herschel.
Georgia O’Keefe (born Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, 1887; died Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 6, 1986) was an artist. Her works featured nature, and she often painted objects as if she was looking at something under a magnifying glass. She was married to the photographer Alfred Stieglitz. You can see her home, examine her art materials, and view great online exhibits at: Georgia O’Keefe.
Daniel Pinkwater (born Memphis, Tennessee, 1941) is a children’s author and illustrator. He has published at least 100 books, including Mrs. Noodlekugel. One of his latest books is Crazy in Poughkeepsie. Children can visit his website where you can hear him read several of his books: Daniel Pinkwater.