Flag of Botswana
Botswana celebrates Botswana Day, the day in 1966 when the United Kingdom gave up control of the country. This landlocked country in southern Africa is fairly prosperous. It is a leading producer of diamonds. Gold has also been found in the country. Because large herds of game still roam the country, tourism also brings in a great deal of revenue. Botswana, home to two million people, is a bit smaller than Texas. Gaborone is the capital. Children can learn more at: Botswana.
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth hit his sixtieth home run for the season in 1927. That record stood until Roger Maris hit his sixty-first home run of the season on October 1, 1961.
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam (originally Boulder Dam) was dedicated in 1936. The dam, located at the border of Nevada and Arizona, captures water from the Colorado River. Constructed between 1931 and 1936, it was a marvel at the time and remains an amazing structure. The dam created Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The dam controls flood waters and provides hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona, and California. It is also quite a tourist attraction. Children can learn some SUPER facts at: Hoover Dam.
Walter “Fred” Morrison and his Pluto Platter
Frisbee was patented in 1958 by Walter “Fred” Morrison. He received patent number 183,626 for his “Flying Toy.” For a time he called the toy the Pluto Platter. Older children could experiment with the physics of a Frisbee at: Frisbee. They could create a Frisbee course in the backyard or on the playground.
James Meredith enrolled as the first African-American at the then all-white University of Mississippi in 1962. President Kennedy sent federal troops to quell the riots. Three people died, and 50 more were hurt. Older children could learn more at: James Meredith.
Bowl Trail
Guadalupe Mountains National Park was established in 1972. Located in the Guadalupe Mountains in west Texas, the park encompasses over 86,000 acres. Interesting fact – the park contains a marine fossil reef that is 265 million years old! Children could visit the park’s website at: http://www.nps.gov/gumo.