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4th of July

Dates to Remember in July

June 30, 2016 by Jenna

Even though I’m not overly fond of summer, July has always been one of my favorite months—my birthday being in July probably has something to do with it. Besides the obvious holiday in July, there are many other notable events to remember.

Portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee, officer of the Confederate Army

July 1, 1863, began the three-day battle of Gettysburg, a desperate attempt by General Robert E. Lee to relieve the strain on his own Confederate troops by invading the North. The battle became the turning point of the Civil War, in favor of the Union. I’ve always wanted to visit Gettysburg because being there and seeing it would help make history—which is not my strongest subject—come alive for me. Visiting the park could make a great field trip. Learn more about the events leading up to Gettysburg in American Republic.

members of the Continental Congress signing the Declaration of Independence

July 8, 1776, four days after the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, was the first public reading of the Declaration. The National Archives and Records Administration displays a complete transcript of the Declaration on its website. Reenacting that day from 240 years ago by reading the document to your children would be a great way to celebrate our nation’s independence. Or you could imagine with your children what it would have been like to live through those events.

4-01-A, Night sky with the moon.

July 16 to July 20th, 1969, was the historic space journey of Apollo 11. There are many activities you can do with your children to celebrate Moon Day, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like to stand where Neil Armstrong stood and contemplate the vastness and the silence of God’s creation.

book cover of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

July 28, 1866, marks the birth of Beatrix Potter, English author and illustrator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter wrote and illustrated more than twenty children’s books. Interestingly, a previously lost Beatrix Potter book entitled The Tale of Kitty in Boots was discovered in 2013 and will be published this coming September.

Also on July 28, in 1858, William Herschel—a British magistrate in India—began using people’s fingerprints to authenticate documents. His use of fingerprints eventually opened the door for the use of fingerprints in solving crimes. For a fun hands-on experiment with fingerprints, try this activity!

On July 31, 1790, Samuel Hopkins was issued the first patent in the United States. Hopkins had developed a process for creating potash, an ingredient in fertilizer. Since Hopkins’s patent, more than 6 million patents have been issued—that probably includes several kitchen sinks!

What other event would you add to this list? Comment and let us know what else is going on in July!

Filed Under: Successful Learning Tagged With: 4th of July, astronaut, events, history, inventions, July

Explore a Country

July 2, 2015 by David

collage of American flag, basketball, and Empire State Building
Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

 

Yesterday was Canada Day, the day that Canadians celebrate the union of three colonies into one country. In two days, United States citizens will celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the beginning of our free country. As I was growing up and learning more about the Declaration of Independence and all the events surrounding that occasion, one of my favorite things to do was to view paintings and drawings of the people, places, and things that represent that time in American history. I especially remember being captivated by one image that I saw in my history textbook—the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River.

History books are full of information and real-life stories about many different countries’ celebrations, traditions, and people. Exploring a country and its history is fun, and you can learn so much. Download this explore a country activity sheet and begin exploring a country of your choice!

Filed Under: Successful Learning Tagged With: 4th of July, activity sheet, country, Declaration of Independence, history

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