astronaut

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Remember These Dates in May

April 28, 2016 by Meredith

It’s not often that the name of a month can also be used as another part of speech. In fact, I think only three months qualify—May (verb), March (verb), and August (adjective). So here’s my wish for you: may your month of May be filled with wonderful possibilities! Here are a few celebrations for your family to add to your list.

May 5

Alan Shepard entered space in 1961. He was the first American astronaut to do so. His space flight on a Mercury spacecraft lasted less than sixteen minutes, but it proved to be a successful step toward our country’s future voyages to the moon. Learn more about Alan Shepard and his contribution to our space program.

May 8

It’s mothers’ special day! Mothers everywhere deserve recognition for giving the gift of life. And having a godly mother is a special blessing from the Lord. Have you been blessed by having a “Titus 2 woman” in your life? Thank (or remember) her on this day with your words and actions.

May 10

Completion of the transcontinental railroad took place this day in 1869. Civil War veterans, Irish immigrants, and Chinese immigrants built a railroad track that would connect our nation. One team (Union Pacific) worked its way west while the other team (Central Pacific) pushed east. They met in Promontory Point near Ogden, Utah. The transcontinental railroad brought change to the Great Plains as people and agricultural products moved easily across the grasslands, but the vast herds of buffalo the nomadic Indians depended on declined after that. Use this video to show your kids how the transcontinental railroad changed America.

May 12

Celebrate Limerick Day by creating a rhyme. Usually humorous in tone, a limerick consists of five lines and has a defined meter (often anapestic) and rhyming scheme (AABBA). The first line introduces a person and place and establishes the poem’s main rhyming scheme. Ask your kids to write their own limericks—just copy this example (by Eileen Berry and Dawn Watkins) from BJU Press Reading 4 (2nd edition):

There was an old man from Pompeii
Who gave talks on volcanoes each day.
When the mountain erupted,
He got interrupted
And forgot what he wanted to say.

May 14

The Lewis and Clark expedition began on this date in 1804. Sent by President Jefferson, Meriweather Lewis and William Clark and their Discovery Corps set out to explore the regions of the Louisiana Territory, which our nation had purchased from the French. Beginning at the Mississippi River, the expedition traveled west and documented geography, peoples, and vegetation. See what date they reached the Pacific Ocean, and use this interactive lesson to teach your kids about this important expedition.

May 21

On this date Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. During the American Civil War, Clara Barton saw a need to provide supplies and medical aid to people. Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” she used her skills to fulfill God’s command that we love our neighbors (Matthew 22:36–40). After the war, Clara traveled to Europe and learned about the International Red Cross organization that provided relief to the sick and wounded. An inspiring role model, Barton’s service to others reached global proportions when she was given presidential approval for the United States to join the Red Cross network. Learn more about her achievements and take a virtual tour of her home, which served as the headquarters of the American Red Cross.

May 24 & 27

Ever since studying Physics in high school, I have found bridges fascinating. Their history, beautiful designs, and construction amaze me. On May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened to connect Brooklyn and Manhattan. A little over fifty years later, California’s Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27, 1937, spanning San Francisco Bay.

Learn about John A. Roebling and how he and his family influenced the construction of both bridges.
See how the Brooklyn Bridge influenced America in this video.
Find tips for visiting the Golden Gate Bridge.
Learn about the history of the Golden Gate Bridge with these FAQs.

May 30

Today we honor those in the armed services who gave their lives for us so that we could be free. Taking time to reflect on their sacrifice as well as the sacrifice of their families should make us grateful. Use this blog post to teach about the history of Memorial Day and find ways your kids can participate in this holiday.

What observances are you adding to this list? Let me know in a comment below!

Remember These Dates in October

September 29, 2015 by Meredith

Big advances have taken place in transportation during the month of October in American history. There were cars, and ships, and rockets—oh my!

October 1

The Model T was introduced by Henry Ford in 1908. It could go as fast as forty-five mph! For almost twenty years, this cheap, reliable car dominated the auto industry because of the increase in car production as a result of the assembly line. See how the “Tin Lizzie” impacted transportation in America.

October 4–10

This week is Fire Prevention Week. Teach your kids fire safety and preparedness with these activities from Sparky the Fire Dog^®. It’s also a good idea to practice what everyone in your family should do if your house catches on fire.

October 11

Apollo 7 launched into space on this date in 1968 with astronauts Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham on board. It was the first mission to fly after the fatal Apollo 1 accident and kept us on track for reaching the moon. The space flight lasted ten days and twenty hours. During part of that time, the first live television broadcast from space was recorded. Take some time to explain an astronaut’s rocket launch and reentry process to your kids with this Space Coloring Page created by a BJU Press illustrator. My favorite picture is the parachute one!

October 12

Columbus Day is named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, who ironically never reached the North American mainland. So what’s important about today? Don’t Celebrate Columbus Day offers a biblical lens through which you can discuss the actions of Columbus with your kids.

October 19

In 1781, the British surrendered at Yorktown, recognizing that the Americans had won. This event formally ended the American Revolutionary War, but some fighting did continue until 1783. Without the support of French troops and warships allowing Washington’s total forces to trap the British in Virginia, the battle could have turned out quite differently!

October 29

The Stock Market crashed on “Black Tuesday” in 1929. Prices on the market continued to decline for three years during what we now call the Great Depression. During this period of time, millions of people lost their jobs and had little money for food and other necessities. There were many factors that contributed to this financial crisis in our nation’s history. Find four simple ways to teach financial lessons to your kids so that they can make good choices now and in the future.