inventions

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 February

January 28, 2016 by Meredith

Can I let you in on a little secret? February is one of my favorite months. Historically, culturally, scientifically, and personally—it holds events that have shaped the world and my own life. Plus, it’s during this month that those of us in the South sometimes get to experience a winter (or more likely icy) wonderland.

A month-long celebration we shouldn’t overlook is Black History Month. It honors the achievements of men and women who have influenced American society. God gives each of us unique circumstances through which we can choose to serve Him and others. Highlight the inventions, literary works, brave actions, and fight for justice of notable African Americans.

February 1

The first installment of the Oxford English Dictionary was printed on this date in 1884. This project initially began with the intent of recording English words used as early as 1150 AD through the mid-1800s. It took forty years to publish the complete volume. However, the English language continues to develop with new words and different pronunciations or meanings. Today anyone can access this dictionary of the English language online. Just for fun check out OED’s definition of homeschool.

February 11

Celebrate National Inventors’ Day by having everyone put on an imaginary “thinking cap” and spend time exploring what life would be like with (or without) certain inventions. Make this activity like a science fair project where your child can test his hypothesis. Studying these inventors who were born in February might provide some inspiration: Thomas Edison, George Ferris Jr., and Levi Strauss. It amazes me what power one person’s idea can have to change the world (within the limits given by our sovereign God). Each invention is a fulfillment of God’s command for humans to take dominion over the earth.

February 14

Don’t forget to make Valentine’s Day special! Last year, I had the opportunity to make homemade valentine crafts with some young friends and Val the Mailbox Gal was the perfect way to deliver our notes. Find directions for the craft and Scripture valentine printables in this blog post.

February 15

Honor the Chief Executive of the United States on President’s Day. The third Monday of February was selected for this holiday because it’s close to George Washington’s birthday. Any citizen born in our country could grow up to be president. But with leadership comes the responsibility to serve the people who have elected you. Gain insight into the beginnings of three presidents and see how their experiences prepared them for the biggest job in the world.

February 18

On this day in 1930, Pluto, which used to be considered the ninth planet in our solar system, was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory. Tombaugh found Pluto mostly by accident. Today, Pluto is considered a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union because it shares its orbit with another celestial object of similar size. (You can get the full explanation in the BJU Press Earth Science textbook.) And if you’re ever near Flagstaff, Arizona, stop by and visit the Lowell Observatory. It’s a great field trip for aspiring astronomers as well as those who might be less than thrilled with science. I enjoyed my family’s visit several years ago!

February 23

This was the date in 1945 during World War II when a famous picture of the Battle of Iwo Jima was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal. US forces continued this battle for weeks after the flag raisings. In fact, of the six men shown in the photo, only three survived the battle. This image also served as the model for the monument that honors all the Marines who have died in service to our nation. Seeing this memorial in Washington, DC, is a privilege I don’t think I’ll ever forget, especially now that I know the history of the Marine Corps War Memorial. Share the bravery of these young men with your kids.

February 29

Leap Day is here! Wondering what to do? I’m pretty sure your kids will rejoice if you surprise them by making today a play day instead of a learning day. But if you decide to put something educational on the agenda, why not have them write letters to themselves to be opened on the next Leap Day? Be sure to seal the letters in envelopes so no one peeks before 2020!

Check back with us next month for more activities and events!

Remember These Dates in November

October 29, 2015 by Meredith

November has a heritage of blessings! There are many things to celebrate. It must be the start of the holiday season! I hope you and your family take time to reflect on God’s blessings this year (James 1:17). To start us off, here are two month-long observances worth mentioning.

Native American Heritage Month

Remember this month’s observance by highlighting the notable Native Americans mentioned throughout this post. You can also find more teaching resources from the National Archives.

NaNoWriMo

What’s the most words you’ve ever written? Try cranking out fifty thousand words this month, just for fun. Yes, fun! This special challenge does my literary-loving heart some good, although I must confess writing that many words (and having them all intelligible) seems overwhelming. Start small and find ways to incorporate National Novel Writing Month into your kids’ learning with ideas from Write a Novel in a Month.

November 4

The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb occurred on this date in 1922. It wasn’t until about a month later that the archeologists were able to open the tomb and discover what treasures the Egyptians had placed with his mummy. View these images of the earthly wealth that surrounded King Tut, and take an opportunity to discuss how as Christians, we can lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19–21).

November 7

Marie Curie was born on this date in 1867. She taught physics at the Sorbonne in France but is probably most famous for her work with radioactivity. It was through this research that Marie and her husband discovered two elements (polonium and radium). Marie also won a Nobel Prize in chemistry and another in physics for her work. This chart of the Periodic Table inspires me to remember all the elements! Can you find curium, named for Marie and Pierre Curie?

November 11

Veteran’s Day honors all the men and women who dedicate their lives to serving in the American armed forces. While this federal holiday started as a remembrance for those who served in World War I, it now serves as a day to show tribute for all service men and women from every American war.

In particular, there’s a small, but significant group who helped to defend our nation at a critical time in history. Known as the Navajo “Code Talkers,” this group of Native Americans worked with the US military during World War II. This communication system is the only unbroken code in military history. The code itself was so complex that even native Navajo speakers would not be able to make sense of the cryptic messages. Because of the classified nature of this code, these veterans were not recognized for their efforts until decades after the war ended. Watch these Navajo Code Talker interviews.

November 17

On this day in 1805, Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean. Their journey took about two years—now we can travel across the continent in just hours! The purpose of their exploration was to chart the land west of the Mississippi River contained in the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark took notes on plant and animal life, geography, and Native American tribes. Their journey started in Missouri, and they went all the way up to Oregon (where they saw the Pacific Ocean) and back again.

The success of their expedition depended in part on a Native American woman named Sacagawea. She helped the corps with her insights into Native American culture. Sacagawea’s best- known contribution to the exploration came when her own tribe, the Shoshone, agreed to provide horses to carry the corps. Checkout this interactive lesson about the expedition!

November 20

On this day, the three-position traffic light was patented in 1923 by Garrett Morgan. Since previous traffic lights offered no warning between go and stop, this invention helped to decrease the number of auto accidents. Remember to drive safely especially if your kids are soon-to-be backseat drivers! I think a game of red light, green light would be great to include for today’s family activity. Don’t forget to add the yellow light (walking) too!

November 21

The Separatists completed the signing of the Mayflower Compact in 1620. This document listed the rules the colonists agreed to live by as their ship landed in “new” territory outside of the land granted to them by the English government. Read the text of the Mayflower Compact. Does your family have a similar “code of conduct” that your kids can relate to?

November 26

In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November. We often think back to the first Thanksgiving shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags. Many details about this event may be mythical, but we do know that the Pilgrims took a day to celebrate God’s goodness.

One of the blessings God gave to the Pilgrims was a friend named Squanto (Tisquantum). His ability to speak English gave Squanto opportunities to help the Pilgrims as they established their colony in the New World. He taught them how to live off the land and served as a negotiator between them and the surrounding Wampanoag tribe. Squanto’s efforts allowed peace to exist between the two groups for almost fifty years. Find ways to celebrate this special holiday by being a blessing to others and spending time with family. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for a Thanksgiving-themed roundup post I’ll be sharing in a couple weeks.