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Teaching Timelines: Happy Belated Birthday Frederic Auguste Bartholdi

8/3/2019

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FREE on TPT
I had every intention of posting this yesterday and just didn't get that far.  However, I was so excited to celebrate this birthday, that I figured a day late is better than nothing.  This upcoming year, one of my themes is going to be focused on immigration and the many gifts that ALL humans add to our world.  As an introduction, I am going to be looking at the individuals connected to building the Statue of Liberty.

Two weeks ago, my husband and I held the "golden tickets" to go on an adventure up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty.  I have to admit that this was a HUGE item on my bucket list.  It was a thrill to be some of the few people that have experienced the long climb up 354 steps into her crown.  Despite the many challenges that our country is facing, I do believe that she is a symbol of optimism and hope and I want to share her wonder to my students. 

Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi is known for his design of "Liberty Enlightening the World" otherwise known as the Statue of Liberty.  She was designed to commemorate the friendship between France and the United States.  The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in October 1886.  She is 151 feet, 1 inch tall and sits on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.  
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Happy Birthday to the Marquis de Lafayette!

9/6/2016

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I had a grand time in Colonial Williamsburg this summer as a participant in the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute.  We were treated like royalty.

However, one of my most cherished moments was on my last day there when I noticed the Marquis de Lafayette on his horse and approached him for a photo. Before I even got up to ask, he motioned to me and said, "Is that the famous traveling rabbit I have heard about?"

Thanks Marquis de Lafayette.  You made my day!  Hope yours was a good one!!!
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In remembrance of a songwriter...

10/12/2015

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It has been weeks since I have posted. Blame it on the start of school and my brain being on overload.  I think about it daily, but never get there.

Interestingly, I joined my husband for a documentary this evening and it happened to be on John Denver.  I have always loved John's songs with the stories he told and the melodies he carried on his guitar.  I also remember how he tragically died at an early age in an airplane crash.  As the documentary progressed, the date of his death came up and the anniversary happens to be today.  He died in 1997 at the age of 53.

Several years ago, I remember walking along the beautiful, foggy beaches of Monterey, California.  I can remember how shocked I was when my family and I came across a marker on a rock commemorating the sudden loss of John Denver.  I don't recall that I knew where he had died until our morning walk.

As a Colorado native, his songs are calling card to the beauty of our state.  He was a long time resident of Aspen, Colorado, long before it ever became the ski town it is today.  Each time I hear one of his songs, I remember how much I enjoy his music.  As I watched the documentary, I learned more about his interest in both space and NASA and the oceans with his time spent with Jacque Cousteau.

I am surprised that this commemorative rock is in my collection.  It is an obscure location, but one worth remembering.  My own personal travel lesson is to always be open to where the day might take you.  There are surprises around every corner and many are worth reflecting upon!
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On this day...Dolley Madison comes to the rescue!

8/23/2015

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Moffat was fortunate enough to view the painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.
National portrait gallery
In 1814, James Madison was the president of the United States and the US was once again at war with the British during the War of 1812. President Madison left the White House to visit troops, advising his wife, Dolley, to be ready to leave the White House at a moments notice. On August 23, when she received word for evacuation, she ordered the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington to be saved.  The frame was broken (it was bolted to the wall) and the canvas was rolled and evacuated before the British troops occupied and burned the White House. Due to the damage, the Madisons were never able to reoccupy the White House again.
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To learn more about the portrait and the story of Dolley, take the time to explore the links below or read the book that can be found on Amazon.

Smithsonian interactive portrait
Dolley madison book on amazon
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It's National Hot Dog Day!

7/23/2015

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It was too hard to resist National Hot Dog Day, especially since Moffat has visited the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.  Take a look at the attached Youtube videos for more fun!  Admit it, you know the Oscar Mayer Wiener song!!!
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On This Day...the Zip Code was introduced

7/1/2015

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On this day in 1963, the zip (zone improvement plan) code was introduced by the US Postal Service.  The purpose of the zip code was to improve the speed of delivery.  Mr. Zip, a friendly cartoon character, was introduced to encourage Americans to embrace the use of the extra 5 digits at the end of an address.  

Follow the link below to learn more about Mr. Zip from the National Postal Museum
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On this day...

6/22/2015

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On this day, June 22, 1784, a resolution by the Virginia House of Delegates is made to have a GW statue created.
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Virginia State Capitol Website and Virtual Tour
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Golden Gate Bridge Anniversary

5/27/2015

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Mashable: building the golden gate bridge
MASHABLE, one of my favorite websites, has AMAZING primary source images for the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.  These images really encourage discussion and awe with the students and are an integral part of my lesson!  YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT!
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Walking a bridge is one of my favorite things to do on any trip.  Two years ago, our family was able to put the check mark on the bucket list for the Golden Gate Bridge.  We had seen it several years earlier on a previous trip, but this was the year for the walk.  Public transportation makes getting to the visitors center and entrance to the bridge very accessible.  We visited in July, and the iconic International Orange columns were shrouded in the regular fog of the bay area.  The details of the bridge were the most captivating to me followed by the view (although limited) of the city behind us.  Fort Point lies directly below at the SF entrance.  When the bridge opened in May of 1937, its 4,200 foot suspension span was the longest in the world.  Today, it is the ninth longest suspension bridge.  The bridge is an American icon and year after year my students love learning about it.
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Year after year, my teammate and I look forward to reading Pop's Bridge by Eve Bunting to our classes.  You can't go wrong with an Eve Bunting story.  She tells of the excitement (and sometimes fear) of two boys living in San Francisco watching their fathers work on the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.  One father is a "skywalker" and the other is a painter.  Both fathers are equally important to the success of the bridge's construction.  Upon completion of the story, the kids can't wait to paint their own Golden Gate Bridges!
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golden gate bridge research library
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Happy BIrthday Nellie Bly!

5/5/2015

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History Calendar for Elementary Classroom on TPT (Nellie is featured in May)
Happy birthday to Nellie Bly, female journalist and role model!  Nellie lived during a period in American history when women were not allowed to vote and one of the only true "suitable" jobs for a woman was that of a teacher (not that that is a bad profession). Instead, Nellie went on to do undercover reporting and eventually went on to break Jules Verne's fictitious "Around The World In 80 Days" calculation. She completed the journey in a record breaking 72 days!   She did not like to take "no" for an answer.  Nellie's  own motto being "Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything." It is such a simple motto, but one that I truly admire and strive for daily.  Happy birthday Nellie!  You are an inspiration!
Google Doodles has done it yet again!  It ALWAYS thrills me to see one of these pop up while researching.  I admire the individuals that possess such creative abilities and appreciate the fun historical information.
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Nellie Bly Resource Website
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Happy Birthday to John Muir the "Father of National Parks"

4/21/2015

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I would be greatly amiss if I did not share John Muir's birthday today with his vision and contribution to the National Parks that we still enjoy today.  

My own students have truly enjoyed learning about John and his passion for nature and it's preservation. We have incorporated him into our history journals alongside Teddy Roosevelt.

If you are unfamiliar with the book "The Camping Trip That Changed America," I highly recommend it.  It shares of the magnificent and inspiring time that TR had with John while camping in Yosemite Valley.  I love that one of the illustrations is patterned after the iconic picture of TR and John standing at Glacier Point overlooking Yosemite Valley. We have also come across the same story in the video series "Charlie Brown's This Is America."  

It is not possible to teach and discuss the importance of the National Parks without understanding the role of John Muir.  As Americans, we are thankful for your vision for conservation!

John Muir National Historic Park
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    Christy Howard
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    Passionate about photography, travel and teaching social studies to young learners.

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  • Moffat's Blog
  • About
  • My Support People
  • Geography in the Classroom
  • History In The Classroom
  • Diverse Kids
  • Honors and Continued Work
  • #Blog365
  • #historymakers