True Stories of Achievement: A Grade Level Celebration of Social Studies Writing was held on APRIL 16 and 17, 2014. The students shared their True Stories of Achievement reports with families and friends in the classroom.
This activity was based on the Social Studies Curriculum and has been generously supported by a Kyle Johnson Grant. It also integrates research, writing and oral presentation skills. Special thanks to author April Jones Prince for teaching us how to write biographies and Art teacher Ms DeAngelis for teaching the students how to paint watercolor portraits.
True Stories of Achievement: Wilma Rudolph
By Anyee Li
Wilma Rudolph showed achievement in the area of athletics. She achieved distinction by becoming the fastest woman in the world!
Wilma Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940 in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee. When she was born she weighed only four and a half pounds and the doctor didn’t think she would survive!
Wilma was the 20th child out of 22 children. As a child she developed polio. The doctors told her she would never walk again. She had to wear a heavy metal brace on her left leg from the time she was six years old until she was nine years old. She needed physical therapy, but her family was poor and had no money to pay for it. So the university hospital taught Wilma’s family how to give Wilma physical therapy at home.
Then Wilma was sick with scarlet fever, whooping cough, chicken pox, measles, and double pneumonia! Her family took care of her until she was healthy again. Because of all this illness, Wilma was taught at home until she was 8 years old!
After years of hard work, Wilma was able to take the brace off when she was twelve years old, and to everyone’s surprise she was able to walk and eventually run!
When she was in high school Wilma had a track coach named Ed Temple. He helped her become a great runner. In 1956, when she was only sixteen years old, Wilma became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team. She went to the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and won a bronze medal in the relay!
After finishing high school Wilma went to Tennessee State University on a track scholarship. Ed Temple was still her coach! She trained hard for four years, became a nationally ranked athlete and qualified for the Olympics in Rome, Italy in 1960. Wilma won three gold medals and set three new Olympic records! She won medals in the 100-meter race and the 200-meter race and the 400-meter race! She became the first woman in history to win 3 GOLD medals at one Olympics! It was a dream come true!
Afterwards Wilma went back to Clarksville and was greeted by a parade that is believed to have been Clarksville’s first biracial event. Later, Wilma became a second grade teacher and track coach. She even met President Kennedy at the White House!
Unfortunately Wilma developed brain cancer and died on Nov. 12, 1994. She was 54 years old. Wilma’s grave is at Missionary Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Today we honor Wilma in many ways. There is a statue of Wilma Rudolph in Clarksville. June 23 each year is a holiday in Tennessee because it was her birthday. There is also a stamp in her honor.
The most important thing to remember about Wilma Rudolph is that she proved that you can overcome your weaknesses. She also proved that women can do great things.
True Stories of Achievement: Sally Ride
By Athena Li
Sally Ride showed achievement in the area of science. She achieved distinction by being the first American woman in space.
Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951 in Encino, California. In high school Sally really enjoyed science.
Then she went to Stanford University and studied astrophysics, which is the science of the stars and the galaxies.
After she graduated from Stanford she stayed there to study for her Masters Degree and do research about the stars.
Then she applied to NASA to be an astronaut. More than 8,000 people applied. They chose Sally to join the program!
In 1977 Sally began NASA’s training. It was 60 hours a week! It included gravity and weightlessness training. She also studied the space shuttle and worked on the robotic arm.
Sally worked as the capsule communicator officer for the second and third flights of the space shuttle Columbia. She was the only person on Earth who talked with the crew while they were in space.
While she was at NASA she also kept up her studies at Stanford and became Dr. Sally Ride!
On June 18, 1983 Sally went into space on the Challenger space shuttle. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space! She was in charge of the robotic arm. She also worked on experiments in space.
Sally took a second mission into space on the Challenger. She worked with the robotic arm again and studied Earth from space using special cameras.
After the space shuttle Challenger disaster, Sally worked with other experts to find out what happened. They told NASA how to fix the problem in the future.
After her days as an astronaut, Dr. Ride became a professor at the University of California, San Diego. She also wrote several childrens books about space. One of them is called To Space and Back. Sally also has her own website.
Sally Ride died on July 23, 2012.
Sally Ride once said, “We need kids to look to the stars. It’s science, technology and engineering that really drive our country forward and make it a better place.”
The most important thing to remember about Sally Ride is that she persevered to become the first American woman in space. There is an exhibit in honor of Sally at the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and her space suit is in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.
We will always remember Sally Ride and her many scientific accomplishments.
True Stories of Achievement: Jane Goodall
By Lucy Marderosian
Jane Goodall showed achievement in the area of Science. She achieved distinction by studying chimpanzees in Africa.
Jane Goodall was born on April 3, 1934 in London, England. While she was growing up she loved animals.
In 1956, when she was twenty-six years old, Jane got a letter from an old school friend. She invited Jane to visit her in Kenya, a country in Africa. Jane said, “YES!”
In March 1957 Jane sailed on a ship to Africa. While she was there she met a famous scientist named Louis Leakey. He hired Jane to work with chimpanzees. She was so happy!
Jane found a high place to watch the chimpanzees and write down her observations. After about a year she was able to get close enough to touch the chimpanzees!
In 1960 Jane went to Tanzania to study chimpanzees there. She learned so much about them! She learned that chimpanzees were a lot like people.
She also learned that chimpanzees are very active during the day. They travel in large groups. They have black hair and are very intelligent. They can even do difficult jobs. They have senses like ours. Young chimpanzees play about to learn new skills. They practiced climbing and wrestling. These are skills they will need to keep their babies safe.
Now Jane visits schools and gives lectures all over the world. She has her own website so you can see for yourself. She also has a club for kids called Roots and Shoots. The members of this club take care of the environment.
The most important thing to remember about Jane Goodall is that she became the world’s first chimpanzee expert.
Hopefully someday I can do something to protect animals, just like Jane Goodall!
True Stories of Achievement: Laura Ingalls Wilder
By Alexandra Arpino
Laura Ingalls Wilder showed achievement in the area of the arts and literature. She achieved distinction by writing books about her childhood.
Laura Ingalls Wilder was born on February 7, 1867 in Wisconsin.
Laura had three sisters. Their names were Mary, Carrie and Grace. Her family moved to many different places while she was a young girl, and they had lots of exciting adventures as pioneers.
When she was older her family moved to South Dakota and Laura worked as a teacher. While she was there she met Almanzo Wilder. Laura and Almanzo got married in 1885. Then Laura had a baby named Rose.
When Rose was older, she had an idea. She asked Laura to write stories about her childhood. Laura sat at her desk and began to write. All together Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote nine books in a series called the Little House books. They are: Little House in the Big Woods, Farmer Boy, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek, By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years and The First Four Years.
By the time Laura wrote her seventh book she was famous.
Later Laura, Almanzo and Rose moved to Rocky Ridge Farm near Mansfield, Missouri.
Almanzo Wilder died on Oct 23, 1947. Laura Ingalls Wilder died on Feb. 10, 1957. She was eighty-nine years old.
Today we can visit Laura Ingalls Wilder Museums in Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The most important thing to remember about Laura is that she wrote great stories about her childhood and her books are still being read and enjoyed today!
True Stories of Achievement: George Washington
By Casey Gingras
George Washington showed achievement in the area of politics and the military. He achieved distinction by becoming America’s first president.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland, Virginia.
Washington’s father died when he was only eleven years old. George helped his mother run their farm and watch his younger sister and brothers. He taught himself to be an expert woodsman.
By the time he was sixteen years old George was very tall and looked much older. He was given a job surveying land in the Virginia wilderness.
In 1753, when he was twenty-one years old George joined the Virginia army. He rode to Ohio Valley to warn the French to get off English land. In 1754, the French and Indian war began. He fought on the side of England.
In 1758, Washington was elected to the House of Burgesses in Virginia.
Washington left the military in 1759. Then he married Martha Custis. She was a rich widow with two children. George and Martha did not have children.
Then King George of England put unfair taxes on the American colonies. They even taxed tea. The Americans dumped tea into Boston harbor because they didn’t want to pay the taxes. Then a war started. It was called the Revolutionary War.
Washington was a General in the war, and the colonies won! We became a free country and in 1789 Washington became the first president.
While he was president he helped our country establish laws and print its own money. He helped plan and build the capital city of our country, Washington. D.C. He served as President for four years. Then he went back to Virginia.
George Washington died on Dec. 14, 1799 at his home, which was called Mount Vernon.
Today we think of George Washington as the Father of our Country. His picture is on the quarter, the gold dollar coin, and the one-dollar bill. The Washington Monument was built in his honor, and Mount Vernon is a museum.
I’ll always remember that George Washington was a great leader.
True Stories of Achievement: Beatrix Potter
By Rocco Hester
Beatrix Potter showed achievement in the area of arts and literature. She achieved distinction by she writing and illustrating The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other books for children.
Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866 in London, England.
Every summer her family traveled to the country. Beatrix liked animals. Her family always had a pet rabbit. Their first rabbit was named Benjamin Bouncer. Then Benjamin Bouncer died, so Beatrix got a new rabbit and named it Peter Rabbit.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter encouraged Beatrix and her brother to study art. They spent a lot of time drawing and painting flowers and animals.
One day when she was older Beatrix wrote a letter to a little boy to cheer him up when he was sick. Later, that letter became her first book. She called it The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
At first it was hard to find a publisher for her book, so she decided to pay for it herself. As she wrote more books, they were published by Frederick Warne and company, and Beatrix became famous.
All together she wrote 23 books. I have read almost all of them! Here are the titles of some of my favorites: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of the Fierce Bad Rabbit and The Tale of Jeremy Fisher.
Beatrix became famous, but she still had a quiet life on her farm in the country with her animals.
Beatrix Potter died on December 22, 1943 at the age of 77. Her books are still read by children all around the world!
The most important thing to remember about Beatrix is that she wrote the Peter Rabbit books for us. That made her famous all over the world.
I wish we could celebrate Beatrix Potter Day on her birthday, July 28 and every day! Just imagine all she has done for us!
True Stories of Achievement: Harriet Tubman
By Dylan Lowe
Harriet Tubman showed achievement in the area of the military. She achieved distinction by being a conductor on the Underground Railroad and a Civil War spy.
Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland 1820.
In 1844 she married John Tubman.
Five years later she escaped from slavery.
Next, in 1850 she led three hundred slaves through the Underground Railroad to freedom in the north.
Then in 1862 to 1864 she worked as a scout, spy and nurse in the Civil War for the Northern Army.
Finally, in 1865 a law was passed ending slavery!
Then Harriet moved to Auburn, New York. She died on March 10, 1913.
Today the Harriet Tubman house is a museum. There was also a stamp in her honor.
The most important thing to remember about Harriet is that she freed about three hundred slaves and helped our country end slavery.
I will always remember Harriet Tubman’s bravery.
True Stories of Achievement: Rosa Parks
By Ellie Michalowski
Rosa Parks showed achievement in the area of politics. She achieved distinction by not giving up her seat on the bus and fighting for civil rights.
Before Rosa was born black people and white people were separated. This is called segregation. White children and black children couldn’t go to the same schools, drink from the same water fountains or eat at the same restaurant.
Rosa was born on Feb. 4, 1913. She was named Rosa after her grandma Rose. Rosa grew up in Pine Level, Alabama. There was still segregation, but Rosa was planning to stop that.
For many years there had been a law that black people had to sit in the back of buses. If all the front seats were full of white people
and another white person got on, a black person would have to give up their seat so a white person could sit there. Not only did one person need to get up, the whole row needed to get up.
In 1932 Rosa joined a group of black people that was trying to make their lives better. Rosa met a man in the group named Raymond Parks. They fell in love and got married.
Dec. 1, 1955 was an important day for Rosa. It was the day she got arrested! Rosa got on the bus and paid her fee. There was only one more seat in the front. It was for white people, so Rosa didn’t sit there. But at the next stop two white people got on: a white man and a white woman. The woman got the last seat and the bus driver said for the row Rosa was sitting in to get up. The three people who were sitting next to Rosa got up but Rosa refused to get up. The bus driver called the police and Rosa was taken to jail.
Rosa didn’t spend the night in jail because her husband paid her bail money so she could go home.
After that Rosa went to court. The judge said she was guilty because she broke the law. Rosa was fined $10 plus $4 for court costs. She never paid the $14.
Dr King and others heard about Rosa’s arrest and decided to do something about it peacefully. They said that black people should stay off the buses, so they did! They did not ride the buses for 381 days. That’s almost a year! The bus companies lost a lot of money!
In 1956 the Supreme Court said that segregation laws were wrong and needed to stop. Because of Rosa the laws were changed! That was more than fifty years ago!
Finally, in 1987 Rosa was awarded the Medal of Freedom!
Rosa died on Oct 24, 2005. Rosa died the same year I was born! She died 25 days before my birthday.
The most important thing to remember about Rosa Parks is that she helped change segregation lows and showed people haw to be a good leader.
Today people still remember Rosa Parks because the bus that she was on is now in a museum.
I always remember what Rosa said about her life: “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.”
True Story of Achievement: Jesse Owens
By Cooper Ackerman
Jesse Owens showed achievement in the area of athletics. He achieved distinction by being the world’s fastest man.
Jesse Owens was born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama. His family was very poor. When he was young he was very sick and suffered from pneumonia, but he worked hard to become healthy again.
When he was nine years old his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. That’s were he got his name Jesse Owens. His original name was James Cleveland Owens.
At young age Jesse loved running. He was lightning fast. Jesses gym teacher noticed his incredible speed and helped him to be even better.
Jesse became an amazing track athlete in junior high and high school. Jesse equaled the time for the one hundred yard dash at the National Collegiate Track and Field Meet on May 25, 1935.
Jesse continued his record setting ways at Ohio State University.
After a lot of training he went to the Olympics in 1936 and became an Olympic gold medal winner! Jesse Owens won four gold medals. He won gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meter relay and long jump. He tied an Olympic record and set three new records!
After the Olympics Jess was a hero. He wrote a book about his life. He also gave many speeches across the country. Jesse once said, “We all have dreams, but in order to make dreams come to reality it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication and effort.”
Jesse died on March 31, 1980. He died from lung cancer.
Jesse was one of the world’s greatest track and field athletes!
There is a museum and statue in his honor at Jesse Owens Memorial Park in Alabama.
The most important thing about Jesse Owens is that he was the world’s fastest man and an awesome American.
True Stories of Achievement: Martin Luther King Jr.
By Ryan Walker
Martin Luther King Jr. showed achievement in the area of politics. He achieved distinction by peacefully working for civil rights.
Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. In Atlanta, and other places in the United States, there were “White Only’’ signs. Blacks were not allowed in some parks, pools, restaurants and schools. Blacks did not go to many jobs.
Martin finished high school two years early. He was just fifteen when entered Morehouse College in Atlanta.
At college Martin decided to be a minister.
Next, after Martin graduated from Morehouse, he studied for a doctorate at Boston University. That’s where he met his wife, Coretta Scott. They got married in 1953.
After that he became a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama.
Then, in 1955, Rosa Parks, a black woman, was sitting in the “White Only” section of a bus in Montgomery. She was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus to a white man. Dr. King led a protest and black riders refused to ride the buses. He said, “There comes a time when people get tired of being kicked about.”The bus protest lasted about a year. When it ended there were not any “White Only” sections on buses.
After that, in 1960, Dr. King moved to Atlanta. Then he led peaceful protests against”White Only” waiting rooms, lunch counters and rest rooms. He led a lot of marches for freedom.
One night, while he was at a meeting, someone threw a bomb into his house. Dr. King did not feel safe in his community. Martin’s followers were angry. They wanted a fight. Martin told them to walk home peacefully. He told them “We must love our white brothers. We must meet hate with love.
Then in 1963 Dr. King led the largest march of all-the March on Washington. More than two hundred thousand people followed him. He gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. He said, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of there skin but by the content of their character.”
The next year, in 1964, Dr. King was awarded one of the greatest honors, the Nobel Peace Prize. The country was changing. New laws were being passed, but there was still some violence.
In 1968 Martin went to Memphis, Tennessee. He planned to march so black and white workers would get the same pay for the same job. One night, while Dr. King stood outside his motel room, James Earl Ray was hiding close by and shot him. Sadly, an hour later, Dr. King died.
The most important thing to remember about Dr. King is that he fought peacefully for equal rights.
We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day every year on the third Monday in January. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is in Washington, D.C.
I’ll always remember Dr. King’s message of equal rights for all people.
True Stories of Achievement: Helen Keller
By Bridget McLaughlin
Helen Keller showed achievement in the area of art and literature. She achieved distinction by showing the world that deaf and blind people can do great things.
Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She lived with her mother and father on a farm.
When she was very young she had a high fever and a bad headache for several days. Because of that she could not see or hear. Helen would kick, scream and smash things! She needed lots of help.
Next, in 1886, Helen’s parents took her to Alexander Graham Bell. Bell knew about deaf people because his mother and wife were deaf.
After that Helen met her new teacher. Her name was Anne Sullivan. Anne worked with Helen for the next fifty years!
Helen began to make progress and learn new things. Helen wanted to know words for everything she touched. She learned how to sign words and read Braille. Anne was strict but had a lot of energy! Helen and Anne became close friends.
Then, in 1904, Helen was the first deaf blind person to get a college degree.
After that Helen and Anne went on lecture tours. Helen even wrote many books. Helen was still writing and reading when she was eighty years old! She also worked for charities because she wanted to make life better for the blind.
In 1968 Helen was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work with deaf and blind people. She was 87 years old!
Helen Keller died on June 1, 1968.
We remember Helen Keller today because her house is a museum, There is a website in her honor. Helen is also on the back of the new Alabama quarter.
The most important thing to remember about Helen Keller is that she helped us understand the needs of deaf blind people. She showed the world that deaf blind people can do great things.
True Stories of Achievement: Betsy Ross
By Noor Osmany
Betsy Ross showed achievement in the area of Art. She achieved distinction by sewing the first American Flag.
Betsy Ross was born on January 1, 1752 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Betsy’s family was so large that the children had to help with chores. Betsy helped by sewing. She was talented with a needle and thread. Many people said she won prizes for her work!
One day in 1776, General Gorge Washington and two other men met with Betsy Ross at her shop. George Washington wanted a flag made. It would show that the colonies were free from England. They asked Betsy to sew it.
George Washington showed Betsy his sketch for the flag. But Betsy had different ideas. She said the flag should be a rectangular, not a square. She thought that rectangular shape would fly better in the wind. Betsy also thought the stars should have five points instead of six.
They liked Betsy’s ideas and asked her to get started on it right away. Betsy worked hard to make the flag. She sewed a rectangle with 13 red and white stripes. In one corner there was a blue square with a circle of thirteen white stars.
On June 14, 1777 the first American Flag was made official. Betsy finally retired when she was 75 years old.
She died in 1836, but her story still lives on.
Over the years the flag has changed. Today our flag has 50 stars in rows. Each star stands for a state in our country.
You can visit the Betsy Ross house and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a museum.
The most important thing to remember about Betsy Ross is that she sewed the first American Flag. The day her flag became official is now a holiday called Flag Day!
Whenever I see the American flag I’ll always remember how hard Betsy Ross worked on designing our first flag!
True Stories of Achievement: Thomas Jefferson
By Felix Pittorino
Thomas Jefferson showed achievement in the area of politics. He achieved distinction by writing the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas was born on April 13, 1743 in Virginia.
When he was young he loved books and learning. He was a good student. After he graduated from college he became a lawyer.
In 1767 he designed an amazing house and called it Monticello. That’s means “little mountain” in Italian. There were eleven rooms on the first floor, six more rooms upstairs and four more on the third floor. He even had a greenhouse and a huge garden.
Thomas married his wife Martha in 1772. They had six children.
Thomas Jefferson was always interested in serving our country and working towards freedom during the American Revolution. So the leaders of our country asked him to write something very important.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. It helped our country be free from the English king and his unfair laws. It was signed on July 4, 1776 in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
After that Thomas Jefferson became Secretary of State in President Washington’s cabinet.
Then he was Vice President of the United States from 1797to 1801.
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809.
While he was president Jefferson bought land from France that stretched all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It was called the Louisiana Purchase. It made our country a lot bigger!
Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826.
The most important thing to remember about Thomas Jefferson is that he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
We remember Thomas Jefferson every year on the Fourth of July when we celebrate Independence Day. His house is now a museum.
Thomas Jefferson’s picture is on a nickel, $1 coin, and two-dollar bill. The signing of the Declaration of Independence is on the back of the two-dollar bill.
When I flew over Washington D.C. in a plane I saw the Jefferson Memorial. I hope I can go inside the Thomas Jefferson Memorial some day and see his statue too.
True Stories of Achievement: Steve Jobs
By Jack Taliceo
Steve Jobs showed achievement in the area of science. He achieved distinction by making Apple commuters, iPhones and iPads.
Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California. He was adopted. A few years later his parents adopted a little girl named Patti. Steve grew up in Mountain View, California.
In 1976 Steve Jobs and his friend Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer Company. They began making computers in Steve’s garage. He was only 21 years old!
In 1985 Steve left Apple. He started a new company called neXT.
After a while his company was not doing very well. neXT had lost over 10 million in 3 years. Apple asked him to come back, so he did.
Around the same time Steve bought an art studio and named it Pixar. Steve paid over 10 million dollars for Pixar! In 1995 Pixar made the computer animated movie Toy Story. Later they made Finding Nemo, Cars, The Incredibles, Up, and Brave.
In 2007 Steve invented the iPod, iTunes and iPhone. By 2011, the iPod was a huge hit. Over 300 million iPods were sold all over the world. iPads were introduced in 2010. I have my very own iPad and I use it every day! I have an iPod too!
Sadly, after fighting pancreatic cancer for more than seven years, Steve Jobs died in 2011.
The most important thing to remember about Steve Jobs is that his creative ideas changed the way people learn and communicate with one another. He was amazing! He evens holds 313 patents for his inventions!
We’re so lucky our whole school uses Apple computers. When I went to Lake Tahoe I brought my iPad and made a journal and a slideshow for my class.
I wish Steve Jobs were still alive so he could use his creative ideas to come up with even more inventions!
True Stories of Achievement: Snowflake Bentley
By William Meyer
Snowflake Bentley showed achievement in the area of science. He achieved distinction by taking pictures of snowflakes.
Bentley was born on February 9, 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. He liked nature. His mother was his teacher until he was fourteen years old. His mother gave him an old microscope to look at nature. He kept records of the weather. He drew pictures of snowflakes, but the snowflakes melted before he could finish them.
When he was 17 years old his parents bought him a microscope with a camera. He took many pictures of snowflakes. Some winters he made thousands of photos, but some winters he only able to make a few dozen. He tried many different ways to get the best photos.
After that, he wrote a book about snow, gave speeches, and published pictures in magazines. He was the world’s expert on snow and became known as “The Snowflake Man.”
In 1931 his book Snow Crystals was published. Scientists raised money to help him make the book.
About a month later he became sick with pneumonia after walking home in a blizzard. Two weeks later, on Dec. 23, 1931, he died.
There is a plaque and museum for Snowflake Bentley in Jericho, Vermont.
The most important thing to remember about Snowflake Bentley is that he was the first person to photograph snowflakes. He showed the world that every snowflake was different! Because of Snowflake Bentley we all know about how beautiful snowflakes are.
True Stories of Achievement: Amelia Earhart
By Liam O’Brien
Amelia Earhart showed achievement in the area of science. She achieved distinction by being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She was called the “First Lady of the Air.”
Amelia was born on July 2, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas.
One day she attended an air show. The airplanes dazzled her as they were flying in loops and doing stunts. After that Amelia knew she wanted to fly.
With her parents help Amelia took pilot lessons, became a pilot and saved enough money to buy an airplane! Amelia did some amazing things after she became a pilot!
In 1928 Amelia became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
A few years later Amelia married George Putnam.
Then, in 1932, when she was thirty years old, Amelia became the first woman to fly all by herself over the Atlantic Ocean!
Three years later Amelia was the first person to fly from Hawaii to California. She also flew from Los Angeles to Mexico City.
Next, Amelia flew alone across the Pacific Ocean!
After that she wanted to be the first woman to fly all the way around the world! In 1937 she started that trip, but her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean and she was never seen again. She was declared dead on January 5, 1939.
The most important thing to remember about Amelia is that she was the first woman to fly alone over the Atlantic Ocean and was the “First Lady of the Air.”
Today we can see one of her planes at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. There is also a stamp for her.
I’ll always remember Amelia’s courage as a pilot!
True Stories of Achievement: Marie Curie
By Hayden Quinlan
Marie Curie showed achievement in the area of science. She showed that all people, even women, could be scientists.
Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland.
Marie had a poor family. Her father lost his job and died.
In Marie’s time women were not treated that they are today.
Marie was a scientist. She found radium in x-rays. Radium could help soldiers who were injured in World War I.
Later in her life she won the Noble Prize two times!
Marie didn’t know that radiation could hurt her. She got sick and died on July 4, 1934.
The most important thing to remember about Marie Curie is that she used science to help us all.
True Stories of Achievement: Thomas Alva Edison
By Brandon Moreira
Thomas Alva Edison showed achievement in the area of science. He achieved distinction by inventing the light bulb.
Thomas Alva Edison was born on Feb. 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio.
When he was a child he was a very curious. He asked lots of questions. He also did experiments. One time when he was doing experiments his house caught on fire!
When Thomas was at school the teacher thought he was not listening. Thomas was sitting in a chair and did not pay attention to the teacher. Thomas was curious about how birds flew. The teacher thought that was too hard for him.
Thomas Alva Edison was brave too. Once he saved a boy from being hit by a train.
When he was older Thomas Alva Edison had his own lab. He made movie boxes. He also made the light bulb! He made the phonograph too. He invented almost 2,000 inventions!! People called him the “Wizard of Menlo Park.”
Thomas Alva Edison died on October 18, 1931.
The most important thing to remember about Thomas Alva Edison is that he made many inventions.
True Stories of Achievement: Susan B. Anthony
By Isabella Valutkevich
Susan B. Anthony was born on February 15, 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts.
In the beginning of her life she went to school but the teacher said only boys could learn math. Girls could not get a good education, own property, or vote, which is called women’s suffrage!
When Susan was only 15 years old she became a teacher.
When she was eighteen Susan decided to be independent and rely on herself. She stood up for women’s rights. She wanted the right to vote. So Susan voted in an election! Then she got arrested! She was supposed to pay a fine of $100 dollars, but she did not pay. This made her famous.
Then Susan met Elizabeth Stanton, the organizer of the first convention for women’s rights. They soon became good friends.
Susan and Elizabeth talked about how woman could win the right to vote. Susan and Elizabeth started a newspaper about woman’s rights. Sometimes Susan traveled for months at a time. She gave many speeches. It seemed like the laws were going to change. Susan still never gave up.
Sometimes people came to her speeches and made fun of her. They shouted when she was talking and threw rotten eggs. Susan was tired of making speeches convincing people to change their minds about women’s rights. Along with Elizabeth Susan founded the National America Woman’s Suffrage Association in 1869.
When she was 86 years old Susan said, “Failure is impossible.”
Susan B. Anthony died on March 13, 1906. Women still did not have the right to vote until 14 years after her death when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed. It gave adult women the right to vote.
The most important thing to remember abut Susan B. Anthony is that she fought hard for women’s rights.
Today we honor Susan with a one-dollar coin. I’ll always remember that Susan was one of the most important people in our country’s history.
True Stories of Achievement: Abraham Lincoln
By William Porter
Abraham Lincoln showed achievement in the area of politics. He achieved distinction by writing the Emancipation Proclamation and helping our country to stay together.
Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in Kentucky. His father didn’t like slavery so he decided to move to a territory where there were no slaves.
Abe went to a school in a small cabin called a blab school. Students would blab their lessons out loud.
Abe loved books. Sometimes he worked for many miles to borrow one.
In 1830 when Abe was 22 years old, he moved to Illinois. He worked at a store in New Salem, Illinois and made extra money working on a flat boat.
Abe married Mary Todd got in 1842. They had four sons, but only one survived childhood.
The Lincoln family lived in Springfield, the capitol of Illinois.
Then Lincoln also helped make the laws for the state of Illinois.
Lincoln joined the United States Congress.
In 1860 they elected him to be the 16th president. A war began one year later. It was called the Civil War.
Lincoln thought slavery was wrong. In 1863 he signed a paper called the Emancipation Proclamation. It stopped slavery in the United States.
After that Lincoln gave many speeches including the Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863. It was 2 minutes long.
The war finally ended in 1865.
On April 14, 1865 Lincoln went to see a play with his wife. John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln inside the theater. He died the next morning. Lincoln’s vice president became the next president.
Today we honor Abe with the Lincoln Memorial. His picture is on the penny and the five-dollar bill. There are even some new pennies that we just made in his honor.
The most important thing to remember about Lincoln is that he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation.
True Stories of Achievement: Sacagawea
By Lily Hobbs
Sacagawea showed achievement in the area of exploration. She achieved distinction by helping Lewis and Clark
Sacagawea was born in 1788 in what are now the states of Idaho, Utah and Nevada. She belonged to the Shoshone tribe.
When Sacagawea was ten or eleven years old her tribe was attacked by a war party from a tribe called the Hidatsa. They captured Sacagawea and brought her with them. Then she was sold to a fur trader named Charbonneau. Sacagawea and Charbonneau were married.
In 1840 President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark and some soldiers out west to explore the land that stretched to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark needed guides that could speak different native languages so they asked Sacagawea to come with them. While they were traveling Sacagawea had a baby boy and named him Pomp.
Sacagawea was an important member of the team. They led the way and helped them to travel safely through the wilderness.
Nobody knows how Sacagawea died. Some people think Sacagawea gave birth to a daughter named Lisette, and then died soon after that on Dec. 20, 1812. Other people think that Sacagawea lived to be a very old woman.
After Sacagawea’s death William Clark adopted her two children.
In 2000 a gold dollar coin was made in honor of Sacgawea.
The most important thing to remember about Sacagawea is that without Sacagawea it would have been a LOT harder for Lewis and Clark on their journey.
Walter J. Paton Elementary School 