January 10

Ray Bolger was born on this day in 1904. He was an actor who played the role of the Scarecrow in the musical production of a book by L. Frank Baum. In addition to the Scarecrow, there was a Lion, a Tin Man and a girl named Dorothy who had a dog named Toto. Dorothy sang Over the Rainbow in the movie and the Scarecrow sang a song named If I Only had a Brain. Do you know the name of the movie?


















Answer: The Wizard of Oz

January 6

Today is the anniversary of Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier. He was born on January 6 in 1745 to a family of paper manufacturers. He had 15 brothers and sisters! One of his brothers was an inventor who dreamed of building a balloon that would transport people! Together they built the first hot air balloon using cloth, three layers of paper, and fishing net. The first time they sent living creatures into the air, they sent a sheep, a duck, and a rooster. The first time they sent a person up in a balloon, it was near a European capital. Do you know which important city they were in at the time?

Hints:
This city is on the Seine River.
It is considered one of the world's leading fashion and arts centers of the world.
It is Europe's 10th greenest city and by 2020, it will be one of the world's wealthiest cities.
It is one of the most expensive places in the world to live.
The Eiffel Tower is in this city.
This city is known as the City of Lights.
The Louve Museum is located there (the famous painting of the Mona Lisa is housed there).















Answer: Paris, France

January 5

On this day in 1974, the temperature in Antartica reach 59 degrees. For today, we want to know if Antartica is the North or South Pole. While you think this over, here is some additional information about Antartica:

Almost all of Antarctica is covered by ice (98%) that is at least 1 mile thick.

According to Wikipedia, Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents.

Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland.

There are no permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted plants and animals survive there, including penguins, seals, nematodes, tardigrades, mites, many types of algae and other microorganisms, and tundra vegetation.















The answer: The South Pole

January 4

On this day in 1896, the United States added its 45th state. Do you know which state it is?

Hints:

The state capital is Salt Lake City (where the average snowfall in the mountains nearby is 500 inches a year).

This state has five national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef.

The Jazz basketball team plays there.

This is the only states whose capital has three words in its name.

The federal government owns 65% of the land in this state.

This state has the highest literacy rate in the nation (meaning more people can read there than in any other state).

The middle of the first transcontinental railroad (the first railroad to go from one side of our country to the other) is located there.

The Great Salt Lake is located there. It is has no outlets for its water except evaporation and it is saltier than the ocean.

Jell-o is the official snack food of this state.

The book series The Great Brain is set in this state.
















The answer: Utah

January 3

On this day in 1959, the United States got its 49th state. Do you know which state was almost the last one to be added?
Hints:
The highest point in North America is Mount McKinley and it is located in this state.

Oil is very important to this state. Some people think that our country's largest oil field is located here. Right now, this state produces 25% of our country's oil production.

It is our largest state (Rhode Island would fit in this state 425 times).

One third of this state is within the Artic Circle.

Dog mushing is the official state sport.

The capital is Juneau.






















The answer: Alaska

1-2-2011

January is National Oatmeal Month. More oatmeal is eaten in January than any other month. Oats were thought to have been brought to the United States in 1602 and planted on islands off the coast of Massachuesetts. George Washington even planted oats. Oats are one of teh most important grains on earl. More oats are grown in Minnesota than any other state, but only 5% of the oats grown are used for human food consumption. Animals eat the rest! Can you guess which country produces more oats than the United States? Hint: Moscow is its capital.
















Answer: Russia

January 1

Today is the anniversary of her birth. Her name at birth in 1752 was Elizabeth Griscom. She was the 8th child in a family of 17 children!!! Her parents sent her to learn from an upholsterer (the person who covers furniture with fabric). She met a man there that she fell in love with, married him and took his last name. They went to church with George Washington and his family. Elizabeth, who had a nickname that we are more familiar with, has been credited with making the first American flag for George Washington. What name do we know her by?

















Betsy Ross