Kids in History
This kid was born in 1758 in Connecticut. He was very protective of his family from a very young age. So much so that he left law school and became a teacher to help support them. He eventually became a writer, but not the usual kind. He wrote a spelling and grammer book known as the Blue-backed speller and it sold more than 100-million copies. In his travels showing the book he noticed there were too many ways people were saying different words and communication wasn't good. It pushed him to create a dictionary for all to use as a guide. His dictionary has sold more copies in America than any other book except the bible. Who was this kid? It was Noah Webster.
This kid was born in 1821 in Oxford, Massachussetts. She lived on a farm and loved taking care of others. She was known for helping out injured animals. She even nursed her brother back to health after he fell from the barn. When she was just a teenager, she became a teacher and taught school for fourteen years. During the Civil War she wanted to help injured soldiers and she would even visit the battlefield to do so. She became known as the Angel of the Battlefield. She was so passionate about her work that she eventually formed what is still known today as the American Red Cross. Who was this kid? It was Clara Barton.
This kid was born March 2, 1904 in Springfield Massachussetts. His mother put him to bed with rhymes which is possibly what gave him the talent to come up with them himself. His writing career started with humorous articles and cartoons in grown-up's papers...but eventually he started writing for children. His first book was called And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street. Later books would include Green Eggs and Ham, and the The Cat in the Hat. Who was this kid? It was Dr. Seuss.
This kid was born in 1919, in Cairo Georgia. He was raised by his single mom with four brothers and sisters. He loved playing sports from a very young age and was really good at many of them. But baseball is what he chose as his proffession. In 1947 he became the first black major league baseball player. He was a member of six world series teams. He was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 1962. Who was this kid? It was Jackie Robinson.
This boy was born in Brookline Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. He was one of nine brothers and sisters. He was not very healthy as a child. He always had one kind of sickness or another but he still enjoyed swimming, sailing, and playing football. He graduated from Harvard and entered the Navy where he was known to be very courageous. When he came home he started his political career and eventually became the 35th President of the United States. Who was this kid? It was John F. Kennedy.
This boy was born in 1874 in San Francisco where he lived until he was eleven. His dad was a journalist, which led him to his own love of poetry. He wrote his first poem in high school. He also studied very hard and became co-valedictorian of his class. He married the girl that was the other valedictorian. As a grown-up he became a 4-time Pulitzer Prize winning author. Some of his books include "New Hampshire", "North of Boston", and "A Witness Tree". Who was this kid? It was Robert Frost.
This girl was born in 1820 in Maryland. She was a slave and by the time she was five or six she was working as a house servant. By 13 she was working in the fields. She always tried to stand up for other people. In 1849, she feared she was going to be sold so she fled north. But she didn't stay for long because she decided to spend her life helping other slaves escape. She made 19 trips back to the south to help more than 300 slaves escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Who was this girl? It was Harriet Tubman.
This kid was born in 1926, the son of a dentist. His father always wanted him to follow in his footsteps. But one of his father's patients, musician Elwood Buchanan, made sure that wouldn't happen. Buchanan started giving the boy trumpet lessons when he was in junior high. He loved it. He developed his own style of music, and eventually became known as one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Who was this kid? Miles Davis.
This kid was born in Alabama in 1935. He was extremely close to his mother. She was so concerned about his health that she made him take his own set of silverware to school so he wouldn't catch germs from other kids. When he was older he turned to singing. He went into a recording studio to make a record for his mother and they thought he was so talented they signed him to a record deal. He became known to many as the King of Rock and Roll. Who was this kid? Elvis Presley
This boy was born with the name Marion. He didn't like it becasue he thought it soudned girly and so did the other boys at school. At eleven he got a nickname that he liked much better. It was Duke after his airdale terrier dog who was always following him to school. Duke went on to become an athlete in high school and an actor in many westerns. He is known as one of the most macho men in history. Who was this kid? John Wayne
This guy was born in 460 BC. He made many medical discoveries at a time when superstition was how most people treated their illnesses. He promoted exercise and washing hands to stay healthy. He became known as the father of medicine because much of what he discovered is still used today. Doctors even take an oath of ethics that is based on him and his standards. Who was he? Hippocrates.
This kid was born in 1975. He started playing golf when he could barely swing a club. When he was 4 years old, his father hired a coach for him. When he was 6, he began entering junior contests. His strength came with his concentration. He trained himself how to ignore distractions. At age 24 he won four major golf tournaments including the U.S. and British Opens. Some say hes the best golfer ever to play the game. Who was this kid? Tiger Woods.
This kid was born in 1903. He always loved baseball and in high school made the team. At one game a talent scout spotted him and offered him a sports scholarship to college. He took it hoping to become a professional player even though his parents thought it was a waste of time. He proved them wrong when he started playing for the New York Yankees in 1923. He was so good he got named the American League Most Valuable Player twice and was nicknamed the Iron Horse . He played in every game for 14 years without missing even one. A record that wasnt broken for 50 years. Who was he? Lou Gehrig
This kid was born in 1770. He started studying the piano and violin at age 4. His father, who was a singer was very hard on him and locked him in a basement to make him practice. When he was 10, the piano player wrote his first composition, by 12 he was directing an orchestra. He eventually began to play at parties and give concerts. Though his hearing started to fail in his early 20s, he became known as one of the world's greatest composers. He wrote many symphonies and overtures. Who was this kid? It was Ludwig Van Beethoven.
This star was born on December 2nd 1981 in Kentwood, Louisiana. She has two siblings, a brother and a sister. Before she made it big in the music industry she was a regular on the Mickey Mouse Club. Her dancing and singing abilities soon shined through though, and she got her first hit single with "Hit me Baby, one more time" in 1999. Who is this celebrity? Britney Spears.
This girl was born September 28th, 1987 in Houston, Texas. At six she was mostly interested in Ballet. She practiced the dance along with her sister Haylie. But soon the acting bug took a bite. She got a big break with a role in the TV movie "The Soul Collector". Then before long she had her own hit series on Disney. Now she's making movies like "Agent Cody Banks" and she's singing with at least one top charting hit already. Who do you suppose this celebrity is? Hilary Duff.
This kid was born January 30th, 1989 in Anchorage, Alaska. He got his start on the Bill Cosby show, Kids Say the Darndest Things. Then he moved on to do several commercials for the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and the WB. His best-known role so far is the movie "Holes" where he plays zero. Can you guess who this celebrity is? It's up and comer, Kaleo Thomas.
This guy was born December 5th, 1985 in Ridgewood New Jersey. He started acting very early on and has been home schooled since the age of six. He's had small parts in TV shows like Spin City, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He's also been in some movies including My Dog Skip and Agent Cody Banks. But he's most famous for the leading role in the TV series Malcolm in the Middle. Who is this celebrity? It's Frankie Muniz.
This boy was born in 1894. He was skinny and so pale that his mother called him "Snow-in-the-face" and he wore big round glasses that caused his classmates to make fun of him too. But he loved life and was very observant. He left high school to attend the National Academy of Design where he began painting. He sold a painting to the Saturday Evening Post in 1916 and ended up doing more than 300 more for them. He did portraits of three presidents and became known and recognized as a great American Artist. Who was this kid? It was Norman Rockwell.
This kid was born in 1946. He was what you might call a scardy cat. He was especially afraid of snakes and insects. That was until he learned to appreciate fear. That's when he started scaring his three little sisters. At 12, this boy, who considered himself a nerd, started making movies with his parent's video camera. They were almost always adventures or thrillers. His movie making continued into adulthood and he made movies like Poltergeist, Jaws, Indiana Jones, E.T., and Jurassic Park. Who was this kid? It was Steven Spielberg.
This kid was born in 1899 to a strict and religious family. His mother liked to dress him as a girl so people would think he and his older sister were twins. This gave the boy a complex. He was nervous around girls and ended up taking his sister to the prom instead of a date. He turned his unhappiness into writing. He wrote his first articles in the high school newspaper. Then right after graduation he took a job as cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. He soon volunteered as an ambulance driver for World War One and found lots of stuff to write about. He became one of America's most celebrated writers. Who was this kid? It was Ernest Hemingway.
This boy was born in England in 1899. He was a pudgy and plain looking kid who liked to be by himself. He said he preferred to watch rather than participate. Very early he became fascinated with maps and timetables. By the time he went to school he had London's tram schedule memorized. He also became interested in trials as a kid. He liked watching and researching them. His love for mystery and timing helped him begin a career in Hollywood later. He became a director and master of the suspense thriller, making a cameo appearance in each one of his films. Who was this kid? It was Alfred Hitchcock.
This girl was born in Serbia in 1910 to a popular businessman. Their house was usually filled with patriots, priests, dignitaries, and the needy. The girls father often gave out food and money to whomever needed it. His words were, "Never take a bite of food that you are not willing to share with others." The girl took that to heart and became one of the worlds most well known nuns and humanitarians. Who was this kid? Mother Teresa.
This kid was born in Boston in 1809 to two traveling actors. From ages six to eleven he got to travel and study in England. At 18 he published his first book at his own expense. By the time he finished his second book, one of poems, his friends were such big fans, they gave him the money to publish it. He's one of the most well known writers in history. Some even say he invented the detective story. Who was this kid? Edgar Allan Poe
This kid was born in 1580 in England. He was known for being confident from a very young age. At sixteen years old, he began his famous travels. He first traveled around Europe and Africa joining different armed forces in battle. In 1606 King James the first granted him a charter to go to America and help colonize Virginia. He helped settlers make it through the hard winter at Jamestown. Who was this kid? Captain John Smith.
This kid was born in Massachusetts in 1830. She was nine when she started school at Amherst Academy where she learned about Latin, Geology, Botany, and Philosophy. At sixteen she started writing poetry. In one year she wrote 366 poems, and throughout her life, she wrote a total of One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Five poems. She's known as one of the best poets of all time because she wrote about uncommon subjects. Who was this kid? Emily Dickinson.
This kid was born in England in 1889 to two music hall entertainers. At five years old he had to take over one of his mothers performances because her voice went hoarse. It was all show biz from there. He performed on stage until 1913 and then became one of the world's first silent film stars. He's known best for his physical comedy. Who was this kid? Charlie Chaplin.
This kid was born in the early 1860's on a 240 acre homestead in Southwest Missouri. He taught himself to read and at the age of ten left home to go to school in Kansas. His interest in plant life lead to many helpful discoveries. He was the first black man to graduate from his college. And he got many job offers including teacher at Tuskegee Institute. He became well known as an artist, educator, humanitarian, and very important scientist. Who was this kid? George Washington Carver.
This kid was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. While most young girls enjoyed tea parties this one scouted out adventure. She was fascinated by mechanics and inventions. She designed a trap to catch chickens. She eventually took up aviation as a hobby, doing odd jobs to pay for flying lessons. She was the first woman to ever fly across the Atlantic. She became very popular making appearances all over the world. Who was this kid? Amelia Earhart.
This kid was born in Boston Massachusetts on January 17, 1706. He had an older brother named James who owned a printing shop. That's where he got his first apprenticeship at the age of twelve. At 17 he left his family to travel and learn printing. Eventually his interests turned to electricity. He invented the lightening rod, became very well known and ended up getting to sign the Declaration of Independence. Who was this kid? Benjamin Franklin.
This kid was born March 3rd, 1847 in Edinburgh Scotland. He was a fast learner. He sent his first letter in the mail before he had learned the entire alphabet. He went on to graduate from high school when he was only 14 years old and that same year invented a device that made his dog's barks sound like they were coming from a human. At 16 he began studying electricity as a way to communicate and not long after, he invented the telephone. Who was this kid? Alexander Graham Bell.
This kid was born in 1860 in Darke County, Ohio. She had to help support her family by learning to hunt for food. That's where she found her talent. She was so good with her pistol she became a sharp shooter and entertainer. She was able to shoot a coin in mid air. She got to travel and perform all over the United States and even Europe, but she always ended up back home in Ohio. Who was this kid? Annie Oakley.
This kid was born in a log cabin in 1867. Her family moved, by covered wagon across the American Frontier. She met many people along the way and saved many keepsakes. Later, she settled down in Mansfield, Missouri and wrote about all of her family's experiences. Her books about the Little House on the Prairie made her one of the most popular authors of all time. Who was this kid? Laura Ingalls Wilder.
This kid was born and raised on a farm in Dearborn, Michigan. He was always taking things apart to see how they worked. At twelve years old, he saw his first steam road-engine. That's when he decided he wanted to invent a car that everybody could afford. After years of experiments, he came up with the model-t and changed automobiles forever. By 1927, the car only cost 380 dollars. Who was this kid? Henry Ford.
In 1777, During the Revolutionary War, this kid was responsible for warning 400 American Soldiers about an attack on Danbury, Connecticut. In pitch black she rode her horse, Star, through forests, mud, and cold. A statue of the 16 year old on her horse stands in Carmel, New York. Who was this kid? Sybil Ludington.
At around one and a half in 1882, this little girl became blind and deaf. Her family didn't think she would ever be able to communicate, but at seven years old, she learned how to use sign language. From that point on she wanted to learn everything. She graduated from college with honors, wrote many books, and became a political activist. Who was this kid? Helen Keller
Born in 1847 in Ohio, this kid was always conducting experiments, even making his own telegraph set when he was just 11 years old. During his lifetime, he got patents for One thousand and Ninety three inventions, including the electric light bulb. Who was this kid? Thomas Edison.
This kid was born in 1951. She loved sports so much she was the only girl allowed to play with the boys in softball and football. She also loved science and in 1983 she became the first American woman to fly in space. Who was this kid? Astronaut Sally Ride.
As a boy in the late 1700's this kid spent most of his time in the woods. Word spread across the nation about his skillful hunting, his hard work, and his funny storytelling. When he was grown, he was elected to the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C., where he fought for the rights of Indians and poor homesteaders. Who was this kid? Davy Crockett.
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