The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef

Part of the Great Barrier Reef in blue-green waters
The Great Barrier Reef is the longest reef complex in the world. European exploration of the reef began when British explorer Captain James Cook ran his ship aground on it on June 11, 1770. The Great Barrier Reef has a collection of approximately 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is the

Helen Keller

A portrait of Helen Keller smiling
A brief synopsis of Helen Keller’s life: Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her father’s name was Captain Arthur Henley Keller and her mother was Kate Adams Keller. In February 1882, at 19 months old, Helen became ill, had a high fever, and lost both her sight

On Kindness

"Be kind" written in bright colors in chalk
Dear Horizon Families, I miss our grace and courtesy circles. Kindness cannot be talked about enough. “There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Fred Rogers Every child growing up in the era I did knows this man with beautiful words and

Robert Schumann

A portrait of the composer Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was born June 8, 1810. His father was an author and book dealer in Zwickau, Germany. Robert grew up with books all around him, so he fell in love with books and writing. Robert also fell in love with music. As a kid, he took piano, flute, and cello lessons, and also started […

Richard Wagner

A photo of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner’s birthday was on May 22, 1813. He passed away February 13, 1883. Richard Wagner was a German composer best known for his operas. Before composing his own works, he was a theatrical and operatic producer. He was also a conductor and wrote articles and essays on drama and music,

Diego Velázquez

A self-portrait by Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez was one of Spain’s greatest painters. He is especially famous for his portraits (pictures of people). Velázquez was born on June 6, 1599 in Seville, a city in southern Spain. At the age of about 12 he went to work as an apprentice, or helper, in an artist’s studio. He later ma