Social Studies for Kids Update

Hostess to Close Up Shop, Lay Off 18,000
November 18, 2012
The end might be near for Hostess. The iconic maker of Twinkies, CupCakes, and other familiar treats, has gone into liquidation, which would mean job losses for 18,000 people across the U.S.

Hostess' Variety of Products Go Back a Long Way
Hostess has been making snacks and bread for nearly 90 years. The Twinkie was the product of an attempt to make sure that company equipment didn't get left lying around. Another Hostess icon, Ho Hos, was first introduced in 1920. Not much has changed in the manufacturing of the pinwheel-shaped Ho Hos since that time. Wonder bread goes back to 1921, to the Taggert Baking Company. Vice President Elmer Cline got the idea for a new product after attending an international balloon race. He said that looking at the sky filled with colored balloons gave him a sense of wonder.

The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln gave this famous speech on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a cemetery for soldiers killed in the famous Battle of Gettysburg.

The Story of the Gettysburg Address
Even though it was short, the famous speech wasn't just dashed off. Find out more about how and why Lincoln wrote.

The Gettysburg Address: Structure and Style
The speech is notable for its words and how they were chosen and arranged.

The Battle of Gettysburg
Find out more about this historic battle: the main players, the strategies, and the prelude and aftermath.

The Life and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln
Trace his life from humble beginnings through a law and political career and to his time as President, including his role in preserving the Union during the Civil War.

The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln faced challenges like no other President before him.

Quotes of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln said or wrote a great many famous things.

The First Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving was probably not what we think it was.

Related Book Reviews

• Mayflower 1620
• 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving
• Celebrate Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Feast
How did the different foods we eat on Thanksgiving become official? Check out what's known and not known.

The Pilgrims: Voyage to Freedom
Follow the Pilgrims as they sail across the Atlantic Ocean, from England to America, in search of religious freedom. See who they meet when they land in New England. Find out about the first Thanksgiving.