Crazy February Holidays
Don’t let the long winter get you down! Try some of these great celebrations in your classroom or with your family:
February is Great American Pie Month and National Grapefruit Month. On a more serious note, it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. How about Books for Family Fun Month, International Boost Self-Esteem Month, and Library Lovers Month?? And just for grins, it’s also National Bird Feeding Month.
Feb. 1………………………Freedom Day
……………………………..Give Kids a Smile Day
……………………………..Robinson Crusoe Day
Feb. 2……………………..Sled Dog Day
Feb. 3……………………..National Girls & Women in Sports Day
…………………………….The Day the Music Died (look it up, youngsters!)
Feb. 4……………………..Quacker Day
…………………………….Thank a Mailman Day
Feb. 5……………………..Wear Red Day
…………………………….National Weatherman’s Day
Feb. 6……………………..MOBIUS Awards Day
…………………………….Lame Duck Day
Feb. 7……………………..Ballet Day
…………………………….Charles Dickens Day
…………………………….Send a Card to a Friend Day
Feb. 8……………………..Kite Flying Day
…………………………….Boy Scout Birthday
Feb. 9……………………..Read in the Bathtub Day
Feb. 10……………………Umbrella Day
Feb. 11……………………National Shut-in Visitation Day
…………………………….Make a Friend Day
…………………………….White T-Shirt Day
Feb. 12……………………Lincoln’s Birthday
…………………………….Safety Pup Day
…………………………….National Plum Pudding Day
Feb. 13……………………Get a Different Name Day
Feb. 14……………………Valentine’s Day
…………………………….Ferris Wheel Day
…………………………….Library Lovers’ Day
…………………………….League of Women Voters Day
…………………………….Race Relations Day
Feb. 15……………………Susan B. Anthony Day
…………………………….National Gum Drop Day
Feb. 16……………………Pancake Day
…………………………….Do a Grouch a Favor Day
Feb. 17……………………World Human Spirit Day
…………………………….Random Acts of Kindness Day
…………………………….Champion Crab Races Day
Feb. 18……………………Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
…………………………….Pluto Day
Feb. 19……………………National Chocolate Mint Day
Feb. 20……………………Clam Chowder Day
…………………………….World Day for Social Justice
…………………………….Love Your Pet Day
…………………………….Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day
Feb. 21……………………Card Reading Day
Feb. 22……………………George Washington’s Birthday
…………………………….Walking the Dog Day
…………………………….Be Humble Day
Feb. 23……………………Curling is Cool Day
…………………………….Tennis Day
…………………………….International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
Feb. 24……………………National Tortilla Chip Day
Feb. 25……………………National Chili Day
Feb. 26……………………Levi Strauss Day
…………………………….For Pete’s Sake Day
…………………………….Tell a Fairy Tale Day
…………………………….Carnival Day
Feb. 27……………………International Polar Bear Day
…………………………….No Brainer Day
Feb. 28……………………National Tooth Fairy Day
…………………………….Floral Design Day
What fun!!
December Holiday Fun
December is a great month to share strange holidays with your kids or students-help distract them from that long, long wait until Christmas at the end of the month! Or, if your family or group does not celebrate Christmas, put some other types of fun into the month to help kids avoid feeling left out of this busy season.
Being a huge fan of literacy, it would be remiss for me not to mention that December is Read a New Book Month. I challenge everyone to jump right in and read something they’ve never read before. Even if you (or your children or students) are avid readers, try reading something totally off the wall that is far outside of your usual fair.
December is also Write a Friend Month. This would be a great time to encourage children to become penpals with distant relatives or to check out some of the reputable national penpal matching programs.
Here are some daily remembrances, as well. As always, they are being linked to educational activity ideas, so watch for new and exciting games and other ideas throughout the month.
December 1…………………National Pie Day
December 2………………..National Fritters Day
December 3………………..National Roof Over Your Head Day
December 4………………..Santa’s List Day
December 5……………….Bathtub Party Day
December 6………………..Mitten Tree Day
………………..St. Nicholas Day
December 7……………….National Cotton Candy Day
………………..Letter-Writing Day
December 8……………….National Brownie Day
December 9……………….National Pastry Day
………………..Christmas Card Day
December 10……………..Human Rights Day
December 11……………..National Noodle-Ring Day
December 12…………….National Ding-A-Ling Day
……………..Poinsettia Day
December 13……………..Ice Cream Day
December 14………………
December 15………………National Lemon Cupcake Day
December 16……………..National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
December 17……………..National Maple Syrup Day
…………….Underdog Day
December 18……………..Bake Cookies Day
December 19……………..Oatmeal Muffin Day
December 20……………..Games Day
December 21………………Forefathers’ Day
………………Look at the Bright Side Day
……………….National Flashlight Day
December 22……………..National Date Nut-Bread Day
December 23…………….Roots Day
December 24……………..National Egg Nog Day
December 25…………….National Pumpkin Day
December 26…………….Boxing Day
…………….Whiners’ Day
December 27……………National Fruitcake Day
December 28……………..National Chocolate Day
………………Card Players’ Day
December 29……………..
December 30…………….Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute
December 31…………….Make Up Your Mind Day
March Holidays!
Get ready for some holiday action this month! There are some great days coming….
March is Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Math and Engineering Month. It’s a mouthful, but it’s a great cause.
It’s also National Nutrition Month, Optimism Month and Women’s History Month.
Week-long celebrations include:
National Words Matter Week (March 1-7)
World Folktales and Fables Week (March 1-7)
Newspaper in Education Week (March 2-6)
Yo-yo and Skills Toys Week (March 13-22)
Act Happy Week (March 16-22)
National Spring Fever Week (March 16-22)
And here are the daily celebration ideas~
March 1…………………………………….Pig Day
…………………………………….Peanut Butter Day
March 2……………………………………Old Stuff Day
……………………………………Fun Facts about Names Day
March 3…………………………………..National Anthem Day
……………………………………Unique Names Day
March 4…………………………………..March Forth and Do Something Day
…………………………………..National Grammar Day
…………………………………..Learn What Your Name Means Day
March 5………………………………….Nametag Day
March 6………………………………….Middle Name Pride Day
…………………………………Sherlock Holmes Day
March 7…………………………………Geneology Day
March 8…………………………………Girls Write Now
………………………………….Ground Water Awareness Day
March 9………………………………….Barbie Day
March 10………………………………..Festival of Life in the Cracks Day
………………………………..Mario Day
………………………………..Salvation Army Day
March 11……………………………….Johnny Appleseed Day
March 12……………………………….Alfred Hitchcock Day
March 13……………………………….Jewel Day
March 14………………………………International Ask a Question Day
………………………………National Potato Chip Day
………………………………Pi Day
March 15………………………………Buzzards’ Day
……………………………….Peeps Day
March 16………………………………Lips Appreciation Day
March 17……………………………..St. Patrick’s Day
………………………………Submarine Day
March 18………………………………Supreme Sacrifice Day
March 19………………………………Poultry Day
……………………………..Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
March 20……………………………..National Agriculture Day
March 21……………………………..Fragrance Day
………………………………Corn Dog Day
………………………………Memory Day
………………………………International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 22……………………………..International Goof-Off Day
………………………………International Day of the Seal
………………………………World Water Day
………………………………Spring Fairy Fun Day
March 23……………………………..National Chip and Dip Day
……………………………..National Puppy Day
……………………………..World Meteorological Day
March 24……………………………..National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25……………………………..Pecan Day
……………………………..Waffle Day
March 26…………………………….Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
…………………………….Spinach Festival Day
March 27……………………………Education and Sharing Day
March 28……………………………Something on a Stick Day
March 29……………………………Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day
March 30……………………………Pencil Day
…………………………….I Am In Control Day
March 31……………………………Bunsen Burner Day
As always, check back often to see links to activity and lesson ideas for specific days.
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October Holiday Fun
October is so much more than Halloween! It’s also:
Children’s Magazine Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
National Bake and Decorate Month
National Reading Group Month
Positive Attitude Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
Vegetarian Month.
You can participate in
The Magic of Differences Week, Mystery Series Week, or National Metric Week (all the first full week of the month), and Kids’ Goal Setting Week during the second week of the month.
National School Lunch Week and Teen Read Week are during the third week of the month, Freedom of Speech Week and World Rain Forest Week are also during the third week of the month, and the fourth week of the month brings Kids Care Week, National Character Counts Week, and International Magic Week.
Here are some daily celebrations to liven up learning and tickle your funny bone:
October 1…………………Balloons around the World
October 2…………………Phileas Fogg’s Wager Day
…………………National Custodial Workers Day
…………………Name Your Car Day
October 3…………………World Smile Day
October 4…………………World Card Making Day
October 5…………………Intergeneration Day
………………….World Teachers Day
………………….National Storytelling Festival
October 6…………………Mad Hatter Day
…………………World Habitat Day
October 7…………………National Frappe Day
October 8…………………Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day
………………….Yom Kippur
October 9…………………Leif Erickson Day
…………………World Sight Day
October 10……………….National Cake Decorating Day
………………..National Angel Food Cake Day
October 11……………….Reptile Awareness Day
October 13……………….Columbus Day
October 14……………….National Dessert Day
October 15……………….White Cane Safety Day
October 16……………….Dictionary Day
………………..World Food Day
October 17……………….Gaudy Day
October 18……………….World Toy Camera Day
October 19……………….Evaluate Your Life Day
October 21……………….Babbling Day
October 22……………….National Nut Day
October 23……………….National Mole Day
October 24……………….International Banana Day
……………….National Bologna Day
October 25………………Make a Difference Day
October 26………………Mule Day
October 28………………National Chocolates Day
……………….Plush Animal Lovers’ Day
October 29………………Internet Day
October 30………………National Candy Corn Day
………………Haunted Refrigerator Night
October 31………………National Magic Day
……………….Halloween
As always, check back often to see links to activity and lesson ideas for specific days.
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August Holiday Round-Up
Here is a summary of all the great holidays I’ve discovered for August. Check back often, because I’ll be linking the days to activity ideas for children as I post them.
August 1…………National Raspberry Cream Pie Day
August 2…………National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
August 3………..National Watermelon Day
August 4…………Twins Day Festival
August 5…………National Mustard Day
August 6…………Wiggle Your Toes Day
August 8…………Sneak Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night
August 9…………National Polka Festival
August 10……….Lazy Day
August 11……….Presidential Joke Day
August 12………Middle Child’s Day
August 13………Left Hander’s Day
August 14……….National Creamsicle Day
August 15………National Relaxation Day
August 16………National Tell a Joke Day
August 17………National Thriftshop Day
August 18………Bad Poetry Day
August 19………Potato Day
Aviation Day
August 20………National Radio Day
August 21……..National Spumoni Day
Senior Citizen’s Day
August 22……..Be An Angel Day
National Tooth Fairy Day
August 23…….National Spongecake Day
Ride the Wind Day
August 24…….Vesuvius Day
August 25…….Kiss and Make Up Day
August 26…….National Cherry Popsicle Day
August 27…….Petroleum Day
Just Because Day
August 28…….World Sauntering Day
Race Your Mouse Day
August 29…….More Herbs, Less Salt Day
August 30…….Frankenstein Day
National Toasted Marshmallow Day
August 31…….National Trail Mix Day
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Celebrate July 7
Guess what? It’s Chocolate Day! Here is a wealth of ideas to try for fun and learning on this delicious holiday:
Research the History of Chocolate
Send the kids onto the internet, through the encyclopedia or over to the library to uncover exactly how and when this great treat was discovered. Here’s a hint: check history records for the native Central and South Americas, and information about the Spanish explorers of the 1600s and 1700s.
Cook Together
Cook up some chocolate delight today. Recipes abound! Think of brownies, fudge, and cookies. See if you can invent a new chocolate sensation together. Cooking with children builds bonds, increases reading comprehension, develops the ability to follow written and oral directions, enhances science and math skills, and so much more.
Make a Candy Survey
Check in with family and friends to find out what their favorite chocolate candy is. Keep records of their responses, then present the data in a graph. Older students can also analyze the information: does age, gender or profession make any difference on candy preferences? You have the makings of a science fair project for next year!
Try Some Chocolate Science
Get a few chocolate bars, some baking chips, and you’re all set for some science fun. Place a chocolate bar on two supports, like a bridge. How many pennies or other weights can it hold before it cracks? What happens if the chocolate is warm and soft? What if it’s been in the freezer? Try putting chocolate in various shapes out in the sun. Time how long it takes it to melt. Use the chocolate chips to practice making arrays to demonstrate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Got yummy leftovers? Eat ‘em up!
Write About Chocolate
Individually or as a family, write a story with chocolate as the main character. This can be oral or written, just make sure it’s full of imagination! Try these variations: Write a story starter (a few sentences) on a page and post it on the ‘fridge. Family members take turns adding to the story all day long. Try sitting in a circle or around a table and each adding a sentence to the story. Let everyone write or dictate their own story and get a non-biased judge to evaluate your writing contest.
Happy Chocolate Day!
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© 2008 Sandra Fleming
