April
        National Library Week/School Library Media Month,
 
        SAT's April 7-11
        Mid-Term Reports April 17
        Out /Weather Day April 18

        04/20 /03  EASTER
 

    March
        Women in History Month ,    

    03/03/ 03 - Read Across America

    03/02/03-  Iditarod

    03/04/-Fat Tuesday
    03/05/03- Ash Wednesday

    03/11/ - Johnny Appleseed Day

    03/12/- Girl Scout Day

    03/15/ - The Ides of March

    03/17/ - St. Patrick's Day

    03/21/ - First day of Spring - Spring Crafts for kids

February

African-American History Month, Heart Month

    02/02/: Groundhog Day
    02/04/: Rosa Park's Birthday
    02/06/: Waitangi Day - New Zealand 

    02/08/: Boy Scout Day
    02/11/: Mardi Gras ~ New Orleans, LA
    02/12/: Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
    02/14/: Saint Valentine's Day
    02/15/: Susan B. Anthony Day

January is ...

Wheat Bread Month and Bread Machine Baking Month:

1) make bread; 2) invite a bread baker to the class, perhaps a parent; 3) study wheat--where is it grown?--what is the plant like?--what foods have wheat in them?--what about food allergies?--what kinds of jobs are connected to wheat?; 4) write stories or poems about wheat; 5) do some research on the Earl of Sandwich; [see our Sandwich Day page for information] 6) survey family and friends to determine their favorite breads [bagels, tortillas, toast, etc.] 7) look into other grains that can be used instead of wheat; 8) try growing some wheat; 9) look into how bread machines work--does someone have one at home they could bring, along with the family baker to explain? You might also want to mark the celebration with Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris.

January is also National Soup Month:

1) make soup; 2) collect family soup recipes and make a class recipe book; 3) make up a list of soups [vegetable beef, chili, borscht, potato, bean & ham, etc.] and poll other classes or family members as to their favorites and then graph the results; 4) tour the kitchen of a restaurant that features soup on the menu; 5) make a class list of thoughts, feelings, and events that are related to soup, and then use the list for creative writing projects; 6) evaluate and compare the nutritonal content of canned soups; 7) look into the theraputic value of chicken soup when you are sick; 8) come up with class cheers about soup; 8) find out about the soups various ethnic groups make.

    National Soup Month, National Hobby Month

    01/01/02: New Year's Day

Happy New Year! People in almost every country in the world celebrate this first day of the new year with special customs and traditions meant to bring good luck. People in Japan swallow a long noodle without breaking it while Austrians try to touch a pig. Dutch people eat something in the shape of a circle while Spanish people eat 12 grapes--one for each month of the year. And many people make resolutions. Invite your students to make a resolution which will give them a fresh start for the new year.

    01/05/: George Washington Carver Day

    01/13/: Poetry Break Day 

    01/15/: Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

    01/29th was a good day for baseball over the years--the American Baseball League was formed in     1900, and the first 5 men were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. Maybe you should          consider a baseball unit.

And then on January 31st is Jackie Robinson's birthday--so many connections to other events in January and to Black History Month in February. Find Lawrence Ritter's book, Leagues Apart : The Men and Times of the Negro Baseball Leagues to use in your class. On Tuesday, April 15th, 1947, Jackie Robinson took his place at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Four of his teammates asked to be traded, he faced racial insults from fans and players alike, and some players threatened to strike. National League President Ford Frick responded with a blunt ultimatum: "I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the league for five years. This is the United States of America, and one citizen has as much right to play as another." Resistance quickly collapsed. Begin Black History Month on January 31st with Jackie Robinson's birthday or do a unit on heroes.

December

    Universal Human Rights Month

    12/01/03: World AIDS Day

November

    Child Safety and Protection Month, National American Heritage Month

    11/01/: All Saints' Day
    11/01: National Authors' Day
    11/03: National Sandwich Day
    11/06: Election Day - USA
    11/06/01: Melbourne Cup Day - Melbourne, Australia
    11/06/01: John Philip Sousa's Birthday

October

    Diversity Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness Month, Child Health
    Month, Dinosaur Month, Young Adolescent Month, Computer Learning Month, National Crime
    Prevention Month, National UNICEF Month

 
    10/12/02: Columbus Day
    10/13/02 - 10/29/02: Teen Read Week
    10/14/02: Winnie-the-Pooh's birthday - 76 this year!
    10/14/01 - 10/19/01: National School Lunch Week
    10/17/01: National Boss Day       
    10/18/02: Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence
    10/21/02: Sweetest Day
    10/22/02 - 10/26/02: National School Bus Safety Week
    10/24/02: United Nations Day
    10/27/02: Make a Difference Day
    10/26/02: Daylight Savings Time Ends - US and Canada
    10/28/02: National Chocolate Day
    10/31/02: Halloween
    10/31/02: National UNICEF Day

September

        National Library Card Sign-Up Month, National Rice Month, Hispanic Heritage Month,
                                BabySafety Month, National Ethnic Foods Month

        09/01/01: National Childhood Injury Prevention Week

        09/08/02: National Grandparents Day

        09/08/02: Teddy Bear Day
        09/8/02 - 09/14/02: Five-a-Day Week

August

        National Inventor's Month, National Back-to-School Month, Home Business Month

        08/02/02: Friendship Day
        08/15/02: National Aviation Day
        08/26/02: Women's Equality Day
        08/27/02: Mother Teresa's Birthday
        08/31/02: Maria Montessori's Birthday
 

Updated August 21, 2002