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New MoonThe moon is between the earth and

the sun, and the side of the moon

we can’t see is all in shadow.

Full MoonThe side of the moon that we can see

is all lit up by the sun’s light.

Lunar EclipseThis happens when the earth is between the sun

and the moon. The full moon becomes dark as it

passes through the earth’s shadow. Check the

news to see if it can be seen where you live.

Solar EclipseThis happens when the moon is between the

sun and the earth, and the moon blocks the

sun’s light. Check the news to see if it can be

seen where you live.

Meteor ShowerMeteors are tiny rocks that come from a comet’s

tail. They can be as small as a grain of sand or

as big as a marble. These tiny rocks burn up

high in the sky leaving a bright streak of light.

January 2Today is Betsy Ross’ birthday.

She designed the first United States flag

with 13 stripes and 13 stars.

How many stripes and stars are

on the flag now?

January 4Louis Braille developed a way for blind people

to read. He spent eight years designing letters

people could feel. Braille letters are made of

raised dots on paper. Blind people read

by feeling these letters with their fingers.

January 13The month of January is National Eye Care

Month. Think about some ways you can take

care of your eyes. Count the number of people

in your class with blue, brown, or another

eye color. Make a graph on what you find.

January 15Martin Luther King, Jr., was born

on this day. He wanted all people to be

treated fairly, despite their differences.

January 16Nearly 200 years ago, the first bicycle was

invented in Germany. The first bicycle

didn’t even have pedals! Riding a bicycle

is a great way to exercise.

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January 17Today is Benjamin Franklin’s birthday.

He experimented with electricity.

How do you use electricity in your home?

January 23Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female

doctor in the United States on this day.

Is your doctor a man or a woman?

Ask some of your friends this question.

January 25The Chinese New Year begins at the time of

the new moon sometime between

January 1st and February 19th.

Each new year has an animal symbol.

Do you know the symbol for this year?

January 28January is National Thank You Month in the

United States. Think of someone that you

would like to say thank you to, and tell them.

January 29On this day in 1924, a machine was invented

that made ice-cream cones. Before this time

people were only served ice cream in dishes.

February 2Today is Groundhog Day in the United States.

People say that if the groundhog comes out

from his burrow and sees his shadow, there

will be six more weeks of winter weather.

Listen to the news today to find out if the

groundhog saw his shadow.

February 4On this day in 1902, Charles Lindbergh

was born. He was a famous aviator who flew

his airplane across the Atlantic Ocean.

Have you ever flown in an airplane?

Can you find the Atlantic Ocean on a map?

February 6Babe Ruth, a famous baseball player,

was born on this day. He hit 714 homeruns,

or homers, during his career.

Do you play baseball?

February 7Today is the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

She wrote Little House on the Prairie and

other books about her childhood.

February 11The first hospital in America began on

this day around 250 years ago.

It was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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February 12Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president

of the United States of America, was born

in a log cabin in Kentucky on this day,

around two hundred years ago.

February 13International Pancake Day is in the month

of February. Did you have pancakes

for breakfast this morning?

February 17February is American Heart Month.

Take a walk or run today for good exercise.

February 22Today is George Washington’s birthday.

He was the first president of the United States.

Read George Washington’s Breakfast by Jean

Fritz to learn more about his life.

March 17Today is Saint Patrick’s Day. People of Irish

descent celebrate their heritage today.

Everyone joins the celebration by wearing

green. Go outside and search for a four-leaf

clover, a symbol of this holiday.

March 2Dr. Seuss, whose real name was

Theodore Seuss Geisel, was born on this day.

Enjoy reading one of his books,

like Green Eggs and Ham.

March 4Today is a special day to celebrate your

country’s national anthem or song. In the

United States we would sing the

“Star Spangled Banner.”

March 10Alexander Graham Bell invented the

telephone in 1876. On this day he sent

the first message to his assistant, Mr. Watson.

February 23February is Black History Month in the

United States. It began to help people recognize

contributions and achievements made by

African Americans. Read The Patchwork

Quilt by Valerie Flournoy.

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March 20Celebrate the beginning of Spring by planting

something today. You can also celebrate by

taking a walk to find the signs of new growth.

March 24March is Women’s History Month. Find out

about a famous woman in history and share

your facts with a classmate.

March 25On this day in 1954, the first color television

sets were manufactured. Any television before

that time had black and white pictures.

March 28The first washing machine was officially

created on this day over 200 years ago.

Before that time clothes were washed by hand.

Can you imagine how much time people

spent washing clothes?

March 30The first pencil with an eraser on top was

officially made almost 150 years ago today.

Have you used a pencil today?

April 1Today is April Fool’s Day. Many people play

harmless practical jokes on each other,

a custom that is centuries old.

April 3The scientist Jane Goodall was born on

this day in 1934. She is known for her work

with African Chimpanzees.

April 6Today in 1909, Admiral Robert E. Peary

discovered the North Pole. Can you name

an Arctic animal that would be found

in that region?

April 13Happy Birthday to Thomas Jefferson!

Not only was he the third president of the

United States, but he was also an inventor,

architect, and statesman. He was born

in Virginia almost 250 years ago.

April 17Do you know why the adhesive bandage was

invented? In the early 1900s, Mr. Earl Dickson

was newly married, and his wife often cut or

burned herself in the kitchen. He invented

bandages that she could apply herself, so that

he wouldn’t have to worry about her.

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April 18This is the day Paul Revere made his famous

“Midnight Ride” in 1775. He warned the

colonists that the British were coming.

This happened at the beginning of the

Revolutionary War, an important part

of early American history.

April 19The microscope was first created by Dutch

eyeglass-makers over four hundred years ago.

A microscope is an instrument made of lenses

that makes small objects look larger.

April 22Today is Earth Day. This is a special day to

promote clean air and water. This day helps us

remember to take good care of our environment.

Pick up litter in your own neighborhood.

April 24On this day in 1926 the first seeing-eye

dog was used. These specially trained dogs

are used to help guide blind people.

April 30Did you know that paper was first made in

China around 105 A.D., almost 2,000 years ago?

The process was kept secret for over

five hundred years.

May 2The first fire department was organized on

this day over two hundred years ago,

in New York. Visit your local fire department.

May 3May is National Egg Month. Ask classmates

to tell you their favorite way to eat eggs.

Make a chart or graph to show this information.

May 4On this day in 1776, invisible ink was used for

the first time on letters sent between America

and Europe. Make invisible ink by using lemon

juice or salt water and tooth picks as pens.

Write a short message, let it dry, and then hold

the paper over a lighted light bulb.

May 5Cinco de Mayo is a celebration among the

Mexican and Latino immigrants to the United

States. It is celebrated today in memory of a

battle in Mexico when French

attackers were defeated. Today people enjoy

Latino music, art, dance, and food.

May 12Florence Nightingale was born on this day

in 1820. She was a famous nurse.

She worked very hard to improve conditions

for people in hospitals, and has been called

the founder of modern nursing.

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May 14Skylab, the first orbiting space laboratory,

was launched on this day in 1973.

Make a trip to the library to find out all

the facts you can about Skylab.

May 24Today is the birthday of Gabriel Danie

Fahrenheit, a scientist who created the mercury

thermometer. The degrees on the customary

thermometer are named after him. Look at

the temperature today on a thermometer.

May 25Have you ever written on a blackboard?

A Scottish teacher, James Pillans, invented

the blackboard so he could draw maps

for his students to see.

May 26Sally K. Ride was the first American woman

in space. She was born on this day in 1951

in Encino, California.

May 30Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday

of the month of May. It is a national holiday

honoring Americans killed in war. This is also

a time to remember other family members

who have died.

June 5Today is the anniversary of the first hot-air

balloon flight. It took place in France

over two hundred years ago. Check out

Hot Air Henry by Mary Calhoun to read about a

cat who takes a ride in a hot-air balloon.

June 6June 6th is National Yo-Yo Day. One yo-yo

champ was “Fast” Eddy McDonald who

completed 2,663 loops in three hours.

Try using a yo-yo today.

June 7Did you know that french fries are not from

France? They were first created over

one hundred years ago in the country of

Belgium. The word “French” refers to the way

the potatoes are cut.

June 8This is the day that the vacuum cleaner was

officially created by I. W. McGaffey,

over one hundred thirty years ago. He called

it the “sweeping machine.”

June 11Jacques Yves Cousteau was born today

in 1910. He explored the ocean. He was also

an author, filmmaker, and inventor.

He created the aqualung, which allowed

people to explore underwater.

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June 12Today is Anne Frank’s birthday. She was a

German Jewish girl who wrote in a diary for

two years, and later it was published.

Her story has become famous; it tells what

her life was like hiding from the Nazis

during World War II.

June 14Flag Day is celebrated today. It is the day

that the United States adopted the official

design of the American flag. Many people

display the American flag on this day.

Count how many flags you see today.

June 28Have you eaten a tomato lately?

On this day in 1820, the tomato was proven

to be non-poisonous. Now it is a commonly

eaten fruit. Have a tomato and

lettuce salad today.

June 29During the month of June, International

Joke Day is celebrated. Here’s a joke to

share with a friend: “Knock-knock.

Who’s there? Wool. Wool, who?

Wool you let me in?”

June 30Electric energy was first made available and

sold on this day in 1879. The first electric

company was the California Electric Light

Company organized in San Francisco. To save

energy, be sure to turn off the lights in your

house when they are not being used.

July 2On this day in 1874, the first zoo opened in

the United States in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania. Plan a trip to your local zoo

and see if you can find any animals caring

for their young.

July 3In 1893, Josephine Cochrane won the highest

award at the Chicago World’s Fair for designing

a dishwashing machine. If you have a

dishwasher in your home, examine how it

works. This is one invention that has saved

a lot of time!

July 4The United States Declaration of Independence

was signed on this day in 1776, and the

United States became a new nation.

We celebrate the Fourth of July with

parades, fireworks, barbecues, and other

outdoor activities.

July 5Sylvester Graham, inventor of the graham

cracker, was born today. Enjoy a glass

of milk with a couple of graham crackers

for a snack today.

July 9The inventor of the sewing machine, Elias

Howe, was born today. Notice the stitching on

your clothing. Do you know how to sew?

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July 13Many inventions happen by accident. Did you

know that a popular breakfast cereal was invented

accidentally? A batter made of bran was being

mixed and some of it fell on a hot stove. It turned

into a crisp, thin flake and has been enjoyed as

a cereal ever since. Ask your friends what

their favorite cereal is. Make a graph to

chart the results.

July 17Nelson Mandela was born on this day in 1918.

He fought to obtain freedom for all people of

South Africa.

July 18Have you ever heard your voice recorded?

On this day, over a hundred years ago,

Thomas Edison recorded the human voice

for the first time. Record your voice and listen

to what you sound like.

July 20Neil Armstrong became the first human

to step onto the moon on this day in 1969.

Look at pictures of the moon today,

or if it is visible, notice the moon

in the sky tonight.

July 30Today is the birthday of Henry Ford, a car

manufacturer, who invented the moving

assembly line. The moving assembly line

allows workers to make things more quickly.

August 2Friendship Day is today. Play with a friend

today or make a new friend.

August 3On this day in 1492, Christopher Columbus

sailed from Spain on his voyage to the new

world. After being at sea for 71 days,

Columbus and his crew saw land and thought

it was Asia. Columbus never knew he

had really reached America.

August 5Traffic lights were first used on this day

in 1914 in Ohio. They had red and green lights

and buzzers. Count how many times you see

a traffic light today.

August 6Have you ever been given medicine when you

were sick? Most likely you can thank Sir

Alexander Fleming because he discovered

penicillin. Today is his birthday.

August 16Gold was found in a new place on this day in

1896. Many people rushed to Klondike in the

Yukon of Canada, in hopes of making it rich.

What would you do if you found gold?

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August 17The frontiersman and soldier Davy Crockett,

was born on this day over two hundred years

ago. Learn about Davy’s adventures by reading

a book about his life.

August 19Today is National Aviation Day. We are lucky

to have airplane travel as a common way

of getting from one place to another.

Make a plane out of paper or balsa wood.

August 21Hawaii became the 50th state of the United

States on this day in 1959. Eat pineapple and

read about volcanoes on these islands.

August 28On this day, about eighty years ago,

the first commercial was heard on the radio.

Write your own commercial to promote

a product you really like.

August 30Thomas Edison officially created the first

motion picture machine on this day. It was

called a kinetoscope. A person was able

to watch a short motion picture through

a peephole on this device.

September 1September is National Honey Month. Honey

has been used as a sweetener since ancient

times. Have a snack of bread and honey.

September 2Labor Day is the first Monday in this month.

In the late 1800s, Peter J. McGuire of New York

had the idea of starting a holiday that would

honor working people. Write down three jobs

that you might like to have in the future.

September 10National Grandparent’s Day is celebrated

during this month. This is a perfect time to visit

grandparents or to let them know how

important they are to you by writing a letter

or making a phone call.

September 11The first newspaper cartoon was published on

this day in 1875. It took a full page and had

17 pictures. Create a comic strip of your own.

September 12September is Library Card Sign-up Month.

Do you have a library card? If not, this is a

good day to get one. If you do have one,

this is a good day to use it.

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September 15September is Celebrate National Hispanic

Heritage Month. This is a time to honor people

from Spanish-speaking countries.

September 16On this day almost four hundred years ago,

the Pilgrims sailed on the Mayflower from

England. Write a journal page as though you

were on that ship.

September 17The International Day of Peace is celebrated

on the third Tuesday of this month.

It is a day devoted to encouraging peace

among all nations and people. Be a peacemaker

in your home and school today.

September 18Today is the birthday of the inventor of the

gyroscope, Jean Bernard Foucalt. He used the

gyroscope to show the earth’s rotation.

A gyroscope is a wheel mounted in a set of

rings that spins rapidly. He is also famous

for a pendulum that he designed.

September 27The first railroad track was laid on this

day in 1825. Have you ever been on a train

to get from one place to another?

October 2Today is Universal Children’s Day.

It is a day to honor children worldwide.

Write to a child that lives in a different place

from you and begin a pen-pal friendship.

October 3October is the Month of the Dinosaur.

Dig up some new facts about your favorite

dinosaur or a dinosaur you would like

to know more about.

October 4Russia launched Sputnik, the first artificial

satellite, in 1957 on this day, and the

Space Age was born! Sputnik orbited

the earth every 96 minutes.

October 8The Great Chicago Fire began on this day

in 1871. The fire burned for about 39 hours.

Four square miles of Chicago

were left in ashes.

October 11Fire Prevention week occurs in this month.

Ask your family to make a fire escape plan.

You might also want to talk about ways

to prevent fires.

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October 12Today is Columbus Day. Christopher

Columbus landed in the New World in 1492.

He had three ships: the Niña, the Pinta,

and the Santa Maria. The first two ships

were each just 70 feet long. Measure this

on the playground.

October 21This is the day Thomas Edison invented

the first usable light bulb. Examine the

various light bulbs in your home. Compare

their brightness, size, and shape.

Record what you find.

October 27On this day in 1904 the first underground

and underwater railway in the world opened.

It became known as the New York Subway.

October 28The Statue of Liberty in New York, a famous

American landmark, was dedicated on this

day over a hundred years ago. It was a gift

from France. It became a welcoming symbol

to immigrants coming to the United States.

October 29Here is an interesting fact about the first

light bulb. It only provided about 13 1/2 hours

of light. Be a detective and find out how long

the average light bulb lasts today.

November 1Today is National Author’s Day. Share your

favorite author with a friend. You can also be

an author today by writing your own story.

November 2On this day in 1947, a plane called the

Spruce Goose flew for the first and last time.

It was the world’s largest airplane at that time.

Designed by Howard Hughes, it was built

of wood, had eight engines, and a wingspan

wider than a football field.

November 3Today is National Sandwich Day because

it is the birthday of the Earl of Sandwich,

who invented the sandwich nearly

three hundred years ago. Have your favorite

sandwich for lunch today. Ask your friends

what their favorite kind of sandwich is and

graph the results.

November 8National Chemistry Week is at this time

during the month of November. This is a good

time to get excited about science.

Ask your parents if they can help you

do a science experiment.

November 11Today is Veteran’s Day. This holiday celebrates

the ending of World War I in 1918. It is a day

to honor those who have lost their lives in war

and also to honor all those who have served in

the Armed Forces of the United States. Think

of one way you can say thank you to a veteran.

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November 12November is National Native American Heritage

Month. Find out more about the early history

of the area where you live and which Native

Americans lived there. A great book to enjoy for

this celebration is Brother Eagle, Sister Sky:

A Message from Chief Seattle by Susan Jeffers.

November 13Today is the anniversary of peanut butter.

It was invented by George Washington Carver

in 1890, and people have been enjoying it

ever since. List all the ways you can think

of to eat peanut butter.

November 14Happy birthday to Robert Fulton. He is the

inventor of the first successful steamboat, the

Clermont. He was born in Lancaster,

Pennsylvania in 1765.

November 19National Children’s Book Week is celebrated

in November. Set aside a time to read your

favorite books in a comfortable place.

Invite others to join you.

Begin a list of books to share.

November 22Thanksgiving Day is celebrated

on the fourth Thursday in November.

It is in remembrance of the first American

Thanksgiving in 1621, the year after the

Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. About fifty

Pilgrims and about ninety Native Americans

were at this first feast.

December 3Galileo invented the first telescope that

could be used for observing stars, planets,

and moons in 1609. It is an instrument

for making distant objects appear nearer

and larger.

December 5Happy Birthday Walt Disney! He was born

on this day in 1901. Ask your friends which

Disney cartoon character is their favorite

and graph the results.

December 6Happy Birthday Marie Curie!

She was a French scientist and the first

woman to win the Nobel Prize.

December 7On this day in 1945, the microwave oven

was officially created. What do you cook

in the microwave?

December 8The first greeting card was created on this

day over one hundred fifty years ago. Cards are

given for many special events, such as

birthdays. Design your own greeting card for

the holidays.

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December 10Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish holiday,

occurs during the month of December.

Learn how to play the dreidel game today.

Learn more by reading Our Eight Nights

of Hanukkah by Michael J. Rosen.

December 13This month is considered Bingo Birthday

Month. Play a game of Bingo with friends.

December 27This is the birthday of Louis Pasteur.

He was born in Dole, France in 1822 and

became a famous chemist. He also

studied micro-organisms.

December 28Over a hundred years ago, William Sumple

officially created chewing gum. He mixed

dried latex from trees in Central and South

America with a sweet syrup and added

flavoring. Find out the favorite kind of gum

family and friends enjoy. Graph the results.

December 31Today is New Year’s Eve. It is a time to

celebrate the coming of the new year.

People usually like to think of resolutions,

or goals, for themselves. Write down one

of your goals for the new year.

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