Learning Through the Days of the Year

By: Diane Flynn Keith

There are historic and important events to commemorate nearly every day of the year. You can use some of these dates to boost your young child's knowledge of the world in a fun and playful way. We have compiled information, books, DVDs, and other resources to help you do just that in this on-going, free resource that will be updated monthly.

Note: If your preschool-age child has older siblings at home, you may be interested in our comprehensive DVD Schooling Calendar with learning suggestions for every day of the year.

Celebrate National Dog Day! August 26th

August Learning Calendar

1 — It's Raspberry Cream Pie Day!
Raspberries are abundant in mid-summer, and someone decided to acknowledge that fact by designating a day to make refreshing Raspberry Cream Pie. Here are some ideas for celebrating the day:
- Meet a Raspberry! Pick or purchase some raspberries. Let your child help you gently wash and sort them. Count them. Ask your child to look at a raspberry and describe what they see. What color is it? Is it big or small? Is it heavy or light? Is it rough or smooth? What does it smell like? What does it taste like - sweet or sour?
- Pick Raspberries! Go to a u-pick farm to pick fresh raspberries. Here's a directory you can use to find a farm near you.
- Make a Raspberry Cream Pie! Here's a simple, no-bake, no-cook recipe that your child can help prepare.
- Read Our Raspberry Jam by David Marx. This delightful story (that may be available at your local library) is about a family that picks raspberries and turns them into yummy jam. Here's an easy recipe for making raspberry jam. Your children may also enjoy reading The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
2 — It's National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!
August brings summer heat, so it's no surprise that people want to cool down with refreshing treats - and ice cream sandwiches are a favorite. You can buy ice cream sandwiches, but it's more fun (and educational!) to make your own. Here's how:

You'll need:
- Cookies - store bought or freshly baked chocolate wafers, chocolate chips, lemon snaps, oatmeal cookies, and/or brownies
- Ice cream - your favorite flavor, softened
- Candy sprinkles or chopped nuts (if non-allergic)
What to do:

With a spoon, spatula, or dull knife, show your child how to spread a thick layer of the softened ice cream on one cookie and top it with another. Be sure to describe out loud what you are doing and the names of the tools and materials you are using. (This helps to develop vocabulary.) Roll the ice-cream-exposed sides of the cookie in a shallow bowl filled with candy sprinkles or nuts. You can eat them right away, or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until firm.

3 — It's National Watermelon Day!
Watermelons not only taste great - they present lots of opportunities for learning. Purchase a watermelon and let your child examine it. What color is it? Is it heavy or light? Put it on a scale and see how much it weighs. Then weight your child and compare the weights.

Take a tape measure and measure the circumference of the watermelon. Measure the circumference of your child's head. Which is bigger? Help your child measure your head. Is it bigger or smaller than the watermelon? Slice open the watermelon. What color is it? Are there seeds? Count the seeds. Taste the watermelon. Is it sweet? Here are some more learning ideas:

Watermelon Books!
- Watermelon Day by Kathi Appelt
- One Cool Watermelon by Wakiko Sato
- One Watermelon Seed by Celia Barker Lottridge
Watermelon Preschool Activities!

Get a free, printable alphabet letter "W" page, watermelon craft and coloring pages, finger puppets, watermelon recipes and more!

Watermelon Seed Paper Plate Art!
- You'll need: Paper plate, red and green markers, glue and watermelon seeds.
- What to do: Use markers to color about 1 inch of the outside rim of the paper plate green. Color the center of the paper plate red. Glue watermelon seeds randomly over the red portion of the plate to make it look like a slice of watermelon!
Make Watermelon Fruit Leather!

Just like fruit roll-ups but without the preservatives and added sugar. It's simply dehydrated watermelon - but it is so intensely sweet, chewy, and flavorful -- that it's like eating candy. You'll need a food dehydrator (you can also purchase inexpensive versions at Walmart and other similar stores). Simply cut thin 1/8" triangular slices of watermelon (minus the rind), lay them out on the food dehydrator shelves, and set the temperature and timer according to the instructions that come with the dehydrator (it will vary depending on what make/model dehydrator you buy). That's all there is to it. Delicious!
4 — It's National Chocolate Chip Day!
Internet holiday websites seem to agree that today is National Chocolate Chip Day. However, there doesn't seem to be a historical reason for why August 4th has been designated the official date. But who needs a reason to celebrate chocolate chips, right? Just get a bag and try these fun activities:
- Make chocolate chip pancakes! - A great way to start the day!
- Chocolate Chip Math! - Use chocolate chips as math manipulatives! Count them. Demonstrate addition — if I have 1 chocolate chip and add one more — how many do I have now? Demonstrate subtraction — if I have 2 chocolates chips and eat 1, how many are left? Use 12 chocolate chips and sort them into piles of 2, 3, and 4, etc. Line them up, end to end. How many does it take to equal the length of a 12" ruler or the length of your child's hand, or the length of a favorite action figure or doll?
- Chocolate Chip Science! - Use chocolate chips to introduce the scientific vocabulary about two states of matter — solids and liquids. Give your child a room temperature chocolate chip and ask them to feel it. It's hard and solid. Now, ask your child to hold the chocolate chip closed in his/her hand. Put a timer on and wait a 2-4 minutes — dance to music while you wait.
  
  When the timer goes off, have your child open his/her hand. Ask your child to describe what happened to the chocolate chip. Did it get soft and gooey? Did it melt? The heat from their hand melted the chocolate transforming it from a solid into a liquid. What other things have they seen melt from a solid to a liquid? Ice cubes? Pull one out of the freezer and demonstrate solid to liquid by letting it melt in a bowl.
  
  Put some chocolate chips into a bowl and place them in the microwave for a minute. Do they melt? Watching different substances melt will help your young child understand that matter can change its state from solid to liquid. It's an experience that lays the groundwork for their future science education.
- Chocolate Chip Language Arts! - Read Mr. Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington, or The Best Mouse Cookie by Laura Numeroff
- Make Chocolate Chip Cookies! - Ruth Graves Wakefield accidentally invented chocolate chips (and chocolate chip cookies) in 1930. Ruth baked cookies for her guests at the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts. She had a chocolate butter cookie recipe that called for baking chocolate. She ran out of baking chocolate and substituted chopped pieces from a semi-sweet chocolate candy bar that had been given to her by the founder of the Nestle chocolate company.
  
  To her surprise the chocolate pieces didn't melt, but stayed solid. Her guests loved her new "Toll House" cookies. Her cookie invention was called the "Toll House Cookie." Math and science skills are reinforced by making cookies. Be sure to show your child how to measure ingredients while telling them the name of each kitchen utensil you use.

5 — National Mustard Day!
This special day was created by the Mount Horeb Mustard Museum in Wisconsin. The festival began in 1991, and is usually celebrated on the first weekend in August (so the actual day of the celebration varies from year to year). At the Mustard Museum you can see the world's largest collection of prepared mustard — over 4,800 jars! If you can't make it to the museum, here are some fun ideas you can do to celebrate at home:
- Go On a Mustard-Yellow Color Hunt! - Mustard is yellow! Wear yellow today, and go on a yellow color hunt. Take a walk around the neighborhood and look for things that are yellow.
- Have A Mustard Tasting! - Go to the store and purchase several varieties of mustard — from traditional to Dijon and German to Chinese — you'll find quite an assortment. Try mustard on hot dogs, pretzels, or vegetables.
- Read the Parable of the Mustard Seed! - This biblical story compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. You'll also find activities to accompany the bible lesson.
- Plant Mustard Seeds! - Mustard is easy to grow and because it grows quickly children don't have to wait too long to see the results. Get mustard seeds at your local garden supply store. Plant the seeds in soil (in a sunny spot in the garden) about 1/3" deep. Water whenever the soil is dry. You should have a mustard plant in about 35 days.
- See Pictures Of Mustard Seeds!
- See Pictures Of Mustard Plants!
- Write Your Name in Mustard or Make Some Mustard Art! - If you have a plastic mustard squirt-bottle — let your child use it to write their name. Just squirt out the letters onto a washable surface. Or, if you have an empty mustard squirt-bottle, fill it with yellow tempera paint. Let your child squirt their name or a picture onto paper. Wait for the paint to dry and hang it up for all to enjoy!
6 — It's Wiggle Your Toes Day!
Who knew? Go barefoot today and wiggle your toes to celebrate. Try these activities:
- Recite the Rhyme - This Little Piggy!
- Sing the Song - Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes!
- Paint with your toes! - Paint your children's toes with tempera paint. Then have them press their toes on a piece of construction or sturdy watercolor paper. Make as many as you like. Once the toe prints dry, let your child decorate them with glitter or beads. Or draw faces on them and turn them into animals or whatever they can imagine.
Read a Good Book:
- The Foot Book, by Dr. Seuss
- A Sock is A Pocket for Your Toes, by Elizabeth Scanlong.
7 — It's National Lighthouse Day!
In 1789, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation giving the federal government control over the creation and maintenance of lighthouses. National Lighthouse Day celebrates efforts to preserve lighthouses - an important part of America's maritime history. Here are some ideas to help celebrate:
- Visit a Lighthouse! If you live near the ocean, visit a lighthouse today. Here's a directory that will help you locate one near you.
- Print out this Lighthouse Coloring Page
Read about Lighthouses:
- The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge, by Hildegarde Swift
- Jules, The Lighthouse Dog, by P.T. Custard
- Birdie's Lighthouse, by Deborah Hopkinson

10 — It's S'mores Day!
Summertime is the most popular time to go camping. And S'mores are the most popular campfire treat. Know one knows for certain who invented S'mores, but the Girl Scouts are often credited with creating the gastronomic delight way back in 1927. S'mores got their name because campers often asked for "some more" after eating one. It's easy enough to celebrate this day — simply go camping and make s'mores round the campfire. Here's how:
- Toast a marshmallow until it's lightly golden brown, and slightly gooey in the middle.
- Get a graham cracker and break it in half.
- Top one half of the graham cracker with 2 squares of chocolate from a regular size Hershey's milk-chocolate candy bar.
- Place the toasted marshmallow on top of it.
- Place another graham cracker on top of the marshmallow, and squeeze together slightly.
- Eat!
- If you can't go camping, make s'mores in the microwave with this recipe!
- Read S Is For S'mores: A Camping Alphabet, by Helen Foster James
10-12 — Kool-Aid Days!
A refreshing beverage that is this popular worldwide deserves more than one day of celebration. Check the official Kool Aid Days website to find out about events that are taking place. Here are some fun activities you can do at home:
- Make Kool-Aid! Simply pick up a package of Kool-Aid at the store and help you child follow the directions to mix up a batch of this summer thirst quencher.
- Make a Kool-Aid Tye-Dyed Shirt with these directions especially for preschoolers.
- Make Kool-Aid Play Dough - In a medium sauce pan, mix together 1-cup flour, 1-package powdered, unsweetened Kool-Aid, ¼ cup salt, 2-tablespoons cream of tartar, 1-cup water and 1-tablespoon vegetable oil. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes until mixture forms a ball in pan. Remove mixture and let cool. With gloves on, knead until smooth. (You can knead the dough without gloves, but your hands may be temporarily tinted the color of the Kool-Aid.) To store, place in a zip-lock plastic bag and keep refrigerated.
- Paint with Kool-Aid using these directions.
13 — It's Left Handers' Day!
In recognition of the 10% of the population that is right-brained and left-handed — on this day, all righties should try to do everything left-handed. To learn more and to appreciate lefties, visit the official Left Handers' Day website that provides fascinating facts and good research info. You'll find suggestions and resources for helping left-handed children, and an extensive list of famous lefties including Leonardo DaVinci, Oprah, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Bill Clinton, Paul McCartney, Prince William, and Mark Twain. Here are some fun activities to try:

Be a Left-Hander! Tie a piece of yarn loosely around the left wrist of each family member to remind them to try and use only their left hand when they:
- Open drawers, doors, or cabinets.
- Eat or drink.
- Throw a ball.
- Turn the pages of a book.
- Comb hair or brush teeth.
- Color or draw.
- Pet the dog or cat.
You may also find these articles and resources helpful:
- Loving Lefties: How to Raise Your Left-Handed Child in a Right-Handed World, by Jane M. Healy
- The Left-Handed Book, by James T. deKay
- Article by Dr. Spock on Handedness
- Preschool Lefties
- Coaching Strategies for Learning with Lefties
- Teaching Left Handers to Write
- Products for Lefties; includes scissors, kitchen equipment, handwriting aids, computer equipment, etc.
17 — It's Davy Crockett's Birthday!
The American folk hero & statesman, was born on this day in 1786 in Tennessee.
- Read A Picture Book of Davy Crockett, by David Adler
- Watch Disney's Classic Movie on DVD, Davy Crockett
- Listen to the Audio CD of Rabbit Ears Treasury of Tall Tales: Volume 1: Davy Crockett, narrated by Nicolas Cage.

19 — It's Aviation Day!
Orville Wright was born on this day in 1871. Together with his brother, Wilbur, he pioneered the first powered, controlled, sustained airplane flight on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Fun things you can do to celebrate:
- Look for airplanes in the sky today - count how many you see!
- Read Amazing Airplanes (Amazing Machines), by Tony Mitton
- Read To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers, by Wendie Old
- Make & Fly a Paper Airplane with this preschool physics lesson plan.
20 — It's Lemonade Day!
Can you believe it? There's a day just to celebrate this classic summer cooler. Enjoy UniversalPreschool.com's wonderful Learning with Lemons preschool curriculum that includes fun, lemony social studies, math and science, language arts, crafts, and even great recipes for lemonade and lemon muffins. Get our tips for running a lemonade stand too!
21 — Celebrate Aloha Day!
Hawaii, the Aloha State, became the 50th state on this day in 1959. Be sure to show your child where Hawaii is located in comparison to the U.S. mainland (and wherever you live!) on a globe. Use these fun ideas to have your very own Hawaiian Luau!

Hawaii Lesson Plans - This website offers an amazing array of ideas for introducing the great state of Hawaii to children of all ages.

Hawaiian Reads:
- A is for Aloha: A Hawaii Alphabet, by U'ilani Goldsberry
- Hula Lullaby, by Erin Eitter Kono
- Luka's Quilt, by Georgia Guback
[Click Images
for large view]

Bananas

Coconut

Pineapple

Eat Hawaiian Foods - like bananas, coconut, and pineapple. Your child is probably familiar with bananas - but fresh coconut and pineapple are exotic treats that offer great sensory experiences. Let your child hold and touch the fruit and describe everything about it. Watch this video to learn how to open your coconut and check out this slide show for directions on how to cut open your pineapple. Enjoy the feast!

Make a Crepe Paper Hula Skirt:

You'll need:
- Tape Measure
- Scissors
- Duct Tape
- A roll of crepe paper
Directions: Using the tape measure, measure the distance from your child's waist to their knees. Use that measurement as a guide to cut many long strips of the crepe paper from the roll. Then, measure your child's waist. Cut a piece of duct tape that is the same length as your child's waist plus 12 inches. Place the duct tape (sticky side up) on a flat surface (a table or on the floor). Starting about 6 inches in from the end of the duct tape, lay one end of a strip of crepe paper on the duct tape. Continue laying strips of crepe paper, one next to another, overlapping slightly, to form the skirt. Stop about 6 inches from the end of the duct tape. Then, cut another piece of duct tape, the same length as the first piece and lay it (sticky side down) on top of the first strip. Press together to form the waist band. Use the ends of the tape that don't have crepe paper attached to tie or fasten the skirt around your child's waist. Put on some hula music and have fun! Better yet, learn to do the hula with the Be A Hula Girl DVD.
24 — Volcano Day!
The volcano known as Mount Vesuvius erupted in Italy, destroying the city of Pompeii in 79 A.D. Show your child where Italy and Mount Vesuvius are located on a map. Read the book, Volcano: Jump Into Science, by Ellen Prager, and then erupt your own home-made volcano with this fun and wonderfully messy Volcano Craft.
26 — National Dog Day!
This day was founded by the National Dog Day Foundation whose motto is "Saving 10,000 Dogs - One Day at a Time." Find out about family-friendly events taking place at animal shelters and organizations nationwide with this directory. Your preschooler is sure to love these fun activities:
- Read the book Dog, by Matthew Van Fleet.
- Watch the original Disney classic, 101 Dalmations - available at your local video store or the audio/visual department of your public library.
- Sing "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window?"
- Sing the classic children's song about a big, black dog named BINGO!
- Check out these dog-themed printables, coloring pages and crafts.
28 — Full Moon & Total Lunar Eclipse!
We see lunar eclipses when Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the moon. This particular eclipse will take place in the early morning hours (when most young children are sound asleep). But the spectacle of the full moon can be enjoyed during normal evening hours. Try these moon activities from UniversalPreschool.com to celebrate the celestial happenings. It includes moon books, rhymes, recipes, and activities your whole family is sure to enjoy.
31 — It's National Trail Mix Day!
Camping and hiking are popular summer activities that call for high energy, easy-to-pack foods like trail mix. This snack mix, sometimes called GORP (for Good Old Raisins and Peanuts), can be any combination of nuts, dried fruit, candy, mini-crackers, pretzels, and cereal that your children particularly enjoy. Part of the fun is mixing all the ingredients together and then putting them into single-serving snack baggies. Your preschooler will love to help with this project. Here are some recipes to try:
- Trail Mix with Goldfish, Teddy Grahams, M&Ms and more!
- Organic Trail Mix Treat - nothing but natural, organic ingredients here.
- Healthy Snacks for Hiking - get lots of trail snack recipes calling for a variety of nutritious ingredients.