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BlogLearning Through the Days of the Year
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.
February Learning Calendar
1 — Celebrate Bubble Gum Day!
Created by Ruth Spiro a children's book author and bubble gum lover as an alternative to school fundraisers that required them to sell things to people. Last year's celebration wasn't limited to kids and schools - many businesses also held bubble gum events for their customers and employees. Why should kids have all the fun?Watch a Video
Take a Tour
Read a Book
- Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler
- Bubble Gum Kid by Stu Smith
- Franklin and the Bubble Gum by Sharon Jennings
- Bubble Gum (Africa Stories) by Kate Noble
2 — Ground Hog Day!
The "official" groundhog is named Punxsutawney Phil. He lives at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On February 2, Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow to predict the weather for the rest of season to crowds of onlookers and fans.Learn More
Read a Book
- How Groundhog's Garden Grew - by Lynne Cherry
- Substitute Groundhog - by Pat Miller
- Groundhog Day - by Michelle Aki Becker
- Groundhog Day - by Gail Gibbons
- Groundhog Gets A Say - by Pamela Curtis Swallow
- Go To Sleep Ground Hog - by Judy Cox, Paul Meisel
- The Secret of the First One Up - by Iris Hiskey Arno
- Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather - by Bruce Koscielniak
- Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! - by Abby Levine, Nancy Cote
- Punxsutawney Phyllis - by Susanna Leonard Hill
- The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun - by Wendie Old
4 — Charles Lindbergh's Birthday!
Lindbergh was an aviator who made the first solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic in 1927. He was born on this day in 1902. Here are some ideas for celebrating:- Bake an Airplane Cake! See photos of airplane cakes and get tips on how to make them.
- Look for airplanes in the sky!
- Watch planes take off and land at your local small aircraft airport.
- Read books about airplanes! Planes At The Airport by Peter Mandel or Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane by Cynthia Rylant
- Get Free Printable Airplane Coloring Pages & Arts and Crafts
6 — Babe Ruth's Birthday!
One of the greatest baseball players of all time, George Herman "Babe" Ruth was born on this day in 1895. Celebrate with these fun ideas:- Play with a Baseball! Show your child a baseball and compare it to other balls. Describe it. Is it soft or hard? Small or big? Does it bounce? Very young children may not have the coordination to be able to pitch a ball yet, so show them how to toss it. Try tossing it into a laundry basket.
- Read H is for Homerun: A Baseball Alphabet by Brad Herzog
- Make Some Baseball Cupcakes!
10 — Umbrella Day!
Celebrate a great invention - the umbrella! Show your child an umbrella and explain how to open and close it. Point to the wire frame and the fabric that is stretched across it. What color is it? Tell him/her that the umbrella keeps us dry in the rain and provides shade from the sun when it is hot outside. Umbrellas that are used for shade are called "parasols."If it's raining outside, show your child how the umbrella protects them from the rain. If it's not raining, go outside, prop the umbrella up and sprinkle water on the umbrella. Show your child how the water rolls right off the umbrella keeping everything under it dry. Here are some great books about umbrellas that your children are sure to enjoy:
- The Umbrella Party by Janet Louise Swoboda Lunn
- Umbrella by Taro Yashima
- The Yellow Umbrella by Jae-Soo Liu
- The Umbrella by Jan Brett
- Beneath A Blue Umbrella by Jack Prelutsky
- Grandma Fina and Her Wonderful Umbrellas by Benjamin Alire Sanenz
Try these fun activities:
11 — Thomas Edison's Birthday!
The homeschooled American inventor of the phonograph and incandescent light bulb was born on this day in 1847. Get simple information about Edison. Paraphrase it and explain a little about Edison in a way your child can understand. Read A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison by David Adler. Show your child some of Edison's inventions such as:- An Incandescent Light Bulb - Help your child turn the light on and off.
- A Phonograph - If you don't have one, find out if a friend or relative has one that you can show to your child. Visit a second hand store or an antique shop to see one. Or visit a museum that has a phonograph.
12 — Abraham Lincoln's Birthday!
The 16th President of the United States was born on this day in 1809.- Read The Story of Abraham Lincoln by Patricia Pingry, written with young children in mind.
- See pictures of Lincoln at this website.
- Get free, printable coloring pages of Lincoln.
- Show your child a Lincoln penny.
- See Lincoln's picture on a five dollar bill.
- Make a Lincoln Stovepipe Hat!
14 — Valentine's Day!
Get all kinds of free, fun, and educational ideas to celebrate Valentine's Day with your little one.15 — National Gumdrop Day!
Yep, there's a holiday to celebrate this classic, sugarcoated, pectin-based gummy confection that comes in fruity and spicy flavors. Here are some ideas for celebrating:- Make Your Own Gumdrops!
- Play Candyland - Young children love this classic board game by Milton-Bradley that features Gumdrop Mountain and Gumdrop Pass!
- Make a Loaf of Gumdrop Bread!
- Enjoy Some Gumdrop Math! Make Triangle Sculptures with gumdrops and pretzels!
Read the Gumdrop Series of Books by Val Biro. These books feature the adventures of a classic car named, "Gumdrop." You may be able to find them at your local library.
20 — Chase Winter Away Day!
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, chase the winter blues and blahs away by heading outside at noon, wave your hands over your head, turn around three times and shout:
Winter, Winter,
Go Away!
We Want Spring,
We Want May!Getting outdoors and using some pent-up energy will make you feel better and help chase the winter doldrums away.
Note to Parents: If you're feeling a little down and the kids have cabin fever, it could be because you're not getting enough light and sunshine. You may have a case of S.A.D. or Seasonal Affective Disorder. No worries, the cure is light and sunshine. So, get outside as often as you can!
Here are some fun activities you can do outdoors:
- Winter Fun and Frolicking - FamilyFun.com has lots of suggestions for winter games and activities for those who live where it snows.
- 50 Outdoor Winter Activities Kids Will Love - Get 50 ideas for fun things to do outdoors during Winter whether it's snowy, overcast, or balmy.
22 — George Washington's Birthday!
Celebrate the birthday of the first President of the United States of America who was born on this day in 1732. Note to Parents: Get some good info about George Washington that you can paraphrase and share with your children here. Then, try these activities to celebrate the day:- Read the "George Washington and The Cherry Tree" legend online for free!
- Print out and color a "George Washington and The Cherry Tree" Coloring Page!
- Try This Free Cherry Tree Craft!
- Make A George Washington Powdered Wig!
- Read A Picture Book of George Washington by David Adler written especially for young children.
- Make A Cherry Pie!
- Show your child Washington's picture on a quarter and a one dollar bill.
24 — Grimm's Fairy Tales Day!
Wilhelm Grimm, co-author of Grimm's Fairy Tales that included "Hansel & Gretel," "Rapunzel," and "The Elves and the Shoemaker," was born on this day in 1786. Here are some fun ways to celebrate:- Read, The Complete Grimms Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm
- Listen and watch 12 Grimms Fairy Tales for free from National Geographic!
- Listen to some of Grimm's Fairy Tales For Free at StoryNory.com!
- Free Audio-book of Grimm's "The Brementown Musicians" and "Faithful John!"
- Free Grimm's Fairy Tale Coloring Pages!
- Watch The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm on DVD!
27 — Polar Bear Day!
This day is for learning about the largest, predatory land animal - the endangered polar bear. Polar bears live in and around the arctic North Pole region, and are found in Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Norway. Point out the area where polar bears live on a map or globe. Here are some other ways to celebrate:
Read a Book:
- Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson
- A Polar Bear Journey by Debbie Miller
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin and Eric Carle
- Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer - This is the first in a series of books about the adventures of a little polar bear cub.
- The Singing Snow Bear by Carol Grigg
- Ice-Cream Larry by Daniel and Jill Pinkwater - This is one in a series of books that feature Larry the Polar Bear as the main character.
Other Fun Polar Bear Ideas...
- Visit the Zoo to see Polar Bears! Heres a directory of zoos with polar bears.
- Watch Free Amazing Videos About Polar Bears from National Geographic for Kids!
- Polar Bear Craft Activity
- Make a Polar Bear and A Polar Bear Habitat
- Watch the National Geographic DVD Arctic Tale.
28 — National Tooth Fairy Day!
This day celebrates the magical childhood character, The Tooth Fairy, who collects baby teeth placed under pillows and leaves gifts in their place. Brush your teeth and floss with extra care today. Here are some suggestions for fun ways to celebrate:Read a Book:
- The Tooth Fairy by Audrey Wood
- The Tooth Fairy Kit by Becky Kelly
- What Do The Fairies Do with All of Those Teeth? by Michel Luppins
- You Think It's Easy Being The Tooth Fairy? By Sheri Bell-Reywoldt
- The Night Before The Tooth Fairy by Natasha Wing
More Activities:
- Learn All About Dental Health with your preschoolers.
- Get Free Dental Health Learning Materials for Pre-K from Colgate
- Make Your Own Tooth Fairy Pillow
- Make A Tooth Fairy Box
- Free Tooth Fairy Coloring Page
- Read A Tooth Fairy Poem
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.
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