Category Archives: Calendar
Special Days Archive
A friend asked if I could put the links for a year’s worth of Special Days in one post so she wouldn’t have to search each time she worked ahead on her lesson plans. That’s a good idea! So …
These are the direct links to the most recent Special Days and Resource lists for each month. (Note – The 26th of each month is usually when the updates are finished for the next month.)
Special Days in January, 2018
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah!
Several years ago my family included Hanukkah as one of our December holiday studies. The older kids remember it, but the younger boys do not. So, that’s my cue to include Hanukkah learning into our homeschooling lessons! Below are some wonderful online resources and activities that I’ve found for us as we explore this 8 night celebration.
Candle lighting, Maccabees, Dreidels, Latkas, and more … https://www.myjewishlearning.com/category/celebrate/hanukkah/
How to Make and Play a Dreidel Printable https://www.familyeducation.com/…/hanu…/hanukkah-dreidel
Menorah Craft Instructions http://blog.jugglingfrogs.com/2007/12/how-to-make-chanukah-menorah-chanukiyah.html
Hanukkah Arts and Crafts Projects http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/hanukahartscraftsideaskidsprojects.html
Printable Writing and Coloring Pages and More https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/hanukkah-printables
Lapbook Printables http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hanukkah_lapbook.php
Printable Word Games and Activities http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/
3 Hanukkah Math Lessons https://www.yummymath.com/2017/why-are-the-dates-of-hanukkah-different-every-year/
8 Christian Hanukkah Readings and Devotions on Light http://heartofwisdom.com/biblicalholidays/2016/12/07/hanukkah-readings-for-eight-nights/
Hanukkah Piano Sheet Music Printables and MP3 Downloads http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/Holidays/Hanukkah.html
Maccabeats Haukkah Music Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgWWM18u2RI0sAiiWDjmaPFa6s16KLd7A
Hulu is currently streaming Rugrats Chanukah! Also, if you have access to Disney Jr., Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso and Puppy Dog Tales have Hanukkah episodes.
Hanukkah Sameach! (Happy Hanukkah in Hebrew)
betty jo
Learning Resources For Special Days In December
December has such wonderful learning opportunities. Here’s a helpful resource list for learning from the December calendar. And, check back often throughout the month for updates, edits, and more resources!
BIG List of holidays, birthdays, themes, and historic dates for December https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2020/11/29/special-days-in-december/
Free Printable – Special Days in December
My favorite calendar based learning resources for any month https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2016/07/31/learning-resources-for-special-days/
This will be my twentieth December of teaching Christmas related lessons! Here’s my collection of Christmas Resource Lists! https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2018/12/01/christmas-resource-roundup/?fbclid=IwAR1gf3z8qw3cfnsTW8iXnDn0b40RdnQHWQ_nAHRdm8oGDhcQScArL0N8pFM
President’s with birthdays in December
- Dec. 5 – Martin Van Buren born 1782
- Dec. 28 – Woodrow Wilson born 1856
- Dec. 29 – Andrew Johnson born 1808
Resources for all Presidents – https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/
December Statehood Anniversaries and Country Independence Days:
- Illinois – Dec. 3, 1818
- Finland Independence – Dec. 6, 1917
- Delaware – Dec. 7. 1787
- Tanzania Independence – Dec. 9, 1961
- Mississippi – Dec. 10, 1817
- Indiana – Dec. 11, 1816
- Republic of Upper Volta Independence – Dec. 11,1958
- Kenya Independence Day – Dec. 12, 1963
- Pennsylvania – Dec. 12, 1787
- Alabama – Dec. 14, 1819
- New Jersey – Dec. 18, 1787
- Nepal Independence – Dec. 21, 1923
- Libya Independence – Dec. 24, 1951
- Iowa – Dec. 28, 1846
- Texas – Dec. 29, 1845
Geography Resources – https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2017/07/29/special-days-and-geography/
December’s Daily Specials
Dec. 1 – Cookie Cutter Day – Craft Projects https://www.redtedart.com/cookie-cutter-craft-ideas/
Dec. 2 – Missionary Mary Slessor born 1848 – Find a biography suitable for most any reading level http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorpslessor.html
Dec. 2 – CT Studd born 1860 Pick one of these biographies to read http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorpstudd.html
Dec. 3 – Galileo invented the Telescope 1621 – Galileo Resources https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/25/galileo/
Dec. 4 – World Wildlife Conservation Day – Endangered Species Index https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory
Dec. 5 – Bubblegum Day – Resource and Project List http://www.franw.com/2011/09/bubblegum.html
Dec. 6 – Mitten Tree Day – Video story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EODSI1vGOA&list=RD0EODSI1vGOA&index=1
Then donate a pair of gently used or new mittens to a clothing charity. Also, if you have any mixed matched mittens, (I know we do), don’t toss them, use them for these cute mitten puppets http://craftsbyamanda.com/2014/03/easy-mitten-puppets.html
Dec. 6 – St. Nicholas Day – Biography, Traditions, Games, and Stories http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/home/
Dec. 7 – Letter Writing Day – How to Write Christmas Letters and Printables http://www.blessedbeyondadoubt.com/write-christmas-letters-free-templates/
Dec. 7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 1941 — Lesson Plans and Classroom Activities http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/pearl-harbor-attacked-japanese-20363.html
Dec. 7 – Sculptor/Artist Marie Grosholtz Tussand born 1761 – Museum Website with a peak at “What’s Inside” https://www.madametussauds.com/london/en/
Dec. 8 – First Greeting Card printed 1843 – The History of Christmas Cards https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/cards.shtml
Dec. 8 – Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day – Creative Writing Assignment https://layers-of-learning.com/more-creative-writing-time-travel-style/
Dec.9 – Debut of A Charlie Brown Christmas 1965 – “Peanuts” Learning Resources and Activities https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/10/02/peanuts/
Dec. 9 – Petrified Forest National Park established 1962 – http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm
Dec. 10 –
Dec. 11 – Northern Lights Recorded for First Time 1719 – http://www.kidsastronomy.com/Aurora_article.php
Dec. 12 – Ginger Bread House Day – Resources and Activities http://www.franw.com/2017/12/gingerbread-activities.html
Dec. 12 – Hot Cocoa Day – Recipe and Projects http://www.franw.com/2013/12/homemade-hot-cocoa-mix.html
Dec. 12 – Poinsettia Day – Resources and Activities http://www.franw.com/2017/12/poinsettia-resource-page.html
Dec. 13 – Ice Cream Day – Resources, Activities, and Recipes – http://www.franw.com/2011/07/ice-cream.html
Dec. 13 – Santa Lucia Day – Origins and Traditions https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/sweden.shtml
Dec. 14 – Christmas Bird Count Week begins – Resources and Activities – http://www.franw.com/2014/03/bird-watching-activities.html
Dec. 16 – Missionary Amy Carmichael born 1867 – Learning ideas and resources http://www.playeatgrow.com/2012/05/grow-amy-carmichael-may-missionary.html/
Dec. 17 – Missionary Isobel Kuhn Read a short biography about her http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1901-2000/the-kuhns-rainy-season-bible-school-11630767.html
Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve – https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2016/01/01/new-years-resources/
My apologies for not having a quick resource for the other special days in December, but we take our winter break before Christmas and continue it through New Year’s Day.
betty jo
Special Days in December, 2017
Special Days in November, 2017
SPECIAL DAYS IN OCTOBER, 2017
SPECIAL DAYS IN SEPTEMBER, 2017
October’s Special Days Activity Companion and Resource List
Once again I’ve teamed up with Fran from Funschooling and Recreational Learning for another e-book! This one has activities for everyday throughout the month of October! Families, homeschoolers, classrooms, after school program teachers, and club leaders are going to love these fun (and educational) calendar activities.
This publication:
- Offers 120+ easy to use ideas/activities and includes some delicious recipes.
- Is 16 pages long and printer friendly.
- Offers safe external resource pages for extended information, research, and learning!
- Is an Instant Digital Download: 1 PDF
- Contains Family friendly activities.
Get your copy of October’s Special Days Activity Companion at Learning Tangent Homeschool Magazine’s Shop!
Here’s a resource list to add a little more learning to the October Special Days Activities:
- Oct. 1 Model T Ford introduced 1908
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Ford’s Model T
- Oct. 2 Farm Animals Day
Country Farm Lifestyles: Farm Animal Guide to Feeding, Housing, and Diseases
- Oct. 3 SOS (distress code) established 1906
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: SOS
- Oct. 4 Cinnamon Roll Day
Ifood TV: Cinnamon Roll History, Serving and Nutrition
- Oct. 5 Physicist Robert Hutchings Goddard born 1882
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Robert Hutchings Goddard
- Oct. 6 Mad Hatter Day
Alice In Wonderland: Mad Tea Party Ideas and Games
- Oct. 7 Physicist Niels Bohrs born 1885
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Niels Bohrs
- Oct. 8 Face Your Fears Day
How Stuff Works: Inside the Mind – How Fear Works
- Oct. 9 Chess Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Chess
- Oct. 10 Cake Decorating Day
Creative U: Beginner’s guide to Cake Decorating
- Oct. 11 Apollo 7 Launched 1968
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Apollo 7
- Oct. 12
Cookbook Launch Day
Instructables: Tips for Making a Family Recipe Book
- Oct. 13 US Navy Established 1775
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: US Navy
- Oct. 14 President Dwight D. Eisenhower Born 1890
Still Learning Something New: Resources for Presidents
- Oct. 15 I Love Lucy Premier 1951
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: I Love Lucy
- Oct. 16
Noah Webster born 1758/Dictionary Day/Learn A Word Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Words Within Words
- Oct. 17 Author Arthur Miller born 1915
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Arthur Miller
Still Learning Something New: Salem Witch Trials
- Oct. 18 Alternative Fuel Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Experiments You Can Do With The Sun
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Learning About Renewable Energy
- Oct. 19 Author/Illustrator Ed Emberly born 1931
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Ed Emberly
- Oct. 20 Monster Mash Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Monster Mash
Still Learning Something New: Monsters!
Autumn Leaves
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Fall Leaves
Science Sparks: Autumn Science Activities
- Oct. 21 Apple Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Apple Research Project
- Oct. 22 Daniel Boone born 1734
Still Learning Something New: Daniel Boone
- Oct. 23 Mole Day
Wikipedia: Mole, Mole Day, National Chemistry Week
ACS: Chemistry for Life: Mole Day
- Oct. 24 Food Day
PBS: Videos – What Do Animals Eat?
How Animals Use Their Senses to Find Food
- Oct. 25 Magic Week begins
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Magic Tricks Resource Page
- Oct. 26 Red Cross Founded 1836
American Red Cross: Works, Services, Military, Mission, History, Stories
- Oct. 27 Tell A Story Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Tell A Story
- Oct. 28 Statue of Liberty dedicated 1886
The Real Life (Youtube): Virtual Field Trip – Statue of Liberty
- Oct. 29 Cat Day
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Domesticated Cats Resource Page
- Oct. 30 Candy Corn Day
National Confectioners Association: Candy Corn History, How is Candy Corn Made, Fun Facts
- Oct. 31 All Hollows Eve/Halloween
Funschooling & Recreational Learning: Halloween & Pumpkins
For the August and September Activity Companions click here
betty jo












