Tag Archives: January Resources

Special Days in January

Here’s the list of January’s holidays, observances, food themes, awareness days , historic figures and authors birthdays, science and historic based anniversaries,  and more!  Whether you’re looking for something special to study, trivia, a day to celebrate, or foods to add to the menu, you’re going to find it here!

Resources for teaching through January, including a PDF of January’s Special Days, can be found at the end of this list.

January’s Themes

  • Book Blitz
  • Change Your Stars
  • Clean Up Your Computer
  • Creativity
  • Family Fit Lifestyle
  • Get Organized
  • High Tech
  • Hobby
  • It’s OK To Be Different
  • Mail Order Gardening
  • Mentoring
  • New Year’s Resolutions
  • Polka Music
  • Reaching Your Potential
  • Reference Book
  • Rising Star
  • Shape Up
  • Skating
  • Thank You
  • Train Your Dog
  • Way Finding

January’s Food Themes

  • Apple
  • Apricots
  • Artichoke
  • Asparagus
  • Be Kind to Food Servers
  • Bread Machine Baking
  • Candy
  • Dried Fruits
  • Eggs
  • Fiber Focus
  • Hot Foods
  • Hot Tea
  • Meat
  • Oatmeal
  • Prune Breakfast
  • Slow Cooking
  • Soup
  • Wheat Bread

January Awareness

  • Bath Safety
  • Blood Donor
  • Birth Defects
  • Braille Literacy
  • Celebration of Life
  • Eye Care
  • Financial Wellness
  • Glaucoma
  • Quality of Life
  • Personal Self-Defense
  • Poverty in America
  • Prune the Fat
  • Teen Driving
  • Thyroid

Special Days without Set Dates

● Thank God It’s Monday Day (1st Mon.)
● Handsel Monday (1st Mon.)
● Weigh-In Day (1st Monday after New Year’s
Day)
● Folic Acid Awareness Week (varies)
● Pizza Week (2nd Sun.)
● Clean Off Your Desk Week begins (2nd Mon.)
● Coming of Age Day – Japan (2nd Mon.)
● Plough Monday (Mon. after the 5th)
● Hunt for Happiness Week begins (3rd full
week)
● International Printing Week begins (week
including Jan. 17)
● Healthy Weight Week (3rd Sun.)
● Women’s Healthy Weight Day (varies)
● World Religion Day (3rd Sun.)
● Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Mon.)
● Sugar Awareness Week begins (3rd Mon.)
● Maintenance Day (3rd Wed.)
● Women’s Healthy Weight Week (varies)
● Celebrity Read a Book Week (last full week)
● Meat Week (varies)
● Take Back Your Time Week (last full work
week)
● School Nurse’s Day (4th Wed.)
● Chinese New Year (Sometimes in Feb.)
● Seed Swap Day (last Sat.)
● Leprosy Day (last Sun.)
● Big Garden Bird Watch

January Special Days with Set Dates

Jan. 1

  • Apple Gifting Day
  • Australia Independence Day 1901
  • Cameroon Independence Day 1960
  • Commitment Day
  • Copyright Law Day
  • The Council on Environmental Quality established 1969
  • Daydreamers Day
  • Diet Resolution Week begins
  • Ellis Island Anniversary 1892
  • Emancipation Proclamation Day 1868
  • Euro Day
  • First Foot Day
  • Global Family Day
  • Haiti Independence Day 1804
  • Hogmanay
  • New Year’s Day
  • New Year’s Resolutions Week begins
  • Paul Revere born 1735
  • Polar Bear Plunge
  • St. Basil’s Day
  • Betsy Ross born 1752
  • Samoa Independence Day 1962
  • Sudan Independence Day 1956
  • Z Day

Jan. 2

  • Berchtold’s Day (Switzerland)
  • Buffet Day
  • Cream Puff Day
  • Georgia Statehood 1788
  • Happy Mew Year for Cats
  • Motivation and Inspiration Day
  • Run Up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day
  • Science Fiction Day
  • Someday We’ll Laugh About Week begins
  • Suffragist Martha Carey Thomas born 1857

Jan. 3

  • Alaska Statehood 1959
  • Chocolate Covered Cherry Day
  • Drinking Straw patented 1888
  • Festival of Sleep
  • Fruitcake Toss Day
  • Humiliation Day
  • Olelo margarine patented 1871
  • J.R.R. Tolkien Day

Jan. 4

  • Blender patented 1910
  • Louis Braille born 1809
  • Burma/Myanmar Independence Day 1948
  • Author Jacob Grimm born 1785
  • Home Office Safety and Security Week begins
  • Hypnotism Day
  • Scientist Issac Newton born 1643
  • Pop Music Chart Day
  • Spaghetti Day
  • Trivia Day
  • Utah Statehood 1896

Jan. 5

  • Bird Day
  • Explorer Zebulon Pike born 1779
  • Twelfth Night
  • Weigh-In Day
  • Whipped Cream Day
  • X-Ray discovered 1896

Jan. 6

  • Apple Tree Day
  • Bean Day
  • Joan of Arc born 1412
  • Bean Day
  • Cuddle Up Day
  • Epiphany
  • New Mexico Statehood 1912
  • Shortbread Day
  • Telegraph First Demonstrated 1838
  • Three Kings Day

Jan. 7

  • President Millard Fillmore born 1800
  • Harlem Globetrotter’s Day
  • Old Rock Day
  • Programmers’ Day
  • Tempura Day

Jan. 8

  • Argyle Day
  • Bubble Bath Day
  • Earth’s Rotation Day
  • Elvis Presley born 1935
  • English Toffee Day
  • Physicist Stephen Hawking born 1942
  • Joygerm Day
  • Midwife’s Day
  • War on Poverty Day
  • Universal Letter Writing Week begins

Jan. 9

  • Apricot Day
  • Balloon Ascension Day
  • Connecticut Statehood 1788
  • 1st Dear Abby Newspaper Column published 1956
  • President Richard Nixon born 1913
  • Static Electricity Day
  • Word Nerd Day

Jan. 10

  • Bittersweet Chocolate Day
  • Cut Your Energy Costs Day
  • Houseplant Appreciation Day
  • London Underground begin operating 1863
  • Peculiar People Day
  • !st UN Meeting Anniversary 1944

Jan. 11

  • Scientist Joseph Charles Arthur born 1850
  • Chad Independence Day Celebrated (Actual date Aug. 11, 1960)
  • Cuckoo Dancing Week begins
  • Grand Canyon National Monument dedicated 1908
  • Milk Day
  • Secret Pal Day
  • Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day
  • Thank You Day

Jan. 12

  • Clean Your Desk Day
  • Curried Chicken Day
  • Make Your Dream Come True Day
  • Marzipan Day
  • Stick To Your New Year’s Resolution Day
  • Work Harder Day

Jan. 13

  • Author Michael Bond born 1926
  • Composer Stephen Foster born 1864
  • Frisbee introduced 1957
  • Saint Hilary’s Day
  • Make Your Dream Come True Day
  • Peach Melba Day
  • Poetry Break Day
  • Public Radio Broadcasting Day
  • Rubber Ducky Day
  • Skeptics Day

Jan. 14

  • Dress Up Your Pet Day
  • Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day
  • Organize Your Home Day
  • Missionary Albert Schweitzer born 1875

Jan. 15

  • Elementary School Teacher Day
  • Hat Day
  • Humanitarian Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. born 1929
  • Strawberry Ice Cream Day
  • 1st Super Bowl Game (1967)

Jan. 16

  • Appreciate a Dragon Day
  • Fig Newton Day
  • Hot and Spicy Food Day
  • Missionary Eric Liddell born 1902
  • Nothing Day
  • Religious Freedom Day

Jan. 17

  • Cable Car Day
  • Ditch New Years Resolutions Day
  • Inventor/Author/Patriot Benjamin Franklin born 1706
  • Fresh Squeezed Juice Week begins
  • Hot Heads Chili Day
  • Kid Inventors’ Day
  • Popeye the Sailor Man debut 1929

Jan. 18

  • Bald Eagle Appreciation Day (18 & 19)
  • Peking Duck Day
  • Prayer of Christian Unity Week begins
  • Sanctity of Human Life Day
  • Scott reaches South Pole 1910
  • Thesaurus Day
  • Daniel Webster born 1782
  • Winnie the Pooh Day (A.A. Milne born 1882)

Jan. 19

  • Artist Paul Cezanne born 1839
  • International Flower Day
  • Metric System Day
  • Neon Sign patented 1915
  • Author Edgar Allan Poe born 1809
  • Popcorn Day
  • Tin Can Day

Jan. 20

  • Saint Agnes’s Eve
  • Astronaut Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin born 1930
  • Buttercrunch Day
  • Cheese Lovers’ Day
  • Disc Jockey Day
  • Draw a Dinosaur Day
  • 1st English Parliament 1265
  • Penguin Awareness Day
  • Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day
  • 1st Webster’s American Dictionary 1825

Jan. 21

  • Granola Bar Day
  • Hugging Day
  • New England Clam Chowder Day
  • Squirrel Appreciation Day

Jan. 22

  • 1st American Postal Route established 1673
  • Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day
  • Blonde Brownie Day
  • Celebration of Life Day

Jan. 23

  • John Hancock born 1737
  • Handwriting Analysis Week begins
  • Handwriting Day
  • Measure Your Feet Day
  • Pie Day

Jan. 24

  • Apple introduced the Macintosh Personal Computer 1984
  • Belly Laugh Day
  • Compliment Day
  • Gold Discovered at Sutter’s Mill 1848  (Other sources say Dec. 5)
  • Peanut Butter Day
  • Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day

Jan. 25

  • Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
  • Burns Night (Scotland)
  • Poet Robert Burns born 1759
  • Chinese New Year *
  • Clean Out Your Inbox Week begins
  • Saint Dwynwen’s Day
  • Meat Week
  • Opposite Day

Jan. 26

  • Australia Day (founded 1788)
  • Michigan Statehood 1837
  • Peanut Brittle Day
  • Pistachio Day
  • School Choice Week begins
  • Spouse’s Day

Jan. 27

  • Author Lewis Carrol born 1832
  • Chocolate Cake Day
  • Holocaust Memorial Day
  • Composer Mozart born 1756
  • Punch the Clock Day
  • Vietnam Peace Day 1973

Jan. 28

  • Blueberry Pancake Day
  • Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 1986
  • Fun at Work Day
  • Kazoo day
  • US Coast Guard formed 1915

Jan. 29

  • Corn Chip Day
  • Free Thinkers Day
  • Kansas Statehood 1861
  • President Wm. McKinley born 1843
  • Patriot Thomas Paine born 1737
  • Puzzle Day
  • Seeing Eye Dog Day

Jan. 30

  • Croissant Day
  • Fun at Work Day
  • Mohandas Gandhi assassinated 1948
  • 1st Lone Ranger radio broadcast 1933
  • Preschool Fitness Day
  • President Franklin Roosevelt born 1882
  • Yodel For Your Neighbors Day

Jan. 31

  • Backwards Day
  • Explorer 1 launched 1958
  • Inspire Your Heart With Art Day
  • Nauru Independence Day 1968
  • Composer Franz Schubert born 1797
  • Street Children Day
  • International Zebra Day

Free Printable  – Special Days in January

January Resources                                             https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2017/01/01/january-resources/

Here’s my favorite resources for help with teaching special days each month   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2016/07/31/learning-resources-for-special-days/

How I use Special Days lists in our homeschool blog series :

Special Days and the Evolution of Morning Calendar Time

Special Days and Biographies

Special Days and Geography

Special Days and Science

I make my monthly special days lists from several sources including old calendars,  holiday books, newspapers, and the web. If you know of a special day that I do not have listed, please comment and let me know what it is so I can add it in.   Below are the links to my favorite online calendars.

http://food.unl.edu/january-food-calendar

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/january.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/

http://www.projectbritain.com/calendar/

http://aglobalworld.com/international-independence-days/country-independence-day.php

Have a Happy January!

betty jo

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Special Days in January, 2020

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Special Days in January, 2018

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January Resources

Here’s a handy resource list for teaching and learning with January’s Special Days!

BIG List of January’s Holidays, Themes, Historic Events, and more                                   Click here for the updated Special Days in January

Helpful Educational Calendars and Monthly Theme Resources https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2016/07/31/learning-resources-for-special-days/

A “Homeschool Mom Approved” Youtube Excercise Playlist (for when we can’t get outside)   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/10/get-up-and-move-a-break-time-playlist/

Tips, Benefits, and Ideas for Outside Winter Play https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/15/but-its-cold-out-there/

SNOW is one of my families favorite January studies!    https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/07/snow-week/

Braille Literacy – Study Resources and Activities                                  https://www.franw.com/2016/01/louis-braille.html?fbclid=IwAR2O1Tf3uUIsddAfFcQlLWB212lUqnRRLxpIVefYsHqzkVWxV6F45T3B0nY

Resources for Specific Special Days in January

1  –  New Year’s Day  –  Learning Resources, Games, and Activities  –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2016/12/30/new-years-resources-2/

3  –  J.R.R. Tolkien Day  –  Read about the author, book reviews, events,  and more from his fan club, The Tolkien Society  –  http://www.tolkiensociety.org/  and The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings inspired projects  http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Hobbit-Lord-of-the-Rings/

4  –   Louis Braille born 1809  –  Resources and Activities  –  http://www.franw.com/2016/01/louis-braille.html

4  –  Jacob Grimm born 1785  –  Read Brothers Grimm fairy tales  –  http://www.familymanagement.com/literacy/grimms/grimms-toc.html

4  –  Isaac Newton born 1693  –  Biography and Printables  –  http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdnewt.htm

5  –  Bird Day  –  Make one or more of these bird feeders  http://happyhooligans.ca/32-homemade-bird-feeders/  and learn some bird calls  http://www.enature.com/birding/audio.asp

5  –  Explorer Zebulon Pike born 1779  –  Unit Study Resources  http://diyhomeschooler.com/pikes-peak-a-mini-unit/

6  –  Bean Day  –  Bean Resources and Activities  – http://www.franw.com/2015/01/bean-resources.html

6  –  Joan of Arc born 1412  –  Biography and Printables  –  http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdjoan.htm

7  –   President Millard Fillmore born 1800 –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/

7  –  Old Rock Day  –  Rock and Mineral  –  http://www.franw.com/2015/08/rock-mineral-resources.html

8  –  Joygerm Day  –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/08/happy-joygerm-day/

9  –  President Richard Nixon born 1913  –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/

9  –  Static Electricity Day  –  This is Z’s all time favorite experiment  –  http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/staticroll.php

10  –  Cut Your Energy Costs Day  –  Tips and Resources for Kids               https://quiethut.com/energy-conservation-for-kids/

11  –  Cuckoo Dancing Week begins  –  “Laurel and Hardy” article, music, and photos  –  http://imaginemdd.blogspot.com/2014/01/dance-cuckoo-for-ollies-birthday-laurel.html

11  –  Grand Canyon National Monument dedicated 1908  –  Take a virtual tour  –  http://www.grandcanyonvirtualtour.com/

11  –  Thank You Day (International)  –  How to say “Thank You” in other languages  –  http://www.worldofwanderlust.com/say-thank-50-languages/

13  –  Poetry Break Day  –  Reading and Writing Poetry Resource List  –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2019/08/21/poetry-resources/

14  –  Nobel Prize Winner Albert Schweitzer born 1875 –  Biography and Printables  –  http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdschw.htm

15  –  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. born 1929  –  (20 – MLK Day *) –  Learning Resources –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/17/teaching-resources-for-martin-luther-king-day/

16  –  Appreciate a Dragon Day  –  Fast Facts and resource links  –  http://www.franw.com/2018/01/dragons.html

17  –  Ben Franklin born 1706  –  Unit Study Resources and Guide   https://www.mamaslearningcorner.com/ultimate-guide-studying-benjamin-franklin/

17  –  Kid Inventors’ Day  –  Tips, Teacher Guides, and Quotes  –  http://www.kidinventorsday.com/

18  –  Scott reaches South Pole 1910  –  Antarctica Facts, Pictures, and Lesson Plans –  http://www.coolantarctica.com/index.php

18  –  Winnie the Pooh Day  –  http://www.just-pooh.com/

19  –  Artist Paul Cezanne born 1839  –  Inspired Art Lesson  http://www.teachkidsart.net/cezanne-inspired-still-life/

19  –  Edgar Allan Poe born 1809  –  Research Project  –  http://www.franw.com/2013/10/edgar-allan-poe-research-project.html

20  –  Draw a Dinosaur Day  –  Try  these step-by-step instructions  –  http://www.dragoart.com/google_search.php?cx=partner-pub-6207428572838690%3A2440456717&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=dinosaur

Jan. 20  –  Penguin Awareness Day  –  Learning Resources and Activities  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2015/01/20/penguins/

21  –  Squirrel Appreciation Day  –  Huge list of unit study resources  –  http://lastingthumbprints.com/free-squirrel-resource-unit/

23  –  Handwriting Analysis Week begins  –  Learn about the forensics analysis of handwriting  –  http://science.howstuffworks.com/handwriting-analysis.htm

24  –  Gold Discovered at Sutter’s Mill 1848  –  California Gold Rush Resources –  https://cybraryman.com/goldrush.html

24  –  Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day  –  How about a Yosemite Sam cartoon?  –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO4JcgD3vq0

25  –  Burns Night  –  Robert Burns born 1759  –  http://activityvillage.co.uk/burns-night

25 – Chinese New Year * –  Resources and Activities   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/25/resources-for-teaching-chinese-new-year/

26  –  Australia Day  –   Ideas and Resources                         http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/news/ten-resources-and-teaching-ideas-for-australia-day

27  –  Author Lewis Carrol born 1832  –  Study guide for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland  http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/alice/

27  –  Composer Mozart born 1756  –  Biography and Printables  –  http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdmozart.htm

29  –  President William McKinley born 1843  –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/

29 –  Patriot Thomas Paine born 1737  –  Watch the Common Sense episode of Liberty’s Kids –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlBeITstkE

30  –  Franklin Roosevelt born 1882-  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/

30  –  Yodel For Your Neighbors Day  –  How to Yodel Instructions   https://www.yodelcourse.org/

31  –  Inspire Your Heart With Art Day  –  When looking for an art project, this is my usual “go to” site.  No matter what subject you’re studying, this link has something to tie art in with it!  –  http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/craftsbytheme.html

31  –  Composer Franz Schubert born 1797  –  Biography, Quiz, and Music  http://www.classicsforkids.com/pastshows.asp?id=25

Check back from time to time throughout the month for updates and added daily resources!  And if you’re able to share your favorite January studies, please do!

betty jo