December 11 is International Mountain Day. The purpose of this occasion is to highlight the importance of mountains as a resource for over half of the world’s population and also recognize the damaging effects of climate change, overpopulation, and over-exploitation of resources. Although this isn’t a famous event, the purpose and issues are ones that … read more »
I’m thinking back to my Teach Like a Pirate post. There are so many fun “holidays” that you could use for your hook. For example, Saturday is “pretend to be a time traveler” day. This day could be the anchor for a very cool humanities project. Arrange students in small groups to form their … read more »
The National Day of Listening is unofficially celebrated on November 24th. It was started in 2008 by StoryCorps whose mission is “to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.” The National Day of Listening was created to encourage people to interview a loved one, friend, … read more »
June is Great Outdoors Month. It’s great timing because this time of year can be difficult for both teachers and students. While many schools are getting ready to close for the summer, getting through the remaining days with antsy students and tired teachers can be hard. It’s time to plan for some “fun” outdoor instructional … read more »
Did you know the first cartoon appeared in a U.S. newspaper way back in 1754? Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette featured the political cartoon “Join or Die” on May 9, 1754. The picture showed the American colonies as a snake divided into eight pieces and presented the political point of view that the colonies should unite. … read more »