Celebrate with National Day Calendar®
A History Lesson for Students: Uncle Sam Day Uncle Sam is a name and face we see all the time, especially in cartoons and on posters. He’s the tall, skinny guy with the white beard, top hat, and a serious look on his face. But who is he, and why do we celebrate him on […]
The Rise of Video Games: A Story of Pong, Pac-Man, and a Plumber Named Mario Once upon a time, in the 1970s, before smartphones and fancy graphics, there were just a few video games, and they weren’t in people’s homes—they were in arcades. Imagine a big room filled with bright lights and loud beeps, where […]
What Is Patriot Day? Patriot Day is a solemn day of remembrance in the United States, observed annually on September 11. It commemorates the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. These attacks involved four hijacked airplanes. Two crashed into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers in […]
🍽️ A History Lesson Introduction September 10 is National TV Dinner Day! Long before microwaves and instant meals, the TV dinner changed how American families ate dinner. But how did this idea begin? The Birth of the TV Dinner What Made Them Special The Impact on American Life Fun Facts Classroom Discussion Questions Activity Idea […]
Introduction Every year on September 9, we celebrate National Teddy Bear Day! Teddy bears are more than just toys. They are symbols of comfort, friendship, and imagination. But how did teddy bears come to be? The Origin Story The story of the teddy bear begins with President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt in the early 1900s. This […]
Star Trek Day Inspires Science Fiction Writing Prompts Elementary/Middle Grade Prompts: 1. First Contact You’re part of a space crew that discovers a new planet with friendly aliens who communicate through colors instead of words. Describe your first meeting and how you figure out how to “talk” to each other. 2. The Universal Translator Breaks […]
“Memory Paintings” Art & Storytelling Activity Grade Level: 3rd-8th grade (adaptable) Duration: 45-60 minutes Background Mini-Lesson (10 minutes) Share Grandma Moses‘ inspiring story: Anna Mary Robertson Moses didn’t start painting until age 78 due to arthritis making embroidery difficult. She became famous for her folk art depicting rural American life and memories of simpler times. […]
📚 “Write Your Own Book” Classroom Activity Goal: Students learn the building blocks of storytelling and begin crafting their own mini-book. Materials: Step 1: Read to Inspire (15 minutes) 👉 This introduces plot structure in a simple way. Step 2: Story Seeds (10 minutes) Students brainstorm their own ideas by answering prompts on sticky notes: […]
🍕 Classroom Activity: “Create Your Own Pizza Parlor” Grade Level: Elementary–MiddleSubjects Integrated: History, Math, Writing, Art 1. Warm-Up Discussion (5–10 min) 2. Pizza Fraction Math (10–15 min) 3. Design Your Dream Cheese Pizza (10–15 min) 4. Writing Prompt (10 min) “Imagine you own a pizza shop on Cheese Pizza Day. Write a short story about […]
🌿 Classroom Lesson: National Spice Blend Day Theme: Discovering the World Through Spices Objective: Students will learn about spices, create their own spice blends, and explore how flavors connect to culture, history, and cooking. 1. Introduction (10 minutes) 2. Mini-Lesson: Spice Science & Culture (10 minutes) 3. Cooking Activity: Make Your Own Spice Blend (20 […]