Special Days for February 21st-27th

Wow - this week will keep you busy...as if you weren't already with your regular curriculum!  Wink...wink..

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 Sunday, February 21st is National Sticky Bun Day
A Fun Food Holiday

What better way to celebrate the "Sticky Bun", but with sticky buns!  Bring a dozen to share with your students.  Or, make some with your students!  Earlier in the year we read the story Hedgehog Makes a Cake.  So, I made the cake from scratch and my students were just in awe!   Here is an easy bread machine recipe for cinnamon rolls...and they are definitely sticky.  So, I guess it would suffice to call them "Sticky Buns"!  The bread machine just makes the dough...and it's a little noisy.  But, the sticky buns are out of this world!!!!  Yummy!

Go to "My Punch Bowl: Reasons to Celebrate" for an explanation of "Sticky Bun Day".

Here is Wikipedia's definition of a sticky bun:

Sticky buns are a dessert or breakfast pastry that generally consist of rolled pieces of leavened dough — sometimes containing brown sugar or cinnamon — which are then compressed together to form a kind of flat loaf corresponding to the size of the baking pan. Before the dough is placed in the pan, the latter is lined with the "sticky" ingredients like maple syrup, honey (or both), as well as nuts and perhaps more sugar and sometimes butter. After the buns are baked, they are inverted so that the pan lining then becomes a topping. Commercially produced sticky buns, however, are usually just baked in an aluminum loaf tin, which allows the topping to suffuse the buns, making them sticky throughout. The way the buns were baked allows them to more or less be pulled off as individual servings, although it is often a futile effort.  Sticky buns appear to have a Germanic origin and were originally known as "Schnecken". Wherever 18th-century German settlers (such as the Pennsylvania Dutch) went, sticky buns have remained long after many other cultural traits have disappeared.

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Monday, February 22nd is George Washington's Birthday

Since President's Day was recently celebrated, you've probably already covered George Washington!  Unless, of course, your area has been like ours...snow, snow, snow!

Celebrate President Washington's birthday with a birthday party!  Make birthday cards!  And, give thanks for one of the most important forefathers of our nation.

Happy Birthday, President Washington!

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Wednesday, February 24th is Flag Day in Mexico

 

Here is another way to teach multiculturalism in your classroom.

Go here to find an article on the history of Mexico's flag.

If you are a  member of enchantedlearning.com, you can click this link to preview the Mexican crafts, activities, and printable they have available.  You can view some of the resources without a subscription.

Click here for another page of helpful and interesting information about Mexico and their flag.

I LoVe this activity with HEALTHY FOOD!  You can have this for snack after learning all about Mexico!  It's an edible Mexican flag.  Thanks to familyfun.com.

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Friday, February 26th is Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Many people think fairy tales are for the young...but, I believe fairy tales are for everyone!  We ALL need to hear and read stories with toils, trials, and HAPPY ENDINGS!  Check out the resources below to help you celebrate "Tell a Fairy Tale Day".

Definition of a Fairy Tale

A fairy tale is a fictional story that may feature folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and talking animals, and usually enchantments, often involving a far-fetched sequence of events. In modern-day parlance, the term is also used to describe something blessed with princesses, as in "fairy tale ending" (a happy ending) or "fairy tale romance", though not all fairy tales end happily. Colloquially, a "fairy tale" or "fairy story" can also mean any far-fetched story. Fairy tales mostly attract young children since they easily understand the archetypal characters in the story.

Thanks to gone-ta-pott.com for this definition.  Click on the previous link for more information about this holiday.

 

Click here for an online fairy tale unit!

 

This link from Susan Stein in another online unit with LOTS of links to other resources.   I have not tested the links, so I can't assure you they are all working.

 

Wow - I didn't know there were SO many fairy tales.  Go to wikipedia to view a list of hundreds of fairy tales!   I'll have to say, I've only read a handful of them.

 

Here at abcteach.com are fairy tale activities, coloring pages, crafts, crosswords, flashcards, story starters, etc.   You may not have access to all of the resources unless you are a member.

This is a great fairy tale unit shared online by Colleen Gallagher.  There are pictures of a bulletin board, learning center, worksheets, and lots of directions for hands-on activities.

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Saturday, February 27th is Polar Bear Day

 I had never heard of "Polar Bear Day".  Here is what I found concerning this interesting day.

#1 - From: Holiday Insights - Polar Bear Day celebrates the world's largest carnivore. A polar bear can grow up to nine feet tall(when standing) and 1400 pounds. They are a favorite at zoos around the country. Polar bears live at the North Pole region, and are native to Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.  Need some ideas on how to celebrate today?  Tops on my list is visiting the local zoo to see  live polar bears. Teachers like to use this day to teach about polar bears and other bears, as kids are fascinated with all kinds of bears. Also, check the nature channels on cable Tv. The networks often pick up on holidays like today, and run documentaries.

#2 - Send an ecard from HiCards to celebrate the world's largest carnivore!  Introduce other to "Polar Bear Day".

#3 - Here is a page of information from about "Polar Bear Day" from Holiday Soup.

#4 - They have some really neat activities for younger students at Kids' Soup.  Unfortunately, you have to pay for a membership in order to access the printables.  I am not a member, so I haven't thoroughly reviewed this site.  If you do, please come back and share your experience!

#5 - Here is an extra fun "Polar Bear Day" activity for younger students, too.  This one has a story to go with it.  You will need a plastic bottle shaped like a bear (honey comes in these bottles), bleach, and yellow, blue, and red food coloring.

#6 - Go to DLTK's Growing Together site for various activities about polar bears.

#7 - Now wouldn't this be FUN!  Here are directions from Squidoo for making an igloo using plastic milk jugs!  Wow - sounds like a classroom winter project!