This Wednesday, December 12, is National Poinsettia Day! The poinsettia is an indigenous plant of Mexico and is known for its red and green leaves. It was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico. In Spanish, the plant is called flor de Nochebuena, or…
Do you know the Christmas song, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas?” The singer proclaims that only a hippopotamus will do—not a crocodile or rhinoceros. Well, I couldn’t find a hippo, but I did find an adorable rhino decked out in a winter scarf that I’m pretty sure will do for this month’s First Friday…
Hanukkah began yesterday at sunset. So it’s perfect that we begin the week with a blog that focuses on this festival of lights! Here are some interesting facts to help those who aren’t familiar with Hanukkah traditions: The word “Hanukkah” is Hebrew for “dedication.” You may have seen “Hanukkah” spelled in a variety of different…
What can 1,800 pounds of butter; 2,925 pounds of brown sugar; 7,200 eggs; 7,200 pounds of all-purpose flour; 1,080 ounces of ginger; and a few other ingredients create? A giant gingerbread house, that’s what. The 21-foot high house, which was built in 2013 to help raise money for a trauma center, covered an area about…
We are about to enter the season of family dinners and gift giving…and that means it’s the season for good manners! Yes, every season is the season for good manners, but I find that manners are particularly important when Great Aunt Ann is giving youngsters the hairy eyeball during Thanksgiving dinner. Good manners will open…
“Over the river and through the wood, to Grandfather’s house we go.” Those are the first two lines of the traditional Thanksgiving poem titled “The New-England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day.” That was back in 1844. Over the years the poem was set to music. The title was changed. The destination became Grandmother’s house. Oh,…
I’m not sure how this happened, but it’s November already. In no time at all, it will be Thanksgiving. So that means we had best start talking turkey right now. I suspect in the next couple of weeks, you might find yourself in need of a turkey pattern. You might want to use one for…
It’s Frankenstein Friday–a rather obscure holiday created to celebrate the accomplishments of Mary Shelley and her literary creation, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Mary Shelley led an interesting–sometimes tragic–life. Here are some Mary Shelley stats: Mary became involved with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was 16. Unfortunately, he was already married. When his…
October is a great time to let a few monsters into your classroom. I’ve rounded up three of my favorite monster books along with a few of my fave monster activities from themailbox.com. Wishing you a monstrously great time! Diane
I am a lover of Halloween. I have the best memories of walking through crunchy brown leaves in the dark while going house to house begging for candy. I love fall and I love chocolate so it’s really the perfect holiday, in my mind. I’ve taught in schools that celebrated Halloween and those that did…