Students write diary entries and revisit the entries as if it were a hundred years from now. Students then brainstorm and write paragraphs about life in the 21st century.
![Diarist Samuel Pepys was born.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1171_2.jpg?h=0d27ee61&itok=oksBNUM3)
Diarist Samuel Pepys was born.
![Valentine's Day is today!](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1172_0.jpg?h=f405c703&itok=zE3jCVuf)
Grades
|
Valentine's Day is today!
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
Students find examples of figurative language and write an original example of each device, illustrate, and share them with the class.
![Poet Robert Burns was born in 1759.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1173.jpg?h=dbeb307d&itok=hx5qZn_M)
Grades
|
Poet Robert Burns was born in 1759.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students read examples of traditional Scottish ballads and use this information to write and perform their own ballads.
![Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm, was born today.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1175.jpg?h=4b93befb&itok=pUsYt24c)
Grades
|
Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm, was born today.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students compare different versions of the fairy tale Cinderella and then rewrite a lesser-known Grimm story and explain the changes they made.
![John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on this day.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1176_0.jpg?h=a6dfc888&itok=Wa1a6qwV)
Grades
|
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on this day.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students compare the film versions of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's novels. Students then imagine how a scene in a current novel that they are reading would be filmed.
![Langston Hughes was born in 1902.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1177_0.jpg?h=ad73f289&itok=FPgMcDJP)
Grades
|
Langston Hughes was born in 1902.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students examine the poem "Dreams" and identify metaphors in each sentence. Groups of students then compose poems with metaphors for dreams.
![<em>The New York Times</em> used the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print."](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1179_1.jpg?h=12650fdd&itok=cD55li-P)
Grades
|
The New York Times used the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print."
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
After discussing newspapers and their different points of view, students choose a current event, read editorials on the event, and share them with the class to identify the editor's point of view.
![Jackie Robinson was born on this day in 1919.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1180_0.jpg?h=684bf5ba&itok=bgF9Qw1j)
Grades
|
Jackie Robinson was born on this day in 1919.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students read messages sent to the White House from Jackie Robinson and discuss his role as an athlete and a civil rights activist, as well as the role of athletes in society.
![The Space Shuttle <em>Challenger</em> exploded in 1986.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1181_0.jpg?h=90330ef4&itok=mJdX-iWO)
Grades
|
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students interview a parent or another adult about the Challenger and hypothesize about differences. Students can also write about the Columbia disaster in 2003.
![Today is the birthday of Lewis Carroll, author of <em>Alice in Wonderland</em>.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1182_0.jpg?h=24c56491&itok=ss1ettut)
Grades
|
Today is the birthday of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland.
3 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
After reading one of Carroll's chapters, students plan an unbirthday party and do activities and preparation for the event.
![Gold was discovered in California in 1848.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1183_0.jpg?h=59f9d53c&itok=3jrmv3cm)
Grades
|
Gold was discovered in California in 1848.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students read letters from the Gold Rush and follow up by writing an imaginary letter to a family member about their experience using the Letter Generator.
![Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the US to earn a MD degree in 1849.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1184_0.jpg?h=15784c9e&itok=WtonLyMN)
Grades
|
Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the US to earn a MD degree in 1849.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
"Famous Firsts" are researched by students, followed by small group research and multimedia presentations to report research results.
![On this day in 1910, animal rights activist Joy Adamson was born.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1185.jpg?h=9b3f744d&itok=xPZ09g7o)
Grades
|
On this day in 1910, animal rights activist Joy Adamson was born.
K - 6
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
A KWL chart is used to organize information about lions. Persuasive letters are written lobbying for programs and resources to protect these animals.
![Poe's "The Raven" was published in 1845.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1186_0.jpg?h=065f5783&itok=6jO1vbRr)
Grades
|
Poe's "The Raven" was published in 1845.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
As Poe's "The Raven" is read aloud, students note their reactions and discuss the changes or development of their first impressions as the poem continues.
![In 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on this day.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1187_0.jpg?h=402ead08&itok=IBBCIhHM)
Grades
|
In 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on this day.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students study Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and work in groups to create a mural that depicts Dr. King's vision of peace.
![Judy Blume was born in 1938.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1188_1.jpg?h=9ee5e837&itok=L61Z9W-R)
Grades
|
Judy Blume was born in 1938.
3 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students work with a partner or individually to create cartoons of their favorite scenes from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
![Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland in 1935.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1189_0.jpg?h=25f7b549&itok=qjm4gCXt)
Grades
|
Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland in 1935.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students explore the definition of a hero and use the interactive Venn diagram to identify the most common characteristics of a hero.
![Jane Yolen was born in 1939.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1190_0.jpg?h=8a24db3c&itok=ZIoTJV3M)
Grades
|
Jane Yolen was born in 1939.
1 - 5
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students read one of Jane Yolen's books, retell the story in the form of a puppet show, research animals in the book, and document their findings with the Animal Study interactive tool.
![On this day in 1935, Elvis Presley was born.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1191_0.jpg?h=ba9ae6da&itok=s4gpOT74)
Grades
|
On this day in 1935, Elvis Presley was born.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students visit the National Archives to read a letter written by Elvis Presley to President Nixon. The Letter Generator is used to write a letter to a current artist suggesting a meeting with the President.
![Annie Moore becomes the first immigrant to enter Ellis Island in 1892.](/sites/default/files/styles/focal_point_350x350/public/1192.jpg?h=c1461306&itok=jTviZVqC)
Grades
|
Annie Moore becomes the first immigrant to enter Ellis Island in 1892.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students explore online resources about Ellis Island, interview an immigrant in the area, and publish their stories.