Author: Lisa Mungovan

Have you ever heard thunder, while at the pool? The lifeguards make everyone exit the water, because a lightning strike would conduct electricity through the whole pool. That’s why you should also avoid taking a shower or washing dishes during a thunderstorm. Electrical and telephone cords can also provide a path for lightning.

Bee populations are dwindling as cities grow, and sometimes a bee can’t find flowers for its next meal. If you spot an exhausted honeybee on the sidewalk, try offering it some sugar water. Carry an emergency packet of sugar and a bottle of water, so you’re always prepared to be a bee’s hero.

Today is Helen Keller Day. She lost both her sight and hearing before she turned 2, but an extraordinary teacher named Anne Sullivan was able to break through and teach her. Helen grew up to go to college and become an author. She was also a political activist, and fought for disability rights.

What do you do when it’s Pineapple Day, Onion Day, Ice Cream Cake Day, and Orange Blossom Day? Make a pineapple-onion-upside-down-ice-cream-cake, with orange blossom tea. Put on your shades, and enjoy it outside in the sunshine while playing Bingo, because it’s also Sunglasses Day and Bingo Day! That’s a lot to celebrate.

A pair of European bears at an English zoo, made a sweet escape. They broke out of their enclosure at Wildwood Devon, into a food storage area, and ate a week’s worth of honey. The 5-year-old bears, named Mish and Lucy, were safely coaxed back into their habitat, where they took nice long naps.

Today is Handshake Day. Make up a secret handshake to use with your friends, and another for your parents. Practice a nice firm handshake, that will impress new people you meet. Shake your hands in the air to dry them, instead of using paper towels. Just don’t stick your hands in a milkshake!

Practically everything you buy, has a barcode label on it. That block of lines, identifies what’s in the package, and how much it costs. Happy Barcode Day! It’s also World Refrigeration Day. Before refrigerators, people used ice houses, with snow or ice blocks that stayed cold under sawdust. Caves also kept things cool.

It’s Chocolate Pudding Day! I wish I had a whole lake full of chocolate pudding. Since it’s also Canoe Day, I’d get in a canoe and paddle around, splashing everyone with pudding! It’s Coconut Day as well, so my imaginary lake has coconut palm trees growing around it. It’s fun to imagine weird things!

A heatwave is still baking much of the United States, so learn how to prevent heat stroke. Stay cool by dressing in lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, stay in the shade, and take frequent breaks in the water or an air-conditioned space. Most importantly, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Have you ever spotted a catfish, hanging out on the bottom of a creek? They’ve been around since the late Cretaceous period, 100,000,000 years ago. Many catfish are nocturnal, meaning active at night. Most have barbels that look like whiskers, and none of them have scales! Now you’ve learned something, for Global Catfish Day.