Author: Lisa Mungovan

Are you putting your sunblock on correctly? Chances are, you’re not using enough. Researchers found that most people only use 1/3 of the amount necessary, to properly protect their skin from the sun. While it will still offer some protection, you need a thick layer to truly block harmful rays.

Freezer pops are a refreshing, easy-to-make, summertime treat. For Freezer Pop Day, pour your favorite liquid in a cup, stick a fork in it, and pop it in the freezer! Add fruit bits to make it even better. Since it’s also Raspberry Day, and Blueberry Day, throw in fresh-picked berries before freezing.

Happy Scud Day! Scud stands for Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama. Relax and enjoy the funnier things in life! It’s also Math 2-point-o Day, celebrating the blend of math and technology. Play math games, or try Khan Academy online, just for fun! Finally, have some chocolate and almonds for Chocolate With Almonds Day!

Have you ever seen a pond, with giant goldfish in it? They were probably koi, a colorful breed of carp that are commonly kept in ornamental ponds in gardens. One koi in Japan, named Hanako, was 226 years old! Koi are a symbol of luck, prosperity, and family harmony. Happy Koi Day!

Today is World Chocolate Day, Strawberry Sundae Day, and Macaroni Day! Although most people eat macaroni and cheese, I think a strawberry-chocolate-macaroni sundae sounds delicious. Did you know a macaroni was also a fashionable man, in 18th-century England? That’s why Yankee Doodle stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni.

Today is Global Forgiveness Day. Don’t be mad at anyone! Just forgive them. If you did something wrong, apologize and ask for forgiveness. It’s also Tell The Truth Day, which might help you admit what you did wrong. Never be afraid to tell the truth. Lying will only get you in worse trouble!

Do you know how to recognize a rip current, at the beach? The fast-moving current, can pull you quickly out to sea. The water might look calmer, between the sections where waves are breaking, but that’s the most dangerous area. If you get caught in a rip, swim parallel to shore, to escape it.

Hey 4th graders, here’s your reminder that the year you’re in 4th grade in the United States, you can get into any National Park for free! Students can print a free annual pass, good for everyone in the car, at Every-Kid-Outdoors.gov. Treat your family to an outdoor adventure!

Real estate companies in the UK, are including swift bricks in new construction. The special bricks are hollow inside, with a small opening for birds. Swifts can build their nests right into the wall, transforming new housing estates into bird-friendly spaces. The migratory birds spend 10 months-per-year in the air, and welcome the rest.

Ultra-white paint, can reflect over 98% of light. It’s being used on rooftops to cool buildings, and on roads to cool cities. Scientists calculated that painting 2% of the Earth’s surface, or 4,000,000 square miles, could slow down global warming. That’s only 278,000,000,000 gallons of paint. We’d also all need sunglasses.