Author: Lisa Mungovan

Don’t panic about what to have for dinner. It’s International Picnic Day, so you can literally go out to eat. Simply bring some sandwiches and water. Nature is the star of the meal! Actually, you can panic anyway, because it’s also International Panic Day. Just remember to calm down after your moment of stress!

Forget riding in the car. It’s Dump the Pump Day! Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, many cities across the United States will be offering free fare on public transit. See if your city is participating; your ride on the bus or subway might cost you nothing and cause less pollution!

Today is World Crocodile Day, but it includes all alligators and crocodilians, especially endangered ones. Do you know how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Alligators have a broad, u-shaped snout. Crocodiles have narrow, pointy snouts, and show their bottom teeth when their mouth is closed. See you later alligator!

Tessellations are geometric patterns with no gaps, where the same shapes are repeated over and over again. It’s Tessellation Day! You can find tessellations in nature, like honeycombs, or in sports, like on your soccer ball. Create your own tessellation out of tasty pastries, since it’s also Apple Strudel Day and Cherry Tart Day!

Today is Eat Your Vegetables Day. One way to get excited about eating veggies, is to grow your own! It’s not too late to plant a summer garden. In the meantime, visit a farmer’s market. If you don’t like veggies, dip them in something yummy, or puree them and bake them into brownies!

A 6-year-old named Henrik was on a class field trip in Norway, when he spotted a piece of rusty metal sticking out of the ground. It turned out to be an ancient weapon from the early Viking Age. The 1,300-year-old scramesax, which is a sword sharpened on one side, now lives at a museum.

Last night, a fireball streaked across the sky in the United States. The American Meteor Society received reports from at least 15 states, from Georgia to Minnesota to Texas. Did you see it? Witnesses said the meteor appeared to break apart, so it’s unknown if any fragments survived entry, to reach the ground.

Did you know, it’s Adopt A Cat Month? Most animal shelters are filled to capacity, with kittens born this spring. Feral cats that have not been spayed might even have babies under your porch! Adopting a pair of kittens will give them a loving home, and give you loads of entertainment.

Today is World Sea Turtle Day. Sea turtles can stay underwater for hours at a time, diving deep in the ocean. Most species only come to shore when it’s time to nest. They lay eggs in clutches, and the temperature of the sand, determines if the hatchlings will be male or female.

Did you know it’s Cannoli Day? If you’ve never tried the sweet dessert with a crunchy shell and cheese filling, make that your goal for the day. It’s also Fudge Day, and Fresh Veggies Day. You wouldn’t think they’d go together, but I think a hot fudge salad sounds pretty awesome.