Author: Lisa Mungovan

It’s finally the 12th day of Christmas. I hope you actually receive 12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping, 9 ladies dancing, 8 maids a-milking, 7 swans a-swimming, 6 geese a-laying, 5 gold rings, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree!

George Washington Carver was an African-American scientist, inventor, and educator, that was born into slavery, during the Civil War. He taught farmers how to rotate crops for better soil, and found hundreds of uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes, including lotions, plastics, and even gasoline. Celebrate Carver Day, with your own peanut invention.

A British bus company, compiled a list of unusual items left on their buses last year. The lost and found items included a box of fortune cookies, a potato with googly eyes, a bag of rubber ducks, a bonsai tree, and an inflatable dinosaur costume. Only about 1/4 of the items were reclaimed.

Nearly 5000 people gathered in Birch Bay Washington on New Year’s Day, to break a world record. They plunged into the icy water, to become the largest group of people to take a polar bear dip. Although 6,213 people registered for the event, only 4,917 brave souls actually entered the water for 6 minutes.

Don’t forget, if you had a real Christmas tree this year, don’t put it in the trash. Many farms have goats, that think trees are tasty treats. Some communities will pick up trees and turn them into mulch. You could practice your chopping skills, and make firewood. Find a way to recycle your tree!

Today is World Braille Day. The Braille alphabet is a pattern of raised dots, so blind people can read by feeling the letters. Did you know LEGO makes Braille Bricks? The bricks also have a letter printed on each piece, so everyone can learn to read by touch. The LEGOs connect to regular sets.

Name 3 things celebrated on January 4th. Give up? One answer is Hypnotism Day, Spaghetti Day, and Trivia Day! Make up your own trivia questions and play with your family, while eating a spaghetti dinner. Then try to hypnotize someone and tell them to act like a chicken! You’re getting very, very, sleepy.

Do you know who your state’s senators are? How about the representative, from your district? Today is a good day to learn their names, because it’s Write To Congress Day. A handwritten note will really stand out. Even if you’re not old enough to vote, your voice is important!

Will you notice Earth’s big moment this morning? It reaches its perihelion, which is the closest it gets to the Sun each year. The distance at that point is 91,403,034 miles, measured from the center of the Earth to the center of the Sun. The farthest distance is called aphelion, occurring on July 3rd.

Today, like the first Saturday of every month, is Play Outside Day. Put down the phones and video games, and get some fresh air! Play in the snow if you have it, or see who can find the longest icicle. Spot which plants stay green in winter. Whatever the weather, have some outdoor fun.