Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is going to be yummy. It’s Ice Cream For Breakfast Day! Don’t eat all the ice cream. You’ll need some later, for Baked Alaska Day. The dessert is a layer of cake, topped with ice cream and meringue, and then baked. Since it’s also Decorating With Candy Day, you know what to do.

Even though vaccines are being distributed, COVID-19 isn’t going away anytime soon. Engineers are developing masks, that have a built-in test strip to detect COVID. The strip would change color if it detected COVID in the environment, alerting people in the area to get tested. The masks might not be available for another year.

In December 2019, 10-year-old Jayden Carr’s mom gave him a Kwanzaa present, to help teach him about the stock market. She bought him 10 shares of stock in his favorite video game store, GameStop. At the time, they were worth about $6 a share. Recently, the price of GameStop stock skyrocketed, and Jayden sold his shares for $3200!

You’ve probably seen a Graphics Interchange Format image before. The short video loop is called a gif. Or is it a jif? People have debated over the pronunciation for years. Both ways are acceptable. A peanut butter brand called Jif, is demonstrating its opinion, by temporarily changing their labels from J-I-F, to G-I-F.

Do you own a gorilla suit? I’m sure most of you said “No,” but the “Yesses” are in luck. It’s Gorilla Suit Day! Your hairy suit will keep you warm in the snow. Go sledding and surprise everyone! It’s also Hot Chocolate Day, which both gorillas and non-gorillas will enjoy. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

Today is Inspire Your Heart With Art Day. Spend some time creating art, going to a gallery, or learning about famous artists. Did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci, who painted the Mona Lisa, wrote backwards? See if you can do it, for Backward Day! Wear your clothes backwards, and see if anyone notices!

The Miami Heat basketball team, is eager to get fans back into the arena. In order to keep everyone safe from COVID-19, they’ll get help from some talented dogs. Canines can be trained to sniff out COVID, so spectators will have to get the OK from doggie detectives, before taking their socially-distanced seats.

Did you know, that Earth has had a second moon for the last few months? In September 2020, a small object known as 2020-SO dropped into Earth’s orbit. The temporary satellite was labeled a mini-moon, even though it turned out to be part of a 1960’s rocket booster. It will leave Earth’s orbit by March 2021.

This week in Alaska, it’s the Cordova Iceworm Festival! Iceworms live in glaciers, and function best at temperatures below freezing. They’re only a few centimeters long, and move between the ice crystals. The festival’s mascot however, is 150 feet long! The festival includes learning about iceworms, games, the Miss Iceworm Coronation, dances, a parade, and fireworks.

Today is Seed Swap Day! Many libraries have seed lending programs. You check out seeds, grow plants, and return some seeds the next year. You can learn more about seed trading, from a website like Dave’s Garden. Start planning your spring garden now, create a hydroponic garden inside your house, or grow a Chia Pet.