February Activities!

 

 2011

Flower: Violet
Birthstone: Amethyst
Astrological Sign:
Aquarius: January 21 - February 19
Pisces: February 20 - March 20

This is a great month! Black History Month, Mardi Gras, World Kindness Week,  Ground Hog Day, President's Day , Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year! Whew...so much going on that your activities are just about planned for you.

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FEBRUARY IS...

• American Heart Month
• International Friendship Month
• American History Month
• Black History Month
• National Cherry month (Cherry ideas in President's Day)
• National Wild Bird Feeding Month
• National Snack Food Month
• National Embroidery month
• International Friendship Month
• National Grapefruit Month
• Children's Dental Health Month
• Responsible Pet Owner's Month (Put together a Community Service for your local animal shelter)

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♥ Usually 100th Day of School in USA Falls Mid-February! Have fun with the 100th day ideas and also CELEBRATE THE 101st DAY OF SCHOOL with a Dalmatian theme and watching the movie "101 Dalmatians"!

The Great Backyard Bird Count (or GBBC) happens each February-Check Bird Theme-page bottom

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DOING THE WEEKS!

Week One
Ground Hog Day-Feb. 2

Week Two
Valentine's Day-Feb. 14
Chinese New Year Begins- Feb. 02 (lasts for 15 days!)

Week Three
February 14-20 Acts of Kindness Week
President's Day- Feb. 15
Mardi Gras

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 The Days of February are... (Words in Bold Print have ideas at page bottom)

1.   National Freedom Day 
      Royal Canadian Mounted Police officially began 1920
2.   Bonza Bottler Day: Just a day to celebrate when date and  month are the same!
      Bottle cap patented
      Dia de la Candelaria celebrated in Mexico
      Ground Hog Day
      Buenos Aires, Argentina founded-1536
3    Elmo's (Sesame Street) birthday
      First soft landing on moon (Luna 9, USSR, 1966)            
4.   Charles Lindbergh's birthday-1902
      Create a Vacuum Day and Rosa Park's Birthday         
5.   Constitution Day in Mexico
      Disaster Day
      National Weather Person Day
      Hank Aaron's Birthday-1934
6.  Babe Ruth's Birthday
     Monopoly Game first sold in stores - 1935
     Waitangi Day celebrated in New Zealand
     Ronald Reagan born
     Massachusetts became State in 1788
7.  Charles Dickens's Birthday
     Laura Ingalls Wilder's Birthday-1867
     Switzerland granted women right to vote-1971       
8.   Boy Scout's Day-founded in 1919 
9.   Hershey Chocolate founded -1894 
      Toothache Day  
10. Umbrella Day (See March Ideas-It's National Umbrella month)
      Treaty of Paris signed in 1713-ending war between French and  Indians
11  Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
      National Foundation Day in Japan
      National Inventor's Day in honor of Edison's birthday-1847
      White T-shirt Day (Have ALL wear white shirts!)
12. Abraham Lincoln's Birthday-1809
      Charles Darwin born - 1809 
13.  Bicycle Safety Day
       Get a Different Name Day!

14.  Valentine's Day AND Chinese New Year
        Ferris Wheel Day
       Random Acts of Kindness Week begins
        President's Day 
      Flag Day in Canada-first raised in 1965
      Susan B. Anthony born-1820 and National Gumdrop Day
16. Mardi Gras
      Fat Tuesday
     Miranda (moon of Uranus) first photographed in 1948  
17. 
18.  Family Day in Canada
       Pluto discovered by Clyde Tombaugh - 1930
19.  Mr. Roger's Neighborhood premiered - 1968
20.  National Hoodie-Hoo Day -go outside and yell "Hoodie-hoo!"
       to scare away winter and welcome Spring!
       John Glenn orbited Earth three times- 1962,Friendship 7 space  capsule
       Toothpick patented
21.   Love your Pet Day
        Polaroid Land Camera introduced -1927 by Edwin Land
22.   Be Humble Day
        George Washington's Birthday
        World Thinking Day

23.   Dolly the Sheep cloned in 1997 & Tennis Day
         International Dog Biscuit Day
24.    Flag Day in Mexico (Dia de la Bandera) & National Tortilla Chip Day     
        Gordon from Sesame Street's Birthday
25.    Paper Currency introduced in USA-1862 by President Lincoln
        Quiet Day
        First US Electric Printing Press patented by Thomas Davenport  - 1837 
26.    William "Buffalo Bill" Cody born 1846
        Levi Strauss born 1829 & Carnival Day    
27.   Polar Bear Day
       Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Birthday - 1807     
28.   Public Sleeping Day
        Congress authorized Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1803

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DOING THE DAYS IDEAS...

February 2 is 'BONZA BOTTLER DAY'---this happens each month when the month and date are the same! It's just a reason to celebrate in any way you want...so celebrate! Celebrate BIG as it's also GROUND HOG DAY!!!

Feb. 2--Bottle Cap Patented. Collected bottle caps and challenge kids to come up with a creative bottle cap collage! With this also being Ground Hog Day-consider doing it a day or two before!

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On February 9, Hershey Chocolate was founded. Cover St. Valentine's Day and this day with one project!

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Feb. 11-- 'DON'T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY'!

• Post the saying and have kids write down or talk about what they think that means! You may get some very cute and funny interpretations...

•  Idea: If it's cold where you live-make Hot Chocolate. If it's warm--make some milkshakes!!!

The day and saying means... don't worry about something that has already happened and work on fixing the problem. Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day is in recognition that everyone spills a little milk now and then. (When spilled--you can't get it back into the glass!) It's a day to  be optimistic, think positive, look on the bright side, and to find something good in everything that happens. As the song says: Don't Worry, be Happy!  Participate in "Don't Cry over Spilled Milk Day" with an optimistic attitude and a smile on your face!

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FEBERUARY 13 is 'GET A DIFFERENT NAME DAY'! Have some fun with ALL choosing a different name. Put the names on 'name tags' and talk about what they like about their own names and what they like about the 'new' names...

Do the kids know why their parents chose the names they have? Do they know what their names mean?

Get a book of names/meanings and celebrate this silly day!

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How easy can this be? 'NATIONAL HOODIE-HOO DAY'

- go outside and yell "Hoodie-hoo!" to scare away winter and welcome Spring! (In Southern Hemisphere it is celebrated August 22) To be precise, one is to go out at high noon and wave arms above head while yelling the words. If you  can't do it then---have fun...be silly...and do it with your kids any time of the day. Just do it!

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February 21 is 'LOVE YOUR PET DAY'! How about making some PET ROCKS and have fun with the Extension Ideas!

PET ROCKS (From General Craft Catetgory) If you didn't do this last month for 'Old Rock Day'--how about now?

Find smooth, flat or round rocks. Be sure to clean off any dirt or sand and dry completely before starting. Paint with acrylic paints. Decorate faces by using google eyes, yarn for hair, markers, glitter, and any other tidbits you like. (Photo from shirtvalley.com)

 

 PET ROCK Extension Ideas:
Investigate what type of rock your pet is. What are the three main types of rock? Discuss their characteristics and give examples of the different types.
Activities:

• Write down its funniest sayings
• Dress it up for a costume party
• Send it on a holiday/vacation
• Write it a bedtime story
• Make it a form of transportation or a bed/house/etc.
• Give it a name
• Give it a birthday party and a present
• Take it for a walk in the park and write what the two of you did
• Have a picnic
• Teach it a trick
• Write out a word bank/haiku/pet journal
• Prepare it to go to a class such as dance class/gymnastics/playgroup/sports day
• Send it for a sleepover with a friend
• Write out a menu sheet for its food
• Photograph it/blog about it
• Make a scrapbook page about it--Inspired by My Science Program

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The 23rd is 'INTERNATIONAL DOG BISCUIT DAY'...Make some Dog Biscuits!

EASY PEANUT BUTTER DOG BISCUITS

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup oats

1. Blend wet ingredients together.
2. Whisk dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, and then mix with wet mixture to form a ball of dough.
3. Roll out and shape as desired. Place on a non-stick cookie tray or lightly greased pan.
4. Bake twenty minutes at 400 degrees.
5.  When finished, turn off oven and allow the biscuits to cool inside oven until crisp and hard.
6. Store in an airtight container.

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 FEBRUARY 25TH IS 'QUIET DAY'...Celebrate it by playing some quiet/low keyed games.

 

THE QUIET OLYMPICS
Here's a fun low energy set of games (in comparison to the usual style "Olympic Games") that you can try. See lots other games in the Low Energy Category and there are also some in Gathering and Waiting Game Category...

1. Discus Throw: Use a paper plate

2. Shot Put: Use a balloon

3. Track Race: Each player lines up at the start line and race by placing the heel of one foot against the toe of the next. The first one to the end of the track and back wins.

4. High Jump: Each contestant takes a deep breath and whistles. The contestant who holds the note the longest wins.

5. High Dive: Each player stands on a chair (or faces the chair back-rest and then kneels chair seat) with ten clothes pins and drops them into an empty bottle. The player that gets the most wins.

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The 27th is 'POLAR BEAR DAY'...

MAKE SOME 'POLAR BEAR CUPS' FOR SNACK! 

  First put ice cream and then a layer of your choice of candy (M&M's, Kisses, Chocolate or Peanut Butter Chips.)

Cover candy layer with Cool Whip and decorate it with gummy bears.

Serve it in small-clear plastic cups for individual serving or one big vat that everyone shares. Usually, children like to have their own.

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FEBRARY 28 IS 'PUBLIC SLEEPING DAY'!  HAVE A PAJAMA PARTY!
Have kids wear PJ's and lounge on pillows and blankets as they watch a movie. (Don't forget favorite stuffed animals!)
You could add a movie (an old favorite or something just released.) Make popcorn or have cookies and set up a hot chocolate bar where everyone can add marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, and whipped cream to cups of cocoa.

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FEBRUARY IS FRIENSHIP MONTH...MAKE FRIENDSHIP TOWERS
(Good for Building Team/Program Spirit)
Divide the group into teams of four or five children. Distribute construction paper and tape to each team. Explain to the teams that they will have ten minutes to build the tallest tower they can---WITHOUT TALKING. They can use only the given supplies. At the end of ten minutes -- have each team display their tower and discuss whether it was easy or difficult to build and why. 

Not necessary but ---an award or certificate can go to the group who made the tallest tower. You can also award certificates for the smallest, most unique, most straight, most leaning, most curvy, most tape used, least tape used, etc.

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 MAKE FRIENDSHIP FRUIT SALAD FOR 'FRIENDSHIP MONTH'!

♥ Ask each child to bring in a piece of fresh fruit or a can of fruit. Have them chop the fruit with a plastic knife.
♥  Mix all together in a big bowl and serve. 
♥ Optional: top with miniature marshmallows or even add some dry vanilla pudding and shredded coconut to the fruit to make it special.

♥ The extra cans of fruit left over can be donated to the local food pantry.

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 FEBRUARY IS 'AMERICAN HEART MONTH'!  PLAN A HEALTHY HEART DAY!  (Read this, it's fun!--activity is also in Valentine Game Category! )

Celebrate a “healthy” heart with fun, aerobic activities that get children up and moving. You may want to set up several skill stations; this is an idea adapted from Celebration Games: Physical Activities for Every Month (2006 Human Kinetics).

STATIONS CAN INCLUDE:

   ♥ STEP AEROBOCS STATION: Set up four or five step aerobic steppers and music.

   ♥ HEALTHY HEART EXERCISES: Demonstrate several aerobic exercises and have children perform three aerobic exercises of their choice at this station (ie. jumping jacks, jumping rope, jogging in place)

   ♥ CHOLESTEROL: Pictures of both high and low cholesterol foods are taped down. Children throw beanbags underhand from a throw line at low cholesterol foods.

   ♥ BLOOD PRESSURE: Make a sign that says “normal blood pressure 120/80” and tape down pictures of things that can raise blood pressure such as smoking, unhealthy foods, lack of exercise and stress. Children THROW BEANBAGS UNDERHAND from a throw line at the things that will raise blood pressure. (You can put point values on targets and total points)

   ♥ A HEALTHY BUT YUMMY SNACK TABLE at culmination of activity.

   ♥ Divide the children into groups and disperse them evenly among the stations. Place them in a numerical order and have them keep this order for all stations. Set the number of tries for each turn and announce when it is time to rotate to the next station. Leave ample space between stations and advise children not to stand in the throwing areas. Adapted and expanded upon from: School-age Note of the Day- 2/5/07 schoolagenotes.com 

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This is 'NATIONAL WILD BIRD FEEDING MONTH'

Visit the Bird Theme for ideas and directions for many BIRD FEEDER ideas!

ALSO...check out the 'FEBRUARY  GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT'

This is an event that takes place over four days in February each year. It's very easy! All you have to do is watch birds in your yard, a nearby park, or maybe at your school. Then you tell what you saw by entering your bird list online. They collect that information from people all over the United States and Canada SO SCIENTISTS CAN LEARN WHAT KIND OF BIRDS ARE BEING SEEN IN THE WINTER AND WHETHER THERE ARE MORE OR FEWER THAN BEFORE! .

Click here - to learn more about how to participate.
(There are also games, print-outs and bird-fun on the site!)

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Happy February! It's a great month for planning activities!!!

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