Advanced Journal Questions
A Year of Journal Writing Prompts
By Tracee Orman
1. September is National Courtesy Month. Its purpose is to remind everyone that life could be more enjoyable if people were more polite to one another. Write about a time when being courteous paid off for you. Or write about a time when you saw someone using very poor manners. Tell how you felt during that time.
2. On September 2nd, 1969, America's first automatic teller machine (ATM) makes its public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. ATMs went on to revolutionize the banking industry, eliminating the need to visit a bank to conduct basic financial transactions. The busiest day for ATM usage world-wide is on Fridays.
Do you have a bank account? Have you ever used an ATM machine? Have your parents? Imagine a world without ATMs (and debit cards, as well). What would you do if you needed cash from your account? Consider the hours most banks are open; would it be convenient for you to go inside the bank for every withdrawal you needed? Why or why not?
3. The first time Labor Day was observed in the United States was Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland made the first Monday in September the official Labor Day, a national holiday.
Labor Day marks the beginning of the school year for many students. How do you feel about school so far this year? What are you looking forward to? What are you NOT looking forward to? Explain.
4. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day–a day to honor your grandparents.
Write about one of your grandparents and tell what he or she is (or was) like. Imagine what growing up was like for your grandparent. (If you did not know your grandparents, write about what they might have been like, what they may have done for fun, etc.)
5. On September 6, 1995, baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr., broke Lou Gehrig’s iron man record by playing in his 2,131st straight game. Ripken played in an additional 501 straight games over the next three years, and his streak ended at 2,632 games when he voluntarily removed his name from the lineup for the final Orioles home game of the 1998 season. Ripken later stated that he decided to end the streak at the end of the season to avoid any off-season controversy about his playing status, and to end the streak entirely on his own terms while he still could.
What does it take to have this kind of stamina, especially in a field where an injury is quite possible? How long have you gone without missing a day of school? Would you be able to go to school or work this many days without missing? Why or why not?
6. Anna Mary Robertson Moses was born on September 7 in 1870. She became a famous painter, even though she didn’t begin painting until she was 78. On her 100th birthday, Sept. 7 was officially named Grandma Moses Day. Grandma Moses died when she was a little over 101 years old. Most of her paintings are of farm scenes.
Is there anything you wish you had learned to do or done when you were younger? What kept you from learning or doing this thing? Do you have any plans to learn or do it now, or when you’re older?
7. The folks at Wellcat.com deemed September 9th “Wonderful Weirdos Day.” As they state on their website: “All of us are blessed with one or two wonderful weirdos in our lives. These are the folks who remind us to think outside the box, to be a little more true to ourselves. Today's the day to thank them. So give them a hug, and say ‘I love you, you weirdo!’”
After being asked how she compares to Lady Gaga, rapper Nicki Minaj said in a BBook.com interview February 23, 2011, “We both do the awkward, non-pretty thing. What we’re saying - what I’m saying, anyway - is that it’s okay to be weird. And maybe your weird is my normal. Who’s to say? I think it’s an attitude we both share.”
Write about someone you appreciate for doing things differently. This could be a celebrity, sports figure, or a close friend or family member. Maybe this person is you. What makes this person different? How have they influenced you? If you cannot think of anyone, write about someone like Minaj, Lady Gaga, Madonna, or Marilyn Manson, who all dared to be different.
8. On September 9th, 1893, Frances Folsom Cleveland, the wife of President Grover Cleveland, gives birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House. Mrs. Cleveland, who was 27 years younger than the President, was one of the most popular First Ladies in history, mainly for her good looks and unaffected charm. The two married in 1886 when 49-year-old Cleveland was President and Frances was 21 years old, making her the youngest First Lady in history.
Do you think a single person could be elected today? Would the public accept a 27-year-age-gap relationship for its highest public official? Why or why not? If not, why do you think the public was accepting of this in the 1800s, but not today? Have we gone backward in tolerance or raised the standards for people in the public eye? Do you think the personal life of an elected official affects their performance of their job? Do we hold this standard for everyone? Should people lose their jobs if their personal life is not “acceptable” to others? Explain your feelings.
9. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States is a day those who witnessed it will never forget. Because of the timing of the event, many Americans watched the event on live television. the coordinated airline hijackings resulted in assaults on the New York City World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon and the attempt on Washington, D.C.--which ended in a Pennsylvania field--led to vast changes in government and spurred the nation to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not counting the suicidal Al Qaeda assailants, 2,973 people were killed that day.
President Obama declared September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance for all 50 States in 2009. How do you think Americans should honor this holiday? What types of service projects, activities, or programs would best honor this day and those who lost their lives?
10. Jesse Owens was born on Sept. 12 in 1913. A great athlete, he set 11 world records in track and field and won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Because Owens was black, Adolf Hitler wasn’t very happy about his victories. Owens died in 1980.
Write about a person whose accomplishments you admire. This can be an athlete, a parent, a friend, a teacher–anyone you choose. Tell what the person has done and why you admire her or him.
11. September 16 marked the anniversary of the day the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, in 1620. The ship had 102 passengers and a small crew. Many people on board wondered whether they would ever reach the New World and if they had made the right decision. Despite rough waters and heavy storms, the boat reached Provincetown, Massachusetts on Nov. 21. Write about something you didn’t think you could do, but did it anyway. Tell how you felt afterward.
12. The third Tuesday in September is “International Day of Peace.” Regular sessions of the United Nations General Assembly begin each year on this day.
If you could single-handedly bring peace to the world, what would you do? When you visualize world peace, what do you see? Many people believe peace is possible now–do you agree or disagree? What would have to be done before we could achieve world peace?
13. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey launches her influential Book Club on September 17th, 1996 with The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard as her first selection. Oprah’s Book Club quickly became a hugely influential force in the publishing world, with the popular TV host’s endorsement capable of catapulting a previously little-known book onto best-seller lists.
As The New York Times noted: "Winfrey's project—recommending books, even challenging literary novels, for viewers to read in advance of discussions on her talk show—initially provoked considerable skepticism in the literary world.” However, the club proved to be a hit with Winfrey’s legions of fans, and many of her picks sold over 1 million copies. (She earned no money from book sales.) Winfrey’s ability to turn not just books but almost any product or person she recommended into a phenomenon came to be known as the "Oprah Effect.”
By the final season of Winfrey’s TV show,” in 2011, more than 60 titles had been chosen for Oprah’s Book Club. Whether people will admit it or not, Oprah’s Book Club helped spur renewed interest in literature, with the general public embracing new and classic titles.
The success of Oprah’s endorsement is largely due in part because she read the books and talked about them on her show. It’s not always evident with celebrity endorsements whether the product or service is being used by that person. Which celebrities have endorsed a product or service that you have purchased or wanted to purchase? Or which ones would you not trust? Is there a product or service you love that you’d like to see a famous person endorse? Explain.
14. On September 19, 1973, 26-year-old country-rock musician Gram Parsons dies of "multiple drug use" (morphine and tequila) in a California motel room. His death inspired one of the more bizarre automobile-related crimes on record: Two of his friends stashed his body in a borrowed hearse and drove it into the middle of the Joshua Tree National Park, where they doused it with gasoline and set it on fire.
While attending a friend’s funeral a few months earlier, Parsons made a pact with his road manager Phil Kaufman: If anything should happen to one of them, the other would take his body to Joshua Tree and cremate it. Kaufman and another man had to steal his body from the LA airport (it was being flown to Louisiana for burial) in order to follow through with the pact. Since stealing bodies was not actually a crime in California, they were fined $300 each, plus $750 for the ruined coffin.
Have you ever made a pact with another person? Write about the pact and whether either of you followed through (or if it is still in tact). If not, write about a pact you would like to make with someone. Do you think both will honor the pact?
15. President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than 3 million black slaves in the United States and recasts the Civil War as a fight against slavery on September 22, 1862. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebel states "are, and henceforward shall be free."
The proclamation was a presidential order and not a law passed by Congress, so Lincoln then pushed for an antislavery amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ensure its permanence. With the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, slavery was eliminated throughout America (although blacks would face another century of struggle before they truly began to gain equal rights).
The preliminary draft is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., but the final draft was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Have you ever had something irreplaceable destroyed (whether it be in a fire, flooding, a younger sibling or pet destroyed, etc.)? How did it feel losing this item that you treasured? If you haven’t, imagine what it would feel like if you lost a special artifact. What item today, in your opinion, would be the greatest loss to the general public if it were destroyed? Why?
16. On September 25, 1930, poet Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois. He wrote numerous works of poetry, books, and song lyrics, including several that Johnny Cash performed. One thing he was particular about was the way his work was printed. He insisted on the style and size of fonts used, the weight and quality of the paper used, and did not want his books to be published in paperback, as they would lose that high quality.
Are you particular about what kind of fonts you use or how your typed work looks? If you were to publish a book today, how would you want it to look? What would be on the cover? What would it be about?
17. If you could spend an entire day with someone–alive or dead–who would it be? What would you do with that person, what would you talk about, and what would you learn from that person?
18. September 28 marks the day Confucius was born in 551 B.C. He was born in Taiwan and was a teacher for more than 40 years. He died at the age of 72. People all over the world still respect and follow his sayings and teachings. In Taiwan Sept. 28 is Teacher’s Day in honor of Confucius.
Describe the “ideal” teacher. What would she or he be like? What would her or his classroom be like? You may also write about a teacher you respect–what is it that you like, respect, or admire about that particular teacher? Does it matter what subject they teach? Explain.
19. Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, usually occurs in September each year. This is one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar. On this holiday some Jewish people eat apples dipped in honey as a symbol of their wish for a sweet new year. Some people walk to flowing water (like a river or creek) and empty their pockets into the water to show they are getting rid of their wrongs from the past year.
Make a list of some of the things you carry with you in your pockets, book bag, back pack, purse, etc. Why do you have these things? What do you think these things say about you?
20. October 2 is Gandhi Jayanti, a public holiday in India to honor the birthday of spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in 1869. He was given the name Mahatma, which means “great souled.” Gandhi promoted the use of passive resistance–taking a stand against something without using violence–as a protest method. He was assassinated Jan. 30, 1948.
Describe the last time you resisted something. What did you resist, and how did you resist it? What happened next?
21. In baseball, the "Shot Heard 'round the World" is the term given to the game-ending home run hit by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds to win the National League pennant on October 3, 1951. Thomson’s homer wrapped up an amazing come-from-behind run for the Giants and knocked the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Giants’ hated inter-borough rivals, out of their spot in the World Series. It is one of the most famous moments in Major League Baseball history.
The Giants weren’t even supposed to be in the pennant race--they were 13 1/2 games behind the legendary Dodgers by the middle of August, and everyone thought they were finished. But then they won 16 games in a row. By October, they’d won 37 of their last 44 games and had tied Brooklyn for the lead; a first-ever National League playoff was needed to break the tie.
What is the most memorable come-from-behind win for you? It could be in any sport or activity (like scholastic bowl), and any level. Perhaps it was in little league, or more recently in high school. Or it could be an event in the Olympics you remember. Describe how the underdog was able to come from behind for the win. If you can’t recall any, write about any underdog and how it would feel to win.
22. On October 5th, 1947, President Harry Truman (1884-1972) makes the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House, asking Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans. At the time of Truman's food-conservation speech, Europe was still recovering from World War II and suffering from famine. He asked farmers and distillers to reduce grain use and requested that the public voluntarily forgo meat on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays and save a slice of bread each day. The American public was used to rationing and making sacrifices during WWII, so this was not anything new to them.
Have you ever given up eating certain foods or drinks for a cause? If so, explain. If not, would you? Why or why not?
23. Flames spark October 8th, 1871, in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, igniting a 2-day blaze that kills between 200 and 300 people, destroys 17,450 buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes an estimated $200 million (in 1871 dollars; $3 billion in 2007 dollars) in damages. “Legend” has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in the O'Leary barn and started the fire, but other theories hold that humans or even a comet may have been responsible for the event that left four square miles of the Windy City, including its business district, in ruins. Dry weather and an abundance of wooden buildings, streets and sidewalks made Chicago vulnerable to fire.
The city recovered; reconstruction efforts began quickly and spurred great economic development and population growth, as architects laid the foundation for a modern city featuring the world's first skyscrapers. Mrs. O’Leary, however, did not. She was used as a scapegoat by Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Ahern, who admitted in 1893 that he had made up the story of a cow kicking over a lantern because he thought it would make colorful copy. Mrs. O’Leary turned into a recluse after the fire, overcome with sadness after being blamed by the public; she died in 1895, “heartbroken” according to her family members. In 1997, the Chicago City Council exonerated Mrs. O'Leary and her cow.
Journalists today have a responsibility to report the truth without bias. The Society of Professional Journalists has a Code of Ethics that cover four areas: seek truth and report it; minimize harm; act independently; and be accountable. The Code is not a required set of rules, but many newsrooms volunteer to embrace them.
How would you rate today’s media? Can you tell which newspapers/publications, radio, and TV broadcasts honor the Code and which ones do not? Write which ones you think do and which ones you suspect do not. If an organization or individual does not embrace this Code, what do you think their motives really are?
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was born on Oct. 11, 1884. Because of her many humanitarian pursuits, she was called the “First Lady of the World.” She was a delegate to the United Nations and a writer. In her book, This Is My Story, she wrote, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
What do you think Eleanor meant by those words? What do they mean to you? Have you ever been in a situation in which you felt inferior? Explain.
What is the best advice you have ever been given and by whom did you get the advice? Why has it been the best? What makes the advice helpful or good? What advice would you pass on to a friend, sibling, or classmate?
24. Columbus Day: At 2 a.m. on Oct. 12, 1492, Roderigo de Triana sighted land. He was a sailor on board the Piñta, one of three ships under the command of Christopher Columbus. Though Columbus was Italian, he claimed the land (the Bahamas) for Spain’s rulers King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I, who provided the funds he needed for his journey. Since 1971, Columbus Day has been celebrated on the Monday nearest Oct. 12.
Columbus was afraid of “sea monsters” and thought they would eat his boats and crews. Other sailors of his time also feared falling off the edge of the earth. Write about something you used to be afraid of but are not afraid of anymore. How did you overcome your fear?
25. The third Saturday in October is Sweetest Day. People who observe this day try to do a kind act or remember someone who has done a kind act. It began sometime in the 1940s in Cleveland, Ohio. A man started to spread cheer to sick, elderly, and orphaned people in that city by taking them gifts on the third Saturday in October. Since then, the idea behind Sweetest Day (“a thoughtful word or deed enriches life”) has caught on in other parts of the country. You, too, can celebrate this day tomorrow.
Write about a kind act that someone you know has done. (Maybe it’s something she or he did for you.)
26. U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. For years, many aviators believed that man was not meant to fly faster than the speed of sound, theorizing that transonic drag rise would tear any aircraft apart. That changed on October 14th, 1947, when Yeager flew an experimental X-1 rocket plane over Rogers Dry Lake in Southern California. The X-1 was lifted to an altitude of 25,000 feet by a B-29 aircraft and then released through the bomb bay, rocketing to 40,000 feet and exceeding 662 miles per hour (the sound barrier at that altitude). The rocket plane, nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis," was designed with thin, unswept wings and a streamlined fuselage modeled after a .50-caliber bullet.
Because it was a secret project, the achievement was not announced until June of 1948. How long could you keep a secret? If you were Yeager, knowing that you were the first person to achieve this amazing feat, would you be able to wait eight months before telling anyone? Why or why not?
27. October 18th is National Grouch Day. One of the biggest grouches in history was a man named William Claude Dukenfield. He was born in Philadelphia in 1879. He was famous for saying things like, “Anybody who hates children and dogs can’t be all bad,” and “I never met a kid I liked.” He had a big nose, wore a top hat, and talked out of the side of his mouth. He starred in many movies in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, including My Little Chickadee and Give a Sucker an Even Break. He was known as W.C. Fields.
Who is the grouchiest person you know? What kinds of grouchy things does he or she do? Are you ever grouchy? Why?
28. If you were the principal of our school, what changes would you make? What would you keep the same? Explain each in detail.
29. John Dewey was born on October 20, 1859, in Vermont. He was an American educator who disagreed with “rote” learning (memorization) and felt young people should “learn by doing.” He believed students should attend labs and workshop classes and learn practical things. He also felt classes and studies should be related to students’ own interests and problems. He died June 1, 1952.
How do you learn best? By listening, reading, watching, “doing”? Write about a time you learned something by “doing” it. (For example, you didn’t learn to ride a bike by looking at pictures in a book!)
30. October 25: On this day in 1971, Midori Goto was born in Osaka, Japan. She is a world-famous violinist who was invited to play with the New York Philharmonic when she was only 11 years old. She founded the organization Midori and Friends which helps bring music into the lives of children.
Midori often plays a beautiful-sounding violin that was constructed in 1734. Do you have something old that’s very special to you? Write about it. If you don’t have anything old, write about a newer possession that you can imagine keeping for a long time.
31. Theodore Roosevelt performed a number of presidential firsts. He was the first president to ride in a car, to go undersea in a submarine, and to fly in an airplane. The Teddy Bear is supposedly named after him, too. Roosevelt was born on October 27 in 1858 and died Jan. 6, 1919.
Have you ever been the first to do something or own something among your peers? If not, what would you like to be the first at having or doing? How would it make you feel to be the first one to try something new or accomplish a goal? Is it no big deal or pretty special? Explain.
32. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose? Why?
33. Halloween is the last day in October and many kids will be dressed up in costumes, trick-or-treating, and going to haunted houses. Describe your favorite costume from the past. Or describe a costume you’d like to wear (or are currently wearing or have worn!) if you could be anyone or anything. Why would you choose this costume?
34. On November 1st, 1512, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo's finest works, is exhibited to the public for the first time. Michelangelo's epic ceiling frescoes, which took several years to complete, are among his most memorable works. Central in a complex system of decoration featuring numerous figures are nine panels devoted to biblical world history. The most famous of these is The Creation of Adam, a painting in which the arms of God and Adam are stretching toward each other.
Michelangelo worked until his death in 1564 at the age of 88. In addition to his major artistic works, he produced numerous other sculptures, frescoes, architectural designs, and drawings, many of which are unfinished and some of which are lost. In his lifetime, he was celebrated as Europe's greatest living artist, and today he is held up as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Who is your favorite artist or what is your favorite painting (or any work of art)? Why? If you cannot think of any, describe art or images that appeal to you. Why do they catch your attention, or why do you like those images?
35. Election Day is the first Tuesday in November. Do you think your political beliefs are similar to your parent’s, or do they differ? What hopes do you have for the future of our country?
36. On November 5, 2008, Barack Obama helped African-Americans break through the ultimate glass ceiling with his election to the White House as the 44th President of the United States. He was inaugurated as president on January 21, 2009.
How did you feel when Obama was elected? Are you surprised it took our country so long to elect an African-American as president? Why or why not? Do you think you will see a female president elected in your lifetime? Why or why not?
37. November 6 is the birthday of James Naismith, who was born in 1861 in Canada. In 1891 Dr. Naismith originated the game of basketball. In 1936 basketball became part of the Olympic Games. The National Basketball Association (NBA) was established in 1949. It’s said that Dr. Naismith created the game as a class assignment.
What is the most creative assignment a teacher ever gave you? You may think back to past years. Tell about the assignment and why you enjoyed doing it. If you can’t remember ever getting a creative assignment, write about an assignment you’d like to do someday.
38. Edmund Halley became a famous astronomer after he observed a comet in 1682. He studied many old records and predicted that the comet would return in the year 1758. Halley didn’t live to see his prediction come true–he died in 1742–but the comet was named after him anyway. Halley’s Comet did return in 1758 and continues to return about every 76 years. The first recorded appearance was in 240 B.C., and there have been 28 return appearances since then. Halley was born in London on November 7 in 1656.
There’s a good chance you’ll be alive when Halley’s Comet returns in the year 2062 (how old will you be?). Imagine that it’s 2062 now and you’re waiting to see the comet. What are you doing? Do you have a family, etc.? From where will you be watching the comet? Who will be with you?
39. On November 10, 1973, North Dakota newspapers report the burning of 36 copies of the book "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's book was a combination of real events and science fiction. His hero, Billy Pilgrim, was a World War II soldier who witnessed the firebombing of the city of Dresden. Vonnegut also witnessed the firebombing himself. Pilgrim becomes "unstuck in time" and thereafter lives a double existence: one on an alien planet that accepts its inevitable doom, and one on Earth, preaching the same philosophy. Some found the book's pessimistic outlook and dark humor unsuitable for school children. He was born November 11, 1922 and died April 11, 2007.
Do you think school children (which includes any student in school under the age of 18) are mature enough to read books with “pessimistic outlooks” or themes that may be depressing? Why or why not? Do you believe in book burning or book censorship? Explain.
40. Veteran’s Day: On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1919, a silent memorial was observed for the Armistice (truce) of World War I. This day used to be called Armistice Day; in 1954 it was renamed Veteran’s Day. From 1971-1978 it was observed on the fourth Monday of November. In 1978 it was changed back to Nov. 11. Some call Veteran’s Day Remembrance Day or Victory Day.
Remember someone. This person does not have to be a soldier but should be someone who is no longer around for one reason or another (moved away, passed away, etc.). Give the person’s name and why you remember him or her. Tell what made that person special to you.
41. November 12 is the birthday of gymnast Nadia Comaneci. She was born in Romania in 1961. When she was six years old, she caught the attention of a famous Romanian gymnastics coach, Bela Karlyni, who decided to teach her. Comaneci won all sorts of competitions, but her true dream was realized when she won three gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal at the 1976 Olympic Games. She was the first gymnast to receive a perfect score from the judges, earning a 10.00 on the uneven bars. Comaneci went on to compete in the 1980 Olympic Games, winning two individual gold medals. In 1989 she left Romania and came to the United States.
Some people dream about being “discovered.” What talent would you like to be discovered for? Who would you want to find you? What could happen once you were discovered?
42. On November 14, 1970, a chartered jet carrying most of the Marshall University football team clips a stand of trees and crashes into a hillside just two miles from the Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia. The team was returning from that day’s game, a 17-14 loss to East Carolina University. Thirty-seven Marshall football players were aboard the plane, along with the team’s coach, its doctors, the university athletic director and 25 team boosters--some of Huntington, West Virginia’s most prominent citizens--who had traveled to North Carolina to cheer on the Thundering Herd. "The whole fabric," a citizen of Huntington wrote later, "the whole heart of the town was aboard."
Imagine you are one of the nine players who were not on the plane. How would you feel? How would you cope with the loss of all your teammates and coaches? Have you ever experienced a loss of a loved one? How did you cope with your sorrow.
43. It was major news indeed when an unknown 25-year-old led the nation's most important symphony orchestra in a Carnegie Hall concert broadcast live to a radio audience in the millions on November 15, 1943. For The New York Times, it was a story worthy of front-page coverage: "Young Aide Leads Philharmonic, Steps In When Bruno Walter Is Ill," read the headline. That fill-in happened to be Leonard Bernstein.
By the time he took over as principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic in 1957, he had already written music for On The Town, Candide and West Side Story, among many other works for stage and orchestra. West Side Story, a modern-day Romeo and Juliet tragedy, featuring two people who fall in love, but are kept apart by their families and friends.
Have you ever been told not to befriend someone because a friend or family member did not approve? Explain. Or, have you ever told someone not to befriend someone because you didn’t approve? If neither applies to you, explain what you would do if someone close to you told you you could no longer associate with your best friend or love interest. Would you comply? Or would you still try to see that person? Why or why not?
44. On November 18 in 1928, Mickey Mouse made his first on-screen appearance. He starred in a Walt Disney film called Steamboat Willie that was shown at the Colony Theatre in New York City. Steamboat Willie was the first talking animated cartoon picture.
Write about your favorite animated cartoon. It can be one you saw in a movie theater, or one you watched on TV. Give the names of the characters, describe things that happened, and tell why this cartoon is your favorite.
45. Brazilian soccer great Pele scores his 1,000th professional goal in a game on November 19, 1969, against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium. It was a major milestone in an illustrious career that included three World Cup championship.
Pele, considered one of the greatest soccer players ever to take the field, was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Tres Coracos, Brazil, in 1940. Although just five feet eight inches tall, he was a giant on the field, leading Santos to three national club championships, two South American championships, and the world club title in 1963. Under Pele's leadership, Brazil won the World Cup in 1958, 1962, and 1970. Pele announced his retirement in 1974 but in 1975 accepted a $7 million contract to play with the New York Cosmos. He led the Cosmos to a league championship in 1977 and did much to promote soccer in the United States. On October 1, 1977, in Giants Stadium, he played his last professional game in a Cosmos match against his old team Santos.
Did you play soccer as a child? Describe the experience. If not, have you ever watched a soccer match? Do you like soccer? Why or why not?
46. President John F. Kennedy, the youngest man ever to hold the office of the President, was assassinated November 22 in 1963. He was riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, when he was shot and killed. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the murder.
On November 24, two days later, Oswald was shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner jack Ruby. Oswald was being moved from one holding area to another, and TV cameras were filming the transfer. Viewers all over the world saw Ruby shoot Oswald. Ruby was convicted of murder on March 14, 1964. He was sentenced to death but died of natural causes while waiting for a retrial on Jan. 3, 1967.
What do you think of live-action, on-the-scene TV reporting? Many believe that reporters don’t just record the news, they “make it happen.” For example, a demonstration may not begin until the cameras are there to cover it. Or people “act out” and do things on TV they wouldn’t normally do if cameras weren’t around. What are your feelings on this? Do you think much of what is seen on the news acted out or natural? Should reporters have control over the event? Is this real reporting or just entertaining your audience? Explain your reasons.
47. In 1789, President George Washington proclaimed that the first national Thanksgiving Day would be held on November 26. Meanwhile, the Protestant Episcopal Church announced the first Thursday in November would be a good time to give thanks each year. Most people ignored both dates until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proposed that Thanksgiving be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. Every year after that, for 75 years, presidents made formal proclamations following Lincoln’s lead. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving one week backward. He did it to help businesses during the Great Depression. People usually didn’t start their Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving, and Roosevelt’s change made the shopping season a week longer.List three things from this year you are thankful for. Tell about them and why you are thankful for them.
48. November 28, 1582, William Shakespeare, 18, and Anne Hathaway, 26, pay a 40-pound bond for their marriage license in Stratford-upon-Avon. Six months later, Anne gives birth to their daughter, Susanna, and two years later, to twins. Sometime after the birth of his own children, Shakespeare set off for London to become an actor and by 1592 was well established in London's theatrical world as an actor and playwright. His wife and children stayed in Stratford-Upon-Avon. He eventually returned to them after retiring from the theater in 1613.
Have you ever been separated from a parent or guardian for long periods of time? Write about your experience. If you haven’t, write about how it might have felt for Shakespeare’s children to be raised without really knowing their father.
49. Samuel Clemens, later known as Mark Twain, is born in Florida, Missouri, on November 30, 1835. Clemens was apprenticed to a printer at age 13 and later worked for his older brother, who established the Hannibal Journal. In 1857, the Keokuk Daily Post commissioned him to write a series of comic travel letters, but after writing five he decided to become a steamboat captain instead. He signed on as a pilot's apprentice in 1857 and received his pilot's license in 1859, when he was 23.
During his time as a pilot, he picked up the term "Mark Twain," a boatman's call noting that the river was only two fathoms deep, the minimum depth for safe navigation. When Clemens returned to writing in 1861, working for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, he wrote a humorous travel letter signed by "Mark Twain" and continued to use the pseudonym for nearly 50 years.
Imagine being the pilot of a steamboat on the Mississippi River back in the 1800s. What do you think life was like for a boatman?
50. December 1st marks the day that in 1955 Rosa Parks, a black seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, got on a bus to ride home from work. She was tired and her feet hurt, but there were no seats available at the back of the bus where the black people were supposed to sit. So she sat down in the front part of the bus. When a white man asked her to get up and move, she decided that her feet hurt too badly and refused to move. The bus driver drove the bus to the police station where she was arrested. This was the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Black people in Montgomery boycotted the buses for more than a year after her arrest. After the boycott, racial segregation on city buses was outlawed.
Pretend that you are Rosa Parks. You have worked all day and are tired. The law says you must sit in the back of the bus, but all the seats are taken. What would you do? Would you break the law? Why or why not?
51. The first week in December is Tolerance Week. The purpose of this week is to promote the importance of tolerance and acceptance of others. People who are tolerant accept other people’s different beliefs and ideas, even if they don’t agree with them. Write your own definition of tolerance. Do you think of yourself as a tolerant person? Why or why not? (Give examples)
52. On December 2nd, 2001, the Enron Corporation--an energy-trading company--files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court, sparking one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history. Under chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay, Enron rose as high as number seven on Fortune magazine's list of the top 500 U.S. companies. In 2000, the company employed 21,000 people and posted revenue of $111 billion. Over the next year, however, Enron's stock price began a dramatic slide, dropping from $90.75 in August 2000 to $0.26 by closing on November 30, 2001. As prices fell, Lay sold large amounts of his Enron stock, while simultaneously encouraging Enron employees to buy more shares and assuring them that the company was on the rebound.
Enron's collapse had cost investors billions of dollars, wiped out some 5,600 jobs and liquidated almost $2.1 billion in pension plans. “Street” crime, such as auto theft, robbery/burglary, assault, and rape cost Americans $21 billion annually. “White-collar” crime, such as the Enron scandal, costs Americans over $1 trillion annually. Do you think the punishment for the “white-collar” crimes should be as severe as the “street” crimes? Why or why not?
53. On December 6, 1933, a federal judge rules that "Ulysses" by James Joyce is not obscene. The book had been banned immediately in both the United States and England when it came out in 1922. Three years earlier, its serialization in an American review had been cut short by the U.S. Post Office for the same reason. Fortunately, one of James' supporters, Sylvia Beach, owner of the bookstore Shakespeare and Co. in Paris, published the novel herself in 1922. With its radical stream-of-consciousness narrative, Ulysses deeply influenced the development of the modern novel.
Joyce once said that he had "put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant", which would earn the novel "immortality". Do you like it when authors use symbolism, puns, parodies, and allusions in their writing? Why or why not?
54. At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack on December 7, 1941, struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.
The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.
The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.
Rankin was the first female to serve in the US Congress. Regarding her anti-war stance, she said, “As a woman, I can’t go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.” How do you feel about Rankin sticking to her moral beliefs, even though it likely cost her reelection? Would you have the courage to do what you believe is right, even if you stand alone? Explain.
55. If you could take only three people with you on a trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take? Why would you choose those particular people and destination?
56. Margaret Hamilton was born on December 9, 1902. Although she acted in over 70 films, she is known best for her role as the Wicked Witch of the west in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Hamilton wasn’t the first choice for that part. Originally, the witch was going to be a glamorous one, but when the studio changed the costume to an “ugly” witch, the first actress backed out. Hamilton didn’t care what makeup she was going to wear and took the part–and the rest, as they say, is history.
Would you play a part in a movie if you weren’t the “good guy”? Would you play an “ugly” character? Why or why not?
57. On December 10th, Nobel Prize Presentation Day is held in honor of Alfred Bernard Nobel, who died on December 10th, 1896. The awards for achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics are given in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Peace prize is presented in Oslo, Norway. The winners each receive a gold medal and anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000. The first Nobel awards were given in 1901. Nobel had established a fund in his will, specifying that the awards must go to those individuals who have done the most to contribute to the good of humanity.
The Nobel Peace Prize may have been the result of a guilty conscience. Alfred Nobel invented dynamite in 1866, making him very rich. Later he had guilty feelings for creating something that caused injury and death; he hated the fact that dynamite–which he invented for peace–could be used in war.
Do you think that the Nobel Peace Prize makes up for the fact that he invented dynamite? Explain your answer. Or write a response to this question: Is it possible to “cancel out” bad with good? If yes, give an example you know about.
58. Michel de Notredame was born on December 14, 1503 in France. He was a physician, but he is known for writing predictions for the future in rhymed quatrains (a special type of poetry). He wrote under the name Nostradamus, the Latin spelling of Notredame. He died in 1566, but many of his predictions lived on after him. Some people today believe many of his predictions have come true; others think what he wrote could apply to just about anything.
Predict something. Anything. Tell what you think will happen, where you think it will happen, and who will be involved. It does not have to be a serious entry. Have fun with it!
59. The Aztecs lived in Mexico from the 14th to 16th century. They are best known for having created an elaborate empire that was destroyed by Spanish invaders. On December 17, 1790, long after the Aztecs were gone, workers discovered a huge decorative stone. The stone weighed almost 25 tons (50,000 lbs) and was probably carved in 1479. This stone, known as Aztec Calendar Stone, is considered to be one of the greatest discoveries in history. The center of the stone has a picture of Tonatiuh, the sun. Many pictures, some representing days, surround the sun in the center. It’s possible, even today, to find the correct date on the stone.
Think of something that is special to you. Examples may include something you collect, a diary or letter from someone, or a game or sporting good. If someone hundreds of years from now found your item(s), what could they learn about you? What would you want them to know about you? And finally, why is this item special to you?
60. According to www.Wellcat.com, December 21st is “Humbug Day.” The purpose is to “allow everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations. Twelve humbugs allowed.” So there you go! Write out 12 things that frustrate you and why.
61. Many ancient civilizations had precise calendars. One thing that all of them had in common was that their calendars ended on December 21, 2012 (the winter solstice). They believed on this date a shifting of the poles would take place (North becomes South, vice versa), which would produce mass flooding and destruction of life as we know it. The Mayans believed that those who respect nature & the earth will survive & those reliant on technology will not. They also believed the years leading up to this date would be a test whether we can survive because there would be many weather-related catastrophes produced by man’s neglect to nature (climate change/global warming effect).
How reliant are you on technology for survival? (I know you could literally live without your cell phone, even though you may think you would die without it.) For example, do you rely on medicine that is produced in a lab? Or would you be able to grow your own food and purify your own water in order to survive?
62. Why do you think we, as humans, have been slow to change our lifestyles in order to be more earth-friendly? What do YOU do, or what could you do, to help the environment?
63. If you could give a gift to anyone in the world, what would that gift be and to whom would you give it to? (By the way, money is no object.)
64. Approximately 123 nations in the world celebrate the New Year. It is a legal holiday in the U.S. and Canada. Many people make New Year’s resolutions–decisions to do or achieve certain things. Write at least three resolutions you’ll make for this year. If you can’t think of three things you need to work on, then make up three resolutions for a character from a book. Explain your resolutions.
65. President Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, setting a new national maximum speed limit on January 2, 1974. Prior to 1974, individual states set speed limits within their boundaries and highway speed limits across the country ranged from 40 mph to 80 mph. lowering all national highway speed limits to 55 mph. The act was intended to force Americans to drive at speeds deemed more fuel-efficient, thereby curbing the U.S. appetite for foreign oil. It was eventually repealed in 1995, with some states setting 75 to 80 mph limits on the open highway. The opposition believes the lower speed limits not only save gas, but save lives, as fewer fatalities occur at lower speeds.
What do you think the speed limit should be? Why?
66. Two years after British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen discovered the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen near Luxor, Egypt, they uncover the greatest treasure of the tomb--a stone sarcophagus containing a solid gold coffin that holds the mummy of Tutankhamen on January 3, 1924. The mummy was still preserved, even though it was over 3,000 years old.
While archeologists work to preserve the past and unlock mysteries to help us understand our history (and even learn from our mistakes), how do you feel about moving the remains of the dead? Do you believe there is a curse on those who disrupt the remains of the dead? Why or why not?
67. The tallest man-made structure to date (as of 2011), the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, officially opens January 4, 2010. see pic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Burj_Khalifa_building.jpg
What is the tallest building you’ve ever been inside? Did you go to the top? If you have not been in any tall structures, have you ever wanted to go to the top of one? Why or why not?
68. January 6th is the “birthday” of Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fictional detective is known for his powers of deduction–the ability to reach conclusions by logical reasoning. He’s famous for solving unusual mysteries and his partner is Dr. Watson.
What is your favorite mystery story or movie? Describe what it is about. Why do you like it? What do you like or dislike about mysteries?
Or you may write about a real mystery, or unsolved mystery, you’ve heard about. How would you try to solve it?
69. Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei dies in Italy on January 8, 1642, at age 77. Born February 15, 1564, Galileo has been referred to as the "father of modern astronomy," the "father of modern physics" and the "father of science" due to his revolutionary discoveries. The first person to use a telescope to observe the skies, Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, sunspots and the solar rotation.
What do you predict will be the next big discovery in space exploration? Why?
70. On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations was founded. Fifty nations entered into a worldwide movement toward peace and cooperation. It was dissolved in 1946 and replaced by the United Nations.
Write about what you can do to promote world peace. What can you do now? What will you be able to do when you are an adult? Is this something important to you? Why or why not?
71. January 12th is St. Knute’s Day in Sweden. Nine centuries ago King Knute said that the Christmas season should last 20 days–from Christmas Day to January 13. Today Swedes have Julgransplundring or “Plundertime.” They take down the Christmas tree and celebrate by dancing and eating cookie ornaments.
How does your family celebrate the end of a holiday season? Which holiday is the biggest, most important, or most fun at your home? Why?
72. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He was a civil rights leader, minister, and an author. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In 1955-56 he led a boycott of Montgomery, Alabama’s segregated buses; within a year the buses were integrated. In 1957, he organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to promote civil rights. He made numerous speeches throughout his lifetime, including his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was assassinated in Memphis April 4, 1968. He was only 39 years old. We honor his birthday as a national holiday on the third Monday of January each year.
Dr. King worked for peace through nonviolent means. What are your views on violence? Do you think violence is always wrong? Or do you think there are times when violence is necessary or right? Be specific.
73. January 17th marked the birthday of Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. He was born in 1942 in Louisville, KY. He started boxing when he was 12 years old and won an Olympic Gold Medal when he was 18. Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali in the late 1960s. He won three world championships before he retired from boxing in the 1980s. Since then, he’s become concerned with human rights. In the late 1990s he said, “My most important job now is trying to teach people to treat each other with dignity and respect.”
Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali because he felt like he had changed as a person. How was your name chosen for you? Are you named after someone? Do you think your name fits you? If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be? Explain why you would choose that name.
74. January 20th: This date in history has been an important one in American public life. Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan all officially became President of the U.S. on this day. As part of the inauguration ceremony, the new president must “swear an oath.” They promise to do their best to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Oaths, or promises, aren’t just for presidents. All new citizens must swear an oath. Some school organizations and scout groups have oaths. Have you ever sworn an oath or made a promise? What was it? Did you do what you said you would do? Write about it.
75. January 24th begins the Alacitis Fair, an annual three-day celebration held by the Aymara Indians of Bolivia. It is in honor of Ekeko, their god of prosperity. Ekeko is pictured as a little man with a big belly, an open mouth, and arms spread out wide. He carries an empty pack on his back. During the fair, the Aymaras carry statues and dolls of Ekeko and put miniature versions of food, clothing, and other items they would like to have in Ekeko’s pack. They believe if they do this, the god will bring them the real things.
What things would you put in Ekeko’s pack if you went to the fair? Write about at least four things you’d like to have. Why would you choose these things?
76. January 28th: marks the anniversary of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. At 11:39 a.m. EST, the shuttle was 74 seconds into its flight and about 10 miles above Earth when it exploded. All seven crew members were killed, including teacher Christa McAuliffe–the first ordinary citizen in space.
Do you think it’s important for people to travel into space? Why or why not? Have you ever thought of being part of the space program? If so, what would you like to do? If not, why not?
77. January 29th will mark the anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which was established Jan. 29, 1936. The first five men named to the Hall of Fame were Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth. Since then, over 200 players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Baseball has become a sport enjoyed all over the world. Do you have a favorite baseball team? Why do you like this team? Who are your favorite players and why? If you don’t follow baseball, what is a sport or activity you enjoy watching and/or participating in? Why do you like it?
78. If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do? Where would you go...who would you see?
February
79. On Feb. 1, 1709, Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued after spending almost five years alone on a deserted island. He had asked to be left there in September of 1704 after an argument with the ship’s captain. His adventures led Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe.
Imagine you are going to be alone on an island for one year. Food, clothing, and shelter will be provided for you; however, you are allowed to take five things with you. List the five items you would choose and why you would take each one.
80. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is published on February 1, 1884. It is considered the most comprehensive and accurate dictionary of the English language. Today, the OED is the definitive authority on the meaning, pronunciation and history of over half a million words, past and present.
How often do you use a dictionary (whether it is online or in traditional book format)? How would you find the meaning of words you don’t know if there wasn’t a dictionary? Explain, in your opinion, the usefulness of a dictionary.
81. February 2nd is Groundhog Day, or known in Pennsylvania as Candlemas Day. The tradition is to search for a groundhog named “Punxsutawney Phil,” who is supposedly the King of the Weather Prophets. This custom dates back to earlier Candlemas Days when people searched for European hedgehogs. Since there were none in New England, the German settlers there searched for groundhogs instead.
When the groundhog comes out of hibernation and sees his shadow, he retreats back into his hole for six more weeks of winter.
How can you tell when spring is almost here? Describe the clues you can see, smell, hear, and touch. What do you like best about spring? What do you like the least? Why?
82. The first Facebook website (called The Facebook) was launched on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg. He was a student at Harvard University and was not pleased with the college’s “face book” social networking site for students. In less than ten years, the site has become the number one social marketing website and has made Zuckerberg a multi-millionaire.
Do you have a Facebook page (or something similar like MySpace or Tumblr)? If so, how often do you use it? Could you live without it? Why or why not? If you don’t have one, write about why you don’t.
83. On February 7, 1827, people at the Bowery Theater in New York City watched, entranced, as willowy dancers jumped and turned to music. Some ladies in the audience were so shocked by the “light and scanty” attire of the dancers that they left the theater. But the many people who remained witnessed mademoiselle Francisquy Hutin and her troupe perform the first ballet ever seen in the United States.
What is your favorite kind of dance? Disco? Salsa? Tap? Moshing? Line dancing? Have you ever taken dance lessons? How do you feel when you are dancing? Are you comfortable or not? Explain.
84. The United States National Weather Service was established on February 9th in 1870. It is part of our government and its purpose is to observe and forecast the weather. They utilize over 300 full-time weather stations to collect and analyze information to come up with the most accurate weather facts and predictions.
In 1890 Charles Dudley (though some attribute the quote to Mark Twain) said, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” How has the weather impacted an event in your life or even your daily activities? Can you remember a tragic weather-related disaster you witnessed (such as a tornado), or do you have a funny weather-related story to share?
85. Nelson Mandela, a lawyer, advocated protesting apartheid (South Africa’s system of white supremacy and racial segregation) in nonviolent ways. He was imprisoned for his beliefs and actions and was given a life sentence for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. On February 11th in 1990, Mandela walked out of prison a free man after more than 27 years. He went on to lead the African National Congress in talks with the South African government to end apartheid and give all races a voice in politics. In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994 he was elected South Africa’s first black president in the country’s first free elections.
How would you feel if you did not have the right to vote based on the color of your skin? Would you feel as though you had any say in the law-making process? Why do you think it takes nations so long to grant equal rights to all citizens? Do we have equal rights in the U.S.? In what ways are laws (or rules) still not “equal”?
86. February 14th: Nobody seems to know the real beginnings of Valentine’s Day. Some say it was started to honor two beheaded martyrs, each supposedly named Valentine. Others say it had nothing to do with the martyrs, but was thought to be the day birds chose their mates. Still others claim it began with Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival. Today it is the most widely observed unofficial holiday in the world. It’s celebrated with cards, gifts, flowers, and candy.
Write about how you will (or have in the past) celebrate Valentine’s Day. Do you send cards, buy gifts, give candy, etc.? What, if anything, do you hope to receive today? Can you recall your favorite Valentine’s Day? What made it so memorable?
87. Tutankhamen was only 8 or 9 years old when he became king of Egypt. As king, he worked to preserve the old ways and build new temples. He died before he was 20 years old, around 1325 B.C. More than 3,000 years later, British explorers found his tomb. On Feb. 16, 1923, King Tut’s burial chamber was opened. Along with his mummy, they found jewels, statues, and other ancient Egyptian artifacts.
What would it be like to be king or queen at such a young age? What would you do all day? Could you play like a normal 8-year-old, or would you act like an adult? Would you want to be a ruler at that age? Why or why not?
88. February 20th marks the anniversary of the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. John Glenn circled the planet three times in his space capsule before landing safely in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 20, 1962. On Oct.. 29, 1998, Glenn went into space again and circled Earth 134 times in the space shuttle Discovery before returning. He was 77 years old during his second mission, making him the oldest person to go into space.
Going into space takes a lot of courage. Write about courage. It may be something you did that was courageous or something someone else did that took courage.
89. William Barber, as a Marine lieutenant in World War II, Barber witnessed one of the most famous moments in U.S. history-the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. Barber, who received the Silver Star for valor on Iwo and would later earn the Medal of Honor for his service in Korea, recalled the moment when American soldiers planted the flag on the summit of Mount Suribachi: "Somebody said, 'There's the flag.' We looked back and saw it. There is no way to describe what it meant to us." Sixty-one hundred Americans and 22,000 Japanese were killed in the 36-day battle for Iwo.
How do you feel when you see the nation’s flag? What does it symbolize to you? Have you had anyone in your family serve in the military? What does it mean to you?
90. Emma Hart Willard (born on Feb. 24, 1787) worked to give girls the same educational opportunities that boys had. In her ideal school for girls, students would study philosophy and science along with music and dancing. To test her “wild notion’ that girls could learn complex subjects, she opened a school called Waterford Academy for Young Ladies, which later became the Emma Willard school. She also helped found a teachers’ training school for girls in Athens, Greece.
Because of her efforts, many girls were introduced to ideas that used to be “just for boys.” She died on April 15, 1870.
Think of a teacher you appreciate–someone who made a difference in the classroom and maybe in your life. This person could be a teacher from past years or this year. Write a thank you note to them or just a “hello” as your journal entry. (If you would like to send it (or give it) to that teacher, I will make a copy of your journal entry and send it or give to you to send.)
91. On February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay shocks the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout. Liston, who had twice demolished former champ Floyd Patterson in one round, was an 8-to-1 favorite. However, Clay predicted victory, boasting that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" and knock out Liston in the eighth round.
A crowd of 8,300 spectators gathered at the Convention Hall arena in Miami Beach to see if Cassius Clay, who was nicknamed the "Louisville Lip," could put his money where his mouth was. The underdog proved no bragging fraud, and he danced and backpedaled away from Liston's powerful swings while delivering quick and punishing jabs to Liston's head.
That night, Clay met with his friend Malcolm X, leader of the African American Muslim group known as Nation of Islam at a party. Two days later, he joined the Nation of Islam. Later that year, Clay, who was the descendant of a runaway Kentucky slave, rejected the name originally given to his family by a slave owner and took the Muslim name of Muhammad Ali. Ali would go on to become one of the greatest sports figures in the 20th century.
Have you ever thought about changing your name? Are you named after anyone in particular? Do you like your name? Why or why not?
92. On February 29, 1916, South Carolina raises the minimum working age for factory, mill, and mine workers from twelve to fourteen years old. The U.S. Department of Labor, in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), set the minimum age for employment at 14 years of age and limits the number of hours worked to 40 per week in a non-school week for 14-15 year-olds.
Exceptions include agricultural work, which allows minors 12 years of age and up (or no age restriction if it is for a parent on a family farm), any involving operation or assistance of a motorized vehicle is prohibited for minors under the age of 17, and any occupation deemed hazardous is prohibited for anyone under the age of 18. Also, work done for your parents, newspaper delivery, and babysitting is exempt from the Department’s labor laws.
Do you work for your parents or for an employer when you aren’t in school? Describe your job(s). Do you agree with the labor laws or do you think there should be more or fewer restrictions? Explain.
93. Although most years of the modern calendar have 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added on February 29th to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position.
Do you know anyone who has a birthday on February 29th? How many times have they actually been able to celebrate their birthday on February 29th? Would you like to have your birthday on leap day? Why or why not?
94. The Peace Corps was established on March 1st in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order for its existence. Since then, more than 150,000 volunteers have been sent to 134 countries to assist the developing nations with projects such as water sanitation, agriculture, and nutrition.
If you were to volunteer with the Peace Corps, what skill could you teach to people in a foreign country? (I know you have a talent for something!) How would learning that skill benefit the people?
95. The month of March is “Music in Our Schools Month.” Music was made part of the curriculum in American public schools starting in 1938. However, because of the lack of state and federal funding for schools, many districts have to make cuts and the arts are one of the first departments to be cut.
Do you think it is important to have music, art, and industrial arts in our curriculum at our school? Why or why not? Would you like to see more classes offered, such as specialized music classes (how about The History of Rock-n-Roll?) or specific art courses (Air Brushing 101)? How does music (and art) enhance and/or enrich our lives?
96. On March 2, 1904, Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children's books as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, is born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Geisel, who used his middle name (which was also his mother's maiden name) as his pen name, wrote 48 books--including some for adults--that have sold well over 200 million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Seuss books are known for their whimsical rhymes and quirky characters, which have names like the Lorax and the Sneetches and live in places like Hooterville.
Geisel's first bestseller, "The Cat in the Hat," was published in 1957. The story of a mischievous cat in a tall striped hat came about after his publisher asked him to produce a book using 220 new-reader vocabulary words that could serve as an entertaining alternative to the school reading primers children found boring.
Some Dr. Seuss books tackled serious themes. "The Butter Battle Book" (1984) was about the arms buildup and nuclear war threat during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. "Lorax" (1971) dealt with the environment.
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? Why? Do you remember any celebrations of Dr. Seuss’s birthday in elementary school? Describe your most memorable. If you do not have a favorite book or memory, make a list of non-sensical words in honor of Dr. Seuss. Make sure to give the meaning of each word.
97. The Hula-Hoop earned its patent on March 5, 1963. The hip-swiveling toy became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958. It is patented by the company's co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. An estimated 25 million Hula-Hoops were sold in its first four months of production alone.
Have you ever used or owned a hula-hoop? Do you like it? Why or why not? What was your favorite toy as a child? Describe it and describe why you liked it.
98. In the year 2000, a new company called Napster created something of a music-fan's utopia—a world in which nearly every song ever recorded was instantly available on your home computer—for free. Even to some at the time, it sounded too good to be true, and in the end, it was. The fantasy world that Napster created came crashing down in 2001 in the face of multiple copyright-violation lawsuits (most notable, those brought forth by Metallica and Dr. Dre for “vicarious copyright infringement”). Napster, Inc. began its “death spiral” on March 6, 2001, when it began complying with a Federal court order to block the transfer of copyrighted material over its peer-to-peer network. Within three months, the website was completely dismantled.
At the peak of Napster's popularity in late 2000 and early 2001, some 60 million users around the world were freely exchanging digital mp3 files with the help of the program developed by Northeastern University college student Shawn Fanning in the summer of 1999.
How do you feel about websites that illegally post music, movies, and documents for free download? Have you ever downloaded something for free that you know was infringing on the owner’s copyright? Why or why not? How would you feel if you spent your lifetime creating something (a novel, a song, a software program, a movie) and you relied on the sales to cover the expense of making it, only to find it for free download on a bootleg site? What would you do?
99. March 7th is the birthday of auto racer Janet Guthrie, born in 1938. In 1977, she became the first woman to ever qualify and compete in the Indianapolis 500. Many were opposed to a woman racing, and some men refused to participate in the races with her. She stuck it out and qualified again in 1978, finishing in ninth place.
Write about a time when you were told you couldn’t do something because of your gender, race, height, weight, age, etc. How did you feel? If this has never happened to you (first, be thankful), write about how it might feel.
100. March 10th is the anniversary of the first telephone call. It was made by Alexander Graham Bell on March 10, 1876. He called his assistant–Thomas Watson–in the next room. The first cross-continental telephone conversation occurred Jan. 25, 1915 when Bell called Watson again. Bell was in New York, Watson was in San Francisco. On Sept. 25, 1956, the first transatlantic telephone cable went into operation.
How would your life change if you had no telephone (includes cell phones!) access? How would you communicate with friends (forget e-mail...internet started over the phone lines and doesn’t count, either!)? How would your relationships change if you could not communicate via phone or computer?
2. On September 2nd, 1969, America's first automatic teller machine (ATM) makes its public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. ATMs went on to revolutionize the banking industry, eliminating the need to visit a bank to conduct basic financial transactions. The busiest day for ATM usage world-wide is on Fridays.
Do you have a bank account? Have you ever used an ATM machine? Have your parents? Imagine a world without ATMs (and debit cards, as well). What would you do if you needed cash from your account? Consider the hours most banks are open; would it be convenient for you to go inside the bank for every withdrawal you needed? Why or why not?
3. The first time Labor Day was observed in the United States was Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland made the first Monday in September the official Labor Day, a national holiday.
Labor Day marks the beginning of the school year for many students. How do you feel about school so far this year? What are you looking forward to? What are you NOT looking forward to? Explain.
4. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day–a day to honor your grandparents.
Write about one of your grandparents and tell what he or she is (or was) like. Imagine what growing up was like for your grandparent. (If you did not know your grandparents, write about what they might have been like, what they may have done for fun, etc.)
5. On September 6, 1995, baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr., broke Lou Gehrig’s iron man record by playing in his 2,131st straight game. Ripken played in an additional 501 straight games over the next three years, and his streak ended at 2,632 games when he voluntarily removed his name from the lineup for the final Orioles home game of the 1998 season. Ripken later stated that he decided to end the streak at the end of the season to avoid any off-season controversy about his playing status, and to end the streak entirely on his own terms while he still could.
What does it take to have this kind of stamina, especially in a field where an injury is quite possible? How long have you gone without missing a day of school? Would you be able to go to school or work this many days without missing? Why or why not?
6. Anna Mary Robertson Moses was born on September 7 in 1870. She became a famous painter, even though she didn’t begin painting until she was 78. On her 100th birthday, Sept. 7 was officially named Grandma Moses Day. Grandma Moses died when she was a little over 101 years old. Most of her paintings are of farm scenes.
Is there anything you wish you had learned to do or done when you were younger? What kept you from learning or doing this thing? Do you have any plans to learn or do it now, or when you’re older?
7. The folks at Wellcat.com deemed September 9th “Wonderful Weirdos Day.” As they state on their website: “All of us are blessed with one or two wonderful weirdos in our lives. These are the folks who remind us to think outside the box, to be a little more true to ourselves. Today's the day to thank them. So give them a hug, and say ‘I love you, you weirdo!’”
After being asked how she compares to Lady Gaga, rapper Nicki Minaj said in a BBook.com interview February 23, 2011, “We both do the awkward, non-pretty thing. What we’re saying - what I’m saying, anyway - is that it’s okay to be weird. And maybe your weird is my normal. Who’s to say? I think it’s an attitude we both share.”
Write about someone you appreciate for doing things differently. This could be a celebrity, sports figure, or a close friend or family member. Maybe this person is you. What makes this person different? How have they influenced you? If you cannot think of anyone, write about someone like Minaj, Lady Gaga, Madonna, or Marilyn Manson, who all dared to be different.
8. On September 9th, 1893, Frances Folsom Cleveland, the wife of President Grover Cleveland, gives birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House. Mrs. Cleveland, who was 27 years younger than the President, was one of the most popular First Ladies in history, mainly for her good looks and unaffected charm. The two married in 1886 when 49-year-old Cleveland was President and Frances was 21 years old, making her the youngest First Lady in history.
Do you think a single person could be elected today? Would the public accept a 27-year-age-gap relationship for its highest public official? Why or why not? If not, why do you think the public was accepting of this in the 1800s, but not today? Have we gone backward in tolerance or raised the standards for people in the public eye? Do you think the personal life of an elected official affects their performance of their job? Do we hold this standard for everyone? Should people lose their jobs if their personal life is not “acceptable” to others? Explain your feelings.
9. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States is a day those who witnessed it will never forget. Because of the timing of the event, many Americans watched the event on live television. the coordinated airline hijackings resulted in assaults on the New York City World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon and the attempt on Washington, D.C.--which ended in a Pennsylvania field--led to vast changes in government and spurred the nation to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not counting the suicidal Al Qaeda assailants, 2,973 people were killed that day.
President Obama declared September 11th a National Day of Service and Remembrance for all 50 States in 2009. How do you think Americans should honor this holiday? What types of service projects, activities, or programs would best honor this day and those who lost their lives?
10. Jesse Owens was born on Sept. 12 in 1913. A great athlete, he set 11 world records in track and field and won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Because Owens was black, Adolf Hitler wasn’t very happy about his victories. Owens died in 1980.
Write about a person whose accomplishments you admire. This can be an athlete, a parent, a friend, a teacher–anyone you choose. Tell what the person has done and why you admire her or him.
11. September 16 marked the anniversary of the day the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, in 1620. The ship had 102 passengers and a small crew. Many people on board wondered whether they would ever reach the New World and if they had made the right decision. Despite rough waters and heavy storms, the boat reached Provincetown, Massachusetts on Nov. 21. Write about something you didn’t think you could do, but did it anyway. Tell how you felt afterward.
12. The third Tuesday in September is “International Day of Peace.” Regular sessions of the United Nations General Assembly begin each year on this day.
If you could single-handedly bring peace to the world, what would you do? When you visualize world peace, what do you see? Many people believe peace is possible now–do you agree or disagree? What would have to be done before we could achieve world peace?
13. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey launches her influential Book Club on September 17th, 1996 with The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard as her first selection. Oprah’s Book Club quickly became a hugely influential force in the publishing world, with the popular TV host’s endorsement capable of catapulting a previously little-known book onto best-seller lists.
As The New York Times noted: "Winfrey's project—recommending books, even challenging literary novels, for viewers to read in advance of discussions on her talk show—initially provoked considerable skepticism in the literary world.” However, the club proved to be a hit with Winfrey’s legions of fans, and many of her picks sold over 1 million copies. (She earned no money from book sales.) Winfrey’s ability to turn not just books but almost any product or person she recommended into a phenomenon came to be known as the "Oprah Effect.”
By the final season of Winfrey’s TV show,” in 2011, more than 60 titles had been chosen for Oprah’s Book Club. Whether people will admit it or not, Oprah’s Book Club helped spur renewed interest in literature, with the general public embracing new and classic titles.
The success of Oprah’s endorsement is largely due in part because she read the books and talked about them on her show. It’s not always evident with celebrity endorsements whether the product or service is being used by that person. Which celebrities have endorsed a product or service that you have purchased or wanted to purchase? Or which ones would you not trust? Is there a product or service you love that you’d like to see a famous person endorse? Explain.
14. On September 19, 1973, 26-year-old country-rock musician Gram Parsons dies of "multiple drug use" (morphine and tequila) in a California motel room. His death inspired one of the more bizarre automobile-related crimes on record: Two of his friends stashed his body in a borrowed hearse and drove it into the middle of the Joshua Tree National Park, where they doused it with gasoline and set it on fire.
While attending a friend’s funeral a few months earlier, Parsons made a pact with his road manager Phil Kaufman: If anything should happen to one of them, the other would take his body to Joshua Tree and cremate it. Kaufman and another man had to steal his body from the LA airport (it was being flown to Louisiana for burial) in order to follow through with the pact. Since stealing bodies was not actually a crime in California, they were fined $300 each, plus $750 for the ruined coffin.
Have you ever made a pact with another person? Write about the pact and whether either of you followed through (or if it is still in tact). If not, write about a pact you would like to make with someone. Do you think both will honor the pact?
15. President Abraham Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which sets a date for the freedom of more than 3 million black slaves in the United States and recasts the Civil War as a fight against slavery on September 22, 1862. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation, which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebel states "are, and henceforward shall be free."
The proclamation was a presidential order and not a law passed by Congress, so Lincoln then pushed for an antislavery amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ensure its permanence. With the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, slavery was eliminated throughout America (although blacks would face another century of struggle before they truly began to gain equal rights).
The preliminary draft is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., but the final draft was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Have you ever had something irreplaceable destroyed (whether it be in a fire, flooding, a younger sibling or pet destroyed, etc.)? How did it feel losing this item that you treasured? If you haven’t, imagine what it would feel like if you lost a special artifact. What item today, in your opinion, would be the greatest loss to the general public if it were destroyed? Why?
16. On September 25, 1930, poet Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois. He wrote numerous works of poetry, books, and song lyrics, including several that Johnny Cash performed. One thing he was particular about was the way his work was printed. He insisted on the style and size of fonts used, the weight and quality of the paper used, and did not want his books to be published in paperback, as they would lose that high quality.
Are you particular about what kind of fonts you use or how your typed work looks? If you were to publish a book today, how would you want it to look? What would be on the cover? What would it be about?
17. If you could spend an entire day with someone–alive or dead–who would it be? What would you do with that person, what would you talk about, and what would you learn from that person?
18. September 28 marks the day Confucius was born in 551 B.C. He was born in Taiwan and was a teacher for more than 40 years. He died at the age of 72. People all over the world still respect and follow his sayings and teachings. In Taiwan Sept. 28 is Teacher’s Day in honor of Confucius.
Describe the “ideal” teacher. What would she or he be like? What would her or his classroom be like? You may also write about a teacher you respect–what is it that you like, respect, or admire about that particular teacher? Does it matter what subject they teach? Explain.
19. Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, usually occurs in September each year. This is one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar. On this holiday some Jewish people eat apples dipped in honey as a symbol of their wish for a sweet new year. Some people walk to flowing water (like a river or creek) and empty their pockets into the water to show they are getting rid of their wrongs from the past year.
Make a list of some of the things you carry with you in your pockets, book bag, back pack, purse, etc. Why do you have these things? What do you think these things say about you?
20. October 2 is Gandhi Jayanti, a public holiday in India to honor the birthday of spiritual and political leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in 1869. He was given the name Mahatma, which means “great souled.” Gandhi promoted the use of passive resistance–taking a stand against something without using violence–as a protest method. He was assassinated Jan. 30, 1948.
Describe the last time you resisted something. What did you resist, and how did you resist it? What happened next?
21. In baseball, the "Shot Heard 'round the World" is the term given to the game-ending home run hit by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds to win the National League pennant on October 3, 1951. Thomson’s homer wrapped up an amazing come-from-behind run for the Giants and knocked the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Giants’ hated inter-borough rivals, out of their spot in the World Series. It is one of the most famous moments in Major League Baseball history.
The Giants weren’t even supposed to be in the pennant race--they were 13 1/2 games behind the legendary Dodgers by the middle of August, and everyone thought they were finished. But then they won 16 games in a row. By October, they’d won 37 of their last 44 games and had tied Brooklyn for the lead; a first-ever National League playoff was needed to break the tie.
What is the most memorable come-from-behind win for you? It could be in any sport or activity (like scholastic bowl), and any level. Perhaps it was in little league, or more recently in high school. Or it could be an event in the Olympics you remember. Describe how the underdog was able to come from behind for the win. If you can’t recall any, write about any underdog and how it would feel to win.
22. On October 5th, 1947, President Harry Truman (1884-1972) makes the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House, asking Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans. At the time of Truman's food-conservation speech, Europe was still recovering from World War II and suffering from famine. He asked farmers and distillers to reduce grain use and requested that the public voluntarily forgo meat on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays and save a slice of bread each day. The American public was used to rationing and making sacrifices during WWII, so this was not anything new to them.
Have you ever given up eating certain foods or drinks for a cause? If so, explain. If not, would you? Why or why not?
23. Flames spark October 8th, 1871, in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, igniting a 2-day blaze that kills between 200 and 300 people, destroys 17,450 buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes an estimated $200 million (in 1871 dollars; $3 billion in 2007 dollars) in damages. “Legend” has it that a cow kicked over a lantern in the O'Leary barn and started the fire, but other theories hold that humans or even a comet may have been responsible for the event that left four square miles of the Windy City, including its business district, in ruins. Dry weather and an abundance of wooden buildings, streets and sidewalks made Chicago vulnerable to fire.
The city recovered; reconstruction efforts began quickly and spurred great economic development and population growth, as architects laid the foundation for a modern city featuring the world's first skyscrapers. Mrs. O’Leary, however, did not. She was used as a scapegoat by Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Ahern, who admitted in 1893 that he had made up the story of a cow kicking over a lantern because he thought it would make colorful copy. Mrs. O’Leary turned into a recluse after the fire, overcome with sadness after being blamed by the public; she died in 1895, “heartbroken” according to her family members. In 1997, the Chicago City Council exonerated Mrs. O'Leary and her cow.
Journalists today have a responsibility to report the truth without bias. The Society of Professional Journalists has a Code of Ethics that cover four areas: seek truth and report it; minimize harm; act independently; and be accountable. The Code is not a required set of rules, but many newsrooms volunteer to embrace them.
How would you rate today’s media? Can you tell which newspapers/publications, radio, and TV broadcasts honor the Code and which ones do not? Write which ones you think do and which ones you suspect do not. If an organization or individual does not embrace this Code, what do you think their motives really are?
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was born on Oct. 11, 1884. Because of her many humanitarian pursuits, she was called the “First Lady of the World.” She was a delegate to the United Nations and a writer. In her book, This Is My Story, she wrote, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
What do you think Eleanor meant by those words? What do they mean to you? Have you ever been in a situation in which you felt inferior? Explain.
What is the best advice you have ever been given and by whom did you get the advice? Why has it been the best? What makes the advice helpful or good? What advice would you pass on to a friend, sibling, or classmate?
24. Columbus Day: At 2 a.m. on Oct. 12, 1492, Roderigo de Triana sighted land. He was a sailor on board the Piñta, one of three ships under the command of Christopher Columbus. Though Columbus was Italian, he claimed the land (the Bahamas) for Spain’s rulers King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I, who provided the funds he needed for his journey. Since 1971, Columbus Day has been celebrated on the Monday nearest Oct. 12.
Columbus was afraid of “sea monsters” and thought they would eat his boats and crews. Other sailors of his time also feared falling off the edge of the earth. Write about something you used to be afraid of but are not afraid of anymore. How did you overcome your fear?
25. The third Saturday in October is Sweetest Day. People who observe this day try to do a kind act or remember someone who has done a kind act. It began sometime in the 1940s in Cleveland, Ohio. A man started to spread cheer to sick, elderly, and orphaned people in that city by taking them gifts on the third Saturday in October. Since then, the idea behind Sweetest Day (“a thoughtful word or deed enriches life”) has caught on in other parts of the country. You, too, can celebrate this day tomorrow.
Write about a kind act that someone you know has done. (Maybe it’s something she or he did for you.)
26. U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. For years, many aviators believed that man was not meant to fly faster than the speed of sound, theorizing that transonic drag rise would tear any aircraft apart. That changed on October 14th, 1947, when Yeager flew an experimental X-1 rocket plane over Rogers Dry Lake in Southern California. The X-1 was lifted to an altitude of 25,000 feet by a B-29 aircraft and then released through the bomb bay, rocketing to 40,000 feet and exceeding 662 miles per hour (the sound barrier at that altitude). The rocket plane, nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis," was designed with thin, unswept wings and a streamlined fuselage modeled after a .50-caliber bullet.
Because it was a secret project, the achievement was not announced until June of 1948. How long could you keep a secret? If you were Yeager, knowing that you were the first person to achieve this amazing feat, would you be able to wait eight months before telling anyone? Why or why not?
27. October 18th is National Grouch Day. One of the biggest grouches in history was a man named William Claude Dukenfield. He was born in Philadelphia in 1879. He was famous for saying things like, “Anybody who hates children and dogs can’t be all bad,” and “I never met a kid I liked.” He had a big nose, wore a top hat, and talked out of the side of his mouth. He starred in many movies in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, including My Little Chickadee and Give a Sucker an Even Break. He was known as W.C. Fields.
Who is the grouchiest person you know? What kinds of grouchy things does he or she do? Are you ever grouchy? Why?
28. If you were the principal of our school, what changes would you make? What would you keep the same? Explain each in detail.
29. John Dewey was born on October 20, 1859, in Vermont. He was an American educator who disagreed with “rote” learning (memorization) and felt young people should “learn by doing.” He believed students should attend labs and workshop classes and learn practical things. He also felt classes and studies should be related to students’ own interests and problems. He died June 1, 1952.
How do you learn best? By listening, reading, watching, “doing”? Write about a time you learned something by “doing” it. (For example, you didn’t learn to ride a bike by looking at pictures in a book!)
30. October 25: On this day in 1971, Midori Goto was born in Osaka, Japan. She is a world-famous violinist who was invited to play with the New York Philharmonic when she was only 11 years old. She founded the organization Midori and Friends which helps bring music into the lives of children.
Midori often plays a beautiful-sounding violin that was constructed in 1734. Do you have something old that’s very special to you? Write about it. If you don’t have anything old, write about a newer possession that you can imagine keeping for a long time.
31. Theodore Roosevelt performed a number of presidential firsts. He was the first president to ride in a car, to go undersea in a submarine, and to fly in an airplane. The Teddy Bear is supposedly named after him, too. Roosevelt was born on October 27 in 1858 and died Jan. 6, 1919.
Have you ever been the first to do something or own something among your peers? If not, what would you like to be the first at having or doing? How would it make you feel to be the first one to try something new or accomplish a goal? Is it no big deal or pretty special? Explain.
32. If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose? Why?
33. Halloween is the last day in October and many kids will be dressed up in costumes, trick-or-treating, and going to haunted houses. Describe your favorite costume from the past. Or describe a costume you’d like to wear (or are currently wearing or have worn!) if you could be anyone or anything. Why would you choose this costume?
34. On November 1st, 1512, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo's finest works, is exhibited to the public for the first time. Michelangelo's epic ceiling frescoes, which took several years to complete, are among his most memorable works. Central in a complex system of decoration featuring numerous figures are nine panels devoted to biblical world history. The most famous of these is The Creation of Adam, a painting in which the arms of God and Adam are stretching toward each other.
Michelangelo worked until his death in 1564 at the age of 88. In addition to his major artistic works, he produced numerous other sculptures, frescoes, architectural designs, and drawings, many of which are unfinished and some of which are lost. In his lifetime, he was celebrated as Europe's greatest living artist, and today he is held up as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Who is your favorite artist or what is your favorite painting (or any work of art)? Why? If you cannot think of any, describe art or images that appeal to you. Why do they catch your attention, or why do you like those images?
35. Election Day is the first Tuesday in November. Do you think your political beliefs are similar to your parent’s, or do they differ? What hopes do you have for the future of our country?
36. On November 5, 2008, Barack Obama helped African-Americans break through the ultimate glass ceiling with his election to the White House as the 44th President of the United States. He was inaugurated as president on January 21, 2009.
How did you feel when Obama was elected? Are you surprised it took our country so long to elect an African-American as president? Why or why not? Do you think you will see a female president elected in your lifetime? Why or why not?
37. November 6 is the birthday of James Naismith, who was born in 1861 in Canada. In 1891 Dr. Naismith originated the game of basketball. In 1936 basketball became part of the Olympic Games. The National Basketball Association (NBA) was established in 1949. It’s said that Dr. Naismith created the game as a class assignment.
What is the most creative assignment a teacher ever gave you? You may think back to past years. Tell about the assignment and why you enjoyed doing it. If you can’t remember ever getting a creative assignment, write about an assignment you’d like to do someday.
38. Edmund Halley became a famous astronomer after he observed a comet in 1682. He studied many old records and predicted that the comet would return in the year 1758. Halley didn’t live to see his prediction come true–he died in 1742–but the comet was named after him anyway. Halley’s Comet did return in 1758 and continues to return about every 76 years. The first recorded appearance was in 240 B.C., and there have been 28 return appearances since then. Halley was born in London on November 7 in 1656.
There’s a good chance you’ll be alive when Halley’s Comet returns in the year 2062 (how old will you be?). Imagine that it’s 2062 now and you’re waiting to see the comet. What are you doing? Do you have a family, etc.? From where will you be watching the comet? Who will be with you?
39. On November 10, 1973, North Dakota newspapers report the burning of 36 copies of the book "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's book was a combination of real events and science fiction. His hero, Billy Pilgrim, was a World War II soldier who witnessed the firebombing of the city of Dresden. Vonnegut also witnessed the firebombing himself. Pilgrim becomes "unstuck in time" and thereafter lives a double existence: one on an alien planet that accepts its inevitable doom, and one on Earth, preaching the same philosophy. Some found the book's pessimistic outlook and dark humor unsuitable for school children. He was born November 11, 1922 and died April 11, 2007.
Do you think school children (which includes any student in school under the age of 18) are mature enough to read books with “pessimistic outlooks” or themes that may be depressing? Why or why not? Do you believe in book burning or book censorship? Explain.
40. Veteran’s Day: On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1919, a silent memorial was observed for the Armistice (truce) of World War I. This day used to be called Armistice Day; in 1954 it was renamed Veteran’s Day. From 1971-1978 it was observed on the fourth Monday of November. In 1978 it was changed back to Nov. 11. Some call Veteran’s Day Remembrance Day or Victory Day.
Remember someone. This person does not have to be a soldier but should be someone who is no longer around for one reason or another (moved away, passed away, etc.). Give the person’s name and why you remember him or her. Tell what made that person special to you.
41. November 12 is the birthday of gymnast Nadia Comaneci. She was born in Romania in 1961. When she was six years old, she caught the attention of a famous Romanian gymnastics coach, Bela Karlyni, who decided to teach her. Comaneci won all sorts of competitions, but her true dream was realized when she won three gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal at the 1976 Olympic Games. She was the first gymnast to receive a perfect score from the judges, earning a 10.00 on the uneven bars. Comaneci went on to compete in the 1980 Olympic Games, winning two individual gold medals. In 1989 she left Romania and came to the United States.
Some people dream about being “discovered.” What talent would you like to be discovered for? Who would you want to find you? What could happen once you were discovered?
42. On November 14, 1970, a chartered jet carrying most of the Marshall University football team clips a stand of trees and crashes into a hillside just two miles from the Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia. The team was returning from that day’s game, a 17-14 loss to East Carolina University. Thirty-seven Marshall football players were aboard the plane, along with the team’s coach, its doctors, the university athletic director and 25 team boosters--some of Huntington, West Virginia’s most prominent citizens--who had traveled to North Carolina to cheer on the Thundering Herd. "The whole fabric," a citizen of Huntington wrote later, "the whole heart of the town was aboard."
Imagine you are one of the nine players who were not on the plane. How would you feel? How would you cope with the loss of all your teammates and coaches? Have you ever experienced a loss of a loved one? How did you cope with your sorrow.
43. It was major news indeed when an unknown 25-year-old led the nation's most important symphony orchestra in a Carnegie Hall concert broadcast live to a radio audience in the millions on November 15, 1943. For The New York Times, it was a story worthy of front-page coverage: "Young Aide Leads Philharmonic, Steps In When Bruno Walter Is Ill," read the headline. That fill-in happened to be Leonard Bernstein.
By the time he took over as principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic in 1957, he had already written music for On The Town, Candide and West Side Story, among many other works for stage and orchestra. West Side Story, a modern-day Romeo and Juliet tragedy, featuring two people who fall in love, but are kept apart by their families and friends.
Have you ever been told not to befriend someone because a friend or family member did not approve? Explain. Or, have you ever told someone not to befriend someone because you didn’t approve? If neither applies to you, explain what you would do if someone close to you told you you could no longer associate with your best friend or love interest. Would you comply? Or would you still try to see that person? Why or why not?
44. On November 18 in 1928, Mickey Mouse made his first on-screen appearance. He starred in a Walt Disney film called Steamboat Willie that was shown at the Colony Theatre in New York City. Steamboat Willie was the first talking animated cartoon picture.
Write about your favorite animated cartoon. It can be one you saw in a movie theater, or one you watched on TV. Give the names of the characters, describe things that happened, and tell why this cartoon is your favorite.
45. Brazilian soccer great Pele scores his 1,000th professional goal in a game on November 19, 1969, against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium. It was a major milestone in an illustrious career that included three World Cup championship.
Pele, considered one of the greatest soccer players ever to take the field, was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Tres Coracos, Brazil, in 1940. Although just five feet eight inches tall, he was a giant on the field, leading Santos to three national club championships, two South American championships, and the world club title in 1963. Under Pele's leadership, Brazil won the World Cup in 1958, 1962, and 1970. Pele announced his retirement in 1974 but in 1975 accepted a $7 million contract to play with the New York Cosmos. He led the Cosmos to a league championship in 1977 and did much to promote soccer in the United States. On October 1, 1977, in Giants Stadium, he played his last professional game in a Cosmos match against his old team Santos.
Did you play soccer as a child? Describe the experience. If not, have you ever watched a soccer match? Do you like soccer? Why or why not?
46. President John F. Kennedy, the youngest man ever to hold the office of the President, was assassinated November 22 in 1963. He was riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, when he was shot and killed. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and charged with the murder.
On November 24, two days later, Oswald was shot and killed by Dallas nightclub owner jack Ruby. Oswald was being moved from one holding area to another, and TV cameras were filming the transfer. Viewers all over the world saw Ruby shoot Oswald. Ruby was convicted of murder on March 14, 1964. He was sentenced to death but died of natural causes while waiting for a retrial on Jan. 3, 1967.
What do you think of live-action, on-the-scene TV reporting? Many believe that reporters don’t just record the news, they “make it happen.” For example, a demonstration may not begin until the cameras are there to cover it. Or people “act out” and do things on TV they wouldn’t normally do if cameras weren’t around. What are your feelings on this? Do you think much of what is seen on the news acted out or natural? Should reporters have control over the event? Is this real reporting or just entertaining your audience? Explain your reasons.
47. In 1789, President George Washington proclaimed that the first national Thanksgiving Day would be held on November 26. Meanwhile, the Protestant Episcopal Church announced the first Thursday in November would be a good time to give thanks each year. Most people ignored both dates until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proposed that Thanksgiving be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. Every year after that, for 75 years, presidents made formal proclamations following Lincoln’s lead. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving one week backward. He did it to help businesses during the Great Depression. People usually didn’t start their Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving, and Roosevelt’s change made the shopping season a week longer.List three things from this year you are thankful for. Tell about them and why you are thankful for them.
48. November 28, 1582, William Shakespeare, 18, and Anne Hathaway, 26, pay a 40-pound bond for their marriage license in Stratford-upon-Avon. Six months later, Anne gives birth to their daughter, Susanna, and two years later, to twins. Sometime after the birth of his own children, Shakespeare set off for London to become an actor and by 1592 was well established in London's theatrical world as an actor and playwright. His wife and children stayed in Stratford-Upon-Avon. He eventually returned to them after retiring from the theater in 1613.
Have you ever been separated from a parent or guardian for long periods of time? Write about your experience. If you haven’t, write about how it might have felt for Shakespeare’s children to be raised without really knowing their father.
49. Samuel Clemens, later known as Mark Twain, is born in Florida, Missouri, on November 30, 1835. Clemens was apprenticed to a printer at age 13 and later worked for his older brother, who established the Hannibal Journal. In 1857, the Keokuk Daily Post commissioned him to write a series of comic travel letters, but after writing five he decided to become a steamboat captain instead. He signed on as a pilot's apprentice in 1857 and received his pilot's license in 1859, when he was 23.
During his time as a pilot, he picked up the term "Mark Twain," a boatman's call noting that the river was only two fathoms deep, the minimum depth for safe navigation. When Clemens returned to writing in 1861, working for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, he wrote a humorous travel letter signed by "Mark Twain" and continued to use the pseudonym for nearly 50 years.
Imagine being the pilot of a steamboat on the Mississippi River back in the 1800s. What do you think life was like for a boatman?
50. December 1st marks the day that in 1955 Rosa Parks, a black seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, got on a bus to ride home from work. She was tired and her feet hurt, but there were no seats available at the back of the bus where the black people were supposed to sit. So she sat down in the front part of the bus. When a white man asked her to get up and move, she decided that her feet hurt too badly and refused to move. The bus driver drove the bus to the police station where she was arrested. This was the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Black people in Montgomery boycotted the buses for more than a year after her arrest. After the boycott, racial segregation on city buses was outlawed.
Pretend that you are Rosa Parks. You have worked all day and are tired. The law says you must sit in the back of the bus, but all the seats are taken. What would you do? Would you break the law? Why or why not?
51. The first week in December is Tolerance Week. The purpose of this week is to promote the importance of tolerance and acceptance of others. People who are tolerant accept other people’s different beliefs and ideas, even if they don’t agree with them. Write your own definition of tolerance. Do you think of yourself as a tolerant person? Why or why not? (Give examples)
52. On December 2nd, 2001, the Enron Corporation--an energy-trading company--files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court, sparking one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history. Under chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay, Enron rose as high as number seven on Fortune magazine's list of the top 500 U.S. companies. In 2000, the company employed 21,000 people and posted revenue of $111 billion. Over the next year, however, Enron's stock price began a dramatic slide, dropping from $90.75 in August 2000 to $0.26 by closing on November 30, 2001. As prices fell, Lay sold large amounts of his Enron stock, while simultaneously encouraging Enron employees to buy more shares and assuring them that the company was on the rebound.
Enron's collapse had cost investors billions of dollars, wiped out some 5,600 jobs and liquidated almost $2.1 billion in pension plans. “Street” crime, such as auto theft, robbery/burglary, assault, and rape cost Americans $21 billion annually. “White-collar” crime, such as the Enron scandal, costs Americans over $1 trillion annually. Do you think the punishment for the “white-collar” crimes should be as severe as the “street” crimes? Why or why not?
53. On December 6, 1933, a federal judge rules that "Ulysses" by James Joyce is not obscene. The book had been banned immediately in both the United States and England when it came out in 1922. Three years earlier, its serialization in an American review had been cut short by the U.S. Post Office for the same reason. Fortunately, one of James' supporters, Sylvia Beach, owner of the bookstore Shakespeare and Co. in Paris, published the novel herself in 1922. With its radical stream-of-consciousness narrative, Ulysses deeply influenced the development of the modern novel.
Joyce once said that he had "put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant", which would earn the novel "immortality". Do you like it when authors use symbolism, puns, parodies, and allusions in their writing? Why or why not?
54. At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack on December 7, 1941, struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.
The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.
The American contribution to the successful Allied war effort spanned four long years and cost more than 400,000 American lives.
Rankin was the first female to serve in the US Congress. Regarding her anti-war stance, she said, “As a woman, I can’t go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.” How do you feel about Rankin sticking to her moral beliefs, even though it likely cost her reelection? Would you have the courage to do what you believe is right, even if you stand alone? Explain.
55. If you could take only three people with you on a trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take? Why would you choose those particular people and destination?
56. Margaret Hamilton was born on December 9, 1902. Although she acted in over 70 films, she is known best for her role as the Wicked Witch of the west in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Hamilton wasn’t the first choice for that part. Originally, the witch was going to be a glamorous one, but when the studio changed the costume to an “ugly” witch, the first actress backed out. Hamilton didn’t care what makeup she was going to wear and took the part–and the rest, as they say, is history.
Would you play a part in a movie if you weren’t the “good guy”? Would you play an “ugly” character? Why or why not?
57. On December 10th, Nobel Prize Presentation Day is held in honor of Alfred Bernard Nobel, who died on December 10th, 1896. The awards for achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics are given in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nobel Peace prize is presented in Oslo, Norway. The winners each receive a gold medal and anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000. The first Nobel awards were given in 1901. Nobel had established a fund in his will, specifying that the awards must go to those individuals who have done the most to contribute to the good of humanity.
The Nobel Peace Prize may have been the result of a guilty conscience. Alfred Nobel invented dynamite in 1866, making him very rich. Later he had guilty feelings for creating something that caused injury and death; he hated the fact that dynamite–which he invented for peace–could be used in war.
Do you think that the Nobel Peace Prize makes up for the fact that he invented dynamite? Explain your answer. Or write a response to this question: Is it possible to “cancel out” bad with good? If yes, give an example you know about.
58. Michel de Notredame was born on December 14, 1503 in France. He was a physician, but he is known for writing predictions for the future in rhymed quatrains (a special type of poetry). He wrote under the name Nostradamus, the Latin spelling of Notredame. He died in 1566, but many of his predictions lived on after him. Some people today believe many of his predictions have come true; others think what he wrote could apply to just about anything.
Predict something. Anything. Tell what you think will happen, where you think it will happen, and who will be involved. It does not have to be a serious entry. Have fun with it!
59. The Aztecs lived in Mexico from the 14th to 16th century. They are best known for having created an elaborate empire that was destroyed by Spanish invaders. On December 17, 1790, long after the Aztecs were gone, workers discovered a huge decorative stone. The stone weighed almost 25 tons (50,000 lbs) and was probably carved in 1479. This stone, known as Aztec Calendar Stone, is considered to be one of the greatest discoveries in history. The center of the stone has a picture of Tonatiuh, the sun. Many pictures, some representing days, surround the sun in the center. It’s possible, even today, to find the correct date on the stone.
Think of something that is special to you. Examples may include something you collect, a diary or letter from someone, or a game or sporting good. If someone hundreds of years from now found your item(s), what could they learn about you? What would you want them to know about you? And finally, why is this item special to you?
60. According to www.Wellcat.com, December 21st is “Humbug Day.” The purpose is to “allow everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations. Twelve humbugs allowed.” So there you go! Write out 12 things that frustrate you and why.
61. Many ancient civilizations had precise calendars. One thing that all of them had in common was that their calendars ended on December 21, 2012 (the winter solstice). They believed on this date a shifting of the poles would take place (North becomes South, vice versa), which would produce mass flooding and destruction of life as we know it. The Mayans believed that those who respect nature & the earth will survive & those reliant on technology will not. They also believed the years leading up to this date would be a test whether we can survive because there would be many weather-related catastrophes produced by man’s neglect to nature (climate change/global warming effect).
How reliant are you on technology for survival? (I know you could literally live without your cell phone, even though you may think you would die without it.) For example, do you rely on medicine that is produced in a lab? Or would you be able to grow your own food and purify your own water in order to survive?
62. Why do you think we, as humans, have been slow to change our lifestyles in order to be more earth-friendly? What do YOU do, or what could you do, to help the environment?
63. If you could give a gift to anyone in the world, what would that gift be and to whom would you give it to? (By the way, money is no object.)
64. Approximately 123 nations in the world celebrate the New Year. It is a legal holiday in the U.S. and Canada. Many people make New Year’s resolutions–decisions to do or achieve certain things. Write at least three resolutions you’ll make for this year. If you can’t think of three things you need to work on, then make up three resolutions for a character from a book. Explain your resolutions.
65. President Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, setting a new national maximum speed limit on January 2, 1974. Prior to 1974, individual states set speed limits within their boundaries and highway speed limits across the country ranged from 40 mph to 80 mph. lowering all national highway speed limits to 55 mph. The act was intended to force Americans to drive at speeds deemed more fuel-efficient, thereby curbing the U.S. appetite for foreign oil. It was eventually repealed in 1995, with some states setting 75 to 80 mph limits on the open highway. The opposition believes the lower speed limits not only save gas, but save lives, as fewer fatalities occur at lower speeds.
What do you think the speed limit should be? Why?
66. Two years after British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen discovered the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen near Luxor, Egypt, they uncover the greatest treasure of the tomb--a stone sarcophagus containing a solid gold coffin that holds the mummy of Tutankhamen on January 3, 1924. The mummy was still preserved, even though it was over 3,000 years old.
While archeologists work to preserve the past and unlock mysteries to help us understand our history (and even learn from our mistakes), how do you feel about moving the remains of the dead? Do you believe there is a curse on those who disrupt the remains of the dead? Why or why not?
67. The tallest man-made structure to date (as of 2011), the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, officially opens January 4, 2010. see pic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Burj_Khalifa_building.jpg
What is the tallest building you’ve ever been inside? Did you go to the top? If you have not been in any tall structures, have you ever wanted to go to the top of one? Why or why not?
68. January 6th is the “birthday” of Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fictional detective is known for his powers of deduction–the ability to reach conclusions by logical reasoning. He’s famous for solving unusual mysteries and his partner is Dr. Watson.
What is your favorite mystery story or movie? Describe what it is about. Why do you like it? What do you like or dislike about mysteries?
Or you may write about a real mystery, or unsolved mystery, you’ve heard about. How would you try to solve it?
69. Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei dies in Italy on January 8, 1642, at age 77. Born February 15, 1564, Galileo has been referred to as the "father of modern astronomy," the "father of modern physics" and the "father of science" due to his revolutionary discoveries. The first person to use a telescope to observe the skies, Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, sunspots and the solar rotation.
What do you predict will be the next big discovery in space exploration? Why?
70. On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations was founded. Fifty nations entered into a worldwide movement toward peace and cooperation. It was dissolved in 1946 and replaced by the United Nations.
Write about what you can do to promote world peace. What can you do now? What will you be able to do when you are an adult? Is this something important to you? Why or why not?
71. January 12th is St. Knute’s Day in Sweden. Nine centuries ago King Knute said that the Christmas season should last 20 days–from Christmas Day to January 13. Today Swedes have Julgransplundring or “Plundertime.” They take down the Christmas tree and celebrate by dancing and eating cookie ornaments.
How does your family celebrate the end of a holiday season? Which holiday is the biggest, most important, or most fun at your home? Why?
72. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He was a civil rights leader, minister, and an author. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In 1955-56 he led a boycott of Montgomery, Alabama’s segregated buses; within a year the buses were integrated. In 1957, he organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to promote civil rights. He made numerous speeches throughout his lifetime, including his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was assassinated in Memphis April 4, 1968. He was only 39 years old. We honor his birthday as a national holiday on the third Monday of January each year.
Dr. King worked for peace through nonviolent means. What are your views on violence? Do you think violence is always wrong? Or do you think there are times when violence is necessary or right? Be specific.
73. January 17th marked the birthday of Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. He was born in 1942 in Louisville, KY. He started boxing when he was 12 years old and won an Olympic Gold Medal when he was 18. Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali in the late 1960s. He won three world championships before he retired from boxing in the 1980s. Since then, he’s become concerned with human rights. In the late 1990s he said, “My most important job now is trying to teach people to treat each other with dignity and respect.”
Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali because he felt like he had changed as a person. How was your name chosen for you? Are you named after someone? Do you think your name fits you? If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be? Explain why you would choose that name.
74. January 20th: This date in history has been an important one in American public life. Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan all officially became President of the U.S. on this day. As part of the inauguration ceremony, the new president must “swear an oath.” They promise to do their best to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Oaths, or promises, aren’t just for presidents. All new citizens must swear an oath. Some school organizations and scout groups have oaths. Have you ever sworn an oath or made a promise? What was it? Did you do what you said you would do? Write about it.
75. January 24th begins the Alacitis Fair, an annual three-day celebration held by the Aymara Indians of Bolivia. It is in honor of Ekeko, their god of prosperity. Ekeko is pictured as a little man with a big belly, an open mouth, and arms spread out wide. He carries an empty pack on his back. During the fair, the Aymaras carry statues and dolls of Ekeko and put miniature versions of food, clothing, and other items they would like to have in Ekeko’s pack. They believe if they do this, the god will bring them the real things.
What things would you put in Ekeko’s pack if you went to the fair? Write about at least four things you’d like to have. Why would you choose these things?
76. January 28th: marks the anniversary of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. At 11:39 a.m. EST, the shuttle was 74 seconds into its flight and about 10 miles above Earth when it exploded. All seven crew members were killed, including teacher Christa McAuliffe–the first ordinary citizen in space.
Do you think it’s important for people to travel into space? Why or why not? Have you ever thought of being part of the space program? If so, what would you like to do? If not, why not?
77. January 29th will mark the anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which was established Jan. 29, 1936. The first five men named to the Hall of Fame were Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth. Since then, over 200 players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Baseball has become a sport enjoyed all over the world. Do you have a favorite baseball team? Why do you like this team? Who are your favorite players and why? If you don’t follow baseball, what is a sport or activity you enjoy watching and/or participating in? Why do you like it?
78. If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do? Where would you go...who would you see?
February
79. On Feb. 1, 1709, Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued after spending almost five years alone on a deserted island. He had asked to be left there in September of 1704 after an argument with the ship’s captain. His adventures led Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe.
Imagine you are going to be alone on an island for one year. Food, clothing, and shelter will be provided for you; however, you are allowed to take five things with you. List the five items you would choose and why you would take each one.
80. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is published on February 1, 1884. It is considered the most comprehensive and accurate dictionary of the English language. Today, the OED is the definitive authority on the meaning, pronunciation and history of over half a million words, past and present.
How often do you use a dictionary (whether it is online or in traditional book format)? How would you find the meaning of words you don’t know if there wasn’t a dictionary? Explain, in your opinion, the usefulness of a dictionary.
81. February 2nd is Groundhog Day, or known in Pennsylvania as Candlemas Day. The tradition is to search for a groundhog named “Punxsutawney Phil,” who is supposedly the King of the Weather Prophets. This custom dates back to earlier Candlemas Days when people searched for European hedgehogs. Since there were none in New England, the German settlers there searched for groundhogs instead.
When the groundhog comes out of hibernation and sees his shadow, he retreats back into his hole for six more weeks of winter.
How can you tell when spring is almost here? Describe the clues you can see, smell, hear, and touch. What do you like best about spring? What do you like the least? Why?
82. The first Facebook website (called The Facebook) was launched on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg. He was a student at Harvard University and was not pleased with the college’s “face book” social networking site for students. In less than ten years, the site has become the number one social marketing website and has made Zuckerberg a multi-millionaire.
Do you have a Facebook page (or something similar like MySpace or Tumblr)? If so, how often do you use it? Could you live without it? Why or why not? If you don’t have one, write about why you don’t.
83. On February 7, 1827, people at the Bowery Theater in New York City watched, entranced, as willowy dancers jumped and turned to music. Some ladies in the audience were so shocked by the “light and scanty” attire of the dancers that they left the theater. But the many people who remained witnessed mademoiselle Francisquy Hutin and her troupe perform the first ballet ever seen in the United States.
What is your favorite kind of dance? Disco? Salsa? Tap? Moshing? Line dancing? Have you ever taken dance lessons? How do you feel when you are dancing? Are you comfortable or not? Explain.
84. The United States National Weather Service was established on February 9th in 1870. It is part of our government and its purpose is to observe and forecast the weather. They utilize over 300 full-time weather stations to collect and analyze information to come up with the most accurate weather facts and predictions.
In 1890 Charles Dudley (though some attribute the quote to Mark Twain) said, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” How has the weather impacted an event in your life or even your daily activities? Can you remember a tragic weather-related disaster you witnessed (such as a tornado), or do you have a funny weather-related story to share?
85. Nelson Mandela, a lawyer, advocated protesting apartheid (South Africa’s system of white supremacy and racial segregation) in nonviolent ways. He was imprisoned for his beliefs and actions and was given a life sentence for sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government. On February 11th in 1990, Mandela walked out of prison a free man after more than 27 years. He went on to lead the African National Congress in talks with the South African government to end apartheid and give all races a voice in politics. In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1994 he was elected South Africa’s first black president in the country’s first free elections.
How would you feel if you did not have the right to vote based on the color of your skin? Would you feel as though you had any say in the law-making process? Why do you think it takes nations so long to grant equal rights to all citizens? Do we have equal rights in the U.S.? In what ways are laws (or rules) still not “equal”?
86. February 14th: Nobody seems to know the real beginnings of Valentine’s Day. Some say it was started to honor two beheaded martyrs, each supposedly named Valentine. Others say it had nothing to do with the martyrs, but was thought to be the day birds chose their mates. Still others claim it began with Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival. Today it is the most widely observed unofficial holiday in the world. It’s celebrated with cards, gifts, flowers, and candy.
Write about how you will (or have in the past) celebrate Valentine’s Day. Do you send cards, buy gifts, give candy, etc.? What, if anything, do you hope to receive today? Can you recall your favorite Valentine’s Day? What made it so memorable?
87. Tutankhamen was only 8 or 9 years old when he became king of Egypt. As king, he worked to preserve the old ways and build new temples. He died before he was 20 years old, around 1325 B.C. More than 3,000 years later, British explorers found his tomb. On Feb. 16, 1923, King Tut’s burial chamber was opened. Along with his mummy, they found jewels, statues, and other ancient Egyptian artifacts.
What would it be like to be king or queen at such a young age? What would you do all day? Could you play like a normal 8-year-old, or would you act like an adult? Would you want to be a ruler at that age? Why or why not?
88. February 20th marks the anniversary of the first American astronaut to orbit Earth. John Glenn circled the planet three times in his space capsule before landing safely in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 20, 1962. On Oct.. 29, 1998, Glenn went into space again and circled Earth 134 times in the space shuttle Discovery before returning. He was 77 years old during his second mission, making him the oldest person to go into space.
Going into space takes a lot of courage. Write about courage. It may be something you did that was courageous or something someone else did that took courage.
89. William Barber, as a Marine lieutenant in World War II, Barber witnessed one of the most famous moments in U.S. history-the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. Barber, who received the Silver Star for valor on Iwo and would later earn the Medal of Honor for his service in Korea, recalled the moment when American soldiers planted the flag on the summit of Mount Suribachi: "Somebody said, 'There's the flag.' We looked back and saw it. There is no way to describe what it meant to us." Sixty-one hundred Americans and 22,000 Japanese were killed in the 36-day battle for Iwo.
How do you feel when you see the nation’s flag? What does it symbolize to you? Have you had anyone in your family serve in the military? What does it mean to you?
90. Emma Hart Willard (born on Feb. 24, 1787) worked to give girls the same educational opportunities that boys had. In her ideal school for girls, students would study philosophy and science along with music and dancing. To test her “wild notion’ that girls could learn complex subjects, she opened a school called Waterford Academy for Young Ladies, which later became the Emma Willard school. She also helped found a teachers’ training school for girls in Athens, Greece.
Because of her efforts, many girls were introduced to ideas that used to be “just for boys.” She died on April 15, 1870.
Think of a teacher you appreciate–someone who made a difference in the classroom and maybe in your life. This person could be a teacher from past years or this year. Write a thank you note to them or just a “hello” as your journal entry. (If you would like to send it (or give it) to that teacher, I will make a copy of your journal entry and send it or give to you to send.)
91. On February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay shocks the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout. Liston, who had twice demolished former champ Floyd Patterson in one round, was an 8-to-1 favorite. However, Clay predicted victory, boasting that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" and knock out Liston in the eighth round.
A crowd of 8,300 spectators gathered at the Convention Hall arena in Miami Beach to see if Cassius Clay, who was nicknamed the "Louisville Lip," could put his money where his mouth was. The underdog proved no bragging fraud, and he danced and backpedaled away from Liston's powerful swings while delivering quick and punishing jabs to Liston's head.
That night, Clay met with his friend Malcolm X, leader of the African American Muslim group known as Nation of Islam at a party. Two days later, he joined the Nation of Islam. Later that year, Clay, who was the descendant of a runaway Kentucky slave, rejected the name originally given to his family by a slave owner and took the Muslim name of Muhammad Ali. Ali would go on to become one of the greatest sports figures in the 20th century.
Have you ever thought about changing your name? Are you named after anyone in particular? Do you like your name? Why or why not?
92. On February 29, 1916, South Carolina raises the minimum working age for factory, mill, and mine workers from twelve to fourteen years old. The U.S. Department of Labor, in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), set the minimum age for employment at 14 years of age and limits the number of hours worked to 40 per week in a non-school week for 14-15 year-olds.
Exceptions include agricultural work, which allows minors 12 years of age and up (or no age restriction if it is for a parent on a family farm), any involving operation or assistance of a motorized vehicle is prohibited for minors under the age of 17, and any occupation deemed hazardous is prohibited for anyone under the age of 18. Also, work done for your parents, newspaper delivery, and babysitting is exempt from the Department’s labor laws.
Do you work for your parents or for an employer when you aren’t in school? Describe your job(s). Do you agree with the labor laws or do you think there should be more or fewer restrictions? Explain.
93. Although most years of the modern calendar have 365 days, a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added on February 29th to keep the count coordinated with the sun's apparent position.
Do you know anyone who has a birthday on February 29th? How many times have they actually been able to celebrate their birthday on February 29th? Would you like to have your birthday on leap day? Why or why not?
94. The Peace Corps was established on March 1st in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order for its existence. Since then, more than 150,000 volunteers have been sent to 134 countries to assist the developing nations with projects such as water sanitation, agriculture, and nutrition.
If you were to volunteer with the Peace Corps, what skill could you teach to people in a foreign country? (I know you have a talent for something!) How would learning that skill benefit the people?
95. The month of March is “Music in Our Schools Month.” Music was made part of the curriculum in American public schools starting in 1938. However, because of the lack of state and federal funding for schools, many districts have to make cuts and the arts are one of the first departments to be cut.
Do you think it is important to have music, art, and industrial arts in our curriculum at our school? Why or why not? Would you like to see more classes offered, such as specialized music classes (how about The History of Rock-n-Roll?) or specific art courses (Air Brushing 101)? How does music (and art) enhance and/or enrich our lives?
96. On March 2, 1904, Theodor Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children's books as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, is born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Geisel, who used his middle name (which was also his mother's maiden name) as his pen name, wrote 48 books--including some for adults--that have sold well over 200 million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Seuss books are known for their whimsical rhymes and quirky characters, which have names like the Lorax and the Sneetches and live in places like Hooterville.
Geisel's first bestseller, "The Cat in the Hat," was published in 1957. The story of a mischievous cat in a tall striped hat came about after his publisher asked him to produce a book using 220 new-reader vocabulary words that could serve as an entertaining alternative to the school reading primers children found boring.
Some Dr. Seuss books tackled serious themes. "The Butter Battle Book" (1984) was about the arms buildup and nuclear war threat during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. "Lorax" (1971) dealt with the environment.
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? Why? Do you remember any celebrations of Dr. Seuss’s birthday in elementary school? Describe your most memorable. If you do not have a favorite book or memory, make a list of non-sensical words in honor of Dr. Seuss. Make sure to give the meaning of each word.
97. The Hula-Hoop earned its patent on March 5, 1963. The hip-swiveling toy became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958. It is patented by the company's co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. An estimated 25 million Hula-Hoops were sold in its first four months of production alone.
Have you ever used or owned a hula-hoop? Do you like it? Why or why not? What was your favorite toy as a child? Describe it and describe why you liked it.
98. In the year 2000, a new company called Napster created something of a music-fan's utopia—a world in which nearly every song ever recorded was instantly available on your home computer—for free. Even to some at the time, it sounded too good to be true, and in the end, it was. The fantasy world that Napster created came crashing down in 2001 in the face of multiple copyright-violation lawsuits (most notable, those brought forth by Metallica and Dr. Dre for “vicarious copyright infringement”). Napster, Inc. began its “death spiral” on March 6, 2001, when it began complying with a Federal court order to block the transfer of copyrighted material over its peer-to-peer network. Within three months, the website was completely dismantled.
At the peak of Napster's popularity in late 2000 and early 2001, some 60 million users around the world were freely exchanging digital mp3 files with the help of the program developed by Northeastern University college student Shawn Fanning in the summer of 1999.
How do you feel about websites that illegally post music, movies, and documents for free download? Have you ever downloaded something for free that you know was infringing on the owner’s copyright? Why or why not? How would you feel if you spent your lifetime creating something (a novel, a song, a software program, a movie) and you relied on the sales to cover the expense of making it, only to find it for free download on a bootleg site? What would you do?
99. March 7th is the birthday of auto racer Janet Guthrie, born in 1938. In 1977, she became the first woman to ever qualify and compete in the Indianapolis 500. Many were opposed to a woman racing, and some men refused to participate in the races with her. She stuck it out and qualified again in 1978, finishing in ninth place.
Write about a time when you were told you couldn’t do something because of your gender, race, height, weight, age, etc. How did you feel? If this has never happened to you (first, be thankful), write about how it might feel.
100. March 10th is the anniversary of the first telephone call. It was made by Alexander Graham Bell on March 10, 1876. He called his assistant–Thomas Watson–in the next room. The first cross-continental telephone conversation occurred Jan. 25, 1915 when Bell called Watson again. Bell was in New York, Watson was in San Francisco. On Sept. 25, 1956, the first transatlantic telephone cable went into operation.
How would your life change if you had no telephone (includes cell phones!) access? How would you communicate with friends (forget e-mail...internet started over the phone lines and doesn’t count, either!)? How would your relationships change if you could not communicate via phone or computer?