Spotlight on September

 The "ber" months are here! I am a fall person through and through and I love it when we finally hit the season (even if it takes a while for Oklahoma weather to catch up). This time of year always brings so many things to celebrate, that it seems like the perfect time to bring back the Spotlight On sheets to help keep up with all of the wonderful variety this time of year has to offer. This is just a small sampling of celebrations for the month, but the ones that (to me) seem like the best from a youth development perspective. If you would like to see (and save) the full size version, simply click on the image.

There will be some posts showing how we've celebrated the incoming fall as we go through the month, but I like to release these early enough that you can plan as well. 

Enjoy your celebrations!

Spotlight On: October 2024

 I'm trying something new Behind the Blue Doors - a newsletter of sorts that is focused on special events and tidbits of interest for after school programs. I've created this as an image so it's super easy to save and to add to your planning boards at Pinterest. 

If this is something you enjoy, please let me know!

Celebrate August

   When working with kids, one of the things I've quickly discovered is that they love a good party. While it would be more chaos than I could cover to celebrate every single day, that doesn't mean that there isn't something worth celebrating everyday so that you can easily find what works best for you and your kiddos.

Monthly Observations

International Pirate Month
Family Fun Month
American Adventures Month
American Art Appreciation Month
National Language Month
Summer Sun Safety Month
Dog Days of Summer (July 3 - August 11)

Weekly Observations

August 1-7
    International Clown Week

August 3-10
    Ottawa County Free Fair

Week 1

    National Simplify Your Life Week
    National Farmer's Market Week

Week 2
    National Smile Week
    National Science Week

Week 3
    National Friendship Week

Week 4
    Be Kind to Humankind Week

Daily Observations

August 1:  Women Astronomers Day, National Planner Day, Lughnasadh

August  2:  National Coloring Book Day, National Water Balloon Day, Find a Four Leaf Clover Day

August 3:  Sandcastle Day, National Campfire Day

August 4:  National Friendship Day, National Sisters' Day, National Hooray for Kids Day

August 5: National Blogger Day, Festival Day (UK)

August 6: National Wiggle Your Toes Day, National Root Beer Float Day

August 7: National Sea Serpent Day, Regatta Day (Canada), Professional Speakers Day

August 8: Happiness Happens Day, International Cat Day, National Perler Day
August 9: Book Lovers' Day, National Kool Aid Day

August 10: National S'mores Day, National Bowling Day, World Lion Day

August 11: Mountain Day, Son & Daughter Day, National Face Mask Day, Summer Olympics Closing

August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower, World Elephant Day, National Vinyl Record Day, Middle Child Day, National Milkman Day

August 13: Left Hander Day

August 14: Navajo Code Talker Day, World Calligraphy Day, World Lizard Day

August 15: Chant at the Moon Day, World Greatness Day

August 16: National Roller Coaster Day, Hawaiian Shirt Day

August 17: National Honeybee Day, Black Cat Appreciation Day, International Geocaching Day, National Nonprofit Day
August 18: Serendipity Day, Green Man Festival

August 19: Aviation Day, World Photography Day, International Orangutang Day, National Potato Day

August 20: National Radio Day, World Mosquito Day

August 21: National Poet's Day, National Spumoni Day

August 22: Folklore Day (Brazil), National Tooth Fairy Day

August 23: Find Your Inner Nerd Day, National Ride the Wind Day

August 24: Vesuvius Day, National Waffle Day, International Bat Night

August 25: National Park Service Day, National Banana Split Day, Burning Man Festival

August 26: National Dog Day, National Spark the World Day

August 27: National Petroleum Day, International Lottery Day

August 28: Power Rangers Day

August 29: National Sports Day, Individual Rights Day

August 30: Frankenstein Day, National Beach Day, National Toasted Marshmallow Day
August 31: National Zoo Awareness Day

With so many great options in August there's sure to be lots of ways you and yours can celebrate the season!

Graphics used in this post have been purchased from EduClips and Thistle Girl Designs (now closed)

Cherokee National Holiday

      Growing up I was aware that I had Native heritage, but culture was something that just wasn't a primary focus (ah the 80s when GenX roamed free and parental involvement was next to nil). As my own wildlings were growing up we incorporated learning about many different cultures as we were able to learn more about our own origins. Now that I have the grand wildlings we're lucky enough to know more of our cultural heritage to share with them and they are blessed with a variety of cultural experiences.

Cherokee National Holiday celebrates the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution and there is a large celebration in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. You can learn more about it at their website at The Cherokee Holiday. However, if you're not able to attend festivities you can still teach your wildlings about the Cherokee culture. One of my favorite ways to share culture is to share their stories. One of my favorite stories from the Cherokee culture is The Origin of the Strawberry. 

When the first man was created and a mate was given to him, they lived together happily for a long time, but then began to quarrel, until at last the woman left her husband and started off toward the Sun Land, in the east.

The man followed alone and grieving, but the woman kept on steadily ahead and never looked behind, until Unelanvhi, the great Apportioner (the Sun), took pity on him and asked him if he was still angry with his wife.

He said he was not, and Unelanvhi then asked him if he would like to have her back again, to which he eagerly answered yes.

So Unelanvhi caused a patch of the finest ripe huckleberries to spring up along the path in front of the woman, but she passed by without paying any attention to them. Farther on he put a clump of blackberries, but these she also refused.

Other fruits, one tow, and three, and then some trees covered with beautiful red berries, were placed beside the path to tempt her, but she still went on until suddenly she saw in front a patch of large, ripe strawberries, the first ever known.

She stooped to gather a few to eat, and as she picked them she chanced to turn her face to the west, and at once the memory of her husband cam back to her and she found herself unable to go on.

She sat down, but the longer she waited the stronger her desire to return to her husband became. At last she gathered a bunch of the finest berries and started back along the path to give them to him. 

He met her kindly and they went back home together.

I love this story because it models how we can have quarrels with loved ones and still find out way back to them. There is no fault or blame given, just the example of love being stronger than the differences we face.

You can download an activity book featuring this story along with many other activity books from The Cherokee Holiday website here.

If you happen to have local wildlings, there is a large Strawberry Festival in May in Stillwell, Oklahoma that would be a very cool field trip to go along with this story. Of course, there are many other ways to experience the Cherokee culture, hopefully you and your wildlings find something that interest you.

Graphics used in this post are from Phillip Martin and Thistle Girl Designs (now closed)

September Celebrations

   When working with kids, one of the things I've quickly discovered is that they love a good party. While it would be more chaos than I could cover to celebrate every single day, that doesn't mean that there isn't something worth celebrating everyday so that you can easily find what works best for you and your kiddos.

Monthly Observations

Classical Music Month
Women of Achievement Month
Library Card Sign Up Month
Better Breakfast Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (Begins September 15)

Weekly Observations

Week 2
    National Arts in Education Week

Week 3
    National Keep Kids Creative Week
    National Farm Animals Week
    Tolkien Week

Week 4
    National Fall Foliage Week
    Banned Books Week

Daily Observations

September  1:  Cherokee National Holiday, American Chess Day, College Colors Day

September  2:  Calendar Adjustment Day, World Beard Day, National Hummingbird Day

September  3:  National Doodle Day, Skyscraper Day

September  4:  Labor Day, National Wildlife Day, Newspaper Carrier Day

September  5: National Cheese Pizza Day

September  6: National Read a Book Day

September  7: Grandma Moses Day

September  8: International Literacy Day, Actors Day
September  9: Wonderful Weirdos Day, Teddy Bear Day

September 10: Harvest Moon Festival; Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Grandparents' Day

September 11: National Day of Service & Remembrance, Hot Cross Buns Day

September 12: National Video Games Day

September 13: Roald Dahl Day; International Chocolate Day

September 14: National Coloring Day, National Live Creative Day

September 15: Make a Hat Day; Batman Day; Greenpeace Day, Rosh Hashanah begins

September 16: Oktoberfest, National Play-Doh Day, Collect Rocks Day, Mayflower Day

September 17: Constitution Day, Citizenship Day
September 18: Smithsonian Day

September 19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day

September 20: German World Children's Day, National Fried Rice Day, National IT Professionals Day

September 21: International Day of Peace, National Chai Day, Miniature Golf Day

September 22: Autumnal Equinox, Elephant Appreciation Day, Hobbit Day

September 23: National Checkers Day, Native American Day, Redhead Appreciation Day

September 24: World Rivers Day, International Kite Festival

September 25: National Daughters Day, Math Storytelling Day, National Comic Book Day

September 26: Johnny Appleseed Day, National Dumpling Day

September 27: World Tourism Day, Ancestor Appreciation Day

September 28: National Sons Day

September 29: National Coffee Day, Michaelmas, Sukkot begins

September 30: National Ghost Hunting Day, Orange Shirt Day

With so many great options in September there's sure to be lots of ways you and yours can celebrate the season!

Graphics used in this post have been purchased from EduClips and Thistle Girl Designs (now closed)

Labor Day for the Littles

Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated at as time to honor those who work and give them a day of rest. Today, Labor Day is thought of as the last holiday of summer, and many people celebrate with family picnics or other outdoor outings. As part of your celebration, you might wish to set up a corner of the room where the members can look through picture books about community helpers and other workers.

Labor Day Mural (Project Learn, Art)

Set out a variety of kinds of magazines (check with your local library to see if you can collect their discarded magazines from circulation). Let the members look through them and tear out pictures of people at work (a person washing dishes, a truck driver at the wheel, a singer performing on stage, etc.) and the pictures that illustrate different occupations (a police officer in uniform, a doctor in in a white lab coat, a cowhand in western gear, etc.). Have children glue their pictures on a large sheet of bulletin board paper with a title of "People at Work" at the top of the paper and hang it up at the member's eye level. Then talk with the children about the kinds of work that the people in the pictures are doing.

Variation: Let younger children choose from the precut pictures that have been placed in a box. Having problems locating discarded magazines? Try printing clipart that feature different occupations. To add more of an art component, have the members draw their own pictures of people in their careers.

Labor Day Charades (Project Learn, Career Launch)

Provide the members with a box of hats from different occupations (construction worker, fire fighter, chef, baseball player, clown, etc.). Then let them take turns selecting a different hat from the box and acting out what a person who wears that kind of hat does.

Variation: Use clipart to create cards showing different hats or if you have members who are readers you can simply write different careers on cards and have the kids draw the cards out of a hat. 

Labor Day Picnic (Healthy Habits, Triple Play)

Let the members pretend they are workers. Make nametags stating their chosen occupation for them to decorate and wear. Then let them enjoy a "rest" from their work by having a Labor Day picnic. Pack snacks such as sandwiches and mini water bottles in paper bags and then take them to a nearby park or to your own playground space where they can play after having their picnic. While you're having your picnic have a discussion with the members about the importance of drinking plenty of water while they are outside playing to keep from being dehydrated.

The easiest way to incorporate Labor Day into your programming is to have visitors in to present a Career Launch segment. One of the most diverse places to find volunteers will likely be your board of directors. Try scheduling one visitor each week to share their careers with the members. Of course, the standard favorites are always a great idea: police officers, fire fighters, mail carriers, librarians, etc. You might also check with the parents in your program. This year we're adding a professional fishing guide, a politician, a pilot, and a college sports coach to our standard favorites.

Clipart used in this post was purchased from Thistle Girl Designs

Celebrating September 2022

Asters, deep purple,
A grasshopper's call,
Today it is summer,
Tomorrow is fall.
- from "September" by Edwina Fallis

Monthly Observations

Classical Music Month
Women of Achievement Month
Library Card Sign Up Month
Better Breakfast Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (Begins September 15)

Weekly Observations

September 12-18
    National Arts in Education Week

September 19-26
    National Keep Kids Creative Week
    National Farm Animals Week
    Tolkien Week

September 26-October 2
    National Fall Foliage Week
    Banned Books Week

Daily Observations

September  1:  Emma M Nutt Day, Cherokee National Holiday

September  2:  Calendar Adjustment Day, College Colors Day

September  3:  National Doodle Day

September  4:  National Wildlife Day

September  5: Labor Day

September  6: National Read a Book Day

September  7: Grandma Moses Day

September  8: International Literacy Day, Actors Day
September  9: Wonderful Weirdos Day

September 10: Harvest Moon Festival; Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

September 11: Grandparent's Day

September 12: National Video Games Day

September 13: Roald Dahl Day; International Chocolate Day

September 14: National Live Creative Day

September 15: Make a Hat Day; Batman Day; Greenpeace Day

September 16: National Play-Doh Day, Collect Rocks; Mayflower Day

September 17: Oktoberfest, Constitution Day

September 18: Smithsonian Day

September 19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day

September 20: German World Children's Day, National Fried Rice Day, National IT Professionals Day

September 21: International Day of Peace, National Chai Day, Miniature Golf Day

September 22: Autumnal Equinox, Elephant Appreciation Day, Hobbit Day

September 23: National Checkers Day, Native American Day, Redhead Appreciation Day

September 24: National Ghost Hunting Day, World Bollywood Day, Bluebird of Happiness Day, Kite Festival

September 25: National Daughters Day, Rosh Hashanah Begins, National Cooking Day, Math Storytelling Day, National Comic Book Day

September 26: Johnny Appleseed Day, National Dumpling Day

September 27: World Tourism Day, Ancestor Appreciation Day

September 28: National Sons Day

September 29: National Coffee Day, Michaelmas

September 30: National Love People Day

Clipart used in this post was purchased from EduClips and Thistle Girl Designs

Girl Scout Fun - March Edition

I've worked with Girl Scouts for nearly two decades (it really doesn't feel like that long!) and one of the things I loved most about having a Girl Scout troop was our holiday and seasonal activities. The ideas I share in these monthly posts are from a New Leader Booklet that was shared with me when I started leading Girl Scout troops in the early 2000s. Since our council (and as far as I know any other) no longer shares this information, I want to make it accessible on the internet. Enjoy!

Have a cookie booth sale! Be sure to contact your association booth manager to schedule the place and time. Plan for potty breaks, and rotate the girls if you have more than one location. The girls usually have a great time working at booths, and you can have a treat for them afterward like pizza, ice cream, or whatever they have voted on. If you have younger girls, you might consider letting them bring their own money and going for fast food and letting them order their own food. Many young girls may not have had that experience before!

Learn knife safety. Practice on soap bars or peel carrots for snack.

Tie some knots. It's fun to practice with licorice ropes.

Make plans to celebrate the Girl Scout birthday with another troop. Make and decorate cupcakes to share. If you have candles, remember fire safety (put hair up or down the back of the shirt; stop, drop, and roll demonstration; etc. They can't hear this stuff enough!) Make friendship bracelets - two identical: one to keep and one to give to a friend. You can have the five colors of their worlds of Girl Scouting (World of the Arts - Violet, World of the Out of Doors - Gold, World of of People - Blue, World of Today and Tomorrow - Orange, World of Well-Being - Red) plus green and then use three colors at a time. The bracelets could be braided or just knotted at intervals depending on their ages. When they exchange bracelets, have them describe why they chose those colors (my favorite World of Girl Scouts, or my favorite colors, etc).

Make a time line of events in the Girl Scout Movement on a piece of big butcher paper. You can get all of the dates in the handbook. Then let the girls add in their birthdays. Have the girls make their own life-lines with major events in their lives.

On March 3, Japanese Children's Day and Doll Day are celebrated. Fifteen special dolls are arranged in a ceremonial fashion with the Emperor and the Empress in a place of honor. Artificial cherry and orange trees and household utensils are included. Girls dress in formal kimonos and serve tea and cakes to friends. Perhaps you could sample some Japanese food or do origami.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17. Have a green meeting where you make green/shamrock crafts or eat green food. Eat potato soup, Irish stew, or make Irish soda bread or even baked potatoes. Have a potato toss.

Learn about snakes. (St. Patrick allegedly chased them out of Ireland.) [Note that in this myth "snakes" were a derogatory term for Pagans living in Ireland at the time. If any families in your troop are practicing Pagans, this could be a touchy holiday for them.] How many kinds of snakes are there? How many are poisonous and how many are beneficial?

Have a shamrock relay by making two large shamrocks out of green paper. Divide into two teams of equal players. Each team receives two shamrocks. At a signal, the team moves forward by stepping on the shamrocks. While standing on one, they must move the other one forward  for their next step. If you take a step off the shamrock before getting to the finish line, that player must start over. The first team with all the players across the finish line wins. 

Have a potato relay. Make a a line on the floor with masking tape for each team. The object is to roll the potato down the line with a a shillelagh (or a fairly thick, knotted stick). The player then runs the potato back to his team for the next player to use. The first team to get their potato over the finish line wins.

Beginning on March 21, Iranians celebrate the twelve day festival of No-ruz (Noh-rooz). This Muslim festival is symbolic of new life and growth, and the goodness of Allah. The festival table is spread with seven foods, all beginning with the letter "s" plus symbolic items. There is a legend that the earth trembles as the new year begins, so an egg is placed on a mirror and when cannons are shot, the egg trembles. Gardens of Adonis are grown with quick-growing seeds such as lentils and wheat. 

Plant some seeds and watch them grow, or plant some seedlings or plants. you could do some beautification at a local park or open space, or even join an effort to rid an area of non-native plants.

Passover is celebrated, which commemorates the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the first barley harvest. This is a family feast of Thanksgiving and freedom, with unleavened bread and many other traditional foods. Sample some of these foods and learn about the traditions.

Talk about good outdoor manners and conservation skills. Know how to protect and appreciate the natural world.

Take part in a conservation service project such as planting seedlings on a hillside to prevent erosion, repair trails, clean fire circles at a park, organize a newspaper or aluminum can recycling project at the girls' schools. Trim bushes to keep paths open, adopt a highway, take down old yard sale signs or flyers posted in the neighborhood. The possibilities are endless!

Hold a "Baby Shower" to benefit babies born to mothers in shelter or jail.

"Adopt" a grandparent at an eldercare home.

Make and fly a kite.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt. Have the girls find (but not pick - just show somebody else [or take a photo]) a smooth edged leaf, a Y shaped twig, something alive, a smooth rock, a pebble smaller than a pea, a pebble as big as a grain of rice, something that looks like something else, something prickly, somebody's food, a dark green and a light green leaf, a pinch of dust, a pretty thing besides a flower, something with more than four legs, something you pick things up with, a leaf with symmetrical veins, something dead, something yucky, something bumpy, a seed that travels by wind, something soft, and something furry.

Celebrating March

 

O wind a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

- from "The Wind"
by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Monthly Celebrations
American Red Cross Month
Music in Our Schools Month
National Women's History Month
Foot Health Month
National Peanut Month
Poetry Month
Youth Art Month

Weekly Celebrations
First Full Week: Return Borrowed Books Week
First Full Week: Newspaper Education Week
First Week: Teen Tech Week
Second Week: Girl Scout Week
Third Week: World Fold Tales and Fables Week
Third Week: Spring Break
Fourth Week: National Week of the Ocean

Daily Celebrations
March 01: Peace Corps Day

March 01: Peanut Butter Lovers Day
March 02: Read Across America Day

March 02: Dr. Seuss' Birthday
March 03: I Want You to Be Happy Day

March 03: World Wildlife Day
March 04: Call to Action Day (March Forth!)

March 04: National Grammar Day
March 04: World Book Day

March 05: National Day of Unplugging (first Friday)

March 06: National Dentist's Day

March 07: National Cereal Day
March 07: Iditarod Begins
March 07: Girl Scout Sunday
March 08: International Women's Day
March 10: Mario Day (MAR10)
March 10: International Day of Awesomeness
March 11: Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Day
March 12: Girl Scout Birthday
March 12: National Plant a Flower Day
March 13: National Good Samaritan Day

March 13: Genealogy Day
March 14: PI Day

March 14: Daylight Savings Time Day

March 14: Learn about Butterflies Day
March 15: Ides of March
March 16: Goddard Day - 1926 Robert Goddard launch the 1st success liquid-fueled rocket

March 16: National Giant Panda Day
March 16: National Artichoke Day
March 17: St. Patrick's Day

March 18: Absolutely Incredible Kid Day (Campfire Kids)

March 18: Goddess of Fertility Day

March 19: National Poultry Day
March 20: Ostara
March 20: Snowman Burning Day

March 20: International Day of Happiness

March 20: Spring Equinox
March 21: Spring Fairy Fun Day

March 21: World Poetry Day
March 21: International Day of Forests
March 22: World Water Day
March 23: World Meteorological Day
March 25: Vaffeldagen (Waffle Day) in Sweden
March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday

March 26: National Spinach Day

March 27: Passover Begins at Sundown

March 28: Palm Sunday

March 28: Respect Your Cat Day
March 28: Earth Hour

March 29: Holi - Hindu festival of Colors
March 30: Doctors' Day

March 31: National Crayon Day