Happy National Kindergarten Day!

I bet you didn't know today was National Kindergarten Day, did you? Yep, it is. National Kindergarten Day falls on April 21st each year– the birthday of Friedrich Wilhelm August Frobel, the founding father of kindergarten. He started the first kindergarten way back in 1837 in Blankenburg, Germany. He laid the foundation for modern education by recognizing that children learn through play and experience. Kindergarten has changed and morphed over nearly two centuries since then, but kindergarten teachers today still know all too well that our students learn through play and need hands-on experience as much as ever.

Herr Frobel

Now, you are probably asking, "Kathleen, how in the world do you know about National Kindergarten Day?" I'll let you in on a secret: I am not naturally random, I have to work at it. snort. I know about Kindergarten Day because I check out the National Day Calendar each month. I stumbled upon the site... somehow... I don't remember now. The National Day Calendar lists all the days of the year and the special "holidays" that fall on each day. There are MANY.

Still to come in April are National Take a Chance Day, National Pigs in a Blanket Day, National Tell a Story Day, National Take Your Son and Daughter to Work Day (see, there are honest to goodness observed days on the list), National Honesty Day (should be EVERY day), National Hairball Awareness Day (honest), and even National Zipper Day! Zipadeedoodah! My mind is boggled with the possibilities!

I'm not saying that we need to make a big deal of these holidays, but they can be a great way to engage students in learning. At the beginning of each month go to the National Day Calendar and peruse the list with your students. Decide which day you'll celebrate that month, and how you'll celebrate it. You can vote on popular choices or make a graph to help you decide, thereby throwing in a little Civics and Math. I bet your kiddos come up with all sorts of hilarious interesting celebration schemes. You can turn it into a history lesson, too, because the site gives some background on each topic. Great fun! Click on the image to go to see the calendar now.




So today, go find a kindergarten teacher and give her a big thank you for the special ways she helps kids grow. And if you are a kindergarten teacher, here's a virtual hug from one K teacher to another! Have a great Thursday!

See you next time!