I like to do calendar-based stuff in my blog and in our homeschool. So I thought I’d post a sample of the stuff we plan to do in January in addition to the regular math, science, history, reading , etc. I may post more about these and other anniversaries on the actual date. Of course, you should know by now if you’ve been reading my blog for long or if you know me personally that my plans are always more ambitious than what actually gets done. Aim high, I always say, but you had better put something underneath to break the fall.

January 1–In 1863,President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. We’ll read The Great Proclamation by Henry Steele Commager. This fits in with where we are in history–stuck in the civil war.

January 2–January is National Hot Tea Month. Have a cuppa, and visit the Teablog (Portsmouth Tea).

January 3–Tolkien’s Birthday. I don’t know how we’ll celebrate. Last year we did a marathon movie weekend in which we watched the extended editions of all three LOTR movies. I don’t know if I’m up for that this year or not.

January 4–“It feels cold, but at 10 a.m. Jan. 4, the Earth stands at perihelion – its nearest approach to the sun this year at a “mere” 91,405,953 miles away.” Stargazer’s Calendar for 2006

January 5–Twelfth Night, the night before Epiphany. I wonder if there’s a good film version of Shakespeare’s play by the same name.

January 6 or 8–Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to the baby Jesus. The Catholic church celebrates Epiphany on the Sunday closest to January 6th which is the traditional date. We could at least read about the wise men, maybe some kind of activity to celebrate the date.

January 6–Carl Sandburg’s Birthday. I’d like for us to read more poetry this year. Maybe some Sandburg on this date.

January 8–Elvis Presley’s Birthday No, I’m not one of those odd Elvis worshippers, but as a part of my children’s education in pop culture, it might be fun to purchase an Elvis song from iTunes and give it a listen.

January 9–Clean-Off-Your-Desk Day

January 11–International Thank You Day. We could afford to write some thank you notes. How about you?

January 13–Stephen Foster Memorial Day, observed annually on the anniversary of Foster’s death, January 13, 1864. This event also fits in with our Civil War preoccupation at the moment. Maybe we’ll read about Foster and learn a Foster song.

January 16–Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday (actually the 15th) Read or listen to MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

January 18–Peter Mark Roget’s Birthday. Let’s play with synonyms.

January 19–Edgar Allan Poe’s Birthday. A good day for reading my favorite poem, Annabel Lee

January 20–Did you know that some people celebrate the day between Robert E. Lee’s birthday (January 19, 1807) and Stonewall Jackson’s birthday (January 21, 1824)? Anyone up for a Lee-Jackson birthday party? One of the strange, but true facts that I found in the book I just finished, Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horowitz.

January 22–Blair Lent, author and illustrator of one of my favorite picture books, Tikki Tikki Tembo was born on this date in 1930. We will, of course, read the book.

January 23–National Handwriting Day (John Hancock’s Birthday) I think we’ll write some letters to our favorite people.

January 24–Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill on this date in 1848. Have a treasure hunt to remember.

January 25–National Compliment Day. This day is set aside to compliment at least five people. No flattery, but sincere compliments are always welcome.

January 27–Mozart’s Birthday. Listen to our Magic Flute tape.

January also celebrates the birthdates of Jakob Grimm (b. January 4, 1785) and Charles Perrault (b. January 12, 1628). How about a fairy tale a day in January? I don’t know about yours, but my children don’t get enough fairy tales. I assign them historical fiction, and I read them classic children’s books. But we don’t always find time for the celebration of imaginative fairy tales. They’re just not educational enough. Except that they really are. It’s time to educate the imagination in January.