Hey Reader, Here's a fun fact to share at lunch today: Henri Rousseau, the French painter famous for his wild, leafy jungles full of tigers and monkeys, never actually saw a jungle. He never left France. He built those scenes from trips to the Paris zoo and botanical garden, a few postcards and magazines, and a lot of imagination. Which makes him the perfect artist for kids who are sure they "can't draw a tiger." And it's why we picked him for this year's art contest. 🎨 Good news: the Great...
1 day ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Here's what's actually new in the Safari world this week — a contest with a real deadline, four brand-new freebies in the Library, and one law change worth knowing about if you're in New Hampshire. 🎨 The Great Safari Art Contest is open now Our fall contest opened September 8 and closes September 30 — so there's just under two weeks left. Kids create original art inspired by a featured artist, any age or skill level welcome. Every single entrant gets a certificate, and winners in...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Two easy-to-miss "holidays" land next week: International Literacy Day on Tuesday, September 8, and National Grandparents Day on Sunday, September 13. Neither needs a lesson plan, just a little intention. 📚🧓 Here are 3 ways to make them count: 📚 1. Make a tiny book for International Literacy Day UNESCO created this day in 1966 to highlight literacy as the foundation for everything else — this year's theme is "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity." Have your kids fold a...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, Whether you're a few weeks into the year or still finding your footing, the first stretch of homeschooling can feel like a lot. Here are a few tips to help it click, plus a peek at what makes our classes different. 📋 5 tips for starting (or restarting) strong 1. Start smaller than you think. Pick 2-3 "must-do" subjects for the first week and layer in the rest once a routine sticks. Trying to run a full school day on day one is the fastest way to burn out — yours and theirs. 2....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Two easy-to-miss "holidays" land next week: National Wildlife Day on Friday, September 4, and National Read a Book Day on Sunday, September 6. Neither needs a lesson plan, just a little curiosity. 🦁📖 Here are 3 ways to make them count: 🦁 1. Adopt an endangered species for National Wildlife Day National Wildlife Day was moved to September 4 to honor the late Steve Irwin's birthday. Have your kids pick one endangered animal, look up where it lives and why it's at risk, then draw or...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Two easy-to-miss "holidays" land next week, both on Wednesday, August 19: National Aviation Day and World Photography Day. Neither needs a lesson plan, just a little curiosity. ✈️📸 Here are 3 ways to make them count: ✈️ 1. Build a flying machine for National Aviation Day National Aviation Day was established in 1939 and lands every year on Orville Wright's birthday. Fold a few paper airplane designs and test which one flies farthest, or talk about how wing shape creates lift. An...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Two easy-to-miss "holidays" land back to back next week: World Elephant Day (Wednesday, August 12) and International Left-Handers Day (Thursday, August 13). Neither needs a lesson plan, just a little curiosity. 🐘✍️ Here are 3 ways to make them count: 🐘 1. Go on an elephant deep-dive for World Elephant Day World Elephant Day was created in 2012 to raise awareness about the threats elephants face — poaching, habitat loss, and shrinking wild spaces. Look up the difference between...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, This weekend brings two easy-to-miss "holidays" back to back: Lammas Day (Saturday, August 1) and National Watermelon Day (Monday, August 3). Neither one needs a lesson plan, just a little curiosity. 🍞🍉 Here are 3 ways to make them count: 🌾 1. Bake (or buy) a loaf for Lammas Day Lammas — "loaf mass" — is one of the oldest harvest festivals, marking the day the first wheat crop came in. Bake a simple loaf of bread together (even a no-knead recipe works), or just slice one up, and...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, This weekend brings two easy-to-miss "holidays" back to back: Amelia Earhart Day (Friday, July 24) and Day of the Cowboy (Saturday, July 25). Neither one needs a lesson plan, just a little curiosity. ✈️🤠 Here are 3 ways to make them count: ✈️ 1. Fold a paper airplane and test your own "flight" Amelia Earhart was born July 24, 1897, and grew up building homemade contraptions in her backyard before she ever fell in love with flying. Fold a few paper airplane designs together, then...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader, This weekend brings two easy-to-miss "holidays" back to back: National Ice Cream Day (Sunday, July 19) and Moon Day (Monday, July 20) — the 57th anniversary of Apollo 11's landing. Neither one needs a lesson plan, just a little curiosity. 🍦🌕 Here are 3 ways to make them count: 🍦 1. Turn ice cream into a chemistry lesson Making ice cream in a bag is real science, not just a treat. Fill a small bag with cream, sugar, and vanilla, seal it inside a bigger bag packed with ice and salt,...
3 months ago • 2 min read