Math
Leap Year Was the year 1900 a leap year? How do we know which years are leap years? Use the FLIPS (Future Leaders in Problem Solving) activity below, and challenge your students to work collaboratively to learn more about leap years and why we have them.
You will need the three clips, as well as the provided FLIPS worksheet | ||||
| First, watch the "Problem" piece with your class. | Next, break your students into small groups, and pass out the FLIPS worksheet. Watch the "Method" piece. Encourage your students to take notes and discuss the information contained in the media. (Click here for more FLIPS implementation guidance.) | Finally, have your students check their solution by watching the "Solution" piece. | ||
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Groundhog Day February 2nd is Groundhog Day in the United States. According to legend, it is the day the Groundhog comes out of his hole after hibernating all winter. If the Groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If the day is cloudy, and he does not see his shadow, it is a sign that spring will come early. Scientists know that the weather system is more complicated than whether a Groundhog sees its shadow, but Groundhog Day can be a fun way to learn more about probability. Are random events, like whether a groundhog will see his shadow, hard to predict? Use this lesson on experimental and theoretical probability to learn more about predicting outcomes. |
 This lesson is found in Course 5, Unit 9: Modeling Probability, Topic 2: Modeling Probability |
Social Studies
President's Day Presidents' Day is celebrated on February 18th. Presidents' Day was originally designated in honor of George Washington's birthday, which was February 22, 1732. On January 1, 1971, the holiday was shifted to February 18th by the "Uniform Monday Holiday Act." Over the years, the focus of Presidents' Day has been expanded to include President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday was February 12th. Many states celebrate Presidents' Day differently, for example, Massachusetts recognizes all Presidents who came from that state on Presidents' Day.
Ask your students to research your states' traditions for Presidents' Day, and use the lesson below to learn more about the first President of the United States, George Washington.
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 This lesson is found in The American Revolution - The Shot Heard 'Round the World 1775-1783, Topic 3: Americans Who Rose to Power |
Black History Month February is Black History Month. Black History Month began in 1976, and honors important people and events in African American history. The lesson below teaches the importance of respecting diversity.
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 This lesson is found in Early American History, The End of Reconstruction - A Nation Moves Forward 1875-1877. Topic 11: Continued Violence |
Science
| The Soviet Space Station, Mir (which means "peace"), was launched on February 19, 1986. A space station is a human-made structure in space where astronauts can live for months at a time and conduct research. The space station Mir was used by both American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts until the year 2000, and fell from orbit into the South Pacific Ocean in March 2001.
Use this lesson to learn more about other important steps in space exploration.
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 This lesson is found in Earth Science, Members of Our Solar System, Topic 9: Space Exploration |
