As August unfolds, the air is filled with anticipation as teachers prepare to welcome a new group of students back to school. After a hopefully relaxing summer break, it’s time to embark on a fresh academic journey. Remember, Kids Discover is with you from Day 1 of the School Year through Day 180. To start on the right foot, here are 7 lesson ideas to welcome in the New School Year.
August 1 – Anne Frank Writes Her Last Diary Entry (1944)
Your students may not know about Anne Frank yet, but they may have seen her name in books around the school. Although only 13 years old when she began writing in her diary, scholars think of it as one of the most important first-hand accounts of Nazi-Occupied Europe. On this day in 1944, she sadly wrote her last diary entry, but her legacy lives on. Her diary has been translated into over 70 languages and is deeply cherished by people worldwide. In our World War II Unit, your students will learn about the glories and tragedies found during this period of history.
August 5 – Neil Armstrong’s Birthday
On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk onto the moon. He explored the lunar surface for two hours while over 700 million people watched on television. Before he became an American hero and role model for children everywhere, he was born on August 5th, 1930 in Ohio. Your students can learn more about Armstrong’s adventures on the lunar surface in The First Man on the Moon from our Moon Unit. To get students even more excited about space travel, consider also sharing our Unit on Mars. Maybe a student in your classroom will be the first to walk on the Red Planet.
August 10 – Louvre Museum Opens (1793)
Covering more than 650,000 square feet, the Louvre is the largest museum on Earth. It was once a medieval fortress and home to French Kings before opening as an Art Museum in 1793. People travel from all over the world to visit the art here, which could take several days just to see. Since you most likely won’t be taking a field trip to Paris this school year, have your students read up on one of its most famous inhabitants. In Mona Lisa, from our Leonardo Da Vinci Unit, your students can get up close and personal with this work of art.
August 12 – Ford Builds the First Model T (1908)
While Henry Ford can’t take credit for inventing the car, he certainly discovered how to make them quickly and effectively. In 1908, he unveiled the world’s first Model T, and by 1913, he was able to increase production by introducing a moving assembly line. In our Inventions Unit, your students will learn about some of the greatest inventions, including the automobile. For a fully visual experience, your students will also love watching The Automobile, from our video collection.
August 21 – Hawai`i Becomes 50th State (1959)
Welcome to the club, Hawai`i! Originally a US Territory, this chain of islands first asked Congress to admit it as a state in 1903, but the vote for approval didn’t happen until over 50 years later, in 1959. Finally, the Aloha State was added as the 50th star in our American flag. Hawai`i is a beautiful destination with an even richer history and culture. In our Hawai`i Unit, your students can take a virtual vacation to these Pacific Islands.
August 24 – Mount Vesuvius Erupts in Pompeii (A.D. 79)
This day in A.D. 79, started like any other day in Pompeii. The sun shone brilliantly, but nearby Mount Vesuvius had an awful surprise waiting for the townspeople. By the end of the day, an entire town would be buried in ash, remaining that way for nearly 2,000 years. Step into the Kids Discover time machine with our Pompeii Unit, where your students will learn about this ancient city. For a perfect cross-curricular activity, pair this unit with our Volcanoes Unit to bridge the gap between World History and Earth Science.
August 28 – Dr. King Gives His ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech (1963)
On this day, 60 years ago, Dr. King spoke his immortal words in front of a crowd of 250,000 people in Washington, DC. ‘I Have a Dream’ is heralded as one of the greatest speeches in history. It stirs such emotion and can be shared with your students. Consider watching this as a class, followed by a group discussion on its ever-lasting importance and meaning in the year 2023. Our MLK Jr. Unit outlines his life, especially as the Civil Rights Movement grew.
