Businessman Harold Geneen said, "I don't believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.” What do you think he meant by that?

John Ruskin was born in 1819. He was a writer on art and travel who was the first important critic who pointed out that the value of working to preserve historical buildings. If you could go anywhere in the world to see a famous building, where would you go and what would you see? Why does that building appeal to you?

February is the shortest month. Some people have suggested taking some of the days from the 31 day months (January, March, May, July, August, October, or December) and adding them to February to make the months more uniform in length. Which months would you prefer to have days taken from? Why?

February 9:
In 1797, a group of English sailors were shipwrecked on the coast of Australia, becoming the first Europeans to live there. Suppose you and your classmates were shipwrecked on a new land and had to survive? How would you organize yourself to do the work you need to do?

In 1863, Anthony Hope was born. He was an English writer whose most famous book was The Prisoner of Zenda, about a British soldier that happens to look exactly like a foreign ruler, and the problems this causes him. Suppose you looked exactly like a famous person. What person would you like to look like? What problems might that cause you?

February 10:
In 1933, singing telegrams were introduced. For a fee, you could send a message to anyone in the country, and a person would sing the message to them, making up or borrowing a tune for the message. Make up a silly message or song about something in your school or class, and sing it to your classmates.

Both the Chinese and Muslim New Years occur during this time. Having a lot of holidays very close together can be both fun and confusing, especially if different people are celebrating different things, or on different days. List at least 3 problems this situation might cause in a country with large numbers of Christians, Muslims, and Chinese people, like the USA.

February 11:
After spending 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was released in 1990. He had been imprisoned for his opposition to the racist policies of the government of South Africa at the time, and later became the first black President of South Africa. After his release, he said, "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have changed.” What do you think he meant by that?

Thomas Edison was born in 1847. He patented more inventions than any other single person in history. His talent was to see situations where an invention could make life better, then to work out a way to make the things he imagined. Imagine an invention that would make your life better. What would it do?

February 12:
In 1637, Jan Swammerdam was born in Holland. He discovered the existence of red blood cells. This was one of the most important discoveries that led to the development of blood transfusions, which has saved many lives. Think of some other discoveries that have made our lives healthier. List 3 of them and tell why they are important.

February 13:
In 2000, the last original Peanuts cartoon strip was printed, the day after the artist who invented it, Charles Schulz, died of cancer. Peanuts tells about the life of young people from their own viewpoint. Which Peanuts character is your favorite? Why do you like that one?

Indians called the full moon of February the Snow Moon, because this is the coldest time of year in most places in the northern hemisphere. What is your favorite activity to do when it snows?

The first public school in America, Boston Latin School, opened in 1635. This school is still in operation. There have been a lot of changes in public schools since 1635. How has school changed since you started going?

February 14:
Valentine's Day! Describe the prettiest Valentine you have ever seen.

Charles Dickens attended a large party in his honor during a visit to New York City. Despite his popularity, his experiences in America gave him a very bad impression of our country and in several of his novels, America is portrayed as a very rough and savage place, with many unfriendly people. If you could, what things could you say to Charles Dickens to show him the friendly, pleasant side of America?

In 1764, a trading post was started that slowly grew into the city of St. Louis, Missouri. It served Indians and European settlers that were traveling on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Make a list of things that people traded in 1764 that we almost never buy or sell today. To get you started, there were no matches, so people used pieces of flint rock to make sparks.

In 1896, Edward, Prince of Wales (he later became King Edward VII) became the first member of the British royal family to ride in a car. In those days, every car was built by hand, very likely to break down a lot, and many times more expensive than they are today. Suppose no way to build cheaper, more reliable cars had ever been found? How would your life be different if only very rich people had cars?

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