Last week, we celebrated the power of gratitude for items and experiences beginning with the letter N. Today, we invite you to share something you are thankful for that starts with the letter O. Your contributions can inspire a deeper spirit of appreciation and reflection.
I'm filled with gratitude for the enchanting world of owls! They are such fascinating creatures. What about you? What’s something you’re thankful for that starts with the letter O?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Facts
Weirdly, a reindeer has a nose that shines
bright red and can light up the night sky while guiding Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. Did you know that Rudolph
the red-nosed reindeer first appeared 1939 in a booklet for a Chicago area in Montgomery
Ward? Yep, that is right!! Montgomery Ward asked one of their copywriters, who at the time was Robert L. May, to write a story they could hand out
to their customers during the holiday season. That is where Rudolph started his journey to the cute, fun Rudolph we know and love today.
Who is your favorite reindeer?
Facts about Rudolph and his creator:
1. Robert L. May is Rudolph’s creator. He created Rudolph in
1939.
2. In 1939, Montgomery Ward Department Store sold over 2 million copies of Robert L. May’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer book during
the holiday season.
3. Sometime around 1947, the CEO of Montgomery Ward gave Robert L. May the rights to the book he had written for them. Also, in 1947, Maxton
Publishers published Robert L. May’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Poem book
just in time for the holiday season!
4. Robert May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, was a songwriter. Robert May asked his brother-in-law to write a song about Rudolph, and he did. Gene Autry sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which became number one on the charts during Christmas in 1949.
5. Robert L. May wrote two sequels to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The first is Rudolph’s Second Christmas, and the second is Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shines Again.
6. On Sunday, December 6, 1964, the animated movie Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer aired on NBC for the first time. It has been airing for
57 years this year (2021).
7. On November 6, 2014, Rudolph was honored by the United
States Postal Service. They issued four stamps that featured characters from
the 1964 animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie.
Can you share a fact about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
with us?
Books about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:
1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
2. Rudolph's Second Christmas by Robert L. May
3. Rudolph Shines Again by Robert L. May
Parents ensure books are child-friendly before reading them to their/children.
Candy Can Facts & Trivia
In what year was the candy cane first introduced to
children? (A.) 1871 (B.) 1670 (C.) 1542 (D.) 1847
Legend states that the first candy cane was a straight white sugar stick. A choirmaster in Germany bent them into the shape of a candy cane. They were then handed out to all the children during a ceremony in hopes that it would keep them quiet during the show in 1670.
Facts about the candy cane:
1. August Imgard of Wooster, Ohio, was a German-Swedish immigrant who, in 1847, decorated a Christmas tree (Blue Spruce) with candy canes and paper ornaments. He was the first person in the United States to put candy canes on a Christmas tree. The candy canes were plain white.
Reindeer Facts
Today, I wanted to blog about Reindeer. Let me tell you all about Reindeer, also known as Caribou. Caribou are wild and native to northern North America, while Reindeer are domesticated and native to northern Europe and Asia. Reindeer are a species of the deer family.
Magical Reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh through the
night sky on Christmas Eve! Santa and his Reindeer go to each house so he can
leave gifts for the children. Only Santa’s Reindeer can fly because
they are magical. Did you know that all Santa’s Reindeer are female? Scientists
say that Santa’s Reindeer are all female. Male Reindeer lose their antlers in
the winter, and females don’t lose theirs until the springtime. So, Santa's reindeer have to be female because they still have their antlers while flying Santa's sleigh.
What do you put out for Santa and his Reindeer to eat on
Christmas Eve?
Here is a list of Santa’s Reindeer in Alphabetical order:
Here is a list of Santa's Rainbow Reindeer in alphabetical order:
Santa's Rainbow Reindeer is a book by Mimi Jones.
Facts about Reindeer:
1. Both the male and female Reindeer grow antlers.
2. Reindeers are herbivores. They eat grasses, herbs, mosses,
fungi, lichen, leaves, and other vegetation types.
3. Reindeer have a four-chamber stomach. The four chambers of
the Reindeer’s stomach are the Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, and Abomasum.
4. Male Reindeer are called bulls or stags. Female Reindeer are called cows. A baby Reindeer is called a calf. A group of Reindeer are
called herds. Reindeers travel and sleep in herds of 10 to as many as 500,000
reindeers. Some Reindeer herds are more extensive depending on what part of the world
they live in.
5. Reindeer are powerful animals with solid and
powerful legs. Reindeers can run up to 20 to 48 miles per hour.
6. Reindeer can swim when they need to cross the water. They
can swim at speeds of up to 5 miles per hour, sometimes a little faster.
7. The height of the Reindeer measures about 3 to 5 feet from
hooves to shoulders. They can weigh as much as 500 pounds.
8. Reindeer can live up to 10 or more years in the wild and up
to 20 years in captivity.
9. Reindeer prefer to live in cold climates like Alaska,
Northern North America, Europe, and Northern Asia.
Books about Reindeer:
1. Remarkable Reindeer by Jeff Bauer
2. Facts About the Reindeer by Lisa Strattin
3. The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
4. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May
5. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: A 21st Century
Retelling by Angela Nixon
Parents/caretakers should ensure books are child-friendly before reading them to your child/children.
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Facts about M&M's
I am going to share some information about M&M’s with
you. M&M’s are multi-colored round chocolates with a hard candy-coated
shell. M&M’s were invented by Forrest Edward Mars Sr., who got the idea from watching soldiers eat round chocolate candies during the Spanish Civil War. The
M&M’s plain chocolate candy was made in 1941 in a Newark, New Jersey factory. M&M’s were a ration for the United States Military.
Facts about M&M’s:
1. Forrest Edward Mars Sr. is the son of Frank C. Mars, the founder of Mars, Inc.
2. While Forrest Mars was in Europe, he briefly worked for Nestle and the Tobler company.
3. The Milky Way was Forrest Mars's idea; his father, Frank Mars, produced it in 1923.
4. After Forrest Mars graduated high school, he attended Yale and then Berkeley, where he completed his degree in engineering in 1928.
5. While Forrest Mars was in England in 1933, he created the
Mars bar and Maltesers.
6. When Forrest Mars returned to the United States, he
started his own business and created Uncle Ben’s Rice and Pedigree dog food line.
7. The M’s on the M&M’s stand for Mars and Murrie. Bruce
Murrie was Forrest Mars's partner for a while until Mars bought him out.
8. M&M’s used to be made using Hershey’s chocolate.
Peanut M&M’s were first made in 1954.
9. M&M’s were first sold in cardboard tubes similar to
the plastic ones we see today.
Can you share a fact about M&M’s with us?
Books about M&M’s:
1. The M&M's Count to One Hundred Book by Barbara
McGrath
2. Mars Family: M&M Mars Candy Makers by Joanne Mattern
3. The M&M's Addition Book by Barbara McGrath
Parents, be sure books are child-friendly before reading them
to your child/children.
Last week, we focused on expressing gratitude for items and experiences that start with the letter M. Today, we invite you to share something you are thankful for that begins with the letter N. Your contributions can foster a spirit of appreciation and reflection.
I'm thankful for Nene Geese. What are you thankful for that starts with the letter N?
With soft feathers, strong feet, and a name that sounds like a lullaby, the nēnē (pronounced "nay-nay") isn’t just a goose, it’s a feathered symbol of survival, sunshine, and island spirit. Let’s flap into some fascinating facts about this unique bird!
The nēnē was crowned Hawaiʻi’s state bird in 1957. It's the only goose found naturally in the wild in Hawaiʻi, and it doesn't live anywhere else on Earth!
Scientists believe the nēnē evolved from Canada geese that arrived in Hawaiʻi thousands of years ago. Over time, they adapted to island life and became smaller, gentler, and better at walking on lava rock.
Forget wetland waddling, these geese have partially webbed feet, making them great for hiking across rough terrain. They're built for lava fields, grassy slopes, and dry shrublands, not ponds!
Nēnē pairs usually mate for life and work together to raise their fluffy goslings. The mom lays up to five eggs, and both parents protect the nest fiercely. Goose teamwork at its finest!
In Hawaiʻi, nēnē geese sometimes appear in memorial artwork and educational programs to symbolize resilience, peace, and protection. Their survival story echoes themes of bravery and remembrance.
By the 1950s, fewer than 30 nēnē geese were left in the wild. Thanks to conservation efforts, including breeding programs and habitat protection, today there are over 2,500 nēnē living on multiple Hawaiian islands.
“Nēnē” is based on their soft, gentle honk-like call, which sounds kind of like a cooing whisper. It’s one of the sweetest-sounding honks in the bird world!
While most geese fly long distances, the nēnē is a homebody. It stays on the islands year-round, enjoying mild weather and island snacks like berries and grasses.
Expressing gratitude has numerous benefits for individual well-being. Research indicates that recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of life can enhance mental health and overall happiness. This practice not only boosts one's own mood but also fosters positive feelings in others. Therefore, it is important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in daily life.
Next week, we will focus on celebrating items and concepts that begin with the letter O. This will be an opportunity to explore and express gratitude for a variety of topics, ranging from cozy comforts to intriguing curiosities. Join us as we appreciate and highlight the diverse range of positive associations linked to this distinctive letter.
Get your worksheet here:
Kids will learn about Hawaii’s official state bird, the gentle and rare Nēnē Goose, by creating a cozy “nest” filled with things they’re thankful for in nature.
Meet the Nēnē:
Share fun facts about the Nēnē, like:
Build the Nest of Thanks:
Create a nest using yarn, tissue, or drawn textures. Inside the nest, place leaf or egg shapes with messages like:
Add the Nēnē Goose:
Color and cut out the goose, then perch it in the middle of the gratitude nest.
Display Title Ideas:
Books about Hawaii:
1. The Mystery in Hawaii: The 50th State by Carole Marsh
2. Hawaii's Animals and Wildlife by H. Douglas Pratt
3. My First Hawaiian 200 Picture Word Book by Gerard Aflague
4. Fascinating Facts About Hawaii by Jim Loomis
Parents, ensure that the books you choose to read to your child or children are suitable for their age and interests.
Return to the Alphabet Hub!
Stylus and Tablet Facts
Did you know that the Stylus and Tablet have been around for a long time? A weird but actual fact! The first stylus and tablet date back to the ancient Mesopotamian period. Cuneiform is a writing system that was developed by the Ancient Mesopotamians. They would use a stylus made of reed to scratch writing into their clay tablets. Reed is similar to a stick. One end of their stylus had a sharp point for writing, and the other had a flat end to scratch off the writing if they made a mistake. How cool is that? Our technology has advanced over the years and has become much easier to use.
Facts about the Stylus and Tablets:
1. The plural noun of stylus is styli or styluses.
2. A reed stylus was a writing tool used by the scribes of ancient Mesopotamia. Scribes were very important people who were trained to write using cuneiform so they could record important things on their
tablets with their styluses.
3. Tablets in ancient times were made from clay, stone,
wax paper, parchment, or papyrus.
4. Ancient Styluses were made from reed, iron, bronze, or bone.
5. The Ancient Romans called their writing tablets diptychs. A diptych was similar to a book. It had a hinge that allowed the writing tablet to fold to protect the writing on the waxed surfaces of
the paper.
6. A Tabula was a wax tablet used by the Ancient Romans for
writing.
7. Cuneiform is the oldest form of writing, and it dates back
to around 3200 BCE.
A bible verse states that everything we have has already been. Read it here... “That which hath been
is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and GOD requireth that which
is past”-Ecclesiastes 3:15
Can you share a fact about ancient or today’s
styluses and writing tablets?
Books about Cuneiform and Ancient writing:
1. Sumerian Mythology: History for kids: by Dinobibi
Publishing
2. Cuneiform: Ancient Scripts by Irving Finkel
3. Children's Encyclopedia of Ancient History: by Philip
Steele
4. Ox, House, Stick: by Don Robb
Parents make sure books are child-friendly before reading them to their/children.
Thank you for reading my post!
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