5 extra pays

💸 Surprise Paycheck? Here’s Why It Happens!

Did you know that if you’re paid weekly, you might get an extra paycheck every 5 to 6 years? It’s true, and it’s one of those little calendar quirks that can feel like a mini bonus!

Let’s break it down.

📆 Why Does This Happen?

Most people who are paid weekly receive 52 paychecks a year. That usually means four extra paychecks beyond the standard 12-monthly budgets.

But here’s the twist:

Because the calendar year doesn’t divide perfectly into weeks, some years sneak in a 53rd payday, meaning five extra paychecks instead of four!

This happens when the first payday of the year falls on the very first day or two of January, and the year ends on a day that still allows for a 53rd Friday (or whatever weekday your pay falls on). It’s all about how the dates line up.

🗓️ So, When Does It Happen?

Here’s a list of years when weekly-paid employees may have received (or will receive) five extra paychecks:

Past & Future Bonus Paycheck Years:

1897, 1904, 1909, 1915, 1920, 1926, 1932, 1937, 1943, 1948, 1954, 1960, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2016, 2021,

Coming up next: 2027, 2032, 2038, 2044, 2049, 2055, 2060, 2066, 2072, 2077, 2083, 2089, 2094, 2100, 2106, 2112, 2117, 2123

If you’re paid weekly, keep an eye on your pay calendar; your next “extra paycheck year” might be closer than you think!

💡 What Can You Do With That Bonus?

That extra paycheck is a great opportunity to:

• Add to your emergency fund

• Pay down debt

• Treat yourself to something special

• Donate to a cause you care about

• Save for a future goal

Whatever you choose, it’s a little reminder that time and timing can work in your favor.

Facts about the Four Seasons

🌎 The Beautiful Rhythm of the Seasons

The year unfolds like a colorful storybook, with four distinct chapters: spring, summer, autumn (or fall), and winter. Each season brings its own personality, its own weather, traditions, and natural wonders. Together, they form a beautiful cycle of change, growth, and reflection.

Let’s explore the magic of each one:

🌸 Spring: Nature’s Awakening

Spring bursts onto the scene with blossoms, birdsong, and gentle warmth. Trees sprout fresh green leaves, flowers bloom in every color, and animals awaken from their winter naps. It’s a season of renewal, growth, and joyful beginnings.

☀️ Summer: Sunshine & Adventure

Summer wraps the world in warmth and light. Days grow longer, and the outdoors come alive with beach trips, picnics, and laughter. Ice cream cones melt in the sun, and families gather for barbecues and fireworks. It’s a time for fun, freedom, and exploration.

🍂 Autumn: A Colorful Transition

As summer fades, autumn paints the trees in fiery reds, golden yellows, and deep oranges. Leaves crunch underfoot, and cooler breezes whisper of change. It’s a season of harvest, gratitude, and cozy traditions like apple picking and pumpkin carving.

❄️ Winter: Quiet Beauty

Winter arrives with crisp air and snowy silence. The world slows down, wrapped in blankets and twinkling lights. Holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah fill hearts with warmth, while snowflakes dance outside. It’s a time for reflection, togetherness, and peaceful wonder.

🌍 Why Do Seasons Change?

The Earth doesn’t stand straight; it’s tilted at about 23.5 degrees. As it orbits the sun, different parts of the planet receive more or less sunlight. That’s what creates the seasons!

• When the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun, it’s summer there and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

• When the tilt shifts, the seasons reverse!

This gentle wobble in Earth’s position creates the rhythm we live by: blooming springs, sunny summers, golden autumns, and snowy winters.

🌈 Final Thought: Seasons Shape Our Story

From the first flower of spring to the last snowflake of winter, the seasons guide our lives. They influence what we wear, how we celebrate, and how we feel. They remind us that change is natural and beautiful.

So wherever you are in the world, and whatever season surrounds you right now, take a moment to notice its gifts. The Earth is always turning, always teaching, always inviting us to grow.

🍁 Explore the Seasons: A Think, Draw & Talk Activity

No need to type, just read, imagine, and explore! This activity is perfect for kids to do on their own, with a grown-up, or in a classroom.

🌸 1. Season Match-Up

Say the name of the season that matches each clue out loud:

• Blossoms bloom, animals wake up, and the air feels fresh.

• Long sunny days, beach trips, and ice cream cones.

• Leaves turn red, orange, and gold. Time for harvest!

• Snow falls, the air is crisp, and cozy holidays arrive.

👉 Can you point to a window and guess which season it is right now?

☀️ 2. My Favorite Season

Grab a piece of paper and draw a picture of your favorite season.

Add things you love about it, like sunshine, snowflakes, pumpkins, or flowers!

🖍️ Bonus: Write the name of the season at the top of your drawing.

🍂 3. Season Swap

Imagine you’re visiting a country on the other side of the world.

If it’s summer where you live, what season might it be there?

🎒 Draw or talk about what you’d pack in your suitcase for that season!

❄️ 4. Gentle Reflection

Each season brings change, and change helps us grow.

💭 Think about this:

What’s something new you’ve learned or tried this year?

Tell a friend, draw a picture, or whisper it to yourself with a smile.

Books about the seasons:

1. The Squirrels’ Busy Year (A First Science Storybook) by Martin Jenkins

2. Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

3. My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan

4. A Tree For All Seasons by Maryse Guittet

Molecules and Atoms

🌟 You Matter—Because You Are Matter!

YOU DEFINITELY MATTER! Never let anyone convince you otherwise. You are a crucial part of this universe; not just emotionally, but scientifically, too!

Did you know that every person is made of matter? That’s right! We’re built from tiny building blocks called molecules, atoms, and cells. And since matter is anything that takes up space and has mass… guess what? You’re made of it. You literally matter.

Let’s explore what that means in a way that’s both curious and kind.

🧠 What Is Matter?

Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. That includes the Earth beneath your feet, the stars twinkling above, and the air you’re breathing right now. From the tiniest particles to the biggest planets, matter is everywhere, and you’re part of it.

🧊💧🌬️ The Three States of Matter

Matter can exist in three main forms. Each one behaves a little differently:

• Solid: Holds its shape and volume. The particles are packed tightly together. Think of ice, wood, or a rock.

• Liquid: Flows and takes the shape of its container, but keeps its volume. Water, juice, and oil are great examples.

• Gas: Has no fixed shape or volume. The particles spread out and move freely. Oxygen, helium, and carbon dioxide are all gases.

🧬 What’s Inside Matter?

Matter is made of atoms, the tiniest building blocks of everything. Each atom has a center (called a nucleus) with protons and neutrons, and a cloud of electrons swirling around it. Atoms join together to form molecules, and molecules make up everything from air to apples to you!

🌀 Inertia: The “Stay-Put” Power of Matter

All matter has inertia. That means it likes to stay how it is, whether it’s resting or moving, unless something pushes or pulls it. It’s why a soccer ball won’t roll until you kick it, and why your body keeps moving forward when a car suddenly stops.

🌍 Matter Is Everywhere—Including You

Whether it’s the water you drink, the air you breathe, or the ground you walk on, matter is always with us. It shapes our world, our bodies, and our experiences.

So the next time someone says you matter, you can smile and say:

“I know, I’m made of it!”

🧪 You Matter! Interactive Science & Self-Worth Activity

Let’s celebrate the science of YOU! Try these fun challenges right here on the blog:

1. What Kind of Matter Am I?

Take a moment to imagine yourself as a scientific superstar. You take up space, you have mass, and you’re made of atoms, so you are matter!

💡 Write a sentence that describes yourself using science words:

“I am a solid human made of atoms and molecules!”

Want to get creative? Add a nickname like “Atomic Explorer” or “Molecule Master!”

2. Match the Matter

Can you match each item to its state of matter? Type your answers below!

• Ice cube → ______

• Juice → ______

• Balloon full of air → ______

Choices: Solid  Liquid  Gas

3. Hidden Matter Hunt

Look around your room or wherever you are. Can you spot one of each?

• Solid: __________

• Liquid: __________

• Gas: __________

💬 Leave a comment sharing what you found!

4. Gentle Reflection 💭

Science says you’re made of matter. But your heart, your kindness, and your creativity? That’s what makes you truly matter.

🖊️ Write or draw your answer:

Why do YOU matter, not just in science, but in life?

What makes you special, strong, or kind?

🌈 Final Thought: You Matter in Every Way

Whether you’re learning about atoms, exploring the states of matter, or simply breathing in the air around you, remember this: you are made of the same stuff as stars, oceans, and mountains. You take up space. You have mass. You are matter.

But more importantly, you matter because of who you are. Your kindness, your curiosity, your creativity, they shape the world in ways no one else can.

So keep exploring, keep asking questions, and never forget:

You are a crucial part of this universe, scientifically and beautifully.

Check out my educational post about AIR.

A is for Air

This week, we’re thrilled to ignite a wave of gratitude as we focus on items and experiences that start with the letter A! Today, we invite you to share something you’re particularly thankful for that begins with this letter. Your contributions will play a vital role in fostering a joyful spirit of appreciation and reflection. Let’s celebrate the beauty of gratitude together. Join us in this exciting alphabet gratitude adventure! Thank you for being a part of it!

I'm feeling thankful for the fresh Air today! It brings life and energy to everything around us. What about you? What’s something you’re grateful for that starts with the letter A?

🌬️ Up in the Air: 8+ Cool Facts About Earth’s Invisible Blanket

You can’t see it, but you feel it, air is everywhere! It rushes through the wind, fills your lungs, and even helps balloons fly at parties. But what is air, really? Let’s take a deep breath and dive into some surprising facts about our airy friend.

Facts about Ketchup

🍅 Ketchup as Medicine? The Surprising Story Behind Your Favorite Red Sauce

Did you know that ketchup was once sold as medicine? Yep, back in the 1830s, people believed it could cure an upset stomach! But the story of ketchup is even older, weirder, and more wonderful than you might think. Let’s take a tasty trip through time…

🧪 When Ketchup Came in a Pill Bottle

In 1834, an Ohio doctor named John Cook bottled ketchup as a remedy for tummy troubles. He even sold it in pill form! While we now know ketchup isn’t a miracle cure, it sure makes fries more fun.

🍄 Before Tomatoes Took Over…

From the 1700s to the 1850s, “ketchup” didn’t mean tomato sauce at all. It was a dark, savory liquid made from mushrooms, walnuts, or even oysters. Imagine flipping through a 1742 London cookbook and finding a fish sauce recipe that would one day evolve into the ketchup we know today. History has a way of surprising our taste buds!

🐟 The First Ketchup Was…Fishy

The earliest known ketchup recipe comes from China in 544 A.D. It was made from fermented fish parts like intestines and bladders, left to sit in the summer sun for 20 days. Not exactly what you'd want on your burger!

🌍 Ketchup Goes Global

When European explorers tried to recreate this savory sauce, they didn’t have soybeans, an essential ingredient in Asian ketchup. So they got creative, using mushrooms, oysters, and walnuts instead.

🍅 Enter the Tomato

Tomatoes didn’t join the ketchup party until 1812, when Philadelphia horticulturist James Mease wrote the first tomato-based recipe. From there, tomato ketchup slowly gained popularity.

⚠️ A Sticky Situation

By the 1860s, ketchup’s reputation took a hit. Some shady manufacturers added harmful preservatives and even coal tar to make it redder. Yikes! French cookbook author Pierre Blot called it “filthy, decomposed, and putrid.”

✅Ketchup Becomes a Classic

Despite the drama, tomato ketchup became a household favorite by the late 1800s. In 1901, folks in Connecticut could choose from 94 different brands!

🧴 Heinz’s Famous “57 Varieties”

Ever wonder why Heinz says “57 Varieties” on the bottle? It’s not the number of products they made. Henry J. Heinz just liked how it sounded after seeing an ad for “21 styles of shoes.” Catchy, right?

🐱 What’s in a Name?

The word “catsup” was first used by writer Jonathan Swift in 1730. And fun fact: Jane Austen was a fan of mushroom ketchup!

🍽️ A Sweet Reminder

Ketchup may be tasty, but it’s also sneaky; many brands are packed with sugar. So next time you squeeze the bottle, remember: a little goes a long way!

🍅 Ketchup Through the Ages: Discovery & Reflection Activity

Part 1: Time-Traveling Ketchup Detective 🕵️‍♀️

Match each ketchup fact to the correct time period. Write the letter of the time period next to each fact.

Time Periods:

A. 544 A.D.

B. 1742

C. 1834

D. 1860s

E. Late 1800s

Facts to Match:

1. Ketchup was made from fermented fish guts

2. Mushroom ketchup was popular in England

3. Tomato ketchup was sold as medicine

4. Ketchup had a bad reputation due to coal tar

5. Heinz launched “57 Varieties”

Part 2: What’s in a Name? 🐱

Circle the correct answer:

1. The word “catsup” was first used by:

a. Jane Austen

b. Jonathan Swift

c. Henry Heinz

2. Jane Austen liked which kind of ketchup?

a. Tomato

b. Walnut

c. Mushroom

Part 3: Sweet Surprise! 🍬

Ketchup often contains hidden sugar.

Can you guess how many teaspoons of sugar are in one tablespoon of ketchup?

☐ 1 tsp  ☐ 2 tsp  ☐ 3 tsp

Now, think about your favorite meal with ketchup.

Draw it, and add a little label showing how much sugar might be hiding in the sauce!

Part 4: Gentle Reflection 💭

Ketchup has changed a lot over time.

Write or draw your answer:

If you could invent a new kind of ketchup, what would it be made from?

Would it be sweet, spicy, or something totally new?

🌟 Final Squeeze of Wisdom

From fish guts to mushroom brews to tomato-filled bottles, ketchup’s journey is anything but ordinary. It’s a reminder that even the simplest things, like a squirt of red sauce, can hold centuries of invention, imagination, and unexpected twists.

So next time you dip a fry or decorate a burger, take a moment to wonder: What other everyday things have wild stories waiting to be discovered?

History is full of flavor. Let’s keep exploring it, one bite-sized fact at a time. 🍽️✨

North and South Pole Magnet

🧲Magnetic Attraction🧲

Did you know that magnets have a North and a South Pole?

Magnets are fascinating objects with a north pole and a south pole. Let’s delve into the fascinating world of magnetism:

Facts about the Tittle

✨ Tiny But Mighty: The Curious Case of the Tittle

Celebrating the Dot That Brings Letters to Life

Did you know the dot above the lowercase i and j has a name? It’s called a tittle, a tiny speck with a mighty job. And just like the small things we’re grateful for every day, the tittle is easy to overlook but impossible to ignore.

🔡 What Is a Tittle?

A tittle is the little dot you see above the letters i and j.

• The word “tittle” comes from Latin and means a small mark or stroke.
• It first appeared in English writing around the 14th century.
• Without the tittle, those letters would just look like skinny little vertical lines!

🧠 Why Does the Tittle Matter?

Even tiny marks can have a big impact.

• In handwriting, a tittle adds clarity and personality.
• In typefaces, it keeps letters recognizable and readable.
• And in learning to write, kids find joy in that final dot, the cherry on top of each word!

❤️ Gratitude for the Little Things

Let’s turn this quirky fact into a mindfulness moment:
If you were a letter, what tiny detail would be your tittle?

• A warm smile
• A secret handshake
• A happy sticker on your notebook

Bonus Activity:

• Create your own gratitude sentence using i and j words like “I imagine,” “joy,” or “jump”