Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Today is a day for us to play with words that often are fun to say. Like Lorax, Cindy Loo Hoo, and all of the other ones, too!

It’s Dr. Seuss’s birthday today!

If you haven’t already gotten started on the celebrating, never fear! There is still time! And I actually have a few fun tricks up my sleeve, much like a certain cat who enjoys hats.

1. Green Eggs and Ham

Have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Eat in a plane, a train, a bus, or a car. Really you can eat it wherever you are! Green eggs and ham is both nutritious and delicious. Lucky for you, this recipe is super easy and brought to you by the kind folks at Seussville.com. So crack a few eggs and heat up the frying pan!

2. Plan a Read-a-Thon!

Yes, today is Read Across America Day officially, but reading is important all year long. There is nothing to say that your school, classroom, or family can’t spend some quality time with your favorite books next week, tomorrow, or next year. The National Education Association has awesome ideas, graphics, and more to help your team create a fabulous reading event.

Some of my own fun ideas include:

• Dress up as your favorite fictional character
• Make food from a book (see Green Eggs and Ham)
• Read a whole (chapter) book in one day
• Illustrate your favorite scenes from a book
• Host a Book to Movie Marathon
• Read-In: the kids grab a book and read for a set length of time, the teacher/parent gets grading/housework/breathing accomplished

3. Create a Game

This is perfect for little ones, or anyone who likes to have fun. Some of my favorite things to do are just play around with words and reading outside of books. I Can Teach My Child seems to share my love of mixing fun and reading, because their list is fabulous! So totally check it out. I really like the Ten Apples Up On Top idea and writing letters in shaving cream.

4. Make Like the Lorax

Ok, so don’t shut yourself into a house because the environment is all sorts of messed up. Instead, take a nature walk. Bring a trash bag and some protective gloves. As you walk, pick up any trash or litter you see on your path. At the end, toss the trash bag where it belongs: in the dumpster!

You could also do a quick search for native flowers in your area. Then grab some seeds from the hardware store (most places sell a wildflower seed mix) and sprinkle away! Spreading native wildflower seeds can help animals find food to eat, help the local bees make honey, and makes your neighborhood prettier. 

Seussville.com also has a Lorax Project. It focuses on four endangered forests and provides children (and parents and teachers) the opportunity to contribute toward the greater good by promoting awareness and acting with responsibility for the environment. Plus, you can send the Lorax a letter! Way cool!

5. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot

This guy seems to have an answer for EVERYTHING! And PBS Kids is lucky to host his show and website. Based on a series of science books, which I happen to adore beyond measure, this show and website helps even the very youngest learn about plants, animals, weather, and other topics. I really like the parent’s site, which provides ideas for integrating science into everyday activities and relates each idea to an episode of the show.

So, how will you celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading today, and all year? Tell me in the comments, please!

~Meg

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Photo credit:Ted Geisel Dr. Seuss half length portrait, seated at desk covered with his books / World Telegram & Sun photo by Al Ravenna]. 1957. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/item/96519865>.