Visit this activity where students explore print and film versions of J. R. R. Tolkien's work to celebrate his birthday today: buff.ly/34b46jF

American zookeeper and animal expert Jack Hanna was born on this day in 1947. Invite students to use this online tool to learn about animals: buff.ly/3yW5SRa

Happy Holidays from ReadWriteThink.org and NCTE! Please note that our offices will be closed starting December 24. We will be back open January 2. If you have an immediate need, [email protected] will be monitored each day except for December 25–26. Enjoy your break!

Avi was born on this day in 1937. Celebrate by inviting students to explore a current event topic and write their own short work of fiction in a multigenre format inspired by Avi: buff.ly/3IJDG8p

Research American inventors on the anniversary of Thomas Edison's 1882 invention of the indoor decorative tree lights: buff.ly/3l8VFeB

Challenge students to celebrate what the season of winter means to them by starting their own tradition on the first day of winter: buff.ly/3oN2WTf

Author Sandra Cisneros was born on this day in 1954. Celebrate her birthday by looking at a "tiny little thing" from your life. buff.ly/2YQtsfS

Winner of the Golden Kite Award and a Caldecott Medal for SMOKY NIGHT, author Eve Bunting was born on this day in 1928. Learn more about her and her texts with this activity: buff.ly/3II5GsU

Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin was born today in 1950. Celebrate with this creative film lesson: buff.ly/3rXai8K

On this day in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, NC, the Wright Brothers flew for 12 seconds. Celebrate with these teaching ideas: buff.ly/31Cq26j

Using this activity, students create a political cartoon to demonstrate understanding of the Boston Tea Party, which occurred on this day in 1773. buff.ly/3Bn6i5b

Celebrate Bill of Rights Day by asking students to explore the ways the document does and does not protect students: buff.ly/3GmIYEJ

The first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, was born on this day. Celebrate her legacy with this lesson: buff.ly/3lJOFoo

Cook up some holiday-themed learning with this grades K-2 lesson that uses familiar words from THE GINGERBREAD MAN: buff.ly/484dyAV

“Poetry is as precise a thing as geometry,” suggests Gustave Flaubert, who has a birthday today! See this related lesson: buff.ly/3ElsBaU

Do your student scientists know about astronomer Annie Jump Cannon? Learn more to celebrate her birthday! buff.ly/3Exo4CF

"Old age comes on suddenly, and not gradually as is thought." Happy birthday, Emily Dickinson! Find teaching ideas here: buff.ly/3DiFaTg

Poet John Milton was born this day in 1608. Students learn about the sonnet form with one of his poems in this high school lesson: buff.ly/3d3mJqM

Celebrate Mary Azarian's birthday today by exploring snow...or making some if you don't have any yet! buff.ly/3Ei8U3G

Students commemorate "a date which will live in infamy" on this anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor: buff.ly/3rpazB1