Happy (Early) Leap Day!

Did you know that Caesar Introduced Leap Years? Roman general Julius Caesar implemented the first leap day in his Julian Calendar, which he introduced in 45 BCE (Before Common Era). A leap day was added every four years. At the time, leap day was February 24, and February was the last month of the year. Other calendars actually add an entire month, or leap month, making their calendars 13 months instead of 12.

One probably tends to think of "leaping" alongside frogs. So why not celebrate with a few frog themed activities: 

1. Make an origami frog and have a leap frog contest, throw in measurement and make it a math activity! 
2. Leap Year Math Fun
3. Complete a Leap Year Frog Maze
4. Have a frog science lesson. Spring is coming, learn a frog's life cycle. Get them ready to look for tadpoles! 
5. Pinterest Frog Activity pins
6. Give all your kids a bookmark!
7. Play a frog match game!
8. Coloring Pages Group 1  Coloring Pages Group 2  Leap Year Coloring Page
9. Watch The Pirates of Penzance, a musical by William S. Gilbert and Arthur S. Sullivan
10. Or if you are not into the frog theme or a musical, read a leap year book: 
• Leopold’s Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday by Dawn Desjardins
• It’s My Birthday…Finally! by Michelle Whitaker-Winfrey
• Leaps Day by Stephanie Bee Simmons
• The Kangaroo Who Couldn’t Stop by Robert Cox
• The Leap Year Book by Barbara Sutton-Smith 
• It’s Not Leap Year This Year by Michelle Whitaker-Winfrey
• Mommy, Where’s My Birthday! by Lakisha Cornel
• Young Adult Book: Leap Day by Wendy Mass

Lastly, if you have a child in your classroom born on a leap day, celebrate them. It is not often that they get celebrate on their actual birthday. Which is sad. And if they are sad, well you can also pass along an online support group for any leaper--- the Honor Society of Leap Year Babies....I'll just stop with that....Happy Leap Day Everyone!