Allen Brokken 
Storyteller, Author, Technology Strategist.

Anyone up for a paper airplane contest? It is thought that paper airplanes have been around for about 2,000 years and originated in China. The modern version, however, showed up in 1909. Did you know that according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest paper airplane flight was 289 feet and 9 inches? Why not have a fun contest today and try to beat this record! Be sure to give extra points for design and creativity! Here are some ways to enjoy National Paper Airp

How will you be celebrating National Yard Games Day? Back in the 1800s, playing in the yard was done regularly. Since homes were much smaller and people had so much less back then, children found more to do outside than inside. When friends and family got together they enjoyed each other's company by sharing a meal and playing many different types of games. Ring in summer this year with your family and friends by spending the day outside. Be sure to make some memories by play

Everyone always seems to be busy with one thing or another. Today gives us the chance to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us every day. This day wasn't just created for photographers, it was created for everyone to pause momentarily and take in the amazing views that nature provides us with every time we walk out our doors. This is a wonderful chance to spend some time outside with your kids and give them a chance to learn to love all it has to offer. You may fin

Jerky has been around for generations and is said to have started as a technique to preserve meat. Native American cultures in North and South America used drying and salting methods to make jerky. Today, jerky has progressed from a survival meal to a popular snack consumed by people all over the world. Different civilizations have created their own distinct techniques for creating jerky, including using diverse meats, like beef, turkey, chicken, venison, bison, and even veg

Did you know that coyotes actually run faster than roadrunners? Bummer right? Oh well, it's still fun watching Wile E. Coyote! This was just one of the fun facts that I learned when I researched some in-depth prairie facts for Wellspring of Life. The prairie is a fascinating place! It's also a really fun setting to use when you are writing a series like mine! I hope that you find some fun ways to enjoy National Prairie Day! Ways to Celebrate National Prairie Day If you live n

Scavenger hunts are a ton of fun and they can be adapted to whatever situation you want. Being versatile is the scavenger hunt's best quality. They can be enjoyed by both young and old. You can make one for inside on a rainy day or out in your backyard. They can be themed for any party, in your park, on a trip, or all around a big city! Your creativity is the limit when it comes to making a scavenger hunt. They can be super easy or one that lasts all day long! You can even ma

Today's the day to thank a teacher! Tell your kids a story about your favorite teacher and what made them so amazing. I had a science teacher that did super cool things. He played the guitar, took us on nature walks, made archeological digs, and he even turned our classroom into a mini planetarium! If you're a homeschool mom then take the day off! Or, plan some fun things to do with your kids in honor of the day. You deserve it! Ways to Appreciate Teachers in Your Life gift c

The New York City Mayor's Office established Poem in Your Pocket Day in 2002. It was established to commemorate National Poetry Month by encouraging individuals to express themselves through poetry and appreciate all of the wonderful poetry that the world has to offer. Will you carry a poem in your pocket today to share with others? Check out some other ways that you can enjoy the day. Write some Towers of Light-themed Haikus A Haiku is a short form of poetry that originated

World Stationery Day is a reminder of the importance of handwritten communication and the role stationery plays in preserving our personal and cultural heritage. It also fosters creativity and self-expression through artistry and writing. So, instead of sending the same old text or email, take advantage of today and send a personal handwritten message to someone you care about. Here are some ways to enjoy World Stationery Day! Support your local businesses by shopping for som

Almost everyone has a love for some type of art. It takes many different forms including painting, sculpture, architecture, dance, music, literature, cinema, and more! Today is a day to release your creative side and enjoy art, whether that means participating in some form or just appreciating it. There is so much beautiful art around us. So, take it all in today and give in to your artsy side. Things to do on World Art Day Do art projects with your family. Take up a new art

Oh, yummy caramel! It can be used as a topping, a filling, an ingredient, and even in drinks! My favorite way to enjoy caramel is the plain old homemade kind that comes from my great-great grandma's recipe! My mom made them every year at Christmas for everyone and they became known as "Christmas in wax paper." They were so popular that everyone kept a very watchful eye on their share of caramels! I have fond memories of watching my mom make these homemade caramels. She made a

What book did you love to read when you were a kid? I probably read Battlefield Earth seven times in sixth grade. It was so long that I never quite remembered the beginning by the time I got to the end. Although, Star Ship Troopers was a close second. It's those favorite books that you remember and keep close. I also have always enjoyed reading with my kids. How do you make reading fun in your home? It's not always easy, especially if you have a struggling reader. The trick

Even though there was a lot of work to do on the prairie in the 1800s, they still found some time to do the things that they loved. They probably had much less free time than we do today, but folks back then took advantage of it by enjoying things like reading, fishing, sewing, visiting with neighbors, and playing games. Sometimes they would get families together for Quilting Bees, or Bees for short. Women would work on making quilts together, while the men might work on bui

Kids in the 1800s had to make do with whatever materials they had available. They didn't have the convenience of running out to the store to pick up a few crafting supplies like today. Most of the time, crafting was also something that taught them a skill that they used throughout their lives. Boys might whittle a toy soldier or spinning top to play with, while girls might sew clothes for a doll out of scrap material. Many times crafting was actually making useful items for t

Finding the right amount of nutrition and staying hydrated on the prairie back in the 1800s looked very different than it does today. They did it without refrigeration, plumbing, and multivitamins! Imagine having to get water from the creek or well every day. If you were lucky enough to have a well, you would have had to work very hard to dig it yourself! Imagine making your own butter after milking the cow, gathering eggs, picking vegetables, baking bread, and the list goes

Don't you think that Sparkle Frog would have a much easier time riding around on Ethan's head if he had thumbs? What about Daddy Duck? I bet he would be bringing Aiden all kinds of tools, and Aiden would probably even teach him how to use a few! I have to say that Meow Meow might get into some serious mischief with thumbs though! What do you think would happen? Do you think it would change how they were able to help their friends in the story if the animals had thumbs? What d

In the 1800s breakfast was social and was frequently shared with family members or guests. What people had for breakfast depended largely on their economic status. Due to restricted resources and time limitations, the working class often ate a more simple breakfast. Bread, butter, and tea were most popular, occasionally supplemented with leftovers from the previous day's meal. Breakfast in rural agricultural settings was usually made up of things like bacon, eggs, sausage, oa

German immigrants settled in the United States in the 18th century. They became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch and they're credited for bringing with them the first recipes for those amazingly yummy sticky buns! I don't know about you, but I am hard-pressed to resist one of these tasty treats! Back in the 1800s, the ovens were brick or cast-iron, which were fueled by wood. Regulating temperature during baking and cooking had to be quite a challenge, and don't get me started

Fun things to do on Lego Day: measure things with your Legos get a new Lego set go to a Lego store watch The Lego movie make Lego art: Dip your Legos in paint and make creative picture prints with them try to do some robotics with Legos make a marble course with Legos use them in any kind of sensory item, playdough, sand, etc. make a boat that floats and see how many minifigures you can attach to it before it sinks Get different colored stamp pads and construction paper. Stam

Have fun with puzzles today! Maybe try out a new type of puzzle that you've never done before. Here are some different types of puzzles to check out. Then, solve the puzzles below! jigsaw puzzles sudoku word searches mazes brainteasers/riddles crossword puzzles cryptogram tangram rebus Clue/mystery games escape room game 3D puzzles (like Rubik's cubes) Word Search Jigsaw Puzzle Slide Puzzle