December Warm Ups. December 1 On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. This was a brave action by Parks. What is.

December Warm Ups

December 1

On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her

bus seat to a white man. This was a brave action by Parks. What is the bravest thing you have ever done? Be sure to include details about the event and why

you think you were brave.

December 2

December is “National Write to a Friend

Month.” Write a letter to a friend telling them

what you learned yesterday in history

class.

December 3

On December 3, 1967, the first successful heart

transplant was conducted. How do you

think medical care in 1967 would compare

with medical care today?

December 4

On this day in 1877, the phonograph was invented. This

machine allowed people to listen to phonograph records. How do you think listening to these records was different

than listening to today’s CDs? What may be the advantages

and disadvantages of each type of machine?

December 5

On this day in 1901, Walter Elias (Walt) Disney was born in Chicago. What is your favorite Walt Disney

movie and why? If you haven’t seen any Disney

movies, which movie would you like to see and why?

December 6

On December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment

was passed. This amendment abolished, or ended, slavery. Why

do you think it was important for our country

to end slavery?

December 7

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl

Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. This was the

beginning of the United State’s involvement in

World War II. What do you know about WWII?

December 8

Inventor Eli Whitney was born on this day in 1765. Whitney is well-known for his invention of the cotton gin. This machine

made the harvesting of cotton much easier for the early

farmers. How would the world be different today if people still

had to harvest all crops by hand?

December 9

On this day in 1884, the ball-bearing roller skate

was patented. Explain how the roller skate is similar

and different from today’s roller blades. Which would you rather skate on and

why?

December 10

December 10th is “Human Rights Day.” What do you

consider to be rights of every human? Make a list of your

ideas. Looking at your list, do you think there are certain rights that are less or more

important than others? Explain your thoughts.

December 11

On this day in 1620, the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock. Put

yourself in the place of a Pilgrim child. What do you think it would

have been like getting off the boat after your long journey across the ocean to your new home? Would have been excited to begin your new life in this unknown land? Or

would you have wanted to get back on the boat and go back home?

Explain your answer…

December 12

December 12th is Poinsettia Day. This day was created to celebrate this popular holiday plant

that is actually a plant native to Mexico. Can you

think of other popular plants (or animals) that

came from other countries?

December 13

If you could have been

someone in history, who

would you have been? Why?

December 14

On December 14, 1911, the South Pole was discovered. If you were able to travel to the

South Pole, who would you want to take along with you

and why? You can choose from anyone – someone you know, someone famous, someone alive, someone who is no

longer living, anyone.

December 15

On December 15th is known as “Bill of

Rights Day.” Explain why the Bill of Rights is so important to our

way of life.

December 16

On December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party

took place. This was an historic event in

colonial history. Why did the early colonists protest the taxes on

tea?

December 17

On this day in 1903, the Wright Brothers made their first flight. Orville and Wilbur had to do a

great deal of teamwork in order to be successful. Think of a time

that you were involved in teamwork. Explain the situation and why you feel teamwork was

needed to be successful.

December 18

On December 18, 1886, baseball great, Ty Cobb, was born. How have sports

affected our country? Explain…

December 19th

On this day in 1777 George Washington and his troops settled into

quarters in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. Why is George Washington

important to our nation's history?

December 20

December 20th is the day that South

Carolina seceded from the Union in

1860. What did this action lead to?

December 21

On this day, December 21, a Pan Am airlines flight exploded over Scotland in 1988. All

passengers were killed. Describe a recent disaster that has happened in our

country.

December 22

Today, December 22nd, is the first

day of winter. What goals do you have

for the new season?

December 23

December 23rd is the day World War two began. This event happened in 1939. Great Britain and

France were the countries that declared war. What do you know about WWII?

On this day in 1968, Apollo 8 reached the moon. Would you liked to have been one

of the first astronauts to reach the moon? Why or

why not?

December 25th is Christmas Day. During WWI in 1914 troops

declared a Christmas Truce and stopped fighting for one day.

December 26th is “National Whiners Day.” You or your classmates may sometimes whine about the food served at your school cafeteria. Do you like the food your school serves? Explain. If you don’t

like the food, what would you change and why?

December 27th is “Visit the Zoo Day.” When people visit zoos, they get the

opportunity to see a variety of different animals.

Do you believe that zoos are a good thing to have?

Why or why not?

On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th

state. Why was this event

important? Explain…

On this day in 1869, chewing gum was

patented. Even though gum is for chewing, list as many other uses for gum

as you can think of.

On December 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th state. would you like to visit Texas? Why or why

not?

Kwanza, an African Harvest Festival, begins the last

week of December. Write what you know about

this event…

December 31st is New Year’s Eve. It is the last day of 2006. Think back to everything that happened over the

course of this last year. Choose from the following to write about:

• Most exciting event • Saddest event • Happiest event

• Most surprising event • Event that you wish you could

change • Event that you wish would have

happened, but didn’t