January Warm UpsJanuary Warm Ups
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January 1January 1
On this day in 1892, Ellis On this day in 1892, Ellis Island opened. Put Island opened. Put
yourself in the shoes of yourself in the shoes of those first immigrants to those first immigrants to the United States. What the United States. What
do you think were some of do you think were some of their feelings, their hopes, their feelings, their hopes,
and their fears? and their fears?
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January 2 January 2
The drinking straw was The drinking straw was patented on this day in patented on this day in 1888. A patent helps 1888. A patent helps
to protect the rights of to protect the rights of an inventor. Why is an inventor. Why is
this protection this protection important?important?
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January 3 January 3
Author J.R.R. Tolkien was born on Author J.R.R. Tolkien was born on this day in 1892. Tolkien is best this day in 1892. Tolkien is best
known as the author of “The Lord known as the author of “The Lord of the Rings.” This book recently of the Rings.” This book recently became a movie. Many people, became a movie. Many people,
possibly even you, enjoy possibly even you, enjoy comparing the original book to the comparing the original book to the movie. Which do you think people movie. Which do you think people should do first? Read the book or should do first? Read the book or
see the movie? Explain your see the movie? Explain your thinking. thinking.
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January 4 January 4
Jacob Grimm was born on this Jacob Grimm was born on this day in 1785. Jacob and his day in 1785. Jacob and his brother are known for the brother are known for the
“Grimm’s Fairy Tales.” Did you “Grimm’s Fairy Tales.” Did you know that many famous fairy know that many famous fairy
tales were written about tales were written about political or historical events?political or historical events?Explain why someone would Explain why someone would
do this.do this.
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January 5 January 5
On January 5, 1925, the On January 5, 1925, the first woman governor, first woman governor,
Nellie Ross, was Nellie Ross, was inaugurated in Wyoming. inaugurated in Wyoming. Would you like to be the Would you like to be the governor of your state? governor of your state?
Why or why not? Why or why not?
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January 6 January 6
Poet Carl Sandburg Poet Carl Sandburg was born on this day was born on this day
in 1878. Write a poem in 1878. Write a poem or song that relates to or song that relates to
what we have been what we have been talking about this talking about this
week. week.
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January 7 January 7
In 1789, the first U.S. In 1789, the first U.S. Presidential election was Presidential election was held. If you were running held. If you were running
for President at that for President at that time, what issue(s) time, what issue(s)
would you have based would you have based your campaign on?your campaign on?
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January 8 January 8
Elvis Presley was born Elvis Presley was born on this day in 1935. on this day in 1935.
Presley is well known as Presley is well known as “The King of Rock and “The King of Rock and Roll.” How has music Roll.” How has music
influenced our nation's influenced our nation's history?history?
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January 9 January 9
The 1st U.S. balloon The 1st U.S. balloon flight occurred on this flight occurred on this day in 1793. Why do day in 1793. Why do
you think people you think people wanted to find a way wanted to find a way to travel in the air?to travel in the air?
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January 10January 10
The first meeting of the The first meeting of the United Nations General United Nations General
Assembly occurred on this Assembly occurred on this day in London in 1946. day in London in 1946. What does the United What does the United
Nations do? If you don’t Nations do? If you don’t know…explain how you know…explain how you
could find out.could find out.
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January 11 January 11 On this day in 1908 Theodore On this day in 1908 Theodore
Roosevelt made the Grand Roosevelt made the Grand Canyon a national monument. Canyon a national monument. Why is it important to protect Why is it important to protect
the Grand Canyon?the Grand Canyon?
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January 12 January 12
January 12th 1986 the January 12th 1986 the Columbia spaceship was Columbia spaceship was launched. This was the launched. This was the
first spacecraft to be first spacecraft to be piloted by an African piloted by an African
American. Why is this American. Why is this important?important?
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January 13 January 13
On this day George On this day George Washington created the Washington created the
idea of adding a new star idea of adding a new star to the US Flag every time to the US Flag every time a new state was added.a new state was added.
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January 14 January 14
Today is Dr. Martin Luther Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. King was born King, Jr. Day. King was born
in 1929. He delivered his in 1929. He delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Beginning speech in 1963. Beginning
with those same words, write with those same words, write your own speech about your your own speech about your hopes for our world and its hopes for our world and its
people. people.
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January 15 January 15
On this day in 1967, the first On this day in 1967, the first Super Bowl played. Green Bay Super Bowl played. Green Bay
defeated Kansas City by a score defeated Kansas City by a score of 35 to 10. To make it to the of 35 to 10. To make it to the
Super Bowl, football teams must Super Bowl, football teams must work together. What do you think work together. What do you think
is the most difficult part of is the most difficult part of working with other students, or in working with other students, or in teams, at school? What are the teams, at school? What are the
advantages of working with advantages of working with others? others?
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January 16 January 16
In 1857 Ivan the In 1857 Ivan the Terrible was crowned Terrible was crowned as Russia's first Czar. as Russia's first Czar. How is monarchy (a How is monarchy (a
king or czar) different king or czar) different from a democracy?from a democracy?
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January 17 January 17
On this day in 1706, On this day in 1706, Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was born. List 5 was born. List 5 things you know things you know about Benjamin about Benjamin
Franklin.Franklin.
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January 18 January 18
On January 18, 1803, the first On January 18, 1803, the first official exploration of official exploration of unknown spaces was unknown spaces was
undertaken by the United undertaken by the United States government. This States government. This
exploration was conducted by exploration was conducted by Lewis and Clark. Would you Lewis and Clark. Would you
liked to have joined these two liked to have joined these two on their adventure? Why or on their adventure? Why or
why not?why not?
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January 19 January 19
On this day in 1809 On this day in 1809 Edgar Allen Poe was Edgar Allen Poe was born. Do you know born. Do you know about any stories or about any stories or
poems Poe wrote? If not poems Poe wrote? If not how could you find this how could you find this
information?information?
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January 20 January 20
On this day in 1887 On this day in 1887 Pearl Harbor was Pearl Harbor was
created as a Naval created as a Naval Base. How was Pearl Base. How was Pearl
Harbor important Harbor important during WWII?during WWII?
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Jan, 21: What Jan, 21: What does does
GKTOADS GKTOADS stand for?stand for?
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January 22January 22
Explain how history Explain how history could help you with could help you with something you need something you need to accomplish today.to accomplish today.
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January 23January 23
“There is nothing “There is nothing impossible to him who impossible to him who
will try.”will try.”Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great
What does this mean to What does this mean to you?you?
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January 24 January 24
On this day in 1848, gold On this day in 1848, gold was discovered in was discovered in
California at Sutter's Mill by California at Sutter's Mill by John Marshall. Would you John Marshall. Would you have liked to of been an have liked to of been an early miner? Why or why early miner? Why or why
not? What do you think like not? What do you think like was like for these men? was like for these men?
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January 25 January 25
On January 25, 1924, the On January 25, 1924, the first Winter Olympics first Winter Olympics
were held. What is your were held. What is your favorite event to watch favorite event to watch
during the Winter during the Winter Olympics? Explain your Olympics? Explain your
answer. answer.
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January 26 January 26
Today is “Australia Today is “Australia Day.” It marks the date Day.” It marks the date that Australia was first that Australia was first settled in 1788. List 5 settled in 1788. List 5 more things you know more things you know
about Australia.about Australia.
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January 27 January 27
On this day in 1832, author On this day in 1832, author Lewis Carroll was born. His Lewis Carroll was born. His most famous piece of work most famous piece of work was was Alice’s Adventures in Alice’s Adventures in WonderlandWonderland. What is your . What is your favorite book and why is it favorite book and why is it
your favorite?your favorite?
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January 28 January 28
Today is the birthday of Today is the birthday of Sesame Street character, Sesame Street character,
Ernie's birthday. If you Ernie's birthday. If you could create a television could create a television
show for kids, what type of show for kids, what type of a show would it be? What a show would it be? What is its name? What type of is its name? What type of
information would it information would it contain? contain?
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January 29 January 29
On this day in 1990 On this day in 1990 Joseph Hazelwood went Joseph Hazelwood went
on trial for his role in on trial for his role in the oil spill caused by the oil spill caused by
the Exxon Valdez. How the Exxon Valdez. How are oil spills harmful?are oil spills harmful?
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January 30 January 30
On January 23, 1882, the On January 23, 1882, the 23rd President, Franklin 23rd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was born. D. Roosevelt, was born. He was president during He was president during
the Great Depression and the Great Depression and World War Two. List 5 World War Two. List 5 more things you know more things you know
about FDR. about FDR.
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January 31 January 31
On this day in 1919, baseball On this day in 1919, baseball great Jackie Robinson was great Jackie Robinson was born. What do you think it born. What do you think it
takes to be a great athlete? takes to be a great athlete? Write about the Write about the
characteristics and qualities it characteristics and qualities it takes for someone to reach a takes for someone to reach a level of greatness in a sport. level of greatness in a sport.