September
September—Library Card Sign-up Month
They may have paper, they may have pens, but if your students don’t have library cards, they’re not fully equipped to learn. And it’s free!
September 4—Labor Day
Remember those who risked being fired or injured in order to organize the first Labor Day parades. Labor unions remind us that workers create prosperity for all.
September 15–October 15—Hispanic Heritage Month
This observance honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of citizens who share the common language ancestry of Spanish. For more, go to www.nea.org/readacross/hispanic.html.
September 18—Constitution Day (observed)
This day is part of National Constitution Week. Go to www.justicelearning.org/ConstitutionDay/index.asp to register for free resources. You must register by 9/8.
September 23—Ramadan Begins
Ramadan is a holy time when Muslims worldwide fast and honor the revelation of the Koran to the prophet Muhammad. The observance ends October 22.
October
October 2—Yom Kippur
The most solemn day of the Jewish year, and one of the most important, the “Day of Atonement” is typically spent at synagogue in fasting, reflection, and prayer.
October 6—German American Day
Celebrate the culture, achievements, and contributions of American citizens of German ancestry.
October 9—Columbus Day
This day commemorates Christopher Columbus’ sighting of the New World. The Mariners’ Museum has information about his voyages at www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/columbus.php.
October 9—Anniversary of Benjamin Banneker’s Death
Find out about this versatile Black mathematician and astronomer—who wrote his own almanac—at www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/colonial/banneker_1.
October 9–13—National School Lunch Week
Good nutrition is vital to student learning. Visit http://docs.schoolnutrition.org/meetingsandevents/nslw2006/index.asp for information, activities, and more.
Diversity Recipe
 MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE
Chocolate is native to Central America. The Aztecs combined it with honey, nuts, seeds, spices, and chile. Europeans later adapted the recipe using milk and sugar.
Your students will enjoy trying Mexican hot chocolate—rich, dark, and redolant of cinnamon. It can usually be found in the Hispanic foods section of large grocery stores. You’ll also need a wooden whisk, called a molinillo (mo-li-nee-yo). (You can use a regular whisk, but it won’t be as much fun!) This recipe serves 2.
Ingredients:
Warm the milk and chocolate in a sauce-pan. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add them with the bean to the milk. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture just begins to boil. Remove from heat, strain, and beat with the molinillo until it froths. ¡Salud!
*Ibarra is a popular brand of Mexican chocolate. If you can’t find it, use regular dark hot chocolate mix and add cinnamon to taste.
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