Despite the fact that February is the shortest month of the year, it can often feel like the longest.  Winter is in full force, which means inclement weather, often keeping our students inside.  Long days spent entirely in the classroom can result in a bit of cabin fever for both students and teachers, and this is when the countdown to spring usually begins!  

But since there are still several more weeks of winter (according to the groundhog), here are a few fun facts for February to share with your students:

•    January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar.
•    The word February comes from the Latin term februum, meaning purification.
•    There are two common pronunciations for the word February: one with the first "r", and one without. (It is considered proper to use the former.)
•    Leap year occurs every 4 years (when the year is divisible by 4).  In leap year, February has 29 days instead of 28.
•    The birthstone for February is the amethyst.  

Luckily, there are several special distinctions and holidays that give us reason to celebrate during this month.  Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, and Presidents' Day all occur during the month of February, all of which provide wonderful opportunities for learning through song and fun activities.  

Listen to a sample of February from Listen & Learn: Months in the audio player, below.