National Tell a Story Day on April 27th each year in the United States encourages people of all ages to share stories. The stories can take many forms, too. You can read from a book or create one from your imagination. Stories recreated from childhood memory leave an indelible imprint on both the storyteller and the listener. No matter what story you tell, the day supports gathering with friends and family to share those stories.
The ancient practice of storytelling handed down knowledge from one generation to the next. It is a wonderful way to pass on family traditions, histories, and long-told tales. It can also be entertaining as well as educational. Any good storyteller will tell you, some of the very best stories come from real-life experiences.
The celebration encourages every generation to tell stories. That includes the youngest storytellers to most experienced. Gather grandparents and children together to swap tales. Pick a topic and let the tales spin. Bring favorite books or well-remembered fables to tell. Spending time telling stories with family, friends, and loved ones is a time for all to learn from each other, remember, and grow closer together.
Besides creating a bonding environment, oral storytelling provides rich opportunities to reminisce. While connecting the past to our present, oral storytelling also fosters creativity. It encourages the use of imagination that lasts a lifetime.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTellAStoryDay
Libraries around the country participate in the day. They offer special storytelling times for children. Do you have a story to tell? It does not matter if the story is a short story or a long story, fiction or nonfiction, a tall tale or folklore. Seek the storytellers in your life and encourage them to regale you with stories. As you listen, record them in some way. This is a day for them all.
While you’re practicing your storytelling skills, try these tips to make your tales come to life:
Engage your audience. Invite them to participate, too!
Be sure to give your characters their own voice. Would Kermit the Frog or Daniel the Tiger be the same without their own voice?
Get physical! Body movements give your stories extra impact. You will capture your audience’s attention. You will also bring your story to life.
Ask your audience questions. How will the main character get out of trouble? What will happen next? Who do you think did it? What would you do?
Use misdirection to surprise your audience. Sound effects, small magic tricks, and props all add elements of surprise to your stories.
Facial expressions punctuate your words. Use this powerful tool to drive a character’s emotion home.
We encourage you to tell your stories and even share them on social media using #NationalTellAStoryDay.
Google is showing a doodle for the 94th birthday of British scientist and writer Anne McLaren as she was born on April 26, 1927.
She is widely considered one of the most significant reproductive biologists of the 20th century. Her fundamental research on embryology has helped countless people realize their dreams of parenthood.
She went on to study zoology at the University of Oxford, where her passion for science only grew as she learned from talented biologists such as Peter Medawar—a Nobel laureate for his research on the human immune system.
In the 1950s, McLaren began to work with mice to further understand the biology of mammalian development. While the subjects of her research were tiny, the implications of their study proved massive. By successfully growing mouse embryos in vitro (in lab equipment), McLaren and her colleague John Biggers demonstrated the possibility to create healthy embryos outside of the mother’s womb.
These inventions in 1958 led the way for the development of in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology that scientists first used successfully with humans twenty years later. However, the development of IVF technology carried major ethical controversy along with it. To this end, McLaren served as the only research scientist on the Warnock Committee, a governmental body dedicated to the development of policies related to the advances in IVF technology and embryology.
Her expert council to the committee played an essential role in the enactment of the 1990 Human Fertilization and Embryology Act—watershed, yet contentious, legislation which limits in-vitro culture of human embryos to 14-days post embryo creation.
In 1991, McLaren was appointed Foreign Secretary, and later vice-president, of the world’s oldest scientific institution and she was the first woman to ever hold office within the institution’s 330-year-old history – The Royal Society.
McLaren discovered her passion for learning at a young age and aspired to spark this same enthusiasm for science in children and society at large.
In 1994, the British Association for the Advancement of Science elected her as its president. Through the organization and its events, McLaren engaged audiences across Britain on the wonders of science, engineering, and technology with the aim of making these topics more accessible to everyone.
Happy birthday, Anne McLaren. Thank you for all your incredible work and for inspiring many new generations to come because of it.
1. What did Anne McLaren discover?
Anne McLaren was a pioneering scientist who studied how embryos develop. Her research helped lead to the development of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), the technology that has enabled thousands of couples to have children.
2. What was Anne McLaren famous for?
Anne Laura Dorinthea McLaren was a developmental biologist known for her work with embryology in the twentieth century. McLaren was the first researcher to grow mouse embryos outside of the womb.
National Kids and Pets Day on April 26th raises awareness of the importance of picking the right pet for children at the right time. It’s an important decision that can lead to a lifetime of bonding between pet and child.
The day also celebrates the bonds children and pets can share and a day remember safety where our pets and children are concerned. There are many benefits of having a pet in a child’s life. From fostering natural nurturing abilities to developing responsibilities, pets have a lifelong impact on a child’s development.
It is also important to remember that small children as well as the pets may not know their limitations and should not be left alone with each other. They should always be supervised to prevent injury to both the child and the animal.
Even though dogs and cats are some of the most beloved pets in the United States, pet homelessness is a huge problem in the country. There are about 70 million stray animals in the United States. Up to 8 million of these animals end up in shelters. There are 3,500 animal shelters in the country. It’s at these animal shelters that pets receive a second chance. According to the ASPCA, over 3 million shelter animals are adopted each year.
No matter the breed, size or demeanor of the human, er, canine, the shelter will take the time to find the right home for their animals. They schedule visits and have procedures in place to promote healthy adoptions for families and individuals. While some dogs have experienced injury or illness, the shelters work with veterinarians to heal the animals before making them available for adoption.
National Help a Horse Day on April 26th each year encourages horse lovers and advocates to join forces and protect abused and neglected horses. The day raises awareness of the need for horse sanctuaries and rescues.
In the United States, the horse holds legendary status. Despite that, many go unwanted, abused, or neglected. This day strives to address those issues by drawing attention to several organizations that support horse rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption. Their programs offer shelter and veterinary care for horses that have been neglected or abused. Many of them provide a sanctuary where the horses live out the remainder of their lives. Once rehabilitated, many of the horses become available for adoption.
However, horses require specialized and costly care. These dedicated organizations do not run on love alone. They require funding that comes in the form of monetary donations, volunteers, and in-kind donations. Through National Help A Horse Day, increased awareness of these organizations’ needs will further help more horses.
With over 200 breeds, these spirited animals give humans much to love. Their loyalty and devotion throughout history may only be a portion of the reasons to help and love them. Not just a means of transportation, horses cleared fields, fought wars, and moved cattle. Beyond their utility, their companionship was indispensable long lonely trails. Cattlemen, pioneers, and more recognize horses as cornerstones of survival in a burgeoning nation.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHelpAHorseDay
Equine rescues and sanctuaries across the country hold events celebrating the horse. The events raise awareness and advocate for abused and neglected horses across the country. Support a horse rescue near you. Volunteer or donate to the cause. If you’re able to adopt or foster a horse, visit a rescue and find out more. Visit the ASPCA to get involved. They offer resources and events to help you actively contribute to a horses’ life.
Use #NationalHelpAHorseDay to post on social media.
National Dissertation Day on April 26th creates an annual reminder to continuing education students to maintain their focus and complete the pinnacle of their education.
The first doctoral degree was awarded in Paris in the mid-12th century. The doctorate of philosophy was conceived in Germany some 500 years later and is the direct precursor to the modern Ph.D. Today, universities in the U.S. award multiple research-based doctoral degrees. Many of those degrees are specific to a discipline of study. For example, the D.B.A (business), Ed.D. (education), D.N.P. (nursing), and Psy.D. (psychology) are all quite popular among professionals in industry, business, and private practice as opposed to traditional academia.
However, one thing these degree programs all have in common is the doctoral dissertation. Born of the master-apprentice relationship of the medieval trade guilds, the dissertation is the masterpiece of the doctoral process. To graduate, every doctoral student must complete an independent research project and write a dissertation – a book-length paper detailing every aspect of the project.
Each year in the U.S., over 50,000 people earn their doctoral degrees, successfully completing the grueling dissertation process. However, only about 50% of those who enroll in doctoral programs ever graduate. Meanwhile, that leaves another 50,000 students each year who withdraw from their doctoral programs without finishing their dissertations.
Tuition for most doctoral programs across the country exceeds $20,000 per year and can be significantly higher. Students spend 5-7 years pursuing their doctoral degrees, and often much more. Additionally, the money spent on tuition pales in comparison to the costs associated with postponing the increased earning potential enjoyed by doctoral graduates. Individuals with their doctoral degrees typically earn at least $20,000 more per year than those with their master’s degree.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDissertationDay
If you’re a doctoral student approaching the dissertation phase of your program, use National Dissertation Day as an opportunity to develop a mindful approach to the dissertation process. Then you can graduate and make your impact on the world as soon as possible.
If you’re a doctoral candidate stuck on your dissertation journey, National Dissertation Day is the perfect day to eliminate any bad habits you’ve developed. Put your dissertation back on track with a few adjustments.
And, finally, if you know a struggling doctoral student, ask them how they’re celebrating National Dissertation Day. It could be just the push they need to develop a mindful attitude toward their dissertation and help them leave the confusion, stress, and frustration of the dissertation process behind as soon as possible.
Use #NationalDissertationDay to share on social media.
NATIONAL DISSERTATION DAY HISTORY
Dr. Russell Strickland, founder of Dissertation Done, LLC, created National Dissertation Day as a way to highlight the importance of adopting a professional, even mercenary, approach to completing one’s dissertation. With each year in the dissertation process costing a student $40,000 or more in real dollars, it’s hard to rationalize delaying graduation for 2, 3, or more years by wasting time on the dissertation.
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