This month includes a lot of holidays, both official and unofficial, that students of all ages can use for some good, clean fun. Start out on the 2nd with Groundhog Day. Will Punxatawny Phil or Octarora Orphie (Pennsylvania's famous groundhogs) see their shadows? Will we have six more weeks of winter or not? How about French Creek Freddie? How many of those famous groundhogs are out there, across the country? There must be more than three.

February 7th is Ash Wednesday and occurs on the date of the new moon. There will be a solar eclipse that day in part of the world as well. February 7th is the Chinese New Year. This is the year of the Rat. Do you know what Chinese year you were born in? These repeat every 11 years.

Two of our Presidents were born in February. Abraham Lincoln was born on the 12th and George Washington on the 22nd, but they celebrate both on "President's Day" now. Did you know Washington was born on a different date in February, but when the Gregorian calendar was adopted during his lifetime, it converted to the 22nd? Check out what date George was born on in the Julian calendar.

Of course, February is the "love month" and this year, because it is Leap Year, there are two "love days." The first is Valentine's Day, on the 14th. Let's all send Valentines to shut-ins, elderly relatives, etc., and brighten up their days!

Then, on the 29th, we can celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day, the day when women ask men for a date. It only comes every four years, so not many men worry - unless there’s a Sadie Hawkins Day race. Check out what happens if she catches him!

Go to library.thinkquest.org/2886/feb.htm for a list of bizarre holidays in February. This is also Black History month and there is plenty of information available online. For a list of more "normal" February holidays: familycrafts.about.com/library/spdays/blfebdayslong.htm

You might want to visit atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Holidays/. Check out holiday themed lessons. Even if you don't homeschool your children, you may want to take a look at these websites for ideas. If you don't have a computer, go to your local library and feel free to use the public access computers there.

Homeschooling pet peeve of the month: Bill Gates thinks all school children should have their own lap top. However, instead of providing them to American kids, he's doing this in Africa. I guess they must have better internet access there than we do in West Virginia.