Secondary – August 24

Poet, translator, essayist, and short story writer Jorge Luis Borges was born on this date in 1899. He was also director of the National Library of Buenos Aires when he lost his vision. Think about your ideal job and the most important of the five human senses to that work. If you were to lose that sense, how could you compensate and continue to excel at it?

Primary – August 24

The first example of a book printed with a machine that made it possible to reproduce the same book over and over was completed by Johannes Gutenberg on this date in 1456. Describe how you would reproduce your favorite book without a machine.

Secondary – August 23

On this date in 1814, US Presidential wife Dolley Madison saved a portrait of George Washington from the White House before it was looted and burned by British troops. If you were going to save one object from your house from destruction, what would you choose and why?

Primary – August 23

Poet Edgar Lee Masters, who wrote the Spoon River Anthology about the kinds of towns in which he grew up, was born on this date in 1869. Write a 6-line poem about your town.

Secondary – August 22

Don’t write about reverse psychology.

Primary – August 22

When you feel sad, what do you do to cheer yourself up?

Secondary – August 21

Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, was born on this date in 1973. Think about the ways you find information compared to the ways your parents and grandparents found information. Write a short essay about how those differences affect your daily life.

Primary – August 21

Winnie-the-Pooh’s Christopher Robin was born on this date in 1920. Christopher once told his bear friend, “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” What would you tell your best friend to always remember?