Leap Day Scavenger Hunt

Leaping Lizards! (or Frogs, I should say)  Leap Day is just around the corner.  Why do we have a leap year?  Send your kids on a scavenger hunt to answer this question and to learn more about this year's leap day!

Leap Year Scavenger Hunt
Using the websites below, have your child research the following questions...

Highlight Kids
KidsGeo
Enchanted Learning

1.  When do we celebrate leap year?

2.  Why is an extra day added to our calendar?

3.  Who were the first to add a leap day to the calendar?

4.  Some say a tradition started in the 5th century relating    to women?

5.  We add an extra day to the calendar this year, so how many days will be in our year?

6.  What is a person born on leap day sometimes called?

7.  How many people are born on leap day?

8. When was the last leap year?

9. How is Julius Caesar related to Leap Year?

10. Would you have liked to be born on a leap day- why or why not?

Answer Key
1. Every 4 years.
2  We match the calendar with the solar year, because it takes the Earth 365 days, 5 hrs, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to complete it's orbit.  These extra minutes add up!
3. Some say the Egyptians were the first to add an extra day.
4. A woman is allowed to propose to men only once every 4 years on leap day.
5. 366
6. a leapling
7. 1 in 1,461
8. 2008
9. He worked on reforming the Roman Calendar.
10.  No right or wrong answer. 

Other Leap Day fun... 

1. How about rope "leaping"  with a fun poem?

THE JUMP ROPE RHYME

Leap Year, Leap Year
When will you be?
Every four years
Then you'll see.


You want more?
We do too!
How many more
can you Leap to?

by Raenell Dawn

2. Leap Frog is always fun for all ages! With little ones who may not be able to hop over each other, make Lily pads and have your little one jump from pad to pad. 

3.  Learn about other animals that leap with these fun activities.  Many more links on this website as well with ideas for Leap Day. Teach With Me

My children don't know a lot about Leap Year, so I'm excited to do some of these activities with them this Wednesday.  Do you have any leap year activities planned?  If so, please comment- I love hearing and learning from you!

Jen

clip art sources: Animal Clipart.net and About. com