Hello September
What month comes before September?
August.
August and September were named by the Romans—August after Emperor Augustus, and September meaning “seven,” because it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar.
What tool do you use to gather leaves in your front yard?
A rake.
The modern rake hasn’t changed much in design since the 1800s.
What is the type of sandwhich that is popular for kids to bring to school for lunch?
PB&J.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches became popular during WWII because of military rations.
What flying insect, known for gathering nectar, tends to stay active into early fall?
Bees.
Bees work hard storing honey through the summer (and into fall) to sustain their colony through winter.
Elvis Presley was known as the “King of” what kind of music?
Rock and Roll.
Elvis’s first single was “That’s All Right” in 1954.
What federal holiday is the first to be celebrated in September?
Labor Day.
Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 and was originally celebrated with parades, picnics, and speeches by labor union leaders.
Which fruit—often harvested in early fall—is known for turning into cider and supports the phrase “as American as…”?
Apple.
The apple has been a symbol of New England culture, and apple-picking and cider-making are iconic autumn activities.
What document do students receive at the end of the term showing their grades?
Report card.
Some schools used to mail report cards home—today, many are online.
Many fall-blooming flowers include chrysanthemums. What do gardeners often call them for short?
Mums.
“Mums” come in all kinds of colors and have been a staple of fall gardens in North America.
Finish this lyric: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me...”
"Happy when skies are grey."
The song was first recorded in 1939 and has become an American classic.
In the Northern Hemisphere, around September 1st, what astronomical event occurs when day and night are roughly equal?
Autumnal Equinox.
The equinox is one of two times each year when Earth’s axial tilt is perpendicular to the sun’s rays, marking roughly 12-hour day and night everywhere on Earth.
What spooky holiday is celebrated on October 31st?
Halloween.
Halloween traces its roots to the Celtic festival Samhain, a harvest and “spirit” celebration.
What is the name of the most popular brand of crayons?
Crayola.
Crayola has been making crayons since 1903—and now offers over 120 colors.
What bright orange squash is carved for Halloween, later in the fall season?
Pumpkin.
Pumpkins are a type of winter squash, native to North America—they were used by Native Americans long before Europeans arrived.
What crooner is known for “Fly Me to the Moon” and “My Way”?
Frank Sinatra.
Sinatra was nicknamed “Ol’ Blue Eyes” and won 9 Grammy Awards.
September is the birth month of which famous playwright who wrote “Macbeth” and “Romeo and Juliet”?
William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, but his baptism certificate lists him as being born “of our late Augustan queen” – though he died in April.
What do you call the day when we "fall back" and turn clocks one hour earlier?
Daylight Savings Time.
This usually happens in early November in the U.S.—you gain an extra hour of sleep!
What nickname is often given to the school lunch served on a plastic tray?
Mystery Meat.
“Mystery meat” became a pop culture term for unidentifiable cafeteria food—but not all of it was bad!
Which large bird begins to migrate southward in September—known for its V‑formation flight?
Canadian Geese.
Canada geese mate for life and their honking V‑flight is thought to save energy and maintain formation.
What group sang “Good Vibrations” and “California Girls”?
The Beach Boys.
The band’s harmonies defined the “California sound” of the 1960s.
On September 2, 1945, which significant historical event officially ended?
World War II.
This date is sometimes marked as V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) in the U.S., with the formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri.
What insect is famous for migrating thousands of miles south during the fall?
Monarch butterfly.
Monarchs travel up to 3,000 miles to reach Mexico—one of the longest insect migrations!
What’s the name of the test high school students take for college admissions?
SAT.
The SAT has been around since 1926 and originally stood for "Scholastic Aptitude Test."
Early-fall is prime time to spot which insect that undergoes a thousand-day larval stage underground before emerging?
Cicadas.
Some cicada species emerge every 13 or 17 years in massive broods, filling the air with their buzzing in late summer and early fall.
What upbeat 1959 hit begins with “Well, you can rock it you can roll it, do the Stroll and even stroll it…”?
At The Hop by Danny & the Juniors.
This song was a staple at 1950s sock hops and dance parties.