Leap Year Birthday is to be used with the resource Historical Perspectives from Mr. Mault's Marketplace on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Check out all of the Historical Perspective packs by clicking here. These packs are the perfect way to have your students learn about history, while reading, writing, and thinking deeply about primary sources.
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Speaker 1:
Leap Year Birthday. I didn't know. They let three-year-olds into sixth grade. Someone yelled from their locker. Monique pretended to laugh as she moved through the hall between math and band classes. Happy birthday, little baby girl, said another as she grabbed her clarinet. Are you potty trained? Yet she fake smiled again and pretended to be comfortable with the constant teasing she was enduring all day. Truthfully, she forgot how awful it was four years ago on Leap Day, but today she remembered. Monique was born on February 29th. That's a leap year date that only comes around every four years. Of course she actually gets a year older every year, but people pretend she's only three years old. She turned 12 today because four times three is 12. That's what she wanted to yell back to other kids, but she didn't.
Speaker 1:
Everyone was tuning their instruments and Mr Lofsky was sitting in his usual place at the piano. Monique noticed that she needed to switch the reed in her mouthpiece again and tried to do it quickly. Mr Lofsky looked over at her a few times and she wondered if he was frustrated that she was doing that during class. Then he started counting. Suddenly the rest of the class started playing the happy birthday song. It was an instrumental, so she wasn't 100% certain it was for her. Nobody was singing the words, so a name wasn't in it. She hoped it was someone else's birthday. It wasn't. When the song was over, everyone wished her a happy birthday. Then Mr Lofsky told them what song to turn to.
Speaker 1:
As he started class, monique was relieved to have the attention off her for the next 45 minutes. But lunch was next and that would be the worst. Plus, her clarinet mouthpiece with the new reed felt a little wrong. She took a long time to pack up her instrument and hung out in the classroom until everyone else was gone to lunch. Why did you have everyone play the birthday song for me, she asked Mr Lofsky. We've never done that for any other kid before. Because your birthday's special, he said.
Speaker 1:
Monique said on the verge of tears, she just couldn't take the teasing from an adult too. What, no, no, no, he assured her. Your birthday is special because less than 1% of people all over the world share your birthday. That's pretty special, I think. Well, I never really thought of it that way. Monique answered gratefully. Well, I hope you will now.
Speaker 1:
He said as he reached for her clarinet case. May I check your mouthpiece? It seems like you're going through reeds a little too quickly. Sure, she answered and handed him the case. Leave it with me. It'll be here for Jazz Club after school today. He said Now go to the front office quickly. Your grandmother is here with a special lunch for you. She is, monique asked. Time alone with her grandmother was her favorite thing. Well, after her clarinet, or at least tied with her clarinet. Also doughnuts Maybe her grandmother brought doughnuts. Anyway, time with her was always fun. Yes, she is. Mr Lofsky interrupted her train of thought. I'm not the only one who thinks your birthday is special. Now get, I'm fixin' to fix this mouthpiece. She rushed out the door with the first real smile of the day.