Some Fun Charts to Use in Class
Here are some fun ways to tell
if it's a Leap Year or not.
Even Decades
have three Leap Years		 Odd decades
have two Leap Years
1960     1964     1968 1972     1976
1980     1984     1988 1992     1996
2000     2004     2008 2012     2016
Another way to tell is by what day of the week the year starts and ends on. Leap Year only occurs in years that January 1st and December 31 fall on different days. For example:
2002 Tuesday January 1 - Tuesday December 31 No
2003 Wednesday January 1 - Wednesday December 31 No
2004 Thursday January 1 - Friday December 31  Leap
Year
2005 Saturday January 1 - Saturday December 31 No

Back to top

Think About These - This could be an Extra Credit Question!
1

Leap Year Day Babies born in 1884 had no birthday during their entire teen-age years. Why?
Because 1900 was not a Leap Year.
 
In 1888 they were 4 at 1. In 1892 they were 8 at 2. In 1896 they were 12 at 3. Since 1900 was not a Leap Year, there were 8 years before they could celebrate again on February 29. So, in 1904 they were 20 at 5. Not one single teenage year was celebrated ON their birth date.

Another way to pose the question is:
Leap Year Day Babies celebrate their birthday on their birth date every four years. But those born in 1884 couldn't celebrate on their 4th birthday when they turned 16. Why?
2

Leap Year Day Babies will never have a "Golden Birthday"
A Golden Birthday is when your age matches the number of the day of the month you were born on.
Leap Year Day Babies will have to be 116 before they turn 29 on the 29th!

Back to top

International Date Line Dilemma The Long and Short of it all!
We thought this could be used as a learning tool about the International Date Line.
The L O N G of it...Longest Reported Leap Day:
Jon Hayanga Leap Year Day Baby 1960, had his birthday in
Taipei one day then crossed the international date line going
east and had his birthday again the next day in Spokane,
WA, USA.

...and The SHORT of it Shortest Reported Leap Day:
Ed Chatfield Leap Year Day Baby 1940, crossed the date
line in a ship (going west) the night of  February 28th and
woke up on March 1st. So he lost his birthday entirely.

Back to top

The Leap Year Jump Rope Rhyme
By Raenell Dawn

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?

Can be used for hand clapping games as well.

The Leap Day Birthday Rhyme
by Raenell Dawn

There is a girl named Raenell,
who didn't like her birthday very well.
When she turned 13,
she thought it quite mean,
It was her birthday but no one could tell!

(You may substitute the first line with: There is a girl/boy I know well...)

When a Leap Year Day Baby turns 13 their birth date is not on
the calendar. When you turn 13 it's a big deal. You're now a teenager.
But this special birthday will not be celebrated on the date they were born. 

Back to top

Leaping Math Issues
1) If Raenell was born in 1960, but has only had 10 birthdays on her birth day, how could she be 40 in the year 2000?
(Answer: Because 1960 was a Leap Year so Raenell must have been born on February 29.
Note: See how it is worded? "on her birth day" - we can only celebrate our birth day ON our birthday, in Leap Years.)
2) If Peter was born on February 29, 1956 and in 2004 turned 12 Leap Years on his birthday, how many years old is Peter?
(Answer: 48. The key is 12 Leap Years vs. how many "years" without the Leap, literally!)  
3) If Caroline was born February 29, 2000, how many birthdays will she celebrate, on her birthday, by 2008?
(Answer: 2)
4) If Jim was born February 29, 1976, how many times did he celebrate his birthday ON his birthday, by 2005?
(Answer: 7. Seven times four is 28. In 2005 Jim would be 29.)

Back to top

LIST OF TEACHERS AND THEIR CLASSES LEARNING ABOUT LEAP YEAR
What is your class doing for Leap Year and Leap Year Day?
Please share with us and we'll put a link to your site on this
page. Email your info to Raenell.
If your class would like to ask "a real live Leapy"
any questions, Raenell is more than happy to oblige.
Just send her an email. Email Raenell here.
Here is what Mrs. Nash is doing in her 2nd grade class at Cumberland Elementary School in Whitefish Bay, WI

Which Day Leap Day? What Leap Day were you born on?
Every 28 years Leap Day lands on the same day of the week. Check it out...
Monday if you were born in... 1904 1932 1960 1988
Saturday if you were born in... 1908 1936 1964 1992
Thursday if you were born in... 1912 1940 1968 1996
Tuesday if you were born in... 1916 1944 1972 2000
Sunday if you were born in... 1920 1948 1976 2004
Friday if you were born in... 1924 1952 1980 2008
Wednesday if you were born in... 1928 1956 1984 2012

Back to top
GAMES TO PLAY REGARDING LEAP YEAR AND LEAP DAY
In the LeapZeum, the Leap Year Museum, there is a page on GAMES. The games listed can be altered to fit your classroom.
The BOOKS link is another one to check out. There are a couple books where the Leap Day baby is the main character. They
are pretty fun too. And be sure to click on the SUPERHERO link to read about Superman being a Leap Day baby!

If you were born in: You'll be this age in Leap Years by LY2004:

Birth Year Leap Years Actual Age   Birth Year Leap Years Actual Age
1896 26 108 1952 13 52
1904 25 100 1956 12 48
1908 24 96 1960 11 44
1912 23 92 1964 10 40
1916 22 88 1968 9 36
1920 21 84 1972 8 32
1924 20 80 1976 7 28
1928 19 76 1980 6 24
1932 18 72 1984 5 20
1936 17 68 1988 4 16
1940 16 64 1992 3 12
1944 15 60 1996 2 8
1948 14 56 2000 1 4

Back to top

 



Copyright © 2002 - 2003 The Leap Year Day Project
All rights reserved.
No image, writing, or poetry, on this website may be used without written permission of the owner.
For more information email info@leapyeardayproject.com.
Webmaster  Webfoot Leapy
This site was last updated Thursday, October 28, 2004