Celebrate Darwin Day

The 12th of February is Charles Darwin's birthday, a great day to celebrate this great man's life. Darwin Day is held every year on Darwin's birthday and it's a great excuse to hold a birthday party, go to a museum, read The Origin of the Species, and above all remember what a difference he's made to our knowledge of our world.

Charles Darwin was born in 1809, February 12th, 2009 was the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. 2009 was also the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species. Celebrate this great man's birthday this year.

Darwin picture from shehal

Go out into the woods, the wild, and look at our world. True knowledge comes from observation, so observe our amazing planet.

Picture from spratmackrel

Go out into nature and observe it. Take a walk and look at the plants and animals. Take notes and sketch what you see. Pick leaves and outline them in a notebook. Learn about nature and the world about you.

Picture from steve Ioya

Picture from L2F1

Life is amazing and incredible, millions of years of evolution have led up to what we see around us, savor the awesomeness of life every day, but most especially this day.

Picture from sandburchick

A book changed how the entire world viewed humanity, shouldn't you read it? Unlike many classic books, Origin of the Species is an interesting read and easier to understand than you'd think. Read it and see what you've been missing.

From the plaque:

Charles Darwin Bicentenary Statue

This bronze sculpture of Charles Darwin was created to celebrate the bicentenary of his birth, February 12th 2009, through the generosity of Dr Alan Smith (1964). In contrast to the universal image of Darwin as an elderly, bearded man, this sculpture depicts a twenty-two year old Darwin (in May 1831) during his final year at Christ's.

About the statue. In his hand is a volume of Alexander von Humboldt's Personal Narrative --a book that triggered Darwin's desire to travel and observe the geology and natural history of far-away places. Beneath the tails of his coat are other important books from his time at Christ's --William Paley's Natural Theology, John Herschel's Preliminary Discourse on Natural Philosophy, and James Stephens' Illustrations of British Entomology. Look out for Brachinus crepitans while you are admiring the statue, it echoes one of Darwin's great passions (collecting beetles).

Picture from Martin Pettitt

Knowledge is important, don't leave your children ignorant, teach them about Darwin, who he was, what he discovered about our world.

• Tell your children about how Charles Darwin was and why he was important.
• Have your kids do coloring pages of animals Darwin discussed. Get free coloring pages click here and here
• Create some games to teach your kids about Darwin.
• Talk to your kids about why tortoises, finches, and llamas, as well as the other species that Darwin observed were important.
• Show your children pictures of dogs, and discuss how people force them to evolve different traits, not in the way nature would, to make them better for their environment, but rather how humans want them, to be pretty or bigger or smaller, in the end creating new breeds.
• Get the kids thinking by having them try and think up traits that the animals have that relate to their homes, ie moles that are blind and live underground or whales that went back to the water and have blubber and still have leg bones.
• Make a game out of figuring out various evolutionary traits and what animals have them and the benefits of them.

Picture from FlickrDelusions

It's Darwin's birthday, so hold a birthday party for him. Bake a fun cake, like one of the ones shown below, and just have a nice party.

Many places have celebrations in honor of Darwin Day, attend one. Check out Darwin Day Celebrations for events happening around the world.

Visit a natural history museum near you. Go by yourself or with children and see what exciting things there are in the world now and in the past.

Picture from ferret boy

Visit the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and see their exhibit called "Islands of Evolution". This exhibit displays actual specimens collected during expeditions, including Darwin's actual finches and Galapagos tortoise shells.

California Academy of Sciences Website

Picture from clickykbd

Honoring Charles Darwin (1809-82); this 2.2 tonne marble statue was designed by Sir Joseph Boehm (1834-90) and unveiled in 1885. In 1927 it was moved, and only returned to its position in 2008.

Located at the Natural History Museum, Kensington

Picture from failing_angel

Many of the animals that Darwin observed are in danger. There are groups trying to protect them, but they need your help. Adopt a tortoise, shark, passionflower, or other species for about $40 through Galapagos Conservation Trust by clicking here. Celebrate Darwin Day by making the world a better place and saving endangered species from extinction.

Picture from Taraji Blue

The picture above is of a temporary tattoo, but Darwin Day is the perfect day to get a tattoo symbolizing your love for logic.

Picture from QwirkSilver

Down House, was Charles Darwin's home and it is located in Downe, Orpington, England. Darwin and his family lived there for years, and Darwin worked on his books there. The house has furniture reproduced to match the originals and everything is restored, including gardens and grounds. It is open to the public and fairly close to London. Visit it and know where Darwin was coming from.

Picture from Iron Ammonite

The Galapagos Islands are amazing centers of biological diversity, still relatively unburdened by humans, visit them and see the world that Darwin saw.

Picture from abmiller99

Picture from NH53