When I was younger I would open up the newspaper on my birthday and there would always be a section on what famous people were born on my birthday.  It was sort of a game we played in the family. We then had to go and learn something about the history of one of those historical people.  My parents were very tricky (or looking back on it, very creative) making education into a treasure hunt or game.  I just remember I was always disappointed by the lack of really famous people born on my birthday compared to my siblings. Yes even sibling rivalry about the mundane.  Back then to learn about history, I had my World Book Encyclopedia and the library for my information hunt.