NEW: Monthly Activities Calendar
Download our FREE calendar of activities to celebrate holidays and other milestones with your students year-round with all sorts of classroom activities. Each month calls out one activity in particular.
Themes for Each Month of the Year
Check out the following monthly calendar theme ideas, complete with teaching and learning resources for holidays and other days of significance in the 2022–2023 school year for all grade levels. Whether it's the 100th Day of School, Earth Day, Halloween, or even International Podcast Day, these opportunities can become memorable teaching and learning moments.
AUGUST THEMES
First Day of School
- Back-to-School 2022 Articles for Teachers and Educators
- 3 First-Day-Jitters Activities for Back-to-School
- 6 Back-to-School Icebreakers for Elementary Students
- 3 First-Day-of-School Icebreaker Activities for Middle School Students
- 5 First-Day-of-School High School Icebreaker Activities
- All About Me Activities: Celebrate What Makes You 'Different'
- 29 Back-to-School Writing Prompts for Middle and High School
- 9 Back-to-School Getting-to-Know-You Activities for Students
- 4 Welcome-Back-to-School Activities and Ideas for Students
- 7 Back-to-School Science Activities for Elementary Students
- 7 Back-to-School Activities for Middle School Science
National Navajo Code Talkers Day (August 14)
SEPTEMBER THEMES
9/11 Remembrance
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)
- National Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for Students: A Celebration of Culture
- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With These HMH Books
Constitution Day (September 17)
First Day of Fall (September 22 in 2022)
International Podcast Day (September 30)
OCTOBER THEMES
Dyslexia Awareness Month
World Teachers' Day (October 5)
Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 10 in 2022)
- Q&A: How to Teach Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Infusing Multiple Narratives in History Classrooms: Native American Studies
Halloween (October 31)
NOVEMBER THEMES
Native American Heritage Month
National Novel Writing Month
National STEM/STEAM Day (November 8)
- Celebrate STEM Using Hands-On Experiments and Science Stories
- Celebrating Famous Women in Science Who Have Impacted the World
Veterans Day (November 11)
World Kindness Day (November 13 in 2022)
Thanksgiving (November 24 in 2022)
- 9 Thanksgiving Classroom Activities, Games, and Crafts
- 7 Fun Thanksgiving Activities for Elementary Students
- Try Some Mofongo With Your Turkey This Year
Black Friday (November 25 in 2022)
DECEMBER THEMES
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7)
Hanukkah (December 18-26 in 2022)
First Day of Winter (December 21 in 2022)
Christmas (December 25)
Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1 in 2022/2023)
All Winter Holidays
JANUARY THEMES
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16 in 2023)
- 5 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities for the Classroom
- Martin Luther King Jr. Discussion Questions: Reflecting on His Legacy
- 6 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Bulletin Board Ideas
Chinese New Year (January 22 in 2023)
Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27 in 2023)
100th Day of School
- 100th Day of School Activities: 11 Ways to Celebrate in the Classroom
- 6 100th Day of School Math Activities: Challenge Your Students
- 100th Day of School Dress-Up and Costume Ideas
- 100 Days of School: Poster Ideas for Teachers
- 100th Day of School Gumball Machine Template and Math Activities
- 100th Day of School Snack Ideas
- 100th Day of School Trail Mix Recipe Ideas
FEBRUARY THEMES
Black History Month
- 9 Fun Black History Month Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students
- 8 Black History Month Writing Prompts
- Inspiring Black History Month Bulletin Board Ideas for the Classroom
- 5 Teaching Tools to Honor Black History Month in the Classroom
- Inspiring Black History Month Classroom Door Decoration Ideas
- 7 Black History Month Quotes for Students, Plus Activities
- 9 Black History Month Science Activities & Experiments
Groundhog Day (February 2)
National School Counseling Week (February 6-10)
State of the Union (February 7 in 2023)
Valentine's Day (February 14)
- 7 Valentine's Day Classroom Activities
- 25 Valentine's Day Writing Prompts and Ideas
- 12 Valentine's Day Activities for Middle and High School Students
Presidents' Day (February 20 in 2023)
MARCH THEMES
Women's History Month
- 6 Women's History Month Activities for Students
- 8 Women's History Month Activities for Elementary Students
- 13 Women’s History Month Books for Elementary Students
- Women's History Month Bulletin Board Ideas: Celebrating Herstory
- They Persisted: Celebrate Women Authors of the 19th Century
- Where Are the Women? Finding Stories in History Beyond State Standards
National Nutrition Month
- 7 Nutrition Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students
- 7 Nutrition Lesson Plans and Activities for High School Students
- 8 Nutrition Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students
National Grammar Day (March 4)
Pi Day (March 14)
- What is Pi Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?
- 11 Fun Pi Day Activities for High School Students
- Pi Day Scavenger Hunt for Middle School Students
- Pi Day Pie Problems: Practice Geometry and Problem Solving!
St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
- 5 St. Patrick's Day Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students
- 22 St. Patrick’s Day Writing Prompts and Activities
First Day of Spring (March 20 in 2023)
APRIL THEMES
National Arab American Heritage Month
National Poetry Month
Financial Literacy Month
- How to Teach Financial Literacy to Kids in Uncertain Economic Times
- Financial Literacy Lesson Plans and Activities for Middle School Students
Easter (April 9 in 2023)
Earth Day (April 22)
MAY THEMES
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
End-of-School Year
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 1–May 5 in 2023)
- Happy Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas
- Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas from Principals and Administrators
- Celebrate Educators With These Teacher Appreciation Week Posters and Cards
- Virtual Teacher Appreciation Week: How to Celebrate Remotely
Mother's Day (May 14 in 2023)
Memorial Day (May 29 in 2023)
JUNE THEMES
Juneteenth (June 19)
Father's Day (June 18 in 2023)
First Day of Summer (June 21 in 2023)
JULY THEMES
Independence Day (July 4)
Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18)
Download our FREE 2022–2023 calendar of activities!
Related Reading
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Podcast: Building a Foundation with Phonics in First Grade with Amber Reyes in CO on Teachers in America
Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor -
10 Science of Reading Strategies for Reading Instruction
Renae Kuhn
-
Sentence Frames for ELL Students
Jennifer Corujo
Shaped Editor
CORE CURRICULUM
HMH Social Studies, 6-12
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
AP Human Geography
Personal Finance
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL
Writable
Connected Teaching and Learning
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Professional Development
Providing professional development for teachers, HMH’s professional learning courses, coaching, and leadership advisory supports educators every step of the way.
Keeping It Current For Grades 6–12
Each month we bring you videos, articles, and current events designed to build cultural awareness, media literacy, and a deeper understanding of significant historical figures and events.