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 2023–2024 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
- 2023 Back-to-School Articles for Teachers and Educators
- 3 First-Day-Jitters Activities for Back-to-School
- 9 Back-to-School Icebreakers for Elementary Students
- 5 First-Day-of-School Icebreaker Activities for Middle School Students
- 7 High-School Icebreakers for the First Day of School
- 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
International Literacy Day (September 8)
9/11 Remembrance
- 9/11 Activities for Elementary Students
- 11 Essential 9/11 Activities & Lesson Plans for the Classroom
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 23)
International Podcast Day (September 30)
OCTOBER THEMES
Dyslexia Awareness Month
World Teachers' Day (October 5)
Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 9)
- 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)
Veterans Day (November 11)
World Kindness Day (November 13)
- 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 24)
DECEMBER THEMES
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7)
Hanukkah (December 7-15)
First Day of Winter (December 21)
Christmas (December 25)
Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1)
All Winter Holidays
JANUARY THEMES
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15)
- 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
Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27)
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
- Honoring Famous African American Scientists
- 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 5-9)
State of the Union
Chinese New Year (February 10)
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 19)
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
- 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 19)
Easter (March 31)
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
Earth Day (April 22)
MAY THEMES
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
End-of-School Year
- 5 End-of-the-Year Celebration Ideas
- 6 Virtual End-of-School Year Celebration Ideas
- 7 End-of-Year Science Activities to Celebrate the Start of Summer
- 12 Fun Ideas for Cheap End-of-Year Gifts for Students from Teachers
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6–May 10)
- 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 12)
Memorial Day (May 27)
JUNE THEMES
Pride Month
Juneteenth (June 19)
Father's Day (June 16)
First Day of Summer (June 20)
JULY THEMES
Independence Day (July 4)
Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18)
Download our FREE calendar of activities!
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CORE CURRICULUM
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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.