Monthly Calendar Themes for School (2024)

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)

Navajo Code Talkers Lesson Plan for Students

SEPTEMBER THEMES

International Literacy Day (September 8)

International Literacy Day Activities for All Ages

9/11 Remembrance

9/11 Activities for Elementary Students

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)

8 Fun Constitution Day Activities for Students: We the People

First Day of Fall (September 23)

International Podcast Day (September 30)

4 Ways to Celebrate International Podcast Day

OCTOBER THEMES

Dyslexia Awareness Month

National Dyslexia Awareness Month
Dyslexia Articles and Resources for Teachers

World Teachers' Day (October 5)

Happy World Teachers' Day: Why and How to Celebrate

Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 9)

Infusing Multiple Narratives in History Classrooms: Native American Studies

Halloween (October 31)

6 Halloween Activities for Elementary Students
ELA Halloween Activities for Middle School and High School Students
Halloween Math Activities for Middle School and High School Students
12 Ideas for Best DIY Teacher Halloween Costumes
The Best Halloween Books for Kids: Celebrate in the Classroom

NOVEMBER THEMES

Native American Heritage Month

National Novel Writing Month

DECEMBER THEMES

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7)

Pearl Harbor Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Hanukkah (December 7-15)

11 Hanukkah Classroom Games and Activities for Elementary Students

First Day of Winter (December 21)

Christmas (December 25)

8 Fun Christmas Classroom Activities

Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1)

7 Kwanzaa Activities and Lesson Plans for Elementary Students

All Winter Holidays

12 Winter Holiday Classroom Activities, Games, and Craft Ideas
The Best Holiday Books for Kids to Celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah

JANUARY THEMES

New Year's Day

7 New Year's Bulletin Board Ideas for Teachers
12 Classroom New Year's Activities for Students

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

Groundhog Day (February 2)

Groundhog Day Activities for Elementary Students

National School Counseling Week (February 5-9)

National School Counseling Week Ideas: How to Show Appreciation

State of the Union

2023 State of the Union Activities and Lesson Plans

Chinese New Year (February 10)

7 Chinese New Year Classroom Activities: Throw a Lunar New Year Part

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)

Presidents' Day Lesson Plans and Classroom Activities
6 Presidents' Day Bulletin Board Ideas for Teachers

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

National Nutrition Month

7 Nutrition Lesson Plans and Activities for High School Students
8 Nutrition Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

National Grammar Day (March 4)

National Grammar Day K-5 Classroom Activities

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)

8 Spring Activities for Elementary Students

Easter (March 31)

7 Easter Classroom Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

APRIL THEMES

National Arab American Heritage Month

National Arab American Heritage Month Classroom Activities

National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month Activities for Middle and High School Classrooms

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)

9 Earth Day Activities and Games for Elementary Students
Earth Day Lesson Plans: Teaching About the Environment
How John Muir and Rachel Carson Planted the Seeds for Earth Day

MAY THEMES

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

8 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Activities

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)

11 Mother's Day Celebration Ideas for School
40 Mother's Day Writing Prompts

Memorial Day (May 27)

9 Activities to Celebrate Memorial Day

JUNE THEMES

Pride Month

Serving All Students with Pride

Flag Day (June 14)

Activities to Celebrate Flag Day in the Classroom

Juneteenth (June 19)

Father's Day (June 16)

5 Classroom Activities for Father's Day

First Day of Summer (June 20)

8 Fun Summer Science Experiments and Activities
11 Fun Summer Learning Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students
8 Summer Math Activities: Preventing Math Summer Slide

JULY THEMES

Independence Day (July 4)

Patriotic Poems From HMH Poets for the Fourth of July

Nelson Mandela International Day (July 18)

Nelson Mandela Day Activities: Champion for Peace and Freedom

This blog post, originally published in 2021, has been updated for 2023.

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If you have any more ideas for monthly themes for school, email us at Shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Twitter (@HMHCo) or Facebook.

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Grades PreK-K
Grades 1-2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12