Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Holidays, Seasonal Events, and Special Topics

Seasonal Events & Special Topics:

• Seasons & Severe Weather
• Spring  |   Summer  |  Autumn  |  Winter
• Natural & Man-made Disasters
• Tornadoes   |    Hurricanes   |    Earthquakes   |    Volcanic Eruptions
• Nuclear Issues    |   Coping with Terrorism   |    2011 Crisis in Japan
• Cultural Heritage & Diversity
• African-American History   |   Asian Pacific American Heritage
• Hispanic Heritage  |   Native American Heritage   |   Women’s History
• Elections
• Olympics
• Summer Olympics July 27 – August 12, 2012 London, United Kingdom
• Winter   Olympics February 7 – February 23, 2014 Sochi, Russia
• Family
• Science Experiments
• Inspirational Teacher Stories

January:

• New Year Lesson Plans January 1
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Third Monday in January
  • January 17, 2011
  • January 16, 2012
  • January 21, 2013
  • January 20, 2014
  • January 19, 2015

February:

• Black History Month February
• Groundhog Day February 2
• Chinese Lunar New Year First fifteen days of the first Chinese Calendar Month
  • February 3, 2011 Year of the Rabbit
  • January 23, 2012 Year of the Dragon
  • February 10, 2013 Year of the Snake
  • January 31, 2014 Year of the Horse
  • February 19, 2015 Year of the Sheep
• Valentine’s Day February 14
• 100th Day of School Late January – Early February
• Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday) Third Monday in February
  • February 21, 2011
  • February 20, 2012
  • February 18, 2013
  • February 17, 2014
  • February 16, 2015

March:

• Women’s History Month March
• Irish Heritage Month March
• Mardi Gras Day / Fat Tuesday / Pancake Day Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
  • March 8, 2011
  • February 21, 2012
  • February 12, 2013
  • March 4, 2014
  • February 17, 2015
• International Women’s Day March 8
• Pi Day March 14
• St. Patrick’s Day March 17
• First Day of Spring
  • March 20, 2011
  • March 20, 2012
  • March 20, 2013
  • March 20, 2014
  • March 20, 2015

April:

• Income Tax Day April 18, 2011
• Earth Day April 22
• Easter Sunday Date falls between March 22 and May 8
• April 24, 2011
• April 8, 2012
• March 31, 2013
• April 20, 2014
• April 5, 2015
• National Arbor Day Last Friday in April
  • April 29, 2011
  • April 27, 2012
  • April 26, 2013
  • April 25, 2014
  • April 24, 2015

May:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month May
• Teacher Appreciation Week First Week in May
  • May 2-6, 2011
  • May 7-11, 2012
  • May 6-10, 2013
  • May 5-9, 2014
  • May 4-8, 2015
• Cinco de Mayo May 5
• Space Day May 7
• Mother’s Day Second Sunday in May
• May 8, 2011
• May 13, 2012
• May 12, 2013
• May 11, 2014
• May 10, 2015
• Memorial Day Last Monday in May
• May 30, 2011
• May 28, 2012
• May 27, 2013
• May 26, 2014
• May 25, 2015

June:

• End Of School Falls in late May – early June
• National Dairy Month June
• Flag Day June 14
• Juneteenth June 19
• Father’s Day Third Sunday in June
• June 19, 2011
• June 17, 2012
• June 16, 2013
• June 15, 2014
• June 21, 2015
• First Day of Summer
  • June 21, 2011
  • June 20, 2012
  • June 21, 2013
  • June 21, 2014
  • June 21, 2015

July:

• Independence Day 4th of July
• Summer Olympics July 27 – August 12, 2012

August:

• Beginning Of School Starts in late August – early September

September:

• Labor Day First Monday in September
• September 5, 2011
• September 3, 2012
• September 2, 2013
• September 1, 2014
• September 7, 2015
• Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15
• First Day of Autumn
  • September 23, 2011
  • September 22, 2012
  • September 22, 2013
  • September 23, 2014
  • September 23, 2015

October:

• Columbus Day Second Monday in October
• October 10, 2011
• October 8, 2012
• October 14, 2013
• October 13, 2014
• October 12, 2015
• Thanksgiving (Canada) Second Monday in October
• Halloween October 31

November:

• American Indian Heritage Month November
• Veterans Day November 11
• Thanksgiving Lesson Plans Fourth Thursday in November
• November 24, 2011
• November 22, 2012
• November 28, 2013
• November 27, 2014
• November 26, 2015

December:

• Hanukkah / Chanukah Starts on 25th day of the Hebrew Calendar
  • Sunset, December 20 – Sunset, December 28, 2011
  • Sunset, December 8 – Sunset, December 16, 2012
  • Sunset, November 27 – Sunset, December 5, 2013
  • Sunset, December 16 – Sunset, December 24, 2014
  • Sunset, December 6 – Sunset, December 14, 2015
• First Day of Winter
  • December 22, 2011
  • December 21, 2012
  • December 21, 2013
  • December 21, 2014
  • December 22, 2015
• Christmas Day December 25
• Kwanzaa December 26 – January 1
• New Year’s Eve December 31

* all dates reflect U.S. holidays unless otherwise noted