Welcome to October! While the stores are full of Halloween (and yes, even Winter Holiday) decorations, we know this month is so much more than All Hallows Eve. As you’re planning new, relevant lessons for your students, consider marking your calendars for these high-interest holidays and topics.
Blindness Awareness Month
Around the world, there are over 285 million individuals with a visual impairment. Because October is Blindness Awareness Month, it’s also the perfect opportunity to teach your students about how their eyes work, develop, and how to protect them. Our Eyes Unit offers all of these Topics and more!
October 9 – Leif Erikson Day
Leif Erikson was a Norse explorer who is believed to have been the first European to set foot on North America, beating Christopher Columbus by nearly 500 years. In our Vikings Unit, students will discover the mighty Scandinavian warriors and uncover a Viking settlement found in Newfoundland, Canada.
October 12 – Indigenous People’s Day
On this holiday, we honor all Native American peoples around the country. This is an opportunity to introduce new cultures to your classroom through our Native America Unit. We also offer specific Units by region including the Plains Indians, Northwest Coast Peoples, and Southwest Peoples.
October 15 – Global Handwashing Day
Even though we’re so close to Halloween, the scariest thing I can think of in 2020 is germs! Students can never be reminded too many times on the importance of handwashing. If they need further motivation, there are plenty of critical topics in our Germs Unit. Your class will learn that germs are everywhere, how they spread, and what our bodies do to keep us healthy!
October 19 – World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day
Skeletons may make for the perfect Halloween decoration, but it’s never too early to think about bone health! Our Bones Unit offers 8 Topics that demystify the skeletal system and shows your students what’s below the surface. No X-Ray required!
October 28 – National Immigrants Day
The United States is a nation of immigrants and it’s important to celebrate our differences! On this day in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated, serving as a welcoming beacon to those coming to America through Ellis Island. We offer three different Units that highlight the beginning of this American experience: Ellis Island, Immigration, and the Statue of Liberty. Use this time to have your students explore their own genealogy and discover where their family originally came from.
October 29 – Big Cat Day
Lions, and tigers, and leopards… Oh my! One of the most beloved groups of wild animals are big cats. In our Big Cats Unit, students will personally get to know the “Big Six” that star in every trip to the zoo. Can they name them all? They may look cute and cuddly, but these fierce predators are more than meets the eye.
October 31 – Halloween
For Halloween, we offer several, spooky Units that will keep your kids interested on this candy fueled holiday. Some students may want to learn more about the misunderstood arachnids in our Spiders Unit. Others may want to pretend to be archaeologists and study Ancient Egypt with our Mummies Unit. Add the fact that Halloween 2020 is on a Saturday and a Full Moon just makes things all the more interesting.
