And just like that, we’re already in November! Kids Discover wants to help you get an early jump start on what awaits in this new month! Although we always think of Thanksgiving and what we’re grateful for, here are some additional holidays and moments in history that you may want to share with your class.
Native American Heritage Month
This month, we honor the many diverse indigenous tribes of the United States by celebrating Native American Heritage Month. Across the Kids Discover library, we offer several Units to help teach your students about their different traditions and customs. For the month of November, we are happy to make each of these Units free for you and your students. Share with your class to help them gain a deeper understanding of this integral piece of American history and culture.
November 2 – Day of the Dead
Regionally known as Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead is a time for celebration each year on November 1st and 2nd in Mexico. It is a beautiful tradition that honors family members who have passed away by building private altars, or ofrendas, for the departed. Throughout Mexico, many towns host parades, parties, and feasts to honor their loved ones. In our Mexico Unit, you can share this holiday and other aspects of Mexican culture with your students.
November 4 – King Tut’s Tomb Discovered (1922)
On this day in 1922, British archaeologists found a hidden tomb while digging in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Sealed away for 3,200 years, it was the tomb of King Tutankhamen. It would take two more years of mapping, cleaning, and documenting before they finally found the sarcophagus of King Tut in 1924. Ancient Egypt and Mummies have always captured children’s imagination. With both of these Units, your class can go back in time to the age of the pharaohs.
November 7 – Marie Curie born in Poland (1867)
Marie Curie was born on this day in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, alongside her husband, for her study of spontaneous radiation in 1903. Less than a decade later, she also became the first person to win a second Nobel Prize for her work in radioactivity in 1911. Because of her dedication to her career, she easily made her mark on not only women’s history but on the science world. In our Chemistry Unit, your students can learn how chemistry is found everywhere around us, with Chemistry Superstars being dedicated to the most acclaimed scientists, including Madame Curie.
November 11 – Veterans Day
On this day, we honor the men and women who bravely served their country. Teach your students about the hard work and sacrifice that have kept the United States safe. We have several units that may interest your students, including our Units on World War I and World War II. To really help Veterans Day come alive for your students, consider hosting a ceremony at your school to honor the Veterans in your community and to thank them for their service.
November 15 – America Recycles Day
Get your students excited about saving our planet. Showing your students the importance of recycling now will help create eco-conscience adults in the future. Investigate different ways to conserve, take a look at what efforts your school has, and create new initiatives for your classroom community. Don’t forget to share our Conservation Unit.
November 24 – Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the time of year when we express our gratitude for all the things we have. Check out this printable infographic for eight great ways to show how thankful you are. It’s perfect for kids and adults of all ages! For more Kids Discover resources, we have several Topics and Units to share two perspectives of this historic day. Our Units Native America and Eastern Woodland Indians explore the Native Americans who lived in the Northeast United States long before Europeans arrived. To learn more about the Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony, we recommend visiting our Units on Colonial America and Early Settlements.
November 30 – Mark Twain’s Birthday
On the night of Samuel Langhorne Clemens’ birth in 1835, Halley’s Comet appeared as a brilliant streak of light in the sky. In 1910, the comet reappeared, and Clemens died. Though Halley’s comet comes and goes every 75 years, Mark Twain’s brilliance has kept shining steadily to this day. Young fans of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn can read about Samuel’s Childhood and America During Mark Twain’s Life.
