October 2014 Calendar Observances and Activities

This post contains calendar observances and themed activities for October 2014. If you’d like an updated calendar for any year, you can find it in my October Themed Activities for Kids. This calendar is different because the calendar observances with changing dates are added into the list of October dates, making it less likely that you’ll miss an event.

I love using unit studies and themed activities for holidays and calendar observances. You’ll find all my unit studies and holiday posts in my “Should You Use Unit Studies?” post. You might choose to plan unit studies based on your child’s interests. Many unit studies, such as a dinosaur unit or transportation unit, work well at any time of the year.

Some unit studies naturally fit best into specific seasons or months. And many others can be used at any time but are extra fun when combined with a holiday or calendar observance.

You’ll find more links for calendar observances in my “Enliven Your Homeschool with Some Calendar Fun” post. The post has links to resources for calendar observances for any level. I mainly focus here on October themes for preschoolers through early elementary, although you’ll find calendar observances here for any age.

Fall Themes

Montessori-Inspired Fall Activities

Monthly Observances for October

Monthly observances can be used for themed activities throughout the month or for one or two weeks during the month.

September-October

• National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15) – Montessori-Inspired Spanish Activities, Kids’ Cinco de Mayo Activities Pinterest Board

October

• Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month
• American Cheese Month
• National Animal Safety and Protection Month
• National Apple Month – Montessori-Inspired Apple Unit, 30+ Apple Sensory Tubs
• National Arts and Humanities Month – Montessori-Inspired Art Appreciation, Art Appreciation and Creation for Kids, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Peter and the Wolf, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Swan Lake, Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Carnival of the Animals, and Montessori-Inspired Activities for the Tortoise and the Hare
• National Audiology Awareness Month – DIY Montessori Sound Cylinders
• National Bake and Decorate Month – Montessori-Inspired Food Preparation for Preschoolers, Kids’ Food Fun Pinterest Board
• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Go Pink Blog Hop, Make a “10 Things I Love About You” Book {Free Printable}
• National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month – Do You Follow the Thumper Theory?, The Golden Rule for Back to School
• Car Care Month
• National Clock Month
• Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month – Foreign Language for Kids Pinterest Board
• National Diabetes Month
• Celiac Disease Awareness Month
• Church Library Month
• Computer Learning Month
• National Cookie Month – Montessori-Inspired Food Preparation for Preschoolers, Kids’ Food Fun Pinterest Board
• Co-op Awareness Month – Starting a Montessori Playgroup or Montessori Homeschool Co-op
• National Crime Prevention Month – Free Police Printables and Montessori-Inspired Police Activities
• Cut Out Dissection Month
• National Cyber Security Awareness Month
• National Dental Hygiene Month – Montessori-Inspired Dental Health Unit
• National Down Syndrome Awareness Month – Montessori-Inspired Special Needs Support
• International Drum Month
• Dyslexia Awareness Month – Learning to Read Can Be Just a Fun Game, Inexpensive and DIY Sandpaper Letters, DIY Alphabet Box, Inexpensive and DIY Movable Alphabets, The Montessori Grammar Farm
• Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
• National Field Trip Month – Should You Use Unit Studies?, How to Create a Unit Study
• National Fire Prevention Month – Community Helpers Activity Trays and Sensory Tubs, Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities, Community Helpers Pinterest Board
• German-American Heritage Month
• Global Diversity Awareness Month – Montessori-Inspired Respect for Diversity
• Health Literacy Month
• Home Eye Safety Month
• Intergeneration Month
• National Liver Awareness Month – Human Body Unit Study Pinterest Board
• National Medical Librarians Month
• Organize Your Medical Information Month
• Photographer Appreciation Month – Montessori-Inspired Photography for Kids
• National Physical Therapy Month
• National Pizza Month – Montessori-Inspired Food Preparation for Preschoolers, Kids’ Food Fun Pinterest Board
• Polish-American Heritage Month
• National Popcorn Poppin’ Month – Montessori-Inspired CornUnit, Corn Unit Study Pinterest Board
• Positive Attitude Month – Bits of Positivity Facebook page
• National Reading Group Month
• Right-Brainers Rule Month
• National Roller Skating Month
• International School Library Month – Montessori-Inspired Dr. Seuss Activities, Montessori-Inspired Eric Carle Activities, How to Help Your Child Treasure Books, Simple Tips for Organizing Your Homeschool Library, Montessori-Inspired Ideas for Enjoying Books with Your Child or Students, Montessori-Inspired Activities for the Tortoise and the Hare, , Montessori-Inspired Activities for Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Free Mitten Printables and Montessori-Inspired Mitten Activities, Montessori-Inspired Brown Bear, Brown Bear Activities, Literature-Based Activities Pinterest Board
• Spinach Lovers Month – Montessori-Inspired Vegetable Unit
• Squirrel Awareness Month – Montessori-Inspired Squirrel and Nut Activities, Squirrel and Nut Activities Pinterest Board
• National Stamp Collecting Month – Montessori Continent Boxes
• Vegetarian Month – Favorite Healthy Family Recipes, Focusing on Healthy, Gluten-Free Foods for My Family
• National Work and Family Month

October Dates that Can Be Used for Themed Activities

Calendar observances are great for mini units or even units that might last the whole month.

• October 1: Colorado became a state, 1876 – Montessori-Inspired State Box – Colorado
• October 1: World Vegetarian Day – Favorite Healthy Family Recipes, Focusing on Healthy, Gluten-Free Foods for My Family
• October 1: Homemade Cookies Day – Montessori-Inspired Food Preparation for Preschoolers, Kids’ Food Fun Pinterest Board
• October 1: Henry Ford Introduced the Model T, 1908 – Montessori-Inspired Transportation Unit, Montessori-Inspired Activities for Pre-Schoolers: Car Parking Game, Free Transportation Printables and Montessori-Inspired Transportation Math Activities, Transportation Unit Study Pinterest Board
• October 2: Name Your Car Day – Montessori-Inspired Transportation Unit, Montessori-Inspired Activities for Pre-Schoolers: Car Parking Game, Free Transportation Printables and Montessori-Inspired Transportation Math Activities, Transportation Unit Study Pinterest Board
• October 2: International Day of Non-Violence (birthday of Mohandas Ghandi, born 1869) – Montessori-Inspired Peace Education Activities, How to Prepare a Peace Corner
• October 2: National Poetry Day (1st Thursday in October) – Montessori-Inspired Poetry Activities, Kids’ Poetry Activities Pinterest Board
• October 3: World Smile Day (1st Friday in October) – Montessori-Inspired 100 Acts of Kindness Project, Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages, Go on a Smile Hunt with Your Child
• October 3: Virus Appreciation Day
• October 3: Techies Day
• October 4: World Animal Day – Living and Non-Living, Plant and Animal Sorting, Montessori Animal Classification, Montessori-Inspired Animal Units, Montessori-Inspired Zoo Animal Unit, Montessori-Inspired Zoo Animal Unit (2012),  Montessori-Inspired Frog Activities, Montessori-Inspired Insect Unit, Free Ladybug Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ladybug Activities, Montessori-Inspired Caterpillar-Butterfly Unit, Montessori-Inspired Bird Unit, Montessori-Inspired Arctic and Antarctic Unit, Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities – Penguins of Antarctica,  Montessori-Inspired Life Cycle Activities, Shark Unit Study, Montessori Care of Pets, Montessori-Inspired Pet Activities, Free Alligator Printables and Montessori-Inspired Alligator Activities, Greater Than, Less Than Alligator Math Printables and Activities, Montessori-Inspired Animal Units, Pet Unit Study Pinterest Board, Zoo Animal Unit Study Pinterest Board, Montessori-Inspired Farm Animal Matching/Vocabulary for Babies and Toddlers (+ Children Loving Animals Blog Hop)
• October 4-10: World Space Week – Astronaut Unit, Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities, Montessori-Inspired Star and Constellation Unit, Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit, Montessori-Inspired Solar System Activities and World Space Week Blog Hop, Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Units, Astronomy Unit Study Pinterest Board
• October 4: International Frugal Fun Day (1st Saturday in October)
• October 3: Lee National Denim Day (1st Friday in October)
• October 4: Eid al-Adha (Muslim Holiday, October 4; October 5th in North America) – Kids’ Non-Christian Religious Holiday Activities Pinterest Board
• October 5-11: Fire Prevention Week (Sunday to Saturday in which October 9 falls) – Community Helpers Activity Trays and Sensory Tubs, Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities, Community Helpers Pinterest Board
• October 5: Do Something Nice Day –Montessori-Inspired 100 Acts of Kindness Project, Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages, Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the World, Family Fun with 100 Acts of Kindness and Operation Beautiful, Kindness Projects Pinterest Board
• October 5: World Teachers’ Day – Mother’s Day- and Teacher Appreciation Gifts for Kids to Give, Teacher Appreciation Pinterest Board
• October 6: International School Library Day – Montessori-Inspired Dr. Seuss Activities, Montessori-Inspired Eric Carle Activities, How to Help Your Child Treasure Books, Simple Tips for Organizing Your Homeschool Library, Montessori-Inspired Ideas for Enjoying Books with Your Child or Students, Montessori-Inspired Activities for the Tortoise and the Hare, , Montessori-Inspired Activities for Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Free Mitten Printables and Montessori-Inspired Mitten Activities, Montessori-Inspired Brown Bear, Brown Bear Activities, Literature-Based Activities Pinterest Board
• October 6: Mad Hatter Day – Cat in the Hat Practical Life Activities
• October 6: World Habitat Day (1st Monday in October )
• October 6: Child Health Day (1st Monday in October)
• October 6: Thomas Edison Showed 1st Motion Picture, 1889
• October 6: American Library Association Founded, 1876
• October 8: The Great Chicago Fire started, 1871 – Community Helpers Activity Trays and Sensory Tubs, Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities, Community Helpers Pinterest Board
• October 8: American Touch Tag Day
• October 8: Take Your Teddy Bear to Work & School Day (2nd Wednesday in October … some say it’s October 11) – Montessori-Inspired Teddy Bear Activities, Kids’ Teddy Bear Activities Pinterest Board
• October 9: Fire Prevention Day – Community Helpers Activity Trays and Sensory Tubs, Free Fire Safety Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fire Safety Activities, Community Helpers Pinterest Board
• October 9: Curious Events Day
• October 9: First Two-Way Telephone Conversation, 1876
• October 9: Leif Ericson Day
• October 9: Moldy Cheese Day
• October 11: National Chess Day (2nd Saturday in October)
• October 10: World Egg Day (2nd Friday in October) – Montessori-Inspired Life Cycle Activities, Free Easter Egg Printables and Montessori-Inspired Easter Egg Activities, Easter Egg Rainbow Practical Life and Sensorial Activity, Montessori-Inspired Easter Egg Sound Shakers for Babies and Toddlers
• October 10: James Marshall Born – (For a thorough children’s author birthday calendar, see the right sidebar of Happy Birthday Author)
• October 10: Nancy Carlson Born
• October 11: It’s My Party Day
• October 12: Farmer’s Day – Montessori Grammar Farm,Montessori-Inspired Corn Unit, Montessori-Inspired Farm Unit, Safari Ltd. Farm TOOBS and Keys, Free Farm Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities Using Farm Replicas and Printables, 40+ Farm Sensory Tubs, Inexpensive, Simple-to-Prepare Montessori Grammar Farm, Farm Unit Study Pinterest Board
• October 12: Moment of Frustration Day – Helping Kids Cope Pinterest Board
• October 13: Columbus Day or Native American Day (2nd Monday in October) – Montessori-Inspired Native American Unit
• October 13: Thanksgiving Day in Canada (2nd Monday in October) –How to Help Your Kids Have an Attitude of Gratitude, How to Help Your Kids Have an Attitude of Gratitude, Part 2, Montessori-Inspired Gratitude Activities, November Gratitude Inspiration and Activities
• October 13: Cornerstone of the White House Laid by George Washington, 1792
• October 14: Lois Lenski born, 1893
• October 14: Dwight David Eisenhower (34th President) born, 1890
• October 14: National Dessert Day
• October 15: National Fossil Day – Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit, Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Fun with Printables, Water Beads, and Glass Gems, Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Activities Using Dinosaur Replicas, Make Fossils from Montessori at Home!, Dinosaur Unit Study Pinterest Board
• October 15: White Cane Safety Day
• October 16: World Food Day – Are You Going Orange for No Kid Hungry? (+Blog Hop 2012) Fighting Hunger through Social Media (+ Blog Hop 2013), Using Children’s Books to Raise Awareness about Hunger (+ Blog Hop 2014)
• October 16: Dictionary Day (Noah Webster born, 1758)
• October 17: Black Poetry Day – Montessori-Inspired Poetry Activities, Kids’ Poetry Activities Pinterest Board
• October 17: San Francisco Earthquake, 1989
• October 17: Wear Something Gaudy Day
• October 18: Sweetest Day (3rd Saturday in October) – Montessori-Inspired 100 Acts of Kindness Project, Kindness Project for Children and Adults of All Ages, Family Fun with 100 Acts of Kindness and Operation Beautiful, Kindness Projects Pinterest Board
• October 19-25: Character Counts Week (3rd week in October) – Character Education Resources from Bits of Positivity, Character Education Pinterest Board
• October 19: “Star Spangled Banner” First Sung, 1814
• October 19: Thomas Edison Demonstrated Electric Light Successfully, 1879
• October 19: Final battle of the Revolutionary War, 1781
• October 21: Count Your Buttons Day
• October 21: Reptile Awareness Day – Free Alligator Printables and Montessori-Inspired Alligator Activities, Greater Than, Less Than Alligator Math Printables and Activities
• October 22: National Nut Day – Montessori-Inspired Squirrel and Nut Activities, Squirrel and Nut Activities Pinterest Board
• October 23-31: Red Ribbon Week (the last full week in October)
• October 24: United Nations Day
• October 25: Make a Difference Day (4th Saturday in October) – Simple Ways to Make a Difference in the World, Making a Difference Posts from Bits of Positivity, Make a Difference Pinterest Board
• October 25: Pablo Picasso Born, 1881 – Montessori-Inspired Art Appreciation, Art Appreciation and Creation for Kids, Kids’ Art Appreciation Pinterest Board
• October 25: World Pasta Day
• October 25-31: National Magic Week
• October 26: Daylight Saving Time Ends (European Union) – Last Sunday in October
• October 26: International Red Cross Organized in Geneva, Switzerland, 1863.
• October 26: Erie Canal Opened, 1825
• October 27: Theodore Roosevelt born, 1858
• October 28: Statue of Liberty dedicated, 1886.
• October 28: Plush Animal Lover’s Day
• October 29: John Adams born, 1735
• October 29: Stock Market Crashed, 1929, and the Great Depression Followed
• October 30: Checklists Day
• October 31: Halloween – Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Activities, Homeschool Halloween, Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Unit, Montessori-Inspired Halloween Activities, Halloween Grace and Courtesy, Montessori-Inspired Friendly Ghost Activities, Montessori-Inspired Halloween Activities (2012), Montessori-Inspired Skeleton Activities, Free Spider Printables and Montessori-Inspired Spider Activities, 20 Pumpkin Phonics Activities, Kids’ Halloween Activities Pinterest Board
• October 31: Carve a Pumpkin Day – Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Unit, 20 Pumpkin Phonics Activities, Pumpkin Unit Study Pinterest Board

Have a great October!

Free Printable October Calendar from iMom

Photo at Top of Post by Keith Christy.

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