TCI’s free social studies activities will keep students engaged throughout the year as they explore the history behind Labor Day and biographies for Black History Month. Review the list to find seasonal social studies lessons, primary source activities, and biographies for K-12 classrooms.
Labor Day (September)
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor the American labor movement. Discover the history of Labor Day and get biographies of notable labor organizers and their work. Get the lessons.
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September & October)
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 – October 15. Explore TCI’s biographies and videos to explore the lives and contributions of famous Hispanic and Latino Americans, including Dolores Huerta, Bob Martinez, and Mario Molina. Get the biographies.
Halloween (October)
Get into the spirit this October with free social studies lessons. Teach secondary students about the Salem witch trials with a free lesson. Elementary students can learn about making friends following the story of a bat named Batty. Get the lessons.
Native American Heritage Month (November)
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by learning about the contributions and influences of the Native American people. TCI’s free lessons explore the history of Native Americans, their fight for civil rights, and biographies. Get the lessons.
Election Season (November)
During an election year, encourage students to get involved in local matters. Cover voting, good citizenship, and the foundations of government with these free TCI lessons. Get the lessons.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday celebrating the activist and his work with civil rights. Through activism and peaceful protesting, King fought for equality for all Americans. With TCI’s free lessons, teach your students about King with free lessons and a biography video. Get the lessons.
Black History Month (February)
Black History Month is a time to explore the many achievements of African Americans in every field, from science and the arts to politics. Explore our free lessons and introduce students to trailblazing African Americans with free biography videos. Get the lessons.
Presidents’ Day (February)
Presidents’ Day was established in 1885 to celebrate George Washington’s birthday, but today it’s commonly viewed as a day to honor the legacies of all U.S. presidents. Teach your students the origin of the day and the important leaders who have led this nation and helped shape American history. Get the lessons.
Women’s History Month (March)
Women’s History Month reminds us to elevate and celebrate women’s stories, contributions, and lives. Explore our free lessons, primary source activities, and biographies of empowering women from around the world. Get the lessons.
César Chávez Day (March)
César Chávez Day is a federal commemorative holiday that celebrates the life and legacy of civil rights leader César Chávez. Check out our collection of free lessons to teach your students how Chávez and other activists fought for farmworkers’ rights across the country. Get the lessons.
Financial Literacy Month (April)
Financial Literacy Month is a nationally recognized campaign to promote financial education for students and adults. This month is a great opportunity for teachers to introduce personal finance topics to students and prepare them for their financial futures, leveraging free resources from TCI’s Personal Finance Toolkit. Get the resources.
National Poetry Month (April)
For National Poetry Month, bring out the inner poet in your students by helping them write poems or analyze historical ones. Explore our collection of primary-source poems and activities. Get the lessons.
Earth Day (April)
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year. On this day, show support for the planet with one of TCI’s Earth Day lessons that guide students through why it’s important to care for the environment. Get the lessons.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month honors the contributions, history, and achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. From Larry Itilong’s fight for farmworker rights to Steven Chu’s research on renewable energy, explore TCI’s resources for primary source activities and biographies. Get the lessons.
Memorial Day (May)
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May and honors soldiers who fought and died for the United States. Reflect on past wars on Memorial Day to help students learn about the significance of this holiday. Get the lessons.
Looking for more free lessons? TCI continues to create free lessons so teachers can keep their students engaged with timely resources. Keep exploring for free lessons or icebreaker activities.
