November Classroom Activities: A Teacher’s Guide to Holidays and Fun Thematic Lessons
November classroom activities present an ideal opportunity for educators to integrate meaningful holidays and cultural observances into the curricula. This month offers a diverse range of learning opportunities, whether it’s fostering gratitude through Thanksgiving discussions or exploring significant cultural celebrations such as Día de los Muertos. To assist teachers, we have compiled a comprehensive guide filled with holidays, recognitions, and engaging activities to enhance student learning throughout the month.
Why November Activities Matter
Incorporating November holidays and cultural events helps students develop a broader understanding of history, culture, and citizenship. With opportunities to engage in fall fun activities, students learn about significant days and enjoy thematic projects that enhance classroom collaboration and excitement.
November Classroom Holidays and Activities
| Date | Holiday/Event | Description & Classroom Ideas |
| November 1-2 | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) | A Mexican holiday to honor deceased loved ones. Engage students with colorful crafts and discussions on cultural traditions, and explore altars (ofrendas). An ofrenda (Spanish: “offering”) is placed on a home altar during the annual and traditional Mexican Día de los Muertos celebration. Watch this video (2 mins) for background. |
| November 1 | All Saints’ Day | CNN — Every year on November 1, many Roman Catholics and other Christians worldwide observe All Saints Day, which honors all saints of the church deemed to have attained heaven. Just list on board or orally tell students an “exciting story about today (Nov 1). |
| November 1, 2024 | Diwali (varies by year) | Diwali is a significant religious festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. In 2024, Diwali will be observed from November 1st, lasting for five days. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” people illuminate their homes with oil lamps called diyas, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. The festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with the lights guiding her to bring prosperity. Diwali is a time of joy, new beginnings, and hope for the year ahead. |
| November 3 | National Sandwich Day | A fun classroom celebration where students can write about or create their favorite sandwiches. Take a poll as to the top 5 sandwiches on a poster board. Give children a sticky note to vote. Or, have them fill a jar with the weirdest sandwich combos they love and read aloud. Have a debate, is a burger a sandwich? Perfect for fall fun activities. |
| November 5 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Elected | Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented third term as president of the United States. Share fun facts about Presidential Firsts. You may want to tell students all the fun stuff, no politics. You know your students. |
| November 7 | STEM/STEAM Day | Celebrate STEM/STEAM achievements by doing hands-on science or engineering projects. Encourage creative thinking through problem-solving activities. Stem/Steam Ideas & The Practices of Science. You could pick and choose from over 50 mini-videos to show students. Here is a link to free problem-solving games to download, copy, and pass out for students to complete. |
| November 8 | Election Day | Hold a mock election in your class! Teach students about democracy and voting. Students can debate or vote on class issues (e.g., what book to read next). Keep it simple. |
| November 10 | Marine Corps Birthday | Discuss the history of the U.S. Marines, and honor veterans by writing thank-you letters to local servicemen and women. Ask and then define, What the U.S. Marines do. |
| November 11 | Veterans Day | This is a day to honor military veterans. Host a classroom discussion on the importance of service and create cards or letters of gratitude. Explore patriotic songs and activities. Here is a video, Powerful Veterans Day Video (5+ mins). Watch to make sure it is appropriate for your age level. |
| November 13 | World Kindness Day | Incorporate gratitude into classroom routines by encouraging acts of kindness. Students can keep a “Kindness Journal” to reflect on their daily actions. What is the theme of WKD 2024? It highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and cooperation to create a more harmonious and caring world. |
| November 1, 2024 | Diwali (varies by year) | Diwali is a significant religious festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. In 2024, Diwali will be observed from November 1st, lasting for five days. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” people illuminate their homes with oil lamps called diyas, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. The festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with the lights guiding her to bring prosperity. Diwali is a time of joy, new beginnings, and hope for the year ahead. |
| November 15 | America Recycles Day | Engage students in recycling projects. On America Recycles Day (November 15), the EPA recognizes the importance and impact of recycling, which has contributed to American prosperity and the protection of our environment. |
| November 17 | International Students’ Day | Explore cultures from around the world to highlight the importance of global education and student rights. Have students share something unique from their heritage. |
| November 21-25 | Thanksgiving Week | Include Thanksgiving-themed activities such as creating gratitude journals, writing Thanksgiving fiction stories, or studying the history of the Pilgrims and Native Americans. |
| November 24 | Thanksgiving Day (U.S.) | Happy Thanksgiving Day! |
| November 25 | Black Friday | Teach students about economics, saving, and the history of Black Friday through fun role-playing activities in which they pretend to run their own shop. This is a great activity for homeschoolers and childcare providers. |
| November 26 | Small Business Saturday | Explore the importance of small businesses in the community. Students can create posters supporting their favorite local businesses. |
| November 30 | National Mason Jar Day | It’s a great day to get crafty! Use mason jars for a gratitude project or to create sensory bottles related to the fall season. |
Ideas for November Classroom Themes and Lessons
Here’s how you can tie these holidays and events into your teaching for various grade levels:
- Thanksgiving Fiction: Use seasonal books and short stories related to Thanksgiving to spark classroom discussions about gratitude and giving thanks. Create a flipbook where students write their own Thanksgiving stories.
- Veterans Day Activities: Host a mini research project where students create fact sheets about different branches of the military or have them invite a veteran to class for a Q&A session.
- Día de los Muertos Flipbook: Engage students in learning about the history and significance of Día de los Muertos by making a flipbook with essential facts and illustrations.
- Phonics and Reading Centers: Create fall fun activities with November-themed phonics centers where students work on decoding words through Thanksgiving-related vocabulary.
November Writing and Art Prompts
- Fall Narrative Activities: Challenge your students to write personal narratives about their Thanksgiving celebrations or what they are most grateful for. Use fun fall fun activities like creating graphic organizers to help them plan their stories.
- Thanksgiving Coloring and Writing Pages: Provide students with seasonal coloring pages that double as writing prompts. After coloring, students can write a short story based on the picture they created.
November Activity Planning Resources
Need more ideas for your November planning? Check out these online resources to enhance your classroom activities:
- PBS LearningMedia Thanksgiving Resources
- Smithsonian’s Día de los Muertos Educator Resources
Final Thoughts
November is a rich month for engaging students in fall fun activities while covering essential standards and teaching students about gratitude, history, and cultural diversity. From Veterans Day to Día de los Muertos, you have many creative options for your classroom. By incorporating these holidays and recognitions, you’ll be able to keep students motivated and eager to learn as the fall season progresses.
With this quick reference guide, you can easily stay ahead in your lesson planning while bringing in meaningful and fun November activities. Happy teaching!
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