If you are an elementary teacher looking for November teaching ideas, then you found the right spot! The secret to teaching in November and keeping students engaged and learning is integrating holidays and special days into your instruction. There are so many holidays and special days in November to celebrate with your elementary students. Some of the more popular ones are Native American Heritage Month, Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, World Kindness Day, and National STEM/STEAM Day. You’ll find the full list of November events, holidays, and special days teachers can celebrate and use as teaching topics and themes below! You’ll have lots of November teaching ideas swirling around your head after reading this post!
November Holidays and Special Days
As you starting brainstorming November teaching ideas, add these November holidays and special days to your teacher planner.
Special Days
- 11/1 National Author’s Day
- 11/2 National Stress Awareness Day
- 11/3 National Sandwich Day
- 11/4 National Candy Day
- 11/5 National Redhead Day
- Daylight Savings (First Sunday in November)
- 11/6 National Nachos Day
- 11/8 National STEM/STEAM Day
- 11/9 Social Media Kindness Day
- 11/13 World Kindness Day
- 11/15 America Recycles Day
- 11/16 International Day for Tolerance
- 11/17 National Take a Hike Day
- 11/18 National Princess Day
- 11/20 Future Teachers of America Day
- 11/21 National Gingerbread Cookie Day
- Friday after Thanksgiving, National Day of Listening
- Black Friday (Friday after Thanksgiving)
- Small Business Saturday (Saturday after Thanksgiving)
- Cyber Monday (Monday after Thanksgiving)
- Giving Tuesday (Tuesday after Thanksgiving)
Month-Long Events
Week-Long Events
- Día de los Muertos (10/31-11/6 or 11/1-11/2)(dates vary)
- Diwali (lasting for 5 days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar calendar or the darkest day of the lunar month)
Holidays
- Election Day (Tuesday between 11/2-11/8)
- Veterans Day (11/11)
- Remembrance Day (Monday of the week in which November 11th falls)
- Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday of November)
- Hanukkah (fluctuates between November and December)
Bundles
Author’s Birthdays
- Janell Cannon’s Birthday (11/3)
- Yuyi Morales’s Birthday (11/7)
- Lois Ehlertis’s Birthday (11/9)
- Marjorie Weinman Sharmat’s Birthday (11/12)
- William Steig’s Birthday (11/14)
- Miranda Paul’s Birthday (11/24)
- P.D. Eastman’s Birthday (11/25)
- Marc Brown’s Birthday (11/25)
- Kevin Henkes’ Birthday (11/27)
- Lauren Child’s Birthday (11/29)
- Jon Klassens’ Birthday (11/29)
Month-Long November Events
Below are month-long November events you can use as topics and themes for teaching in November. You’ll get tons of November teaching ideas from this list!
Native American Heritage Month Activities
Native American Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of November every year in the United States. President George H. W. Bush declared this month-long event in 1990. It is a time for Americans to appreciate and recognize the amazing and important contributions made by Native Americans. November is the perfect month to teach and explore geography, history, and culture specifically focusing on Native Americans! This is a great teaching topic for November!
If you need resources to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Fry Bread, We Are Water Protectors, The Rough-Face Girl, Bowwow Powwow, Thunder Boy Jr., When I Was Eight, When We Were Alone, and Jingle Dancer.
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Week-Long November Events
Below are week-long November events you can use as topics and themes for teaching in November. You’ll get tons of November teaching ideas from this list!
El Día de Los Muertos Activities
El Día de Los Muertos is also commonly referred to as The Day of the Dead. It is celebrated mainly in Mexico or by people with Mexican heritage. Some celebrate it just 1 or 2 days, while others celebrate it longer. Typically people celebrate this holiday sometime between 10/31-11/6, most commonly celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. People celebrate it as a remembrance for friends and family members who have died. This day is a perfect opportunity to explore Mexican culture, and to celebrate this holiday meant to celebrate life, family and friends which is a great celebration to have in your classroom! This is a great teaching topic for November!
If you need resources to celebrate Día de Los Muertos in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Gustavo and The Dead Family Diaz.
Diwali Activities
Diwali is a festival of lights and is an extremely important festival that often takes place in November lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar calendar or the darkest day of the lunar month because that is the day of the new moon. This is a very religious festival that is celebrated in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism and celebrates light over darkness or good over evil. This would be the perfect day to talk about festivals, holidays, and culture in your classroom through books, videos, and activities! Check out the related resources below!
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November Holidays
Below are November holidays you can use as topics and themes for teaching in November. You’ll get tons of November teaching ideas from this list!
Election Day Activities
Election Day happens on November 8th and is the day where the American election is held. This day is an important day for American governments. That’s because it’s when the citizens get to elect their leaders through voting. It’s when the people choose the president of the United States! This is the perfect day to explore and explain the importance of voting along with teaching the history of the presidents of the United States. This is a great teaching topic for November!
If you need resources to recognize Election Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: If I Were President, Grace for President, Sofia Valdez Future Prez, Duck for President, and If I Ran for President. You may also find our elections reading comprehension activities helpful as well!
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Veterans Day Activities
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th in the United States every year. This holiday was created to honor all veterans for fighting for our country and risking their own lives just so we can have our freedom. This is a great day to educate your students on the United States Armed Forces and to come together as a class to show appreciation for our veterans through cards, gift boxes, or a filmed video message. This is a great teaching topic for November!
If you need resources to celebrate Veterans Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: The Wall, America’s White Table, The Poppy Lady, Rolling Thunder, and Twenty-One Steps. You may also find our Veterans Day reading comprehension activities helpful as well!
Remembrance Day Activities
Remembrance Day is celebrated every year in the U.S. on the Monday of the week in which November 11th falls. This day was created at the end of the First World War in 1918. It is a memorial day in honor of our veterans and soldiers who died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is the perfect time to take a moment of silence and to think about the freedom these fallen soldiers have provided us with. It’s also a great time to teach students about the history and the importance of this day. If you need resources to celebrate Remembrance Day in your classroom, check out our Respect Unit!
Thanksgiving Activities
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year in the United States and Canada. For Americans this day signifies the feast that the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags shared together. It’s also a day of thankfulness and feasting! Thanksgiving is the perfect time to explore history, while also teaching the SEL of giving thanks and being grateful. A class Thanksgiving feast sharing what each student is thankful for is a great way to celebrate this holiday. This also creates a positive classroom community. This is a great teaching topic for November!
If you need resources to celebrate Thanksgiving in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’, Bear Says Thanks, A Turkey for Thanksgiving, Balloons Over Broadway, One is a Feast for Mouse, Cranberry Thanksgiving, Turkey Trouble, A Plump and Perky Turkey, and Turk and Runt. You may also find our turkey and Thanksgiving reading comprehension activities and Turkey in Disguise project helpful as well!
Hanukkah Activities
Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration that lasts 8 days. The dates fluctuate but it always falls in November or December. A great way to recognize and celebrate this holiday is by reading aloud the book Latke the Lucky Dog and conducting a holidays around the world unit.
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Author’s Birthdays
Janell Cannon’s Birthday (11/3) Activities
Janell Cannon is an American author and illustrator born on November 3, 1957. She is known for her adorable children’s literature including the books Verdi, Pinduli, Crickwing, and one of our all time favorites Stellaluna! Check out the related resources below!
Yuyi Morales’s Birthday (11/7) Activities
Yuyi Morales is an American author and illustrator born on November 7, 1968. She is known for her children’s literature such as Dreamers, Viva Frida, Bright Star, Little Night, Nino Wrestles the World, and Thunder Boy Jr. Check out the related resources below!
Lois Ehlertis’s Birthday (11/9) Activities
Lois Ehlertis is an American author and illustrator born on November 9, 1934. She is known for her popular picture books such as Leaf Man, Planting a Rainbow, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Consider reading aloud one of these popular stories to your students today.
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat’s Birthday (11/12) Activities
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat was an American author born on November 12, 1928. She was best known for her children’s literature books such as his collection Nate the Great, including the books: Nate the Great Goes Undercover, Nate the Great and the Stolen Base and Nate The Great and the Lost List! Consider starting to read aloud one of these books to your students today.
William Steig’s Birthday (11/14) Activities
William Steig is an American author and illustrator born on November 14, 1907. He is known for his children’s picture books such as Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Doctor De Soto, Pete’s a Pizza, Brave Irene and The Amazing Bone. Check out the related resources below!
Miranda Paul’s Birthday (11/24) Activities
Miranda Paul is an American author born on November 24, 1981. She is known for her children’s nature and science themed picture books such as One Plastic Bag, Water is Water, I am Farmer, Nine Months Before a Baby and 101 Ways to Help the Earth! Check out the related resources below!
P.D. Eastman’s Birthday (11/25) Activities
P.D. Eastman was an American author and illustrator born on November 25, 1909. He has written many classic children’s books such as Go Dog Go, Are You My Mother?, Big Dog Little Dog, A Fish Out of Water, and I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words! Check out the related resources below!
Marc Brown’s Birthday (11/25) Activities
Marc Brown is an American author and illustrator born on November 25, 1946. He is known for his popular children’s book character Arthur and his classic book series including the books Arthur’s Nose, Arthur’s Halloween, Arthur Meets the President, and Arthur’s Teacher, along with so many more! Consider reading aloud one of these stories to your students today.
Kevin Henkes’ Birthday (11/27) Activities
Kevin Henkes is an American author and illustrator born on November 27, 1960. He is known for his children’s picture books including Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse, Wemberly Worried, Jessica, A Weekend With Wendell, Kitten’s First Full Moon, Owen, When Spring Comes, Chester’s Way and Chrysanthemum! Check out the related resources below!
Lauren Child’s Birthday (11/29) Activities
Lauren Child is an American author and illustrator born on November 29, 1965. She is known for her children’s literature and her popular book series Charlie and Lola! Some books included in this series include I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed, and Utterly Me Clarice Bean along with many other adorable books in the collection. Consider reading aloud one of these stories today.
Jon Klassens’ Birthday (11/29) Activities
Jon Klassen is a Canadian author and illustrator born on November 29, 1981. He is known for his children’s literature including I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat, We Found a Hat, Triangle, and Shape Island! Check out the related resources below!
November Special Days
Below are special days in November that you can use as topics and themes for teaching in November. You’ll get tons of November teaching ideas from this list!
National Author’s Day (11/1) Activities
National Author’s Day is celebrated on November 1st and is a day dedicated to appreciate and honor our amazing authors! These individuals create amazing pieces of literature such as chapter and picture books which helps educate students around the world! Authors deserve recognition for their hard work. November 1st is the perfect day to read aloud, have a silent reading moment and to appreciate our favorite authors… especially the little writers in your very own classroom! This is one of many great November teaching ideas!
If you need resources to recognize National Author’s Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters from Obedience School, Eraser, Click Clack Moo, Rocket Writes a Story, Diary of a Worm, and Can I Be Your Dog?.
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National Stress Awareness Day (11/2) Activities
National Stress Awareness Day is celebrated on November 2nd. It brings awareness to the common and horrible feeling of stress! This day helps us to help reflect on our stress levels and brainstorm ways to reduce it. This is the perfect day to take a moment to breathe and to discuss the importance of mental health and brain breaks along with helping students understand that everyone experiences stress because we’re all human, but we all need to take breaks to help us calm down and persevere! This is one of many great November teaching ideas!
If you need resources to recognize National Stress Awareness Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: The Good Egg and The Couch Potato. You may also find our Mindfulness Unit helpful as well!
National Sandwich Day (11/3) Activities
National Sandwich Day is celebrated on November 3rd and is a day dedicated to… sandwiches! This day is all about the variety of sandwiches and to celebrate the history of the beloved food item we often all have for lunch! This would be the perfect day for a class lunch party where every student brings their favorite sandwich to eat and show the class!
If you need resources to recognize National Sandwich Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun and The Sandwich Swap.
National Candy Day (11/4) Activities
National Candy Day is celebrated on November 4th each year. Students likely still have lots of Halloween candy at home, so this holiday does feel very timely! Consider practicing math skills like modeling addition, graphing, and creating arrays using leftover Halloween. You can also use this special day as an excuse to read one of these high quality picture books: Big Red Lollipop and Love Monster and the Last Chocolate.
National Redhead Day (11/5) Activities
World Redhead Day is celebrated on November 5th and is a day dedicated to the beautiful hair color… red! This specific day in November is for the redhead community to shine and show off their unique and gorgeous hair color! This is the perfect day to celebrate our redhead students and explain to the class how amazing and rare red hair truly is!
If you need resources to recognize National Redhead Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Bedhead and Decibella and Her Six Inch Voice.
Daylight Savings Activities
Daylight Savings is on the first Sunday in November. It is when everyone changes their clocks! On this day, the clocks are adjusted. The purpose of this is to help us adjust to the weather and the time during specific months of the year. When the weather is warmer and the sun sets later that means the clocks were set forward one hour meaning we “spring forward”. Then when the weather starts to get colder we want the sky to get darker earlier and so in November we “fall back’ in time. This is the perfect day to explore and learn about weather and clocks!
National Nachos Day (11/6) Activities
National Nachos Day is celebrated on November 6th and is a day dedicated to… nachos! The crunchy chips covered in warm melted cheese and other yummy toppings is a day worth celebrating! This is the perfect day to learn about the history of nachos and maybe even have a class nacho party! If you need resources to recognize National Nachos Day in your classroom, check out our book companion for the book Chicks and Salsa.
National STEM/STEAM Day (11/8) Activities
National STEM/STEAM Day is celebrated on November 8th and is a day to celebrate science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics! All these subjects are so important in the world and it’s so important to encourage students to enjoy and take STEM/STEAM education programs and find their passion! This is the perfect day to explore these important subjects and to make them fun in your classroom.
If you need resources to recognize National STEM/STEAM Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Ada Twist Scientist, Rosie Revere Engineer, Iggy Peck Architect, The Most Magnificent Thing, The Little Red Fort, and What Do You Do With a Problem. You may also find our Perseverance and Growth Mindset Units and STEM Journal helpful as well!
Social Media Kindness Day (11/9) Activities
Social Media Kindness Day is on November 9th each year. It is a day to promote and encourage people to be kind on social media! Unfortunately, social media can be a cruel place and is where cyberbullying occurs where people are hiding behind a screen not thinking twice about what they say about another person on the other side of the screen. Social media can be a negative place, but Social Media Kindness Day reminds everyone to think before they post, to use social media to make someone’s day better, and to spread positivity rather than negativity! This is the perfect day to learn about the SEL unit kindness and remind students that their words impact others and to always think before you say, text, or post anything! This is one of many great November teaching ideas! Check out the related resource below!
World Kindness Day (11/13) Activities
World Kindness Day is celebrated on November 13th and is a day dedicated to being kind! This holiday was first observed and introduced in 1998 from the World Kindness movement in multiple countries spreading the importance of kindness! This is the perfect day to explore kindness as an SEL topic through videos, activities and read alouds. It will help you create a positive and happy classroom family!
If you need resources to recognize World Kindness Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Each Kindness, The World Needs More Purple People, Be Kind, The World Needs More Purple Schools, Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Dead, The Jelly Donut Difference, and The Speed of Compassion. You may also find our Kindness Unit helpful as well!
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America Recycles Day (11/15) Activities
America Recycles Day is on November 15th in America. This day celebrates the importance of recycling plastic and harmful waste that can be reused and repurposed! This is the perfect moment to teach students about the impact they have on their own environment. Teach students about the phrase: reduce, reuse, recycle!
If you need resources to recognize America Recycles Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: Michael Recycle, One Plastic Bag, Milk and Juice and Greta and The Giants.
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International Day for Tolerance (11/16) Activities
International Day for Tolerance is on November 16th in America. UNESCO declared this day in 1995 to spread awareness on the dangers of intolerance and to educate people on the harmful effects. This is the perfect day to explore this topic with students and to teach them what it means to be a tolerant person and to accept or understand other people’s views and opinions. Check out this inclusion unit to help guide your class lessons and learning experiences!
National Take a Hike Day (11/17) Activities
National Take a Hike Day is on November 17th. It was started by President Lyndon B Johnson in 1965. This day is all about hiking and exploring the outdoors. It has helped create more hiking trails for people to admire! National Take A Hike Day is the perfect day to teach students about all the incredible hiking trails they could adventure on. It could also be a good time to take a class field trip to a nearby trail to celebrate and get some exercise outside! Check out the book companion below for Trouble With Trolls, which is a great way to pull in this holiday into your classroom in an academic way.
National Princess Day (11/18) Activities
National Princess Day is celebrated on November 18th. The Nest Family Entertainment and Rich Animation created this day in 1994 to celebrate princesses! The intention was for people of all ages to be able to celebrate princesses and have a magical day! This is the perfect moment to appreciate favorite movie princesses, real life princesses, and could even be a fun day to have a magical class movie day exploring some classic princess films! If you need resources to recognize National Princess Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: The Paper Bag Princess and Not Quite, Snow White.
Future Teachers of America Day (11/20) Activities
Future Teachers of America Day is on November 20th. It heavily involves the Future Teachers of America organization! This is an appreciation day for the profession of teaching. It helps celebrate our student teachers and education majors learning to become a teacher! November 20th is the perfect day to celebrate all educators, specifically student teachers and to show appreciation towards their hard work and dedication towards becoming an educator! If you need resources to recognize Future Teachers of America Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: The Teacher from The Black Lagoon and A Letter to My Teacher.
National Gingerbread Cookie Day (11/21) Activities
National Gingerbread Cookie Day is on November 21st. It’s a day to celebrate the festive cookies known as gingerbread! Gingerbread cookies are associated with the Christmas holiday and are often shaped into trees, men/people, and other little cookie cutter shapes. This is the perfect day to explore holiday traditions, the history of gingerbread, and to enjoy yummy gingerbread cookies as a class! If you need resources to recognize National Gingerbread Cookie Day in your classroom, check out the book companions we have for the following books: The Gingerbread Cowboy, The Gingerbread Pirates, Gingerbread Baby, and The Gingerbread Girl.
National Day of Listening Activities
National Day of Listening takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving every year. Everyone wants to feel heard in this world and taking a moment to stop and remember to listen to others will make people feel respected and cared about! This is the perfect day to take a moment to remind your students to respect their peers, listen to their friends when they are speaking, and raise their hands and wait their turn for their special moment to share their wonderful thoughts.
Special Shopping Days
Black Friday
Black Friday is on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States every year! This day is about saving money and marks the start of the chaotic process of shopping for Christmas! It’s the perfect day to start buying presents for family and friends. You are sure to find some bargains and special Black Friday deals!
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States every year! This day encourages people to shop small and to support their local small businesses! It’s the perfect day to go check out that little shop you would always drive by with curiosity and explore! These small businesses often have great deals and really appreciate their customers so go shop small on Small Business Saturday!
Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is on the Monday after Thanksgiving in the United States every year! This day is all about shopping online and encourages people to stay home and explore stores through their phone or computer! Cyber Monday is the perfect day to get some Christmas shopping done in the comfort of your own home, while saving money with the amazing Cyber Monday deals!
The days leading up to Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, are a great time to discuss gratitude using the read alouds Those Shoes, A Bike Like Sergio’s, and Last Stop on Market Street. Our Gratitude Unit is a helpful resource as well!
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Giving Tuesday Activities
Giving Tuesday is on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States every year. This day encourages people to be generous. This has led to many organizations raising money and others fundraising to help give back to their community! It’s the perfect day to perform an act of generosity and help make a difference in your community and world! Consider reading aloud Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed and using our book companion to make the most of your interactive read aloud.
Popular Topics in November
Turkeys, scarecrows, gratitude, and generosity are all great topics and ideas for teaching in November. These topics will help you generate November teaching ideas for your classroom.
Turkeys
Scarecrows
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Gratitude
Generosity
We hope you found this post with information, resources and ideas for teaching in November helpful! There are tons of November teaching ideas you can get from this list. If you enjoyed this post, check out these other posts for more November teaching ideas:
