I think we all know February is Black History Month, but how many of you know when Say Something Nice Day is? This calendar of 2023 school holidays and special days offers a variety of monthly celebrations for your classroom. We’re also linking to activities, lesson plans, resources, books, and more for each event.
Want to download our 2023 calendar with all of these school holidays and special days? Get an editable file by submitting your email here so you’ll always have the calendar available.
Go to: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
January
Daily observances and celebrations:
- January 1: New Year’s Day
- 3rd Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day [Read More: Meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Activities for the Classroom | Classroom Books for Teaching About Martin Luther King Jr. | Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes for the Classroom]
- January 24: Compliment Day [Read More: Compliment Cards To Encourage Staff and Students | Teachers Share Best Thank-You Notes | Teachers Share Funniest Compliments]
February
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Black History Month [Read More: Black History Month Activities | Picture Book Biographies To Celebrate Black History Month | Black History Month Poems | Black History Videos for Students | Black History Month Posters | Black Scientist Posters | Black History Month Door Ideas]
- National Bird-Feeding Month [Read More: Easy Ways To Get Kids into Birding]
- National Dental Health Month [Read More: Easy Science Experiments (one with teeth!)]
- Heart Health Awareness Month [Read More: Heart & Anatomy Activities]
- Library Lover’s Month [Read More: Inspiring School Libraries | Start a Free Take-Home Library]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- 100th Day of School [Read More: Ways To Celebrate 100th Day | 100th Day Videos To Celebrate in the Classroom | Hundreds Chart Activities!]
- Lunar New Year [Read More: 10 Lunar New Year Activities ]
- Super Bowl [Read More: Football and Super Bowl Activities]
- February 2: Groundhog Day [Read More: Groundhog Day Activities ]
- February 2: 2s Day [Read More: Celebrate 2s Day in the Classroom]
- February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science [Read More: Inspiring Women Scientists]
- February 13: Galentine’s Day
- February 14: Valentine’s Day [Read More: Virtual Valentine’s Day Activities | Books To Celebrate Valentine’s Day | Valentine’s Day Poems | Valentine’s Day Jokes | Valentine’s Crafts for the Classroom | Easy & Inexpensive Valentines to Send to Students | Educational Valentine’s Day Videos ]
- February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day [Read More: Free Kindness Posters | Create a Wave of Kindness in Schools | Kindness Books for Kids | Ways To Teach Kindness to Kids | Bucket Filler Activities | Teach Kids To Pay It Forward]
- 3rd Monday: Presidents’ Day [Read More: Presidents’ Day Activities | Teach Presidents’ Day in a Socially Conscious Way | Best President Books for Kids | Presidents’ Day Videos ]
March
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Women’s History Month [Read More: Women’s History Month Activities | Women’s History Month Books | Women’s History Month Facts for Kids | Women’s History Month Bulletin Boards | Podcasts to Celebrate Women’s History Month | Inspiring Women Scientists]
- National Nutrition Month [Read More: Educational Nutrition Information | Teach Healthy Eating | Fun Food Facts | Food Books for Kids | Books That Teach Healthy Eating Habits]
- Music in Our Schools Month [Read More: Free Music Resources | Creative Music in the Classroom]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- March 2: Read Across America Day [Read More: Reading Lists for all Grades]
- March 14: Pi Day [Read More: Pi Day Activities | Pi Day Jokes]
- March 17: St. Patrick’s Day [Read More: St. Patrick’s Day Activities | St. Patrick’s Day Poems | St. Patrick’s Day Books]
- March 20: First Day of Spring [Read More: Free Spring Posters | Free Spring Writing Paper | Best Spring Books for Kids | Weather Activities for Spring | Poems for Spring]
- March 20: Very Hungry Caterpillar Day [Read More: Very Hungry Caterpillar Day Activities]
- March 22: World Water Day [Read More: Crafts Using Water Bottles & Recycled Materials]
April
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Financial Literacy Month [Read More: Financial Literacy Books | Hands-On Banking | Teach Money Skills | Online Apps and Websites to Teach Money Skills | Adventures in Math]
- Math Awareness Month [Read More: All Things Math! | Adventures in Math]
- National Autism Awareness Month [Read More: Books for Teaching Kids With Autism | 7 Things Your Students With Autism Wish You Knew About Them | Books About Autistic Kids]
- Poetry Month [Read More: Poetry Games & Activities | Must-Share Poems for Elementary School | Must-Share Poems for Middle/High School | Best Poetry Books for Kids | Haiku Poems for Kids | Write a Found Poetry Essay | Poems for Spring]
- School Library Month [Read More: Inspiring School Libraries]
- Volunteer Month [Virtual Volunteering | Volunteering With Children & Teens]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- Easter [Read More: Easter Egg Activities]
- April 1: April Fools’ Day [Read More: Pranks for Teachers]
- April 7: World Health Day [Read More: Educational Nutrition Information | Teach Healthy Eating]
- April 15: Tax Day [Read More: Tax Saving Strategies for Teachers]
- April 21: Secretary Day [Read More: 7 Ways School Secretaries Are a Secret Weapon for Good Communication]
- April 22: Earth Day [Read More: Crafts Using Recycled Materials | Meaningful Earth Day Activities | Earth Day Books for Kids | Free Recycling Resources for the Classroom]
- April 23: Shakespeare’s Birthday [Read More: Shakespeare Activities | Favorite Videos for Teaching Shakespeare]
- Last Friday: Arbor Day [Read More: Easy Nature Crafts & Activities | Books About Nature | Plant Life Cycle Activities | Gardening Books]
May
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month [Read More: 20 #OwnVoices Nonfiction Books | 20 #OwnVoices Novels]
- Mental Health Awareness Month [Read More: 10 Steps for Building a Mental Health Program at School | How To Talk About Mental Health]
- National Pet Month [Read More: Adorable Classroom Pets | 5 Reasons Why High School Classrooms Need a Pet]
- Physical Fitness Month [Read More: Virtual P.E. Resources | Social Distancing P.E. Activities | Ways To Sneak in Exercise |
Daily observances and celebrations:
- 1st Saturday: Kentucky Derby
- May 4: Star Wars (May the 4th Be With You) Day [Read More: Star Wars Bulletin Boards]
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo [Read More: Critical Thinking About Cinco de Mayo]
- 2nd Sunday: Mother’s Day [Read More: Mother’s Day Crafts for Kids | Mother’s Day Surprises for Kids | Mother’s Day Books | Free “All About My Mom” Printable]
- Last Monday: Memorial Day
June
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- National Safety Month
- Pride Month [Read More: Articles on Making an LGBTQ-Inclusive Classroom]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- June 1: Say Something Nice Day [Read More: Bring Positive Language Into the Classroom]
- June 6: D-Day
- June 14: Flag Day
- 3rd Sunday: Father’s Day [Read More: Father’s Day Crafts for Kids | Father’s Day Books | Free “All About My Dad” Printable]
- June 19: Juneteenth [Read More: Ideas for Teaching Juneteenth]
- June 20: First Day of Summer [Read More: Summer Activities | Get Kids to Love Summer Reading | Poems for Summer]
- June 21: International Yoga Day [Read More: Virtual P.E. Resources | Best Apps To Combat Stress & Anxiety]
July
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- National Ice Cream Month
Daily observances and celebrations:
- July 4: American Independence Day [Read More: 4th of July Activities | 4th of July Books]
August
Daily observances and celebrations:
- August 9: Book Lovers Day [Read More: Reading Lists for all Grades]
- August 13: Left-Handers Day [Read More: Help Left-Handed Students Succeed]
September
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Hispanic Heritage Month [Read More: Books To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month | Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With These Activities | 20 #OwnVoices Novels]
- National Yoga Month [Read More: Virtual P.E. Resources | Best Apps to Combat Stress & Anxiety]
Weekly observances and celebrations:
- September 26 through October 2: Banned Book Week [Read More: Banned Books To Read Before 12th Grade]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- 1st Monday: Labor Day [Read More: Classroom Activities To Teach Labor Day]
- September 11: 9-11 Remembrance Day [Read More: 20+ Websites and Books To Teach Kids About 9/11]
- September 17: Constitution Day [Read More: 25+ Classroom Activities for Constitution Day]
- September 22: First Day of Autumn [Read More: Fall Books | Fall Picture Books | Fall Art Projects | Leaf Art Projects | Fall Bulletin Boards | Fall Poems]
October
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- National Arts & Humanities Month [Read More: Drawing Books | Music Books | Collaborative Art Projects | Art Projects With Basic Supplies | Directed Drawing Activities | Kindergarten Art Projects | First Grade Art Projects | Second Grade Art Projects | Third Grade Art Projects | Fourth Grade Art Projects | Fifth Grade Art Projects | Online Art Resources | Virtual Art Museum Tours | Painting Ideas | Famous Museums Kids Should Know]
- National Bullying Prevention Month [Read More: Anti-Bullying Books | Anti-Bullying Posters | Ideas To Stop Bullying]
Weekly observances and celebrations:
- October 3-9: National Fire Prevention Week [Read More: Free Resources for National Fire Prevention Week | Activities for Grades Pre-K–2 | Activities for Grades 3-5]
- October 10-16: Teen Read Week [Read More: YA Books to Read Today]
- October 23-31: Red Ribbon Week [Read More: Teen Vaping Guide]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- October 12: Indigenous Peoples’ Day [Read More: Books by Indigenous Authors | Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day]
- October 31: Halloween [Read More: Halloween Books | Pumpkin Books | Books About Monsters | Educational Halloween Videos | Halloween Math Word Problems | Halloween Poems | Frightfully Fun Halloween Games, Crafts, and Learning Activities for Kids | Halloween Candy Experiments | Halloween Decorations on a Budget | Literary Halloween Costumes for Teachers | Halloween Group Costumes for Teachers]
November
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Academic Writing Month [Read More: Best Writing Apps for Kids | Writing Anchor Charts | Writing Center Ideas | 100 Creative Writing Prompts | Writing Prompts for High School]
- American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month [Read More: 15 Books by Indigenous Authors for the Classroom]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- November 11: Veterans Day
- 4th Thursday: Thanksgiving [Read More: Thanksgiving Books | Thanksgiving Crafts | Leaf Projects | Thanksgiving Poems | Thanksgiving Bulletin Boards | Thanksgiving Lesson Plans | Books by Indigenous Authors | Thanksgiving Food Experiments | Thanksgiving Paper & Gratitude Prompts]
December
Monthly observances and celebrations:
- Winter Holidays [Read More: Our Favorite Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas Books for Kids | Favorite Videos for Teaching Kids About Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa | Holiday Crafts | Holidays You Didn’t Know About | School Holiday Countdown | Virtual Holiday Classroom Celebrations]
Daily observances and celebrations:
- December 7: Letter Writing Day
- December 7: Pearl Harbor Day
- December 21: First Day of Winter [Read More: Winter Picture Books | Educational Winter Videos | Winter Crafts | Winter Songs | Winter Poems | Winter Jokes | Winter Outdoor Learning | Winter Science Experiments | Winter Classroom Doors | Winter Classroom Decorations]
- December 31: New Year’s Eve
Get My 2023 School Holiday Calendar
