Planning lessons around holidays, historical events, and seasonal themes can be a fun way to homeschool. It’s an excellent way for kids to learn about the world around them, including topics that aren’t usually covered in a textbook. Our family has enjoyed occasionally adding seasonal and holiday-themed lessons to our homeschool routine.

Below is a list of free unit studies, lesson plans, and activities for May. All of the holiday dates given are for 2023. Because the dates of some holidays vary, I will update this post each year. For other months, see this page.

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Free May Unit Studies and Lessons for Month-Long Themes and Observances

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (all May)

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a time to recognize the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history and culture of the United States.

Asian Pacific Heritage– information and teacher resources
National Education Association– lesson plans
Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson plan

Jewish American Heritage Month (all May)

Jewish American Heritage Month Pays tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who have contributed to American history and culture.

Jewish Heritage Month– information and teacher resources
Facing History– lesson plan
Weitzman National Museum of Jewish American History– virtual tours and online exhibitions

National Bike Month (all May)

National Bike Month’s purpose is to showcase the benefits of cycling and encourage more people to give the activity a try. Communities across the country have celebrated this month since 1956.

KidsHealth– bike safety lesson plan for kindergarten through 2nd grade
KidsHealth– bike safety lesson plan for 3rd through 5th grade
KidsHealth– bike safety lesson plan for middle school
KidsHealth–  bike safety lesson plan for high school

Healthy Vision Month (all May)

Healthy Vision Month encourages people to prioritize eye health and take essential steps to protect their sight.

Learn Bright– eye lesson plan
KidsHealth– vision lesson plan for kindergarten through 2nd grade
KidsHealth– vision lesson plan for 3rd through 5th grade
KidsHealth– vision lesson plan for middle school
KidsHealth– vision lesson plan for high school

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (all May)

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month was started by the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition in 1983. This advocacy month aims to encourage Americans to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Freedom Homeschooling– health and physical education curriculum
Freedom Homeschooling– dance and exercise videos

National Photography Month (all May)

National Photography Month was officially recognized by Congress in 1987. It’s a great time to sharpen your photography skills, celebrate photography as an art form, or learn about the history of photography.

Karl Taylor Education– photography course
The Global Wizards– photo scavenger hunt activities

Get Caught Reading Month (all May)

Get Caught Reading Month is a campaign that encourages people of all ages to get caught reading.

Freedom Homeschooling– ebooks
Freedom Homeschooling– vintage graded readers
Freedom Homeschooling– grade level reading lists

National Egg Month (all May)

National Egg Month celebrates the versatility and nutritional benefits of eggs. Try a new egg recipe this month to celebrate.

Kate’s Kitchen– 15 ways to cook eggs
The Incredible Egg– lesson plans and activities
Family Consumer Sciences– lesson plan
Family Consumer Sciences– scrambled eggs experiment

National Salad Month (all May)

National Salad Month, created by the Association for Dressing and Sauces in 1992, encourages people to incorporate more salads into their diets.

Family Consumer Science– salad bar project
Family Consumer Sciences– salad in a jar lesson plan

National Strawberry Month (all May)

National Strawberry Month is observed in May because it’s the peak of strawberry season in some parts of the U.S. Enjoy the sweet and juicy fruit, either in a recipe or by itself, to celebrate.

Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool– lesson plan with lapbook
Massachusetts Farm to School– strawberry salsa lesson plan
Massachusetts Farm to School– strawberry patch lesson plan

Free May Unit Studies and Lessons for Week-Long Themes and Observances

National Children’s Book Week (May 2nd to 8th)

Children’s Book Week is a celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1919, it is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the United States. The week is observed in both May and November.

Freedom Homeschooling– book guides
Freedom Homeschooling– how to choose age appropriate books

National Pet Week (May 7th to 13th)

National Pet Week celebrates pets and encourages responsible pet care. The week is observed during the first full week of May.

American Veterinary Medical Association– daily themes
The Homeschool Mom– pet unit study
Homeschool Share– cat lapbook
American Kennel Club– dog lesson plans

Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8th t to 12th)

Teacher Appreciation Week was started in 1984 by the National PTA as a time to honor teachers. The week, observed during the first week of May, is also a great time to recognize teachers of all types- home educators, extracurricular activity instructors, Sunday school teachers, etc.

Brightly– printables
Classroom Doodles– printables

National Postcard Week (May 7th to 13th)

National Postcard Week’s purpose is to promote the use of postcards. It’s the first full week of May and has been observed since 1984.

Tinkerlab– printable postcard template and art project
Teachers Pay Teachers– postcard templates
Teachers Pay Teachers– state postcard project

National Police Week (May 14th to 20th)

National Police Week honors and remembers officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is the third full week of May each year.

Teachers Pay Teachers– thank your letter writing activity
Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson (dates given are for 2016, but the lesson is still useable)
Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson and activities

National Backyard Games Week (May 21st to 27th)

National Backyard Games Week is a fun time to gather with friends and family to play backyard games. This week is observed during the last full week before Memorial Day.

Fun Loving Families– DIY backyard games
Home BNC– DIY backyard game ideas

Free May Unit Studies and Lessons for Holidays, Historical Events, and Fun Days

Mother Goose Day (May 1st)

Mother Goose Day recognizes Mother Goose, the imaginary author of a collection of nursery rhymes.

The Real Mother Goose– ebook of nursery rhymes
The Truth About Mother Goose– Disney video
State of Louisiana– printable nursery rhyme mini books

May Day (May 1st)

May Day was traditionally the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. There are many ways to celebrate, including dancing around a Maypole, making a May basket, and bringing flowers into your home.

Almanac– information about May Day
DLTK Kids– crafts and activities
Teachers Pay Teachers– May Day basket printables
Teachers Pay Teachers– reading comprehension worksheet

National Sun Day (May 3rd)

Sun Day was designated by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 to advocate for solar power.

Teach Engineering– solar power lesson plan
Solar 4 STEM– solar power experiments

Bird Day (May 4th)

Bird Day is a day dedicated to our feathered friends. Celebrate by birdwatching or studying birds.

Freedom Homeschooling– learning resources and a printable bird watching journal
Happy Hooligans– bird feeder crafts

National Weather Observers Day (May 4th)

National Weather Observers Day recognizes those who assist the National Weather Service with their observations and reports.

Learn Bright– weather lesson plan
A Little Pinch of Perfect– weather chart
Simply Kinder– weather journal

Star Wars Day (May 4th)

Star Wars Day is an unofficial commemorative day for fans to celebrate the popular movie series. May the 4th be with you!

Science Buddies– STEM activities
In All You Do– writing worksheets
In the Playroom– activity sheets

Cinco de Mayo (May 5th)

Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration that commemorates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. Though many people outside of Mexico confuse the two holidays, Cinco De Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.

The Homeschool Mom– information and lessons
Teachers Pay Teachers– craft and writing printable
Teachers Pay Teachers– webquest activity

National Space Day (May 5th)

National Space Day celebrates the achievements made in space exploration. The day’s goal is to encourage math, science, technology, and engineering education in young people hoping that they’ll choose a career related to space. The day is observed on the first Friday of May.

Learn Bright– International Space Station lesson plan
Learn Bright– solar system lesson plan
Peanut Butter Fish Lessons– solar system unit study
NASA– lesson plans and activities

Kentucky Derby (May 6th)

The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. It is almost always on the first Saturday in May, concluding the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival.

Kentucky Derby Museum– activities and lesson plans
Homeschool Share– unit study and lapbook

Mother’s Day (May 14th)

Mother’s Day is a day set aside to celebrate mothers and motherhood. In the United States, the holiday is observed on the second Sunday of May. The holiday is also celebrated on different dates in other countries worldwide.

Freedom Homeschooling– unit study
Freedom Homeschooling– crafts

Clean Up Your Room Day (May 10th)

Clean Up Your Room Day is a time for us to focus extra attention on cleaning and organizing our rooms.

The Spruce– room cleaning tips
House Beautiful– cleaning games to play with kids
The Organized Mom– printable chore charts

Minnesota’s Statehood (May 11th)

Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858.

Ben and Me– unit study
Learn in Color– state report lapbook

International Nurses Day (May 12th)

International Nurses Day is celebrated on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The day honors the contributions of nurses around the world.

Florence Nightingale Museum– videos, activities, and printables
Teachers Pay Teachers– notebooking pages

Limerick Day (May 12th)

National Limerick Day celebrates the birthday of poet Edward Lear (in 1812). Lear is best known for writing Limericks, which he popularized.

Poetry 4 Kids– limerick writing lesson
EDSITEment!– Edward Lear and limericks lesson plan
Saved You a Spot– Edward Lear lesson and PowerPoint

L. Frank Baum’s Birthday (May 15th)

L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wizard of Oz, was born on this day in 1856.

Homeschool Share– Wizard of Oz lapbook
Learn for Your Life– Wizard of Oz unit study (click on the worksheet images to download)

International Museum Day (May 18th)

International Museum Day promotes the role of museums around the world. Each year’s event focuses on a relevant theme or issue museums currently face.

Teachers Pay Teachers– museum field trip worksheets
Freedom Homeschooling– virtual field trips, including many museums

Mount St. Helens Erupted (May 18th)

Mount St. Helens, located in Skamania County, Washington, underwent a catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980. An area of 230 square miles was completely destroyed, and 57 people were killed.

Mount St. Helens Institute– lesson plans
Learn Bright– earthquakes and volcanoes lesson plan

Armed Forces Day (May 20th)

Armed Forces Day is a day to honor and thank the men and women currently serving in all branches of the armed forces. The holiday is celebrated on the third Saturday in May.

The Homeschool Mom– information, activities, and lessons
Teachers Pay Teachers– letters to the military templates

American Red Cross Founded (May 21st)

Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 1881. The American Red Cross provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education.

Year Round Homeschooling– Clara Barton lesson and notebooking pages
Heritage Letter– Clara Barton lesson plan

Margaret Wise Brown’s Birthday (May 23rd)

Margaret Wise Brown, a children’s book author, was born on this day in 1910. Two of her best-known books are Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny.

Homeschool Share– Goodnight Moon lapbook
Homeschool Share– The Runaway Bunny lapbook

South Carolina’s Statehood (May 23rd)

South Carolina was admitted into the Union on May 23, 1788.

Ben and Me– unit study
Elemental Blogging– state study

First Telegraphic Message Sent (May 24th)

Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first telegraphic message on May 24, 1844. Morse sent it from the U.S. Supreme Courtroom in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland.

DIY Homeschooler– Samuel Morse unit study
WikiHow– learn Morse Code

Golden Gate Bridge Opened (May 27th)

The Golden Gate Bridge, located in San Francisco, California, opened to vehicular traffic at noon on May 27, 1937. At 4,200 feet, it was the longest bridge in the world until the completion of New York City’s Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in 1964.

Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson plan
Officeworks– bridge building activity

Rhode Island’s Statehood (May 29th)

Rhode Island became a state on May 29, 1790.

Ben and Me– unit study
Learn in Color– state report lapbook

Wisconsin’s Statehood (May 29th)

Wisconsin was admitted into the union on May 29, 1848.

Ben and Me– unit study
Elemental Blogging– state study

Memorial Day (May 29th)

Memorial Day is a time for remembering and mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May.

Year Round Homeschooling– unit study
Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson
Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson

World No Tobacco Day (May 31st)

World No Tobacco Day’s goal is to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use.

KidsHealth– lesson plan for kindergarten through 2nd grade
KidsHealth– lesson plan for 3rd through 5th grade
KidsHealth– lesson plan for middle school
KidsHealth– lesson plan for high school

Have fun learning this May! I will add more free unit studies and lessons next year. Be sure to pin this post so you can find it next May.

Note: This post was originally published on April 27, 2022 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.