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 September. All of the holiday dates given are for 2023. Because the dates of some holidays vary, I will update this post each year. If you are looking for other months, check out our monthly unit studies and lesson plans page.

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

Children’s Good Manners Month (all September)

Children’s Good Manners Month is a time for parents to focus on teaching courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness.

Teachers Pay Teachers– good manners curriculum
Cutesy Crafts– table manners game
File Folder Fun– printable manners game
Cornerstone Confessions– printable table manners activity

American Breakfast Month (all September)

All American Breakfast Month encourages us to avoid skipping the important meal and enjoy a healthy breakfast.

Family Consumer Sciences– lesson plan and activities
Family Consumer Sciences– importance of breakfast lesson
Family Consumer Sciences– breakfast nutrition lesson plan

Classical Music Month (all September)

Classical Music Month, which has been observed since President Bill Clinton’s proclamation in 1994, celebrates classical music and its composers, conductors, and musicians.

Prodigies– activity ideas
Classics for Kids– podcast and lesson plans
Freedom Homeschooling– music curriculum

National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th to October 15th)

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. The start date was chosen because Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate their independence on September 15th. Also, Mexico’s Independence Day is on September 16th.

Woo! Jr. Kids– lesson plan and worksheets
Classroom Doodles– worksheets and coloring pages
National Hispanic Heritage Month– teacher’s guide

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

Constitution Week (September 17th to 23rd)

Constitution Week is celebrated annually to commemorate the US Constitution’s signing on September 17, 1787.

Hillsdale College– video-based course
Teachers Pay Teachers– printable worksheets
The Homeschool Mom– unit study

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

First Day of School (varies)

Many homeschoolers choose to start their homeschool years in August or September, like public schools in the U.S.

Freedom Homeschooling– how to make the first day fun
Primary Playground– all about me printable
Wonder in His World– first day craft

Blueberry Popsicle Day (September 2nd)

Blueberry Popsicle Day is a great time to beat the summer heat with a cool treat.

North Carolina Farm to School– activity book
Sally’s Baking Recipes– blueberry popsicle recipe

National Skyscraper Day (September 3rd)

National Skyscraper Day celebrates these architectural marvels and feats of engineering. Visit a skyscraper in your area or learn about famous skyscrapers.

Teach Engineering– lesson plan
The Skyscraper Museum– lesson plans

Labor Day (September 4th)

Labor Day celebrates the contributions and achievements of American workers. It’s observed on the first Monday of September.

Homeschool Super Freak– lessons and activities
Woo! Jr. Kids– lesson plan and worksheets

National Cheese Pizza Day (September 5th)

National Cheese Pizza Day is the perfect time to say, “hold the toppings!” and enjoy a cheese pizza. Order or make a cheese pizza to celebrate.

Family Consumer Sciences– nutrition and ingredient comparison lesson
Joy in Every Season– cheese pizza recipe

Read a Book Day (September 6th)

Read a Book Day encourages us to grab a book and spend the day reading.

Freedom Homeschooling– book lists
Freedom Homeschooling– ebooks
Freedom Homeschooling– vintage readers

California’s Statehood (September 9th)

California became a state on September 9, 1850, under the Compromise of 1850.

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

Teddy Bear Day (September 9th)

Teddy Bear Day honors the popular cuddly stuffed animal. The creator of the teddy bear was inspired by a national news story about President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a bear cub while hunting in Mississippi.

Homeschool Share– printable activities
Teachers Pay Teachers– worksheet

Grandparents’ Day (September 10th)

Grandparents’ Day is a special day for celebrating and honoring our grandparents. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day.

DIY Homeschooler– lessons, unit studies, and activities
Doodle Art Alley– coloring pages

Patriot Day (September 11th)

Patriot Day commemorates the lives of those who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and those who perished when the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.

Freedom Homeschooling– video collection
Cynce’s Place– notebooking pages
Teachers Pay Teachers– timeline activity

National Video Games Day (September 12th)

National Video Games Day is a day to gather with friends or family and play video games together. There is a similar holiday called National Video Game Day on July 8th.

Year Round Homeschooling– unit study
Teachers Pay Teachers– favorite video game worksheet
Teacher’s Notepad– writing prompts

Chocolate Milkshake Day (September 12th)

Chocolate Milkshake Day is a fun day to visit your local ice cream shop or make a chocolate milkshake at home.

Tastes Better From Scratch– chocolate milkshake recipe
Glued to My Crafts– milkshake craft

Roald Dahl’s Birthday (September 13th)

Roald Dahl, born on September 13, 1916, was a famous novelist, short-story writer, poet, screenwriter, and fighter pilot. Some of his most well-known children’s books include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach.

Peanut Butter Fish Lessons– Roald Dahl unit study
Roald Dahl– lesson plans for Roald Dahl’s books

National Peanut Day (September 13th)

National Peanuts Day celebrates the tasty peanut. Enjoy a PB & J sandwich, or grab a handful of peanuts to celebrate. It’s also a great day to learn about George Washington Carver and all the uses for peanuts he discovered.

National Peanut Board–  peanut activities and lessons
National Agriculture in the Classroom– peanut lesson plan
Learn Bright– George Washington Carver lesson plan

Milton Hershey’s Birthday (September 13th)

Milton Hershey, best known for creating the Hershey bar, was born on September 13, 1857.

Peanut Butter Fish Lessons– Milton Hershey unit study
Family Consumer Sciences– resources for teaching about chocolate

Star-Spangled Banner Written (September 14th)

The Star-Spangled Banner, the US national anthem, was written by Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, during the war of 1812.

DIY Homeschooler– unit study
Teachers Pay Teachers– reading comprehension worksheets

Tomie dePaola’s Birthday (September 15th)

Thomas “Tomie” dePaola was an American writer and illustrator who created more than 260 children’s books, including Strega Nona and The Art Lesson. He was born on September 15, 1934.

Homeschool Share– unit study for The Art Lesson
Homeschool Share– Charlie Needs a Cloak unit study
The Prindle Institute– lesson plan for Strega Nona

Rosh Hashanah (sundown on September 15th to sundown on September 17th)

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. The festival begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. This is sometime during September or October on the Gregorian calendar. Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that ends with the Yom Kippur holiday.

NJOP– informative guide
The Lookstein Center– lesson plans, activities, and articles

National Collect Rocks Day (September 16th)

National Collect Rocks Day gives us all the chance to become geologists for the day. Search for and collect unique rocks and then learn about them.

Middle School Science– rock identification lesson plan
Learn Bright– Igneous rocks lesson plan
Learn Bright– metamorphic rocks lesson plan
Learn Bright– sedimentary rocks lesson plan

National Play-Doh Day (September 16th)

National Play-Doh Day recognizes the popular, brightly-colored modeling clay. To celebrate, play with Play-Doh or even make your own homemade version.

Early Science Matters– playdough making activity
Tinkerlab– playdough recipe
Teaching Expertise– playdough learning activity activities

Mayflower Day (September 16th)

Mayflower Day commemorates the day the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England. The colonists departed on September 16, 1620, and the Mayflower arrived at modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1620.

Meet Penny– Mayflower unit study resources
Learn Bright– Pilgrims lesson plan

Constitution Day (September 17th)

Constitution Day commemorates when the Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution on  September 17, 1787.

Center for Civic Education– lesson plans
Hillsdale College– video-based course
Teachers Pay Teachers– printable worksheets
In All You Do– copywork and writing prompt worksheets
The Homeschool Mom– unit study

Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th)

Arrr! Talk Like a Pirate Day is a fun day when people all over the world talk like pirates.

Pirate Monkeyness– English to pirate translator
Teachers Pay Teachers– writing prompts
Teachers Pay Teachers– worksheets

First Day of Fall / Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd)

On the Fall Equinox, which marks the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere, the Sun crosses the Earth’s celestial equator. Both the northern and southern hemispheres equally receive the sun’s rays on the equinox.

DIY Homeschooler– equinox unit study
How to Homeschool My Child– fall unit study and printables
Year Round Homeschooling– leaves unit study

Dear Diary Day (September 22nd)

Dear Diary Day celebrates how diaries help us get our thoughts out and document our lives.

Journal Buddies– diary writing prompts
PK1 Kids– printable diary pages
Woo! Jr. Kids Activities– journal prompts

National Elephant Appreciation Day (September 22nd)

National Elephant Appreciation Day is a day to celebrate and learn about elephants. This day also brings attention to issues facing elephants, including the ivory trade and habitat destruction.

Homeschool Share– lapbook
Homeschool Hideout– unit study
Teachers Pay Teachers– reading comprehension worksheets

Yom Kippur (sundown on September 24th to sundown on September 25th)

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is a time when members of the Jewish faith forgive the sins of others and repent for their own sins against God. Yom Kippur is observed on the 10th day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Yom Kippur occurs sometime during September or October on the Gregorian calendar.

The Lookstein Center– lesson plans, activities, and articles
Teachers Pay Teachers– short lesson

Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday (September 26th)

Johnny Appleseed, whose real name was John Chapman, was born today in 1774. He was a pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ontario.

Cynce’s Place– notebooking pages, worksheets, and activities
Homeschool Share– lapbook printables
How to Homeschool My Child– activity guide

World Tourism Day (September 27th)

World Tourism Day was started by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The day’s purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of tourism.

Mom’s Minivan– printable road trip games
Freedom Homeschooling– virtual field trips
Freedom Homeschooling– ways save money on field trips

National Crush a Can Day (September 27th)

National Crush a Can Day is dedicated to encouraging people to recycle aluminum cans. So, crush a can today and toss it in the recycling bin.

Think Cans– aluminum recycling lesson
Learn Bright– recycling lesson plan

 

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

Note: This post was originally published on August 14, 2021, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.