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 August. All of the holiday dates given are for 2025. 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 August Unit Studies and Lessons for Month-Long Themes and Observances
American Artist Appreciation Month (all August)
American Artist Appreciation Month celebrates U.S. artists and their work. You can celebrate by learning about American artists or visiting a museum or art gallery.
- Smithsonian American Art Museum– lesson plans
- Freedom Homeschooling– art curriculum
National Water Quality Month (all August)
National Water Quality Month aims to educate the public about the importance of clean water and encourage them to protect the water supply from pollutants.
- National Water Quality Month– information and ideas
- Rain Bird– water curriculum
Summer Break (varies)
For homeschoolers who choose to follow a schedule similar to the public schools, all or part of August may be part of summer break.
- Freedom Homeschooling– ways to prevent summer slide
- All About Learning Press– summer-themed reading activities
Free August Unit Studies and Lessons for Holidays, Historical Events, and Fun Days
First Day of School (varies)
Many homeschoolers choose to start their homeschool year 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
Francis Scott Key’s Birthday (August 1st)
Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779. Key was a lawyer, author, and poet. He is best known for writing the lyrics for the American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
- DIY Homeschooler– unit study
- EDSITEment!– lesson plan
- Teachers Pay Teachers– reading comprehension worksheets
- Teachers Pay Teachers– biography printable
Colorado’s Statehood (August 1st)
Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876.
- Year Round Homeschooling– unit study
- Ben and Me– unit study
Holling C. Holling’s Birthday (August 2nd)
Holling Clancy Holling was an American author and illustrator best known for the book Paddle-to-the-Sea. He was born on August 2, 1900.
- Homeschool Helper Online– Paddle-to-the-Sea unit study
- Homeschool Share– Seabird lesson and printables
- Teachers Pay Teachers– Tree in the Trail lapbook
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (August 2nd)
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day encourages us to cool off with the frozen treat.
- Teachers Pay Teachers– visual recipe
- Simply Recipies– recipe
American Family Day (August 3rd)
American Family Day, observed on the first Sunday in August, encourages us to enjoy the waning summer with those closest to us. The holiday started in Arizona and has since spread to other states.
- Teachers Pay Teachers– family tree project
- Kristin Moon Science– exploring genetics lesson
National Friendship Day (August 3rd)
National Friendship Day celebrates the importance of friendship. It’s observed on the first Sunday in August.
- Teachers Pay Teachers– friendship printables
- Teachers Pay Teachers– word scramble challenge
National Watermelon Day (August 3rd)
National Watermelon Day celebrates the popular summer fruit, often enjoyed at picnics and cookouts.
- Simple Living Creative Learning -watermelon life cycle printables
- Food Hero– recipes and activities
Coast Guard Day (August 4th)
Coast Guard Day commemorates the founding of the United States Coast Guard as the Revenue Marine on August 4, 1790. On that date, U.S. Congress authorized the building of a fleet of Revenue Service cutters, whose responsibility would be to enforce tariff laws.
- United States Coast Guard– coloring book
- Teachers Pay Teachers– reading comprehension worksheets
Neil Armstrong’s Birthday (August 5th)
Neil Alden Armstrong was an astronaut, an aeronautical engineer, and the first person to walk on the Moon. He was born on August 5, 1930.
- Teachers Pay Teachers– reading comprehension worksheets
- Teachers Pay Teachers– lesson plan
National Dollar Day (August 8th)
National Dollar Day commemorates when Congress established the U.S. monetary system on August 8, 1786.
- U.S. Mint– activities, videos, and games
- Teachers Pay Teachers– printable game
- Teachers Pay Teachers– coin counting worksheets
Smokey Bear’s Birthday (August 9th)
Smokey Bear was “born” on August 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear would be the symbol for their joint effort to promote forest fire prevention.
- Smokey Bear– activities and materials
- Smokey Bear Live– lesson plans
Missouri’s Statehood (August 10th)
Missouri became a state on August 10, 1821.
- From ABCs to ACTs– unit study
- Ben and Me– unit study
National S’Mores Day (August 10th)
National S’Mores Day honors the popular campfire treat. Enjoy s’mores around the campfire to celebrate.
- The Mail Box– s’mores activity for teaching about sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
- Science-U– solar oven s’mores science activity
- Shared Appetite– creative s’mores recipes
Play in the Sand Day (August 11th)
On Play in the Sand Day, head to the beach (ocean, river, or lake) to play in the sand and build sandcastles. If you aren’t near a beach, play in a sandbox instead.
- Science Sparks– sandcastle building activity
- Teachers Pay Teachers– sandcastle writing activity
National Creamsicle Day (August 14th)
National Creamsicle Day celebrates the creamy citrus dessert on a stick.
- Went Here 8 This– orange creamsicle recipe
- Live Eat Learn– healthy creamsicle recipes
National Tell a Joke Day (August 16th)
National Tell a Joke Day is a fun day for jokes and laughter.
- Teachers Pay Teachers– crack the code joke worksheets
- Teachers Pay Teachers– jokes with idioms printable
- Teachers Pay Teacher– joke cards printable
National Roller Coaster Day (August 16th)
National Roller Coaster Day commemorates the first vertical loop roller coaster, which Edwin Prescott patented on August 16, 1898. Many people visit theme parks to ride roller coasters on this day.
- Teach Engineering– roller coaster building activity
- Science Buddies– roller coaster science activity
Davy Crockett’s Birthday (August 17th)
Davy Crockett was a Tennessee-born frontiersman, congressman, solider, and folk hero. Crocket was born on August 17, 1786.
- Teachers Pay Teachers– reading passages and activities
- Teachers Pay Teachers– printable lesson
- EDSITEment!– lesson plan
National Potato Day (August 19th)
National Potato Day celebrates the delicious and highly versatile starchy vegetable. Enjoy one of the countless ways to prepare potatoes today—mashed, baked, fried, roasted, scalloped, in a soup, or even potato bread.
- Family Consumer Sciences– potato lessons and labs
- Family Consumer Sciences– potato cooking lab
- Thoughtfully Sustainable– potato growing activity and printable
- Food Hero– recipes and activities
National Radio Day (August 20th)
National Radio Day is a time for people across the country to celebrate the radio. The goal is to raise awareness about the radio’s importance in spreading news and music and encourage people to listen to local stations.
- Homeschool Giveaways & Freebies– history of the radio learning resources
- School Journalism– radio journalism curriculum
World Mosquito Day (August 20th)
World Mosquito Day commemorates British doctor Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery in 1897 that female anopheline mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. Before this discovery, little could be done to control the spread of the disease.
- Homemade Heather– mosquito activity printables
- Teachers Pay Teachers– mosquito reading comprehension worksheets
- Climate Science Teaching– malaria lesson plan
Hawaii’s Statehood (August 21st)
Hawaii became a state on August 21, 1959.
- From ABCs to ACTs– unit study
- Year Round Homeschooling– unit study
- Ben and Me– unit study
National Waffle Day (August 24th)
National Waffle Day commemorates when Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York, received his patent for the waffle iron on August 24, 1869. Enjoy some waffles today to celebrate.
- Kids Cooking Activities– waffle cooking recipes
- Crystal & Co.– printable activity pack
National Banana Split Day (August 25th)
National Banana Split Day celebrates the dessert. Top a fresh banana with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry to give your taste buds a treat.
- The Kitchen Magpie– recipe
- Teachers Pay Teachers– STEM challenge
- All About Learning Press– banana split compound words game
National Park Service Established (August 25th)
The National Park Service was established on August 25, 1916, by an act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. Visit a National Park to celebrate.
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Homeschool Giveaways & Freebies– notebooking printable
- Adventures of a 4th Grade Classroom– National Park Service reading comprehension worksheets
- Discover the Forest– outdoor activity ideas
Women’s Equality Day (August 26th)
Women’s Equality Day commemorates the 1920 addition of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.
- Civics Renewal Network– teaching resources
- Teachers Pay Teachers– printable lesson
Dream Day (August 28th)
Dream Day commemorates when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial during The March on Washington on August 28, 1963.
- Education.com– “I Have a Dream” lesson plan
- Teachers Pay Teachers– “I Have a Dream” speech writing activity
- Freedom Homeschooling– MLK videos
National Trail Mix Day (August 31st)
National Trail Mix Day honors the mix, which was developed as a healthy snack to take along on hikes. Make your own trail mix today using your favorite ingredients.
- Kids Cooking Activities– recipes
- Teachers Pay Teachers– visual recipe
- Teachers Pay Teachers– experiment
Have fun learning this August! I will add more free unit studies and lessons next year. Be sure to pin this post so you can find it next August. When you’re ready to start planning for next month, check out our September Unit Studies and Lessons.
Note: This post was originally published on May 18, 2022, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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