Free September Unit Studies and Lessons

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 2024. 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)

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– Child’s Own Book of Great Musicians ebooks
• 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
• Peanut Butter Fish Lessons– 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

Labor Day (September 2nd)

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

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

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

Grandparents’ Day (September 8th)

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

California’s Statehood (September 9th)

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

• From ABCs to ACTs– unit study
• Year Round Homeschooling– state unit study
• Ben and Me– state unit study

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

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
• The Homeschool Scientist– peanut life cycle printables

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

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
• Educational Insights– rock scavenger hunt printable
• Educational Insights– rock observations printable

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– unit study resources
• The Homeschool Daily– unit study and coloring sheets

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
• Storylark Road– pirate map activities
• 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
• The Homeschool Scientist– fall leaves lesson and activities
• All the Year Round Part I– autumn nature reader
• All About Learning Press– fall-themed reading activities
• Easy Teacher Worksheets– worksheets

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
• The Homeschool Scientist– lesson and activities

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
• Life of a Can– lessons and activities

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. When you’re ready to start planning for next month, check out our October Unit Studies and Lessons.

 

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