October is always a favorite time of the year for my family.  It’s also a favorite month for learning!  October has a good variety of themes, foods, and daily historic events.  This link will take you to the list of Special Days in October, 2014  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/09/27/special-days-in-october-2014/

Below are the resource links to take you to special day studies we’ve done with our homeschooling through Octobers in the past.  I’ve also included some links that I’m thinking we’re about to use with this October’s lessons.

October Prayer Calendar Printable http://cherilynngamble.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/october-prayer-calendar/

October Writing Prompts  http://www.theteacherscorner.net/daily-writing-prompts/october/

Octbricks  –  31 Days of Legos  –  http://www.educatinglaytons.com/2014/09/31-days-legos/

Autumn and Halloween Background Lined Paper printables  http://www.teacherfiles.com/resources_background_paper.htm

Fall Themed Interactive Games  –  http://www.primarygames.com/seasons/fall/games.htm

Bats! Cross curriculum resources   –  http://www.franw.com/2011/10/bats.html

Fire Safety  –  A “Must Read” article  http://www.unplannedhomeschooler.com/2014/08/how-my-kids-reacted-to-night-time-fire.html   And,  http://repurposemylife.com/teaching-children-fire-safety/   Also,  Fire Facts http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/fire.html

The Salem Witch Trials was one of our best studies last year.  Though not a “special day”, it was a nice tie in with a Halloweenish theme.  Also, this resource post has been one of the most popular posts I’ve put together.  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/10/30/salem-witch-trials/

Human Anatomy can be another Halloweenish theme.  Here’s some creative learning ideas  http://www.homeschool-activities.com/human-body-for-kids.html

Crafts are great all year long, but the autumn ones are some of the best!  http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/autumnfallartscraftideaskids.html

October offers some of the best “food themes” of the year!

Apples  –  Cross curriculum research project  –  http://www.franw.com/2013/09/apple-research-project.html

Pumpkins  –  Here’s a “big ole’ list” of pumpkin themed resources  –  http://www.blessedbeyondadoubt.com/pumpkins-free-printables-activities-recipes/

Candy  –  Play, Invent and Explore  –  http://www.housingaforest.com/candy-potions/

Popcorn  –  http://www.franw.com/2014/10/popcorn-project.html

Presidents Born in October:  (This link takes you to our family’s resources used for studying any president.  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/)

• Oct. 1    –  Jimmy Carter born 1924
• Oct. 4    –  Rutherford Hayes born 1822
• Oct. 5    –  Chester Arthur born 1829
• Oct. 14  –  Dwight Eisenhower born 1890
• Oct. 27  –  Theodore Roosevelt born 1858
• Oct. 30  –  John Adams born 1735

Oct. 2  –

• SOS (distress code) established 1906  –  Morse Code interatctive game  in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels  https://www.nsa.gov/kids/games/gameMorse.swf
• Anniversary of the first Peanuts comic strip (1950)  –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/10/02/peanuts/

Oct. 4  –  Fall Astronomy Day  This link takes you to my “go to” site for all things astronomy.  http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

Oct. 11  –  Elenore Roosevelt born 1884  –  Here’s a nice short biography, reading comprehension quizzes and language arts printables  http://www.gardenofpraise.com/ibderoos.htm

Oct. 13  –  Columbus Day  –  Resources and Printables  http://embarkonthejourney.com/christopher-columbus-resources-printables/

Oct. 15  –  Poetry Day  –  Homeschool Poetry Resource List  –  http://homeschoolencouragement.com/poetry-ultimate-homeschool-resource-list/    And, since October is at times spooky and odd,  here’s a link to study guides, summaries, and quizzes to Edgar Allen Poe’s Poetry  http://www.gradesaver.com/poes-poetry/study-guide/short-summary/      Also, here’s a research guide and resources for a Poe Study  http://www.franw.com/2013/10/edgar-allan-poe-research-project.html

Oct. 16  –  Noah Webster born 1758 and Dictionary Day (this site has much more than a dictionary!  You’ll find games, Webster biography, language history, daily buzz words, and a way to add your own made up word to a dictionary!)   http://www.wordcentral.com/edu/index.htm

Oct. 16  –  World Food Day  –  Photo Collection What the World Eats  –  http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/what-the-world-eats-shocking-photos

Oct. 19  –

• Character Counts Week begins   –  Our family has gone to this site many times for help with character development  http://www.characterjournal.com/   Also, there’s some nice character lapbook printables here  http://www.homeschoolshare.com/character_lapbook.php
• Chemistry Week begins  –  Periodic Table of Element Videos (this is one of our favorite chemistry resources)  http://www.periodicvideos.com/      And, this site has chemistry games. worksheets, and quizzes  http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/index.htm       And, here’s a chemistry lesson about the colors of autumn leaves  http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/09/11/autumnleaves/

Oct. 20 –  Monster Mash Day  –  The Monster Mash song is the first one on this  Youtube Halloween song playlist  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0R_oDEvYUY&list=PLA8F349F78FC52532     And, these kids can teach you the dance moves!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ8DOL-KeWw

Oct. 22 –  Daniel Boone born 1734  (We’ll definitely be playing the pioneer games again. They were awesome and they were outside!)   https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/10/22/daniel-boone/

Oct. 30  –  Radio Broadcast of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds 1938  –  Read an article and listen to the recording here  http://www.ibtimes.com/war-worlds-radio-broadcast-turns-75-listen-orson-welles-famous-hoax-1447470

Oct. 31  –

• Knock Knock Joke Day  –  (Jokes for “school work” are always a big hit with us.)  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/jokes/topics/knockknock.shtml
• Halloween  –  History articles  –  http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/halloween.htm     And, Halloween Science Experiments – http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/09/24/5-fun-science-experiments-for-halloween/     I’m super excited about this Haunted Halloween resource  and Fran has given me a copy of her E-book, too!  I’ve looked through it and think she’s a genius!  I love the “Monster Capture” game!  http://www.franw.com/2014/09/haunted-halloween-resource-page.html    Halloween themed Party Games –  http://www.partygamecentral.com/party-games.php?tp=advsearch&nb=1&inp1=halloween&inp2=&conn=0&mat1=0&mat2=0     Also, here’s some Halloween interactive games  http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/halloween/games.php

I’ll be posting some other resource links as our studies for October develop.  I’m thinking owls and perhaps spiders.  Haunted places and monsters are being considered, too.  What are some of your October themed lesson plans?  And got links?

Happy October Learning

betty jo