October Calendar of Holidays, Events, and Celebrations For Teachers
All October Holidays / Events | Worksheets | Lesson Plans
October Teacher Guide | All About October
Children's Health Month - The month of October is dedicated to keeping children healthy. Each day a different "protection" is listed.
International Dinosaur Month - You can visit a number of websites (listed below) to learn about dinosaurs, see pictures, and even play games.
October 1st - The Prime Meridian - On October 1, 1884 delegates from countries around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. Their intent was to figure out where the imaginary line (called the Prime Meridian) actually was. The line separates the Eastern and Western hemisphere.
October 2nd - Thurgood Marshal is Sworn in - On October 2, 1967, he was the first African-American judge.
October 4th - World Space Week - Celebrated October 4 through the 10th. Each year there is a different theme.
October 8th - The Great Chicago Fire - The legend of how the fire started goes like this, Mrs. O'Leary left a lantern in the barn and a cow kicked it over, thus starting the fire. The fire started sometime in the evening on October 8, 1871. The fire spread quickly and burned down four miles of land and building. It also killed about 250 people.
October 9th - Leif Erikson Day - He is believed to be the first explorer to visit North America, arriving from Europe on October 9th. To
October 11th - Eleanor Roosevelt's Birthday - The woman who is known as the "First Lady of the world" was born on October 11th, 1884.
October 12th - Columbus Day - Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World on October 12. Columbus Day is a federal holiday.
October 16th - Sound Barrier Broke - On October 16, 1947 a pilot named Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. In order to break the sound barrier, you must be traveling faster than the speed of sound.
October 17th - Patriot Victory at Saratoga - On October 17, 1777, during the Revolutionary War British General John Burgoyne surrendered over 5,000 troops in Saratoga, New York.
October 18th - Teen Read Week - Teen Read Week is celebrated every year October 18th through the 24.
October 19th - Victory at Yorktown - On October 19, 1781 a British general named Cornwallis surrendered to Franco-Armenian forced. Ending the American Revolution.
October 19th - Napoleon Retreats from Moscow - On October 19, 1812 Napoleon and his men were forced to retreat from a burning deserted Moscow in search of shelter and food.
October 21st - USS Constitution is Launched - A ship also called the "Old Ironside" was launched on October 21, 1797. A treaty called the Tripoli was signed on the Constitution's deck.
October 24th - United Nations Day - The United Nations Day is celebrated every year on October 24th.
October 26th - The Erie Canal Opens - On October 26, 1825 the man-made canal that connects Lake Erie to the Atlantic Ocean by the way of Hudson River, opened.
October 28th - The Statue of Liberty is Dedicated - On October 28, 1886 the Statue of Liberty, which was a gift from France, was formally dedicated.
October 29th - The Stock Market Crash - On October 29, 1929 the stock market crashed and billions of dollars in investments were lost. This event led to the Great Depression.
October 31st - Halloween - Every year on October 31st children get dressed up as ghosts and goblins, princesses and heroes, and go door to door to receive tricks or treats.