Free Classroom Resources for Celebrating February Holidays

February may be the shortest month of the year, but along with Valentine's Day festivities, it offers rich opportunities to re-energize your classroom with history, culture, and connection. This guide provides some ideas and materials to keep students engaged in both learning and connection throughout the month. 

1. CTE Month: Mapping the Future

February is CTE Month, a fantastic time to show students the "why" behind the classes they’re taking at school. Learning in all grade levels can benefit from learning about different career clusters and exploring potential pathways that they may not have considered.

• Have students take a "Career Interest Inventory." Ask them to explore and identify specific academic paths that align with their dream jobs.
• Explore the CTE Course Catalog to show students the path from classroom to career.
• View the panel discussion, Reimagining K-12: The Future of Career-Connected Learning, for expert insight on preparing all students for postsecondary success.

2. Black History Month

Black History Month is a great time to integrate history with modern-day achievement. By focusing on trailblazers in science, law, and civic leadership, you help students see history as a foundation for future progress.

• Highlight Black Americans who have broken barriers in their fields, such as pioneering scientists, astronauts, or legal scholars who shaped the American justice system. Here's a free printable to get started.
• For schools using Courseware, the Ethnic Studies Course Syllabus is a great launching pad to guide high-level discussions.

3. Civic Leadership

Presidents' Day is a vital opportunity to discuss the evolution of leadership. Use this time to look at Constitutional powers and the impact of the Executive Branch on modern life.

• Host a "State of the Classroom" address where students use data to argue for changes they want to see in their school community.
• Access structured lesson plans that focus on the roles and responsibilities of the Presidency with these President’s Day Materials.

4. STEM Innovation

February 11th marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Use this as a mid-month lever to keep students engaged in technical subjects during the winter lull.

• Highlight contemporary women in STEM working in AI ethics, climate science, or space exploration.
• Introduce students to computer science with Girls Who Code’s Code at Home activities, which feature educators and innovators through unplugged and online tutorials.

5. Digital Citizenship and Safe Connection

With students spending more time online during the winter months, February is a natural time to discuss digital footprints, especially around Valentine's Day and social media use.

• Discuss the ethics of AI and digital communication. How do we keep "kindness" alive in a digital space?
• Integrate strategies for teaching students digital literacy skills to help them navigate the web safely. 

The February Classroom Celebration Lineup:

• Black History Month: Honor the legacy and ongoing contributions of Black Americans in science, civics, and culture.
• CTE Month: Celebrate Career and Technical Education by connecting classroom learning to future professional pathways.
• Groundhog Day (Feb 2): Spark a quick lesson on weather patterns, data collection, or regional folklore.
• International Day of Women & Girls in Science (Feb 11): Spotlight female innovators to help students see themselves in STEM careers.
• Valentine’s Day (Feb 14): Use the holiday to focus on empathy and building a supportive classroom community.
• Presidents' Day (Third Monday): Explore the history of American leadership and the modern role of the Executive Branch.
• Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb 17): Challenge students to improve school culture through intentional, positive actions.
• Lunar New Year (Varies): Explore the rich traditions and global significance of the lunar calendar.
• National Engineers Week (Last Full Week): Engage students in hands-on problem-solving and the engineering design process. 

Explore Edmentum’s Resource Library for a curated collection of toolkits, workbooks, and free printables designed to save teachers time and engage every learner in February and all the other months!