Homeschool Calendar: Fun September Activities Kids Will Love

Who says learning can’t be sprinkled with a little confetti?

When you think of September, you probably picture school supplies, cozy fall vibes, and maybe Labor Day weekend. But did you know it’s also packed with quirky little holidays that are perfect for learning at home? From silly food days to totally random celebrations, these September homeschool activities can turn an ordinary day into something your kids will remember (and actually look forward to!). In this post, I’ll share some of the most fun September holidays to add to your homeschool calendar — plus ideas for making them both educational and just plain enjoyable. Cue the confetti, let’s go!

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September Homeschool Calendar: Fun & Quirky Holidays

Week 1 – September 1-6

• Sept 1 – Letter Writing Day: I know, people don’t write many letters these days — which is exactly why it feels so special to send (and receive!) one. There’s something about opening a real envelope that can’t be replaced by a text or email. Have you ever heard of Letters From Afar? I stumbled across it a couple of years ago while hunting for meaningful, clutter-free gifts for my teenage daughter. It quickly became one of the best (and most inexpensive) gifts I’ve ever given. Each month, an explorer’s journey told through hand-illustrated letters, lands in your mailbox!
• Sept 2 – V-J (Victory Over Japan) Day – Explore WWII history with a kid-friendly story. Daring Deeds looks to be a great collection of short stories to read together and appeals to a wide age range.
• Sept 3 – Skyscraper Day – Challenge your kids to build the tallest “skyscraper” they can using blocks, LEGO, or even recycled cardboard. Older kids may enjoy this card game and learn a little geography too!
• Sept 4 – National Wildlife Day – Let your kids choose an animal to research, then share their findings in a drawing, mini-report, or presentation. Also, check out The Wild Life of Animals it is such a fun graphic-novel styled book!
• Sept 5 – National Cheese Pizza Day – Make homemade pizzas together and sneak in a math lesson by measuring ingredients and working with fractions in a tasty way!
• Sept 6 – Read a Book Day – Like we need an excuse! Pick a favorite book (or a brand-new one), read it together, and then do a fun follow-up activity — like drawing a favorite scene or writing a silly “alternate ending.”

Week 2 – September 7-13

• Sept 7 – National Buy a Book Day & Grandparents Day – Two wonderful celebrations on one day! Books and grandparents both hold a special place in our hearts. For Buy a Book Day, let your kids choose a new read for your family library. If you’re looking for engaging, educational stories, check out my PaperPie store! For Grandparents Day, have your kids write a letter, draw a picture, or even record a short video message to send to Grandma and Grandpa. If they live nearby, plan a little visit complete with cookies and story-sharing.
• Sept 8 – National Ampersand Day – Celebrate everyone’s favorite fancy “and” symbol!
  Have kids go on an ampersand scavenger hunt through books, magazines, or signs around the house. Older kids can practice calligraphy or typography by designing their own creative ampersands.
• Sept 9 – National Teddy Bear Day – Research where teddy bears got their name for a mini history lesson.
• Sept 10 – Swap Ideas Day – Give each child the floor to “teach” the family something new — a science fact, a recipe, or even a silly dance.
• Sept 11 – Patriot Day – A solemn and meaningful day to remember the events of September 11, 2001.
• Sept 12 – National Video Games Day – Go ahead, surprise the kids and enjoy an afternoon of video games together! Not only will you be encouraging skills like creativity, problem solving, and teamwork, but you’ll officially earn the title of coolest mom or dad for the day.
• Sept 13 – Positive Thinking Day – A little positivity goes a long way. One of my favorite activity books for Positive Thinking Day is Be Positive! — it’s cheerful, uplifting, and a great reminder that positivity is a habit worth practicing.

Week 3 – September 14-20

• Sept 14 – National Coloring Day – Coloring isn’t just fun — it helps kids develop fine motor skills, focus, and self-expression. Set aside time for a family coloring session today!
• Sept 15 – National Online Learning Day – Homeschooling online can be a tremendous help — you don’t have to know everything in order to teach your kids! With so many resources at your fingertips, you can learn right alongside them. I’ve tucked lots of our tried-and-true favorites onto my Resource Page if you’d like to take a peek.
• Sept 16 – National Play-Doh Day – Did you know Play-Doh was originally created in the 1930’s as a wallpaper cleaner? Pretty wild! Take a moment to check out its quirky history, then dive into the fun of building letters, numbers, shapes, 3D objects, maps, and more. For a seasonal twist, try using fall-themed Play-Doh mats for a hands-on nature study — a cool way to blend play with learning!
• Sept 17 – Smithsonian Day – The Smithsonian museums hold millions of fascinating artifacts — from dinosaur fossils to the Wright brothers’ plane — and the best part is, they can be explored for free!
• Sept 18 – National Cheeseburger Day – Yes, even dinner can be a holiday!
  Let kids help plan a burger night. Incorporate math by doubling or halving a recipe. For extra fun, design “menu cards” for your burger creations.
• Sept 19 – Talk Like a Pirate Day – Do you know what a pirate’s favorite subject is? Arrrrrt! (Thanks to You Are an Artist for that gem!) Be sure to check out their treasure trove of ideas — including a fun pirate-themed art lesson!
• Sept 20 – National Eat an Apple Day – An apple a day keeps learning fun! Taste-test different apple varieties and graph your family’s favorites.

Week 4 – September 21-27

• Sept 21 – World Gratitude Day – Take a trip around the world and discover how different cultures and communities show gratitude with A World of Gratitude.
• Sept 22 – National States and Capitals Day – A great excuse to brush up on U.S. geography! My favorite ways to learn them all are through games, Learning Wrap Ups, and puzzles. Quick Tip: Write states on one side of a popsicle stick and capitals on the other. Pop them in a jar, pull one out, and flip to check your answer — simple, fun, cheap, and screen-free!
• Sept 22 – First Day of Fall – Head outside for a scavenger hunt nature walk! You can grab a few free printables from my Freebie Page to download and take along on your adventure.
• Sept 24 – National Punctuation Day – Turn it into a game — give your kids silly sentences with missing punctuation and see if they can fix them. Older kids could try writing a short story using as many punctuation marks as possible. A fantastic reference book to have on hand is Usborne Illustrated Grammar and Punctuation.
• Sept 25 – National Comic Book Day – Did you know that people who collect comic books are called pannapictagraphists? (Now that’s a fun vocabulary word!) Beyond the fun, comic books can actually boost literacy and spark a love of reading. Check out some of the awesome benefits comic books offer! Have you got a child interested in making their own comics? My PaperPie store has the perfect book!
• Sept 26 – National Johnny Appleseed Day – Celebrate the legendary John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Some of our favorite ways to learn about people from history are through the Who Was book series. A perfect pick for today is Who Was Johnny Appleseed?
• Sept 27 – International Astronomy Day – Head outside after dark and see what constellations you can spot. Use a free stargazing app to help identify stars and planets. For daytime fun, make constellation art with stickers or glow-in-the-dark stars. Older kids might research famous astronomers or recent space discoveries. Something we have enjoyed using year after year is this set of fact cards! There is so much packed in this set – the constellations, where and when to spot them, how they got their names, and more!

Week 5 – September 28-30

• Sept 28 – National Good Neighbor Day – It is a blessing to have a good neighbor, but it is even a greater thing to BE a good neighbor. Encourage your kids to be a good neighbor.
• Sept 29 – National Coffee Day – Let’s be honest — coffee is practically the official homeschool fuel (for me anyway)! Celebrate with your favorite mug, an extra shot of espresso, or maybe even a cozy coffee date with another homeschool mom. To include the kids, try a simple craft with coffee filters! Red Ted Art has great ideas!
• Sept 30 – National Chewing Gum Day – Learn how gum is made, then let your kids have a bubble-blowing contest

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And that’s a wrap on September’s quirky, fun-filled holidays! Whether you’re learning states and capitals, stargazing, or just celebrating with an extra cup of coffee, I hope these ideas bring a little more sparkle into your homeschool days. And don’t forget — September is also full of famous birthdays worth celebrating (you’ll find them included on my printable). You can grab that free printable planning page on my website (it’s about half-way down my homepage) It’s place to jot down activities, book ideas, and family traditions for the September homeschool activities.