Homeschool Calendar: Fun November Activities for Fall Learning

November is full of energy, excitement, and there’s plenty of reasons to give thanks and celebrate! Between Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and all the quirky, offbeat holidays in between, there’s no shortage of ways to make learning fun this month. You’ll find gems like National STEM Day, World Kindness Day, and Take a Hike Day—all perfect for sneaking in some hands-on activities and curiosity-driven lessons.

Planner? Check. Confetti? Check. Leaf pile? Let’s jump in—here are all the fun days to celebrate this month!

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October Homeschool Calendar: Fun & Quirky Holidays

Week 1 – November 1-8

• Nov 1 – Family Literacy Day
  Reading isn’t just a skill—it’s essential. Family Literacy Day is the perfect reminder that stories connect us, spark imagination, and open the door to lifelong learning. The beginning of a new month is the perfect time to start a Family Reading Challenge – Set a goal for pages or chapters read this month.
• Nov 2 – Look for Circles Day
  Circles are everywhere! Go on a “circle scavenger hunt” around the house or outside and see how many you can spot—wheels, clocks, plates, even your pet’s eyes! Take it a step further, and make a collage or doodle inspired by all those circles you discovered.
• Nov 2 – Daylight Savings Time Ends
  It’s that time again—when we “fall back”. This is a fun time to talk about how time zones work, why Daylight Savings even exists, and how it affects our schedules.
• Nov 3 – World Jellyfish Day
  Celebrate World Jellyfish Day by learning about how jellyfish survive without brains, hearts, or bones (seriously!). If you’re feeling crafty, Red Ted Art is a great source for a variety of jellyfish crafts!
• Nov 4 – National Candy Day
  Finally—a day for a sugar rush! Celebrate by turning candy into a science experiment. Candy Experiments is a great book that we’ve had on our shelves for years! Or you can get creative and design your own candy brand—logo, slogan, flavor, the works!
• Nov 5 – National Stress Awareness Day
  Everyone has stressful days at some time or another. Talk about what stress actually is—how our brains and bodies react—and then make a plan for how to chill out when things get overwhelming. PaperPie has some terrific titles in the Mindful Kids series: No Worries is a customer favorite! You might also want to check out Hello Happy and Be Resilient.
• Nov 6 – Marooned Without a Compass Day
  If you were suddenly dropped in the middle of nowhere (without GPS—gasp!), could you find your way out? This is your chance to test your survival skills. One of my favorite books is Bear Grylls Survival Camp. It’s for ages 8 and up (I’ve known adults who love it too). This book could also double as a practical unit study.
• Nov 7 – Fountain Pen Day
  There’s something relaxing to me about slowing down and actually writing with a real pen. Fountain Pen Day is the perfect excuse to bring handwriting back into the spotlight. Try writing a letter, practicing your signature, or even giving cursive a comeback! Sometimes, a set of new pens could be just the motivation your kid needs!
• Nov 8 – National STEM/STEAM Day
  This is the ultimate day for curious minds! Whether you’re into robots, art, chemistry, or design, STEM/STEAM Day is all about creativity that builds something. The Secret Life of Homeschoolers blog has a ton of great ideas ranging from toothpicks to popsicles, challenges, and much more!

Week 2 – November 9-15

• Nov 9 – Go to an Art Museum Day
  You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy wandering through a museum. Go in person if you can, or take a virtual tour of a famous one (the Louvre, the Met, and the British Museum all have great online options).
• Nov 10 – Area Code Day
  Ever wonder why phone numbers start with random sets of digits? Area Code Day is a fun excuse to dig into a bit of geography and history. Look up your area code—where does it cover, and when was it created? Then check out others around the country. Plot a few on a map and see how area codes spread as the population grew.
• Nov 11 – Veteran’s Day
  This is a great day to pause and reflect on service, sacrifice, and gratitude. Talk about what it means to serve your country, or research someone in your family’s history who has. And if there’s a parade or community event nearby, go check it out together.
• Nov 11 – World Origami Day
  Folding paper might sound simple, but origami is a true mix of art and geometry. Start with something easy and work your way up to more complex folds. When my kids were younger, we used this book (it was so easy and fun) – I remember well the waddle of penguins all over the kitchen table! We then went to lunch at a Japanese restaurant to tie it all in.
• Nov 12 – National French Dip Day
  A holiday dedicated to sandwiches? Yes, please. Try making your own French dips at home—here’s the recipe I use, and it’s so easy for any age!
• Nov 13 – World Kindness Day
  Find ways to sprinkle kindness everywhere. Leave a kind note for someone, compliment a friend, or do something unexpected that makes someone smile. Talk about how kindness can ripple out—one small act can lead to another.
• Nov 14 – National American Teddy Bear Day
  Whether you still have your favorite stuffed animal from childhood or not, Teddy Bear Day is a sweet reminder of comfort and creativity. Share the story behind the teddy bear’s name with your little and big kids today!
• Nov 15 – I Love to Write Day
  Just write something. A story, a poem, a funny list, or even a journal entry. Encourage your tweens & teens to try a style they don’t usually write in—maybe a mystery, a graphic novel script, or even poetry. Who knows—you might discover the next great family author!

Week 3 – November 16-22

• Nov 16 – National Button Day
  Buttons might seem small, but they’ve got big history—people have used them for thousands of years! After a brief history lesson, check out these 25 art ideas with buttons!
• Nov 17 – National Take a Hike Day
  Lace up your shoes, grab a snack, and hit a trail (or even a park path). You can turn it into a mini nature scavenger hunt or take photos for a trail journal later. Be sure to check out my blog post to find out the 12 Things I Always Carry on a Nature Walk.
• Nov 18 – National Princess Day
  This one’s not just for sparkly tiaras— talk about real-life princesses from history or modern royalty who’ve used their roles to make a difference. Or go creative and invent your own royal kingdom!
• Nov 19 – National Play Monopoly Day
  Monopoly teaches more than just patience—it’s full of real-life lessons about budgeting, negotiation, and strategy. Dust off your board and play a round! Don’t have the game handy, or is it missing pieces? Replace it – (there’s a limited time deal now)!
• Nov 20 – National Absurdity Day
  A day that celebrates being completely ridiculous! Embrace the absurd by wearing mismatched socks, writing a backwards poem, or having dinner for breakfast (although that’s in the dinner rotation at my house)! Today’s a great reminder that creativity often grows out of silliness.
• Nov 21 – National Gingerbread Cookie Day
  Get those ovens ready—it’s gingerbread season! Whip up a batch of cookies and talk about where the tradition comes from.
• Nov 22 – National Start Your Own Country Day
  If you could start your own country, what would it look like? What would your flag, laws, and currency be? How would people greet each other? This is an awesome day for creativity, civics, and a bit of geography—all disguised as fun.

Week 4 – November 23-29 (and 30th)

• Nov 23 – National Fibonacci Day
  Math geeks, it’s your day! Today celebrates one of the coolest patterns in nature—the Fibonacci sequence. You can spot it in pinecones, shells, sunflowers, and even hurricanes. Take a walk and try to find examples in the real world, or draw a simple Fibonacci spiral to see the pattern in action.
• Nov 24 – Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
  Everyone’s good at something—even if that “something” is remembering every word to a song or making the world’s best grilled cheese. Take a few minutes to celebrate what makes each person in your family unique. You can even host a mini “talent show” at home!
• Nov 25 – National Parfait Day
  Layers upon layers of deliciousness—what’s not to love? Grab some yogurt, granola, and fruit, and let everyone create their own custom parfait. There’s a whole lesson in this blog post on parfaits that could fill in an entire school day – no kidding!
• Nov 26 – National Cake Day
  Back to back food days? Count me in! Celebrate by baking (or decorating) one together. Try a new flavor combo or experiment with different frosting techniques. Talk about the science behind baking—how leavening works, or why recipes even call for room temperature eggs. And of course, make sure to “test” your results!
• Nov 27 – Thanksgiving
  I typed too soon! Three food days in a row! Thanksgiving is a day for gratitude, family, and food comas! I’ve got a couple of blogger friends that have fabulous posts for the big day! Fields of Daises has got the history of Thanksgiving covered (and that’s an understatement) – check out her post, and you’ll see! The Secret Life of Homeschoolers has a terrific post about activities for teens on Thanksgiving!
• Nov 28 – Black Friday & National French Toast Day
  The ultimate combo: carbs and chaos! Start your morning slow with some leftover-bread French toast, then decide whether you’re brave enough to venture out into the Black Friday madness.
• Nov 29 – Small Business Saturday
  A perfect chance to show some love to local makers and shop owners. Talk about what small businesses mean to your community, then go visit one—or support a local seller online. You can even turn it into a mini economics lesson about supply and demand, or brainstorm what kind of business your kids would start if they could.
• Nov 30 – National Mason Jar Day
  Who knew jars could do so much? From science experiments, to storage, to crafts, Mason jars are the ultimate multitaskers! I’m thinking of making some mason jar meals this year myself!

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And that’s a wrap on November’s fun, festive, and random celebrations! From STEM challenges and kindness projects to French toast mornings and family hikes, I hope these quirky holidays bring extra joy (and maybe a sprinkle of learning) to your November homeschool days.

Don’t forget — November also has its share of famous birthdays to explore, and you’ll find those included on my printable. You can grab that free planning page on my website (about halfway down my homepage). It’s the perfect spot to jot down activities, book ideas, and family traditions for your November homeschool calendar.