Welcome to Our History of Holidays in America Homeschool History Course

Course Outline for Our History of Holidays in America Homeschool History Course

History of Holidays in America homeschool history course introduces elementary through middle school students to twenty-one federal holidays, annual celebrations, and recognition months.

Introduction

Federal Holidays (Weeks 1-3)

• New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Third Monday in January)
• President’s Day (Third Monday in February)
• Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day (First Monday in September)
• Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
• Veterans Day (November 11)
• Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

Celebrations (Weeks 4-7)

• Groundhog Day (February 2)
• Valentine’s Day (February 14)
• Palm Sunday, Passover, Good Friday, and Easter (Late March-Late April)
• Arbor Day and Earth Day (April)
• Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day (May and June)
• Flag Day (June 14)

Recognition Months (Week 8)

• Black History Month (February)
• Women’s History Month (March)
• Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May)
• Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

More About This History of Holidays in America Homeschool History Course

In a short course such as History of Holidays in America, it is impossible to include all holidays that Americans celebrate, and it is equally impossible to describe all the various ways that holidays are celebrated. Only some of the major holidays and some of the ways that holidays are celebrated with family and friends have been included here.

Each homeschool history lesson includes vocabulary words related to that holiday (shown in bold in the text and defined at the end of the chapter), the background of the holiday or celebration, and information about how people honor the day. When relevant, a speech, song, or poem pertaining to the holiday is also included. Links to coloring pages for younger homeschool students and copywork are also included.

There are a variety of ways to use the History of Holidays in America homeschool lessons. Study the lessons as they relate to upcoming holidays (for example, learn about Veterans Day and Thanksgiving in early November) or focus on social studies and study the holidays over a short period of time, examining how and why each holiday is celebrated. Use this homeschool history course as part of a history class and dig into the time periods discussed or create a historical timeline of when holidays were first celebrated and formally adopted as holidays.