“Own a Month” - Thought Starters

September – Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)

  1. Bilingual “Guess the Country” Game – Create a fun trivia game where students match Hispanic countries with their flags, landmarks, or famous figures. You can prep it, and we can have kids do it in class.

  2. Latin Dance Mini-Lesson – Teach students basic merengue, salsa, or bachata steps during recess or PE class, or for a 45 min after school event we help plan.

  3. Morning Announcements: Share one Hispanic/Latino historical fact or figure per week. You prep it for Ms. McDavitt, and she can read it. 

  4. Read-Alouds: Feature books by Latinx authors in classrooms and the library. We can buy some and donate them to the school. Even better, you come in and read them to classes. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  5. Cultural Food Feature: Share simple Hispanic-inspired recipes in the newsletter. You prep it, we send it.

  6. Wear a Color Day: Encourage students to wear red, white, or yellow to honor Hispanic heritage.

  7. Classroom Word Wall: Introduce common Spanish words and phrases spoken in Hispanic communities.

October – LGBTQ+ History Month | Indigenous Peoples' Day (Second Monday) | Disability Awareness Month

  1. Bulletin Board: “Trailblazers of Change” featuring LGBTQ+ historical figures. Help decorate it to display all month (lives outside the front doors of Glover).

  2. Inclusive Read-Alouds: We can buy some and donate them to the school. Even better, you come in and read them to classes. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  3. Sign Language Spotlight: Feature basic ASL phrases in newsletters or morning announcements. Or again, You come in and teach kids during an agreed upon time. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  4. Wear a Color Day: Purple for LGBTQ+ awareness or Orange for Unity Day (anti-bullying).

  5. Nature Walk & Storytelling – Partner with a local Indigenous community member to share traditional nature-based stories on a guided outdoor walk.

  6. Traditional Games Day – Play Indigenous games like the Inuit blanket toss using a parachute. Provide these to Coach Jones to consider using during Gym, or recess monitors to use during recess.

November – Diwali (Hindu Festival of Lights) | Native American Heritage Month | Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

  1. Henna & Paper Diya Craft – Use safe henna cones for simple designs (or use markers on paper), and make diyas (lamps) from air-dry clay or paper. We can buy and prep supplies and provide them to teachers.

  2. Bollywood Dance Workshop – Teach kids a simple Bollywood dance routine or show a short dance performance video. You can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. Or perhaps we can find existing great links about this and share with teachers, or share with parents via our newsletter.

  3. Morning Announcements: Weekly facts about Indigenous cultures and traditions. You prep it for Ms. McDavitt ahead of time and she can read it. 

  4. Student Spotlights: Invite students to share family stories about Indigenous or military heritage.

  5. Art Project: Dreamcatchers, sand painting, or traditional symbols. We could hold a workshop one day for 45 min during the month and buy the supplies and try to get some volunteers from the highschools to help. Think lantern making workshops, but for something new and doesn’t have to be for the lantern event. ASE can come too!

  6. Book Display: Feature Indigenous authors in the library. We can buy some and donate them to the school. Even better, you come in and read them to classes. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  7. Community Outreach: Send thank-you notes to local veterans.

December – Holidays Around the World | International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3)

  1. Winter Traditions Passport – Create a “passport” where students visit different classroom stations to learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and other global traditions.

  2. Holiday Craft Fair – Set up DIY craft stations where kids can make simple crafts like Japanese origami ornaments or Scandinavian straw stars.

  3. Hallway Display: Showcase how different cultures celebrate winter holidays.

  4. Festive Music Feature: Introduce global holiday songs during arrival or lunch.

  5. Book Recommendations: Focus on diverse holiday stories.

  6. Kindness Challenge: Encourage students to do one act of inclusion before winter break.

January – MLK Jr. Day & Black History Month | Poverty Awareness Month

  1. “I Have a Dream” Mural – Let students write their dreams for the future on cut-out paper clouds and assemble them into a school-wide display.

  2. Freedom Songs Sing-Along – Play and discuss civil rights songs like “We Shall Overcome” and invite students to sing along.

  3. Day of Service: Organize a simple school wide service project.

  4. MLK Quote of the Week: Feature inspiring words from Dr. King in announcements. You help prep it, Ms. McDavitt can read it

  1. Food / Needs Drive: Collect items for local shelters or food banks

February – Black History Month

  1. “Hidden Figures” STEM Day – Teach a mini-lesson on Black scientists, engineers, and astronauts, and do a simple STEM activity. Or recite a fact about one in the morning announcements for a certain number of days. You prep it, Ms. McDavitt can read it.

  2. African Drumming & Dance – Play drum rhythms and encourage students to move to the beat, learning about different African dance styles.

  3. Trivia Challenge: Feature Black history facts with small prizes.

  4. Art Display: Student-created posters of influential Black leaders.

  5. Music Spotlight: Play jazz, blues, or hip-hop during arrival times.

  1. Lunchroom Learning: Display “Did You Know?” facts on tables.

March – Women’s History Month | Irish-American Heritage Month

  1. Dress Like a Trailblazer Day – Encourage students to dress up as influential women from history and share facts about them. Or recite a fact about one in the morning announcements for a certain number of days. You prep it, Ms. McDavitt can read it.

  2. "Her Story" Podcast or Video Corner – Set up a space where students can listen to short stories about female pioneers. Or find a bunch that you can share out to parents via the PTO newsletter.

  3. Student-Led Spotlights: Recognizing women in STEM, sports, and leadership. Maybe we can even recognize some of the parents of our school students and have them come by for a hello at the Morning announcements. Of they can do a recording for us that is played in class on the secure portal. 

  4. Story Time: Books. We can buy some and donate them to the school. Even better, you come in and read them to classes. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  5. Themed Wear Day: Green for Irish heritage or purple for gender equality.

  1. Irish Step Dance: have a group come in for a performance. Or have an afterschool, Lantern-like workshop for 1 day.

April – Arab American Heritage Month | Ramadan | Autism Acceptance Month | Earth Day (April 22)

  1. Ramadan Kindness Chain – Students write acts of kindness on paper strips, forming a decorative chain representing generosity.

  2. Arab Cuisine Tasting – Offer small samples of dates, pita bread, or hummus and explain their cultural significance.

  3. Sensory-Friendly Initiative: Share neurodivergent-friendly strategies for classrooms.

  4. Arabic Language Feature: Introduce simple Arabic words in school communications.

  1. Earth Day Challenge: Encourage sustainable actions in honor of environmental justice.

May – Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Jewish American Heritage Month

  1. “Around Asia” Scavenger Hunt – Set up clues about different Asian cultures around the school and let students solve them.

  2. Hula & Taiko Drumming Workshop – Teach simple hula dance moves or let students experience drumming rhythms.

  3. AAPI Cultural Highlights: Feature traditional Asian games or calligraphy.

  4. Jewish Story Time: Books. We can buy some and donate them to the school. Even better, you come in and read them to classes. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  1. Music & Dance: Share K-pop, Bollywood, or Pacific Islander dance styles. Or put together links for playlists, podcasts, or videos for kids to explore on their own.

June – Pride Month

  1. Inclusive Book Drive or Library Boost – Collect and distribute books celebrating diversity, inclusion, and kindness. We can buy some and donate them to the school. Even better, you come in and read them to classes. Or if coming in isn’t possible, you can record yourself or a group of friends reading a few and the teachers can play them in class off a secure, private, portal. 

  2. Rainbow Art Showcase – Let students create artwork representing love, acceptance, and friendship for a school display. 

  1. Rainbow Day: Encourage students to wear bright colors to celebrate Pride.

General Ideas: 

Keep things simple yet meaningful with these easy ideas:

1. Leverage School Communication Channels

  • Newsletter Spotlights: Feature a short write-up on the significance of the month, highlighting influential figures, cultural traditions, or books related to the theme.

  • Morning Announcements: Work with the school to have a daily or weekly fact, quote, or student-led reflection during morning announcements.

  • Bulletin Boards & Displays: Create interactive or informative displays near high-traffic areas in the school.

2. Engage Students with Books & Stories

  • Diverse Read-Alouds: Invite parents to read books related to the month’s theme in classrooms or the library.

  • Book Lists & Recommendations: Provide teachers and families with curated reading lists of age-appropriate books.

  • Little Free Library Additions: If your school has a lending library, add themed books each month.

3. Hands-On Classroom or At-Home Activities

  • Craft or Art Projects: Organize simple crafts (e.g., paper lanterns for Lunar New Year, paper kente cloth weaving for Black History Month).

  • Word Walls or Language Spotlights: Highlight words from different languages spoken in your school community.

  • Music or Dance Features: Share traditional music or simple dance videos in school newsletters or at an assembly.

4. Highlight Community Voices

  • Guest Speakers or Videos: Invite local professionals, community leaders, or school staff to share their experiences related to the month’s theme.

  • Student Spotlights: Encourage students to share traditions from their cultures through short presentations or poster projects.

  • Teacher & Staff Shoutouts: Recognize teachers and staff who support DEIB efforts.

5. Food Connections

  • Recipe Sharing: Create a digital or physical recipe board where families can share traditional dishes.

  • Potluck Event: Great time for a themed potluck

  • Promote Businesses of the month: Promote local restaurants that might reinforce the month’s celebrations

6. Simple, Low-Lift Celebrations

  • Wear a Color Day: Encourage students to wear colors that represent the theme (e.g., red for Hispanic Heritage Month, purple for LGBTQ+ Pride Month).

  • Trivia Contests: Organize a school-wide trivia question of the day with small prizes.

  • Kindness Challenge: Tie in themes of respect, inclusion, and belonging with a challenge to perform acts of kindness.