February 1st – March 1st
Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada and more recently has been observed in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
BlacKkKlansman
(U.S. History & Culture: 1991 to Present; The Diversity/African-American Experience and the Civil Rights Movement; SEL: Human Rights; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect? [13+; 2 hours 12 minutes]
Fruitvale Station
(U.S./1991 to present, Diversity & California; SEL: Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [14+]
Hidden Figures
(U.S. 1940 – 1991, Diversity, and Virginia; Mathematics; Science-Technology;; Cinema; SEL: Courage; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [13+]
Partners of the Heart
(Medicine; U.S./1917 – 1991, Diversity, Tennessee & Maryland; SEL: Teamwork, Education, Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [10+]
Remember the Titans
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1945 – 1991, Diversity & Virginia; Sports/Football; SEL: Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Citizenship) [11+]
Selma
( U.S.: 1945-1991; Civil Rights Movement; SEL: Leadership; Courage; Human Rights; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness, Citizenship) [12+]
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Best of TWM
(Aviation; U.S./1941 – 1945, Diversity & Alabama; SEL: Courage; Courage in War; Friendship; Self-esteem; Grieving; Suicide; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility) [10+]
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1812 – 1865; 1865 – 1913; and African Americans & the Civil Rights Movement; Literature/U.S. (Narrative Writing); SEL: Human Rights; Courage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Fairness) [10+]
Date Specific
National Inventors Day
February 11th
On January 13, 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared February 11 as National Inventors Day. The date was chosen in honor of the birthday of Thomas Alva Edison.
Ben and Me
Short Subject
(Biography/Franklin; U. S./1750 – 1812 & Pennsylvania; Science-Technology; SEL: Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [8 & 9; 27 minutes]
Ben and Me
Talking and Playing for Growth
Short Subject (SEL: Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [5 – 8; 27 minutes]
Edison: The Wizard of Light
(Science-Technology; U.S./1865 – 1929; Cinema; Biography; SEL: Talent; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Citizenship) [8 – 13]
Einstein: Light to the Power of 2
(Biography; Science-Technology; U.S./1945 – 1991 & Diversity; SEL: Self-esteem; Education; Families in Crisis; Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring) [8 – 13]
Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants
(Biography; Science-Technology; World/Italy & the Renaissance; SEL: Brothers; Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect) [8 – 13]
The Great Inventors
Short Subject
From the series “This is America Charlie Brown” (U.S./1865 – 1913; Science – Technology) [8 – 11; 24 minutes]
Isaac Newton: A Tale of Two Isaacs
(Biography; Science-Technology; World/England & Enlightenment; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Talent) [8-13]
Leonardo: A Dream of Flight
(World/Italy & the Renaissance; Science-Technology; Aviation; Biography; SEL: Talent; Friendship; Mother/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General) [8 – 11]
Marie Curie: More Than Meets the Eye
(Biography; World/France & WWI; Medicine; Science-Technology; SEL: Female Role Model; Mother/Daughter; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [8 – 12]
World Whale Day
3rd Sunday of February
Observed annually on the third Sunday in February, World Whale Day celebrates these noble sea mammals. Some of the most fascinating creatures live in our big blue oceans. Whether the mammoth blue whale or the enchanting narwhal, whales create mystery wherever they go.
Blackfish
(the Environment; SEL: Caring for Animals; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [13+]
Moby Dick
(Literature/U.S.; Seafaring; U.S./1812 – 1860 & Massachusetts; SEL: Revenge, Humility; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [10+]
Secrets of the Whales
(Science-Technology; The Environment; SEL: Caring for Animals; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility)
Whale Rider
(World/New Zealand; ELA, including characterization, symbol, and foil; SEL: Breaking Out; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [12+]
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Published in the US
February 18, 1885
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel by American author Mark Twain, which was first published in the United Kingdom in December 1884 and in the United States in February 1885.
The Adventures of Huck Finn
(U.S./1812 – 1860, Diversity & Missouri; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Breaking Out; Running Away; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [6+]
Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood Debuted
February 19, 1968
“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” made its network debut on Feb. 19, 1968. Produced in Pittsburgh, the beloved children’s TV program featuring Fred Rogers continued until 2001.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
(Health, ELA, United States (1949 to 1991; 1991 to Present; and the Press); SEL: Father/Son; Male Role Model; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [14+]
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Health (Parenting); Biography (Fred Rogers); U.S. History 1945 to 1991. 1991 to present; SEL: Parenting; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; AGE; 16+
Presidents’ Day
3rd Monday in February
Presidents’ Day, officially Washington’s Birthday, in the United States, holiday (third Monday in February) popularly recognized as honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents.
The Crossing
The Best of TWM
(U.S./1750 – 1812, New Jersey & Pennsylvania; SEL: Courage in War, Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Responsibility & Citizenship) [13+]
Lincoln
Lesson Plan
The End of America’s Nightmare Dance with Slavery Using Spielberg’s Lincoln (U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography; SEL: Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [13+]
International Polar Bear Day
February 27th
International Polar Bear Day is an annual event celebrated every February 27, to coincide with the time period when polar bear moms and cubs are sleeping in their dens, and to raise awareness about the conservation status of the polar bear.
A Life on Our Planet
(The Environment; SEL: Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [9+]
Planet Earth
Snippet Lesson Plan
The Arctic and Antarctica
(Earth Science) [10+; snippet: 40 minutes, 30 seconds; Lesson: One and one-half 45 – 55 minute class periods]
Historical Birthdays
Thomas More
February 7, 1478
Sir Thomas More, venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England from October 1529 to May 1532.
A Man for All Seasons
(Biography/Thomas More; World/England & the Renaissance; Religions/Christianity; Drama/England; SEL: Courage; Male Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [12+]
Thomas Edison
February 11, 1847
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman who has been described as America’s greatest inventor. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures.
Edison: The Wizard of Light
(Science-Technology; U.S./1865 – 1929; Cinema; Biography; SEL: Talent; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Citizenship) [8 – 13]
Abraham Lincoln
February 12, 1809
Abraham Lincoln was an American statesman and lawyer who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War, the country’s greatest moral, cultural, constitutional, and political crisis.
Lincoln
Lesson Plan: The End of America’s Nightmare Dance with Slavery Using Spielberg’s Lincoln
(U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography; SEL: Leadership; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Citizenship) [13+]
Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided
(U.S./1812 – 1865; Biography; SEL: Families in Crisis; Marriage; Grieving; Leadership; Father/Daughter; Mother/Son; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect, Responsibility, Fairness) [10+]
Galileo Galilei
February 15, 1564
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath, from Pisa. Galileo has been called the “father of observational astronomy”, the “father of modern physics”, the “father of the scientific method”, and the “father of modern science”.
Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants
(Biography; Science-Technology; World/Italy & the Renaissance; SEL: Brothers; Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect) [8 – 13]
George Frideric Handel
February 23, 1685
George Frideric Handel was a German-born Baroque composer becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos.
Handel’s Last Chance
(Biography; Music/Classical; World/England & Ireland; SEL: Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Caring) [6-12]
Winslow Homer
February 24, 1836
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th-century America and a preeminent figure in American art. Largely self-taught, Homer began his career working as a commercial illustrator.
Winslow Homer: An American Original
(U.S./1861 – 1913; Visual Arts; Medicine-Psychiatry; Biography; SEL: Talent; Grieving; Mental Illness; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility) [8 – 12]
Gioachino Rossini
February 29, 1792
Gioachino Antonio Rossini was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music.
Rossini’s Ghost
(Biography; Music/Opera; World/Italy; SEL: Talent; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [6 – 12]