Global Diversity Awareness Month, International Coffee Day, Gandhi's Birthday, World Animal Day, Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Global Read Aloud, Central America Week, Indigenous Peoples' Day, World Food Day, Black Poetry Day, World Singing Day, Diwali, Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day, Halloween

Settle in with a warm mug of pumpkin-spiced something to read this issue! October is absolutely packed with meaningful ways to bring global learning into your classroom or home - from honoring important cultural celebrations to sparking thoughtful conversations about identity, empathy, and community. Enjoy!

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Founder & CEO, Globe Trottin' Kids​

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Global Diversity Awareness Month Celebrate with classroom activities that bring cultures, music, art, and stories from around the world to your students. Read our latest blog post for ideas!

October 1 International Coffee Day

Lit Connection: Slothee Wants Coffee Slothee travels from Costa Rica to Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Hawaii in search of the perfect cup of coffee. On the way, he meets new friends and learns about coffee and culture. Will Slothee find the best cup of coffee? -Amazon​

In Slothee Still Wants Coffee, Slothee continues his travels to Peru, Mexico, Jamaica, Uganda, Vietnam, and Australia in search of the perfect cup of coffee.

October 2 Gandhi's Birthday

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as the Mahatma (“Great Soul”), was born on October 2, 1869, in India. He was an inspirational leader, a peaceful activist, and a legendary humanitarian. His birthday is a national holiday in India, and it is also the International Day of Non-Violence.

Learn about Gandhi’s life and the impact he had on the world through a video, books, free curriculum guides, and engaging activities. Click here.​

October 4 World Animal Day - a global event dedicated to raising awareness about animals and inspiring people of all ages to take action for their welfare. Classroom activities, read-alouds, art projects, and research tasks can help students explore the vital role animals play in ecosystems and cultures worldwide. Here are some ideas with a global spin:

• Connect geography with animal diversity. Give students a blank world map and have them place animal picture cut outs or drawings where those animals live.
• Compare similarities and differences in how animals are portrayed across cultures. Read folktales, myths, or legends from different countries that feature animals (e.g., Anansi the Spider from West Africa, the Chinese Zodiac animals, Native American coyote stories).
• Explore animals that are national symbols (e.g., bald eagle in the U.S., panda in China, kangaroo in Australia, lion in Kenya). Discuss why those animals might be important to each country.
• Introduce students to organizations and young activists around the world who are working to protect animals (e.g., Jane Goodall in Tanzania, Bindi Irwin in Australia, youth climate activists who focus on wildlife protection).
• Assign each group of students an endangered species from a different continent. Have them share where it lives, why it’s endangered, and one way people can help protect it.

Related Post: Animals Around the World

October 6 Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a traditional celebration observed in many East Asian cultures, particularly in China and Vietnam. It occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, typically in September or October, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest. Learn about the legends and traditions of the festival through books and fun activities.​

October 6 Global Read-Aloud: One Book to Connect the World

The premise is simple: select a book to read aloud to your students over a set 6-week period and strive to make as many global connections as possible during that time. Get the details here.

October 7-11 Central America Week

"More than seven million Central Americans reside in the United States today, yet the lack of resources on Central American heritage in most schools makes the rich history and literature of the region invisible. Central America is too often portrayed as simply a strip of land on a map connecting North and South America. Students are left to imagine that their Central American heritage, or that of their peers, is insignificant. Teachers have learned little of the history themselves, and there is a scarcity of literature in the school libraries. Teaching for Change has launched a campaign to help fill that gap with resources for teaching about Central America."

​Teaching ideas include books and activities covering history, geography, people, animals, art, the environment, and more.

October 14 Indigenous Peoples' Day, observed in the United States on the second Monday in October, honors the history, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples. It is a time for students to learn about the rich traditions and resilience of Indigenous communities, while also recognizing the importance of respecting their sovereignty and voices.

Use this day to highlight Native histories often left out of textbooks, celebrate diverse cultural practices, and encourage students to reflect on how Indigenous knowledge and perspectives continue to shape our world today. Browse our curated resources.​

October 16 World Food Day

This day aims to raise awareness about food security and the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to healthy, nutritious meals. It's an opportunity to help students understand global issues such as hunger, farming, and sustainable food practices.

Classroom activities can include learning about where food comes from, exploring traditional dishes from around the world, or brainstorming ways to reduce food waste. Learn more and get inspired here.

October 17 Black Poetry Day

I just discovered this great resource, Dream in Color, that introduces students to poems by Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Rita Dove, Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, and others.

​Dream in Color Resource Guide.pdf - poems, discussion questions, and activities

​Dream in Color Resources.pdf - glossary, credits, and recommended reading

October 19 World Singing Day is a global event that invites people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and sing. The day celebrates the joy of music and the power of singing to unite communities across cultures and languages. Look up the lyrics, and sing along to these global classics:

​Celebration - featuring children from around the world

​Love Train - featuring Turnaround Arts students, Jason Mraz, Elizabeth Banks, Paula Abdul, Misty Copeland, and more

​What a Wonderful World - featuring Grandpa Elliott with children's choirs across the globe

October 20 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important celebrations in India and many other parts of the world. Observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, the holiday symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The celebration includes fireworks, food, gifts, colored sand, and special clay lamps.

Our (updated) Diwali post includes a National Geographic video, an interactive storytime with author Ajanta Chakraborty, directions to make rangoli, book recommendations, and more.

October 28 Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day

It’s a simple call to action for all grade levels: Take a new seat in the cafeteria. By taking a risk, students can cross the lines of division in a safe, supported environment, meet new people, and help build an inclusive and welcoming school community.

Learning for Justice, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, launched Mix It Up in 2001. Schools can organize a Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day any time during the school year. Download the Mix-It-Up Starter Guide for tips and ideas.

October 31 Halloween

While it is most popular in the United States, many countries around the world have their own unique traditions for this exciting day. Explore some of the different ways people celebrate Halloween around the globe.

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