Famous People

Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor's Birthday (1940)

Holidays & Events

World AIDS Day

Discussion Starters

Importance of Community

Giving Tuesday (US)

Health Matters

Autism

Listening in English

Amputee Runner Completes 102 Marathons

Word Bank Readers

Transportation for Timmy

Photo Prompts

Let's Roll!

Blog Post

Accessibility: Supporting Blind & Low-Vision Learners

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Chanukah

First Day of Chanukah

Organic Food

Word Bank

Gardening

World Soil Day

Historic Events

The Halifax Explosion

Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion

Famous Things

The United Nations

Doctors Without Borders

Syrian Refugee Crisis

Modern Slavery 

Cocoa Fields (Child Slavery)

Prison Labor

Fair Trade

Mini-Debates

The Right to Die

Group Projects

Human Rights Project

International Human Rights Day

The Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Protocol Adopted (1997)

The Bill of Rights

Bill of Rights Day

The Wright Brothers

Collection

Air & Space Travel 

First Sustained Human Flight (1903)

True Grammar Stories

Winter Festivals – Can

Young Learner Activities

Winter

My First Winter

Winter Clothing

Picture Stories

First Day of Winter (Northern Hemisphere)

Summer

First Day of Summer (Southern Hemisphere)

Flashcards

Birthdays

Ellii's Birthday (2002)

Festivus

Christmas

Role-Plays

Shopping

7 Christmas and New Year's Classroom Activities

Ideas for Using Christmas Flashcards

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Let's Debate!

Holiday Expressions & Capitalization Rules

Sleigh Vs. Sled

Kwanzaa 

First Day of Kwanzaa

Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong's Birthday (1893)

Boxing Day

Dian Fossey

Dian Fossey Murdered (1985)

Charles Goodyear

Innovation & Technology

Charles Goodyear's Birthday (1800)

New Year's

Nana's New Year's Eve

Do New Year's resolutions work?

When to Write New Year's, New Year, and new year

December Holidays

New Year's Eve

'Tis the season for holiday lessons! We have you covered for ESL resources this December. In this month's calendar, you'll find links to flashcards, lesson plans, discussion topics, and other activities for many different holidays that are celebrated around the world. Happy Holidays! 

December 2026

Hey, teachers!  You're going to love all of the resources we have for teaching English in February. You probably know that Valentine's Day falls in February, but did you know that it is also Heart Month? Black History Month, Mardi Gras, and Lunar New Year also fall in February. Happy teaching!

February 2026

You're in luck, teachers! We have some excellent resources for you to use with your English learners this month. On Grammar Day, choose from over 60 lessons in our Grammar Practice Worksheets section, and check out our blog for teaching tips. We also hope you and your students will celebrate International Women's Day this month. After that, be sure to try some of our St. Patrick's Day materials, including our lesson on Luck. And finally, don't forget to unplug for Earth Hour. March forth on March fourth!

March 2026

April is both National Poetry Month and English Language Month. We hope you’ll use the time to discover new poetry with your students and discuss different poets and writers from our lesson collection on <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/71/lessons">Writers & Writing</a>. You may also be interested in teaching students about different holidays and events in April, such as April Fools’ Day, Ramadan, Earth Day, and the start of Golden Week. If your students enjoy learning about historical events, we have great lessons on the Titanic and the Chernobyl Disaster. Have a great month!

April 2026

The first day of May is celebrated around the world as either May Day, International Workers' Day, Labour Day, or Lei Day. May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, and the host of National Teacher Appreciation Week. In Japan, the month begins with five holidays that make up part of Golden Week. Mexico and America celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and Canadians get ready to kick off camping season on Victoria Day weekend. Mother’s Day, Star Wars Day and Memorial Day also fall in May.

May 2026

Pride Month is celebrated every June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Riots and in recognition of the influence of LGBTQ+ people around the world. In the US, June is also National Zoo and Aquarium Month and African-American Music Appreciation Month. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated observance of the ending of slavery in the US. In Canada, First Nations are recognized and celebrated on National Indigenous Peoples Day. Other June holidays and events include Father’s Day, World Oceans Day, and Dragon Boat Festival. 

June 2026

Both Canada and the US celebrate their national days in July.  The birthdays of Princess Diana, Frida Kahlo, Malala Yousafzai, Amelia Earhart and Nelson Mandela also fall in July.  In Spain, people celebrate the Running of the Bulls at the San Fermin Festival. Other July holidays and events include Bastille Day and World UFO Day.

July 2026

Why are there so many birthdays in August? That might be a fun question to discuss with your students. We've included some celebrity birthdays on our August calendar, including Barack Obama's and Louis Armstrong's, which fall on the same day. Why not show your ESL students our August calendar and ask them to choose a few topics that they are interested in? Be sure to celebrate your southpaws on Left-Handers' Day! 

August 2026

September is a month for new beginnings. It's also the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father's Day on the first Sunday, while Canada and the US enjoy Labor/Labour Day weekend. The events of 9/11 are commemorated, elders are celebrated around the world, and victims of Canada's former residential school system are remembered.

September 2026

October is such a fun month to teach English. No matter what age you teach, you and your students can dress up in costumes and tell ghost stories while you learn Halloween vocabulary. Be sure to check out our blog for all kinds of Halloween teaching ideas that teachers have shared over the years. This year, you can also celebrate Korea's autumn harvest festival, Chuseok, in October. World Teachers' Day and Columbus Day also fall in October. Does Christopher Columbus deserve his special day? Let your students decide!

October 2026

November is a month for many important observances, including Remembrance Day and Anti-Bullying Week. For Americans, it's also the month to express gratitude for food, health, and family. Or is it all about shopping? Get your students talking about issues that matter today with this month's recommended lessons and materials. 

November 2026

It's a new year! If you haven't used the ESL Lesson Plan Calendar to plan your lessons, now is the perfect time to start. Each month you'll find holidays, special events, and related resources to keep your students interested in learning English. Click on any event to see a drop-down index of resources.  Be sure to try our Australia Day lesson this month. Your students will have fun learning some Aussie slang!

January 2027

Calendar

Months