What to Teach This Month: August Lesson Plans
What are you teaching students this month? Check out this list of free resources and lesson plans for what to teach in August.
What are you teaching about this August? Check out our recommendations in this month’s “What to Teach.”
Although September technically marks the end of summer, for me, August will always be the metaphorical bell toll for the end of the season as we head into the fall, and students (and let’s be serious, myself) get excited for pumpkins and spooky movies. The back-to-school season was the time when I was able to pick out some snazzy new colored pencils, notebooks for different subjects that were bound to be covered in questionable art, and experience the growing excitement of seeing many of my friends from the previous year.
August is a time for educators, students, and families to embark on a new academic year, but it also offers a chance to reflect on historical milestones that have shaped our world. History is often a study of firsts, and this month’s “What to Teach” highlights groundbreaking achievements in the fight for freedom, racial equity, civil rights, and the ratification of a key constitutional amendment. We also explore notable advancements in science, some of which have significantly impacted society.
Share Your Lessons!
Do you have any recommendations about what to teach in any specific months of the year? Let us know your ideas in the comment section below. Or, if you upload a lesson to Share My Lesson, share the link below.
Manhattan Project/Atomic Bomb
On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, followed by a second on Nagasaki just three days later. These events marked a devastating turning point in World War II and world history. Teaching about the bombings—and the Manhattan Project that made them possible—helps students examine the human cost of war, the ethical challenges of scientific discovery, and how nuclear weapons reshaped global politics and conflict.
19th Amendment Ratification
The 19th Amendment, ratified on Aug. 18, 1920, marked a major milestone in women’s voting rights—but it didn’t guarantee the vote for all women. Many, especially women of color and those from marginalized communities, continued to face barriers that kept them from the ballot box. Teaching this history helps students celebrate the progress of the suffrage movement while also recognizing its limits—and why the fight for fair, equal access to voting is still relevant today.
Social Emotional Learning
As you settle into the new school year, it’s a great time to focus on building strong connections and a positive classroom environment. Check out our social-emotional learning resources for PreK-12 classrooms, full of ideas to help students manage emotions, strengthen relationships, and support each other from day one.
The Haitian Revolution
While the French Revolution grabbed headlines in Europe, a powerful uprising was taking shape across the Atlantic. Starting on Aug. 21, 1791, enslaved people in Haiti launched the only successful slave revolt in history—one that led to the birth of the first Black republic. Led by figures like Toussaint Louverture, the Haitian Revolution redefined the fight for freedom and challenged the idea that liberty and equality were reserved for the privileged. It’s a powerful reminder that the struggle for human rights has always been global—and deeply rooted in resistance to injustice.
The March on Washington/Civil Rights
Do your students know the story behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered on Aug. 28, 1963? The 1963 March on Washington was a turning point in the civil rights movement—showing the power of peaceful protest to spark real change. As we mark its 65th anniversary, it’s a timely moment to explore how that movement helped pass key legislation like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act—and why those lessons still matter today as we face ongoing challenges to civil rights and equity.
Teaching the Legacy of Emmett Till
On August 28, 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi—a horrifying act of racial violence that became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. Sharing his story can help students understand the deep roots of racial injustice in America and recognize the courage of Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who insisted the world see what had been done to her son. Teaching this history invites reflection, empathy and a deeper commitment to justice."
What to Teach This Month Series
There are so many holidays, events, and anniversaries that mark our calendars each month that it can be hard to keep track of all of them. The Share My Lesson team has created a blog series, "What to Teach This Month," where each month a member of our team highlights free lesson plans and resources for grades prek-12 on some of the relevant topics you might want to incorporate into your curricular agenda for the month.
More Resources for the New School Year
Get the new school year started off on the right track with more resources on topics such as classroom management, social-emotional learning, family engagement, supporting English-language learners, building successful community schools, and more.
Andy Kratochvil is a proud member of the AFT Share My Lesson team, where he’s passionate about discovering and sharing top-tier content with educators across the country. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and French from California State University, Fullerton, and later completed... See More
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