It’s officially fall, y’all! You know what that means — pumpkin spice lattes, fall break, Halloween, and lots of “gourd” monumental moments to learn about. There are no tricks here — only treats — as we bring you lesson plan ideas and free resources to use in your classroom!
History at a Glance:
October 1–31, 2023: Filipino, Italian, and Polish Americans’ History and Heritage Months
Every October, the lives and legacies of Filipino, Italian, and Polish Americans are celebrated during Filipino American History Month, Italian American Heritage Month, and Polish American Heritage Month.
Filipino American History Month was first introduced by the Filipino American National Historical Society in 1992 and was later nationally recognized by Congress in 2009.[1] October was chosen as the month of celebration to mark the arrival of the first Filipinos in North America, who came aboard the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza. They reached what is present-day Morro Bay, California, on October 18, 1587.[2] Today, approximately 4.2 million Filipino Americans are living in the U.S.[3]
Italian American Heritage Month is also observed in October to coincide with Columbus Day. The celebration began in 1989 with President George H.W. Bush’s presidential proclamation.[4] Today, Italian Americans are the seventh-largest ethnic group in the U.S., with more than 26 million Americans of Italian heritage in the nation.[5]
Initially celebrated in August beginning in 1981, Polish American Heritage Month was changed in 1986[6] to October to honor Revolutionary War Polish American heroes General Kazimierz (spelled Casimir in English) Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko.[7] October also coincides with the arrival of the first Polish settlers at the Jamestown Colony in Virginia in 1608.[8] Today, about 8.2 million Americans with Polish ancestry live in the U.S.[9]
To dive deeper into these heritage and history months and the notable people they honor, read our “Celebrate Filipino, Italian, and Polish Americans’ History & Heritage With Us!” blog.
Teacher Resources:
“Trace Your Heritage” by the Polish American Cultural Center Museum: This family tree is an excellent way for your students to dig into their family’s history! They can also include photos of their family to share with the class.
“Celebrate Filipino American History Month” by Asian Art Museum: Explore artwork, books, recipes, and stories by Filipino Americans.
“5 Ways to Research Your Italian Heritage Without Leaving Home” by New York Public Library: Show your students how they can search genealogical records. This resource provides links to Catholic church and ship passenger records.
October 19, 1781: Victory at the Battle of Yorktown
After three weeks of intense fighting, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War was won by the Continental Army, but not without shrewd strategizing on General George Washington’s part. He planned to mobilize his troops and the French army allies from New York to Yorktown, Virginia, where British General Lord Charles Cornwallis’s troops were stationed.[10]
To do so without alerting Cornwallis of his plans, Washington tricked the British into thinking the Continental Army would attack General Henry Clinton’s troops in New York.[11] Meanwhile, Washington and his men traveled over 600 miles[12] to Williamsburg, Virginia, which was 13 miles west of Yorktown.[13] According to American Battlefield Trust, this was “the largest troop movement of the American Revolution.”[14]
After marching on September 28 from Williamsburg to Yorktown, the Continental Army made fortifications and dug parallel trenches to entrap British troops.[15] On October 9, artillery fire rained down on Cornwallis’s men. Washington ordered his soldiers and the French troops to attack Redoubt No. 9 and No. 10 on October 14,[16] with Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton leading the siege on Redoubt No. 10. These successful sieges meant that Cornwallis’s troops were trapped, and he had no choice but to surrender on October 19.[17]
The Continental Army’s victory at the Battle of Yorktown (also known as the Seige of Yorktown) marked the beginning of America’s liberty, but the young nation wouldn’t officially be granted its independence from Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.[18]
However, this victory did turn the tide of the war in the colonists’ favor, and the British government knew its defeat was imminent. British Prime Minister Lord Frederick North stated, “Oh God. It is all over. It is all over,” after receiving news on November 25, 1781, of the British army’s defeat at the Battle of Yorktown.[19] British Parliament passed a resolution in March 1782 to surrender and end the war.[20] After seven years of conflict, the Revolutionary War officially ended on September 3, 1783.[21]
"Oh God. It is all over. It is all over." – British Prime Minister Lord Frederick North
Teacher Resources:
“Yorktown Virtual Tour” by American Battlefield Trust: This 360° tour allows your students to see what the battlefield looks like from the comfort of your classroom. Text bubbles provide additional context about this historic location throughout the tour.
“Art Speaks! Visual Arts & The Significance of Place” by National Park Service: By examining paintings and statues commemorating key battles fought during the Revolutionary Way (including the Battle of Yorktown), students can connect an artist’s interpretation of these moments to their historical significance.
October 21, 1879: Thomas Edison’s “Light Bulb Moment”
Have you ever had a “light bulb moment” where a solution to a problem finally presents itself, and the situation is now illuminated (pun intended)? Thomas Edison had plenty of those moments, but on October 21, 1879, his world — and ours — got a little brighter when he successfully invented his version of the incandescent light bulb.
While he was certainly not the first inventor to create the electric light (that would be Sir Humphry Davy with his invention of the arc lamp circa 1809),[22] nor was he the first to invent the light bulb (James Bowman Lindsay and Warren de la Rue invented light bulbs in 1835 and 1840, respectively,)[23] Edison was the first to improve light bulbs so that they burned longer and had a softer light.[24]
Earlier versions of light bulbs weren’t cost-effective, energy-efficient, or long-lasting. Edison and his team of scientists worked on making one that would meet this criteria, which led them to use a carbon filament made from cotton. This filament allowed the light bulb to burn brightly for 14.5 hours.[25]
After conducting more research and tests, Edison and his team found a better material to make filaments: bamboo. Bamboo filaments enabled light bulbs to burn for 1,200 hours, and this material was used during the next decade. However, improvements to the light bulb didn’t end there; an enhanced vacuum pump was added, and the Edison screw was invented. Additionally, Edison’s Pearl Street Station in New York City was the first commercial power utility to supply electricity for lighting.[26] Talk about a bright idea!
Teacher Resources:
“The History of the Light Bulb” by the Department of Energy: This interactive timeline shows students the evolution of the light bulb and introduces them to the inventors who came before Edison to light the way.
“How to Make a Light Bulb” by wikiHow: Making a light bulb is a lot easier in the 21st century than in Edison’s day, thanks to the research scientists and inventors did to make it possible! Students can construct a light bulb using only a few materials while learning its mechanics.
October 31, 2023: Halloween
Calling all ghouls and goblins! Halloween, also known as All Hallow’s Eve, is more than just a fun fall holiday to eat more sugar than is good for you; it began as a Celtic religious festival called Samhain.[27]
Samhain was celebrated on October 31, the day before the Celtic New Year. This celebration served as a transition between the harvest season and winter. On this day, it was believed that the spirits of departed people would return to the world of the living, so people dressed in costumes to confuse the wandering souls. Celts also lit giant bonfires and sacrificed crops and animals. This festival was later combined with Roman traditions and deities during the 400 years of Roman rule.[28]
Later, Pope Boniface IV established All Martyrs’ Day, a Catholic celebration, on May 13, 609 A.D. This celebration was later changed to All Saints’ Day by Pope Gregory III, who also designated November 1 as the day of the feast. The celebration of All Saints’ Day was extended, and November 2 became All Souls’ Day in 1000 A.D. All-hallows, or All-hallowmas, became synonymous with All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1). Thus, October 31 was called All-Hallows Eve, which was shortened to Halloween.[29]
Halloween was celebrated in North America's southern colonies and Maryland but not in colonial New England because of its Protestant beliefs. Harvest celebrations were called “play parties,” and the community gathered at these events to tell ghost stories and sing songs.[30]
Halloween became more popular throughout the nation as more European immigrants arrived in the mid-to-late 19th and 20th centuries and brought their Halloween traditions with them.[31] One of these traditions was pranking, which became commonplace among youth in the countryside in the late 1800s before spreading to cities in the early 1900s. Fires were set ablaze, property was damaged, and residents were harassed on Halloween during the early 20th century. Vandalism and arson on Halloween only got worse during the Great Depression.[32]
To combat the growing violence in their towns, residents began hosting Halloween parades and parties. Kids would also go to different houses to receive inexpensive treats. The trend caught on and became popular around the country by the 1950s.[33] Today, Halloween is celebrated with festivals, church and community-center events, and trick-or-treating.
Find more Halloween-related fun with our collection of spooky books!
Teacher Resources:
Spooky Videos by the Library of Congress: Before Michael Myers, Jason, and Freddy Krueger took over the silver screen, silent film stars portrayed the supernatural in these videos from the early 20th century. Watch the 1900 film Uncle Josh in a spooky hotel for an example of early slapstick comedy. A magic show goes awry in Hooligan assists the magician. Afterward, ask your students to list the differences and commonalities between today’s horror flicks and these silent films.
Host a Halloween Party: Enjoy a fun break in the middle of the school week with a Halloween party! Check out our “Halloween Party Ideas for Teachers” blog for a list of activities you can do with your students.
For more historical tidbits, lesson plan ideas, and free activities, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Also, be sure to check out our other blogs for even more resources!
Sources:
[1] “10 Ways to Celebrate Filipino American History Month.” Google Arts & Culture, https://artsandculture.google.com/story/10-ways-to-celebrate-filipino-american-history-month/4wXB6NUFZ2t0cQ?hl=en. Accessed 22 September 2023.
[2] “Celebrate Filipino American History Month.” Asian Art Museum, https://asianart.org/cultural-celebrations/celebrate-filipino-american-history-month/. Accessed 22 September 2023.
[3] Mendiola, Ritchel. “Pew Research: Over 4.2M Filipino Americans In The US.” Asian Journal, 5 May 2021, https://asianjournal.com/usa/dateline-usa/pew-research-over-4-2m-filipino-americans-in-the-us/. Accessed 28 September 2023.
[4] “Italian American Heritage Month.” Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, https://osdia.org/commission-for-social-justice/italian-heritage-month/. Accessed 22 September 2023.
[5] “Italian-American Heritage Month – October 2023.” National Today, https://nationaltoday.com/italian-american-heritage-month/. Accessed 22 September 2023.
[6] “Polish American Heritage Month | October.” National Day Calendar, 22 July 2015, https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/october/polish-american-heritage-month-october#:~:text=Michael%20Blichasz%2C%20the%20President%20of,observation%20was%20moved%20to%20October. Accessed 29 September 2023.
[7] “Polish American Heritage Month – October 2023.” National Today, https://nationaltoday.com/polish-american-heritage-month/#:~:text=Congress%20first%20deemed%20August%20as,fought%20in%20the%20American%20Revolution). Accessed 22 September 2023.
[8] “Celebrate Polish Heritage Month.” University of Northern Colorado, https://www.unco.edu/equity-inclusion/communications/polish-heritage-month-oct22.aspx, 14 October 2022. Accessed 22 September 2023.
[9] “Polish-American Heritage Month: October 2022.” United States Census Bureau, October 2022, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/polish-american-heritage-month.html.
[10] HISTORY.com Editors. “Battle of Yorktown.” HISTORY, 21 June 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[11] HISTORY.com Editors. “Battle of Yorktown.” HISTORY, 21 June 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[12] Selig, Robert. “Marching to Victory: The Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail.” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/marching-victory-washington-rochambeau-national-historic-trail#:~:text=The%20trail%20is%20a%20680,Rhode%20Island%20to%20Yorktown%2C%20Virginia. Accessed 27 September 2023.
[13] “Yorktown Battlefield: History of the Siege.” National Park Service, “https://www.nps.gov/york/learn/historyculture/history-of-the-siege.htm. Accessed 27 September 2023.
[14] “Yorktown: Siege of Yorktown.” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[15] “Yorktown Battlefied: History of the Siege.” National Park Service, “https://www.nps.gov/york/learn/historyculture/history-of-the-siege.htm. Accessed 28 September 2023.
[16] “Yorktown: Siege of Yorktown.” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[17] HISTORY.com Editors. “Battle of Yorktown.” HISTORY, 21 June 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[18] HISTORY.com Editors. “Battle of Yorktown.” HISTORY, 21 June 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[19] “Yorktown: Siege of Yorktown.” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[20] HISTORY.com Editors. “Battle of Yorktown.” HISTORY, 21 June 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/siege-of-yorktown. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[21] “American Revolution Facts.” American Battlefield Trust, https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/american-revolution-faqs. Accessed 27 September 2023.
[22] “This Month in Physics History: December 20, 1900: Nature reports on William Duddell’s ‘musical arcs.’” APS News, December 2010, Colume 19, Number 11, https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201012/physicshistory.cfm. Accessed 28 September 2023.
[23] Ris, Dylan and Simón, Yara. “Who Invented the Light Bulb? It Wasn’t Just Edison.” HowStuffWorks, 18 July 2023, https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/famous-inventors/who-invented-light-bulb.htm. Accessed 28 September 2023.
[24] Alfred, Randy. “Oct. 21, 1879: Edison Fets the Bright Light Right.” WIRED, 21 October 2009, https://www.wired.com/2009/10/1021edison-light-bulb/. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[25] The History of the Light Bulb.” Department of Energy, 22 November 2013, https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-light-bulb. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[26] “The History of the Light Bulb.” Department of Energy, 22 November 2013, https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-light-bulb. Accessed 25 September 2023.
[27] “Today in History - October 31.” Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/october-31/. Accessed 26 September 2023.
[28] HISTORY.com Editors. “Halloween 2023.” HISTORY, 11 August 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween. Accessed 26 September 2023.
[29] HISTORY.com Editors. “Halloween 2023.” HISTORY, 11 August 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween. Accessed 26 September 2023.
[30] HISTORY.com Editors. “Halloween 2023.” HISTORY, 11 August 2023, https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween. Accessed 26 September 2023.
[31] Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Halloween". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Sep. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Halloween. Accessed 26 September 2023.
[32] Klein, Christopher. “Halloween Was Once So Dangerous That Some Cities Considered Banning It.” HISTORY, 27 October 2020, https://www.history.com/news/halloween-was-once-so-dangerous-that-some-cities-considered-banning-it. Accessed 26 September 2023.
[33] Klein, Christopher. “Halloween Was Once So Dangerous That Some Cities Considered Banning It.” HISTORY, 27 October 2020, https://www.history.com/news/halloween-was-once-so-dangerous-that-some-cities-considered-banning-it. Accessed 26 September 2023.
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