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The Learning Calendar : October

Each month, we will highlight historical birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, and provide teaching resources to help you learn about each topic.
October
| October 01 | China National Day | | | This date commemorates the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. |
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| October 01, 1924 | Jimmy Carter's Birthday | | | Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States, and was born on October 1, 1924. |
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| October 01-31 | National Dental Hygiene Month | | | What do you know about dental hygiene? This month is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. |
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| October 01-31 | Diversity Awareness Month | | | This month is set aside to promote and appreciate the diversity that exists within our society, and to foster understanding of all races, genders, nationalities, and religions around the globe. |
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| October 01-31 | National Book Month | | | This month invites young and old alike to take out some time to read a good book! Literary events are held in libraries and bookstores throughout this month in most communities. |
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| October 01-31 | International Dinosaur Month | | | This month is devoted to the study and appreciation of dinosaurs, and to the protection and preservation of fossils. |
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| October 01-31 | National Stamp Collecting Month | | | Sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, this month encourages youth to discover the exciting world of stamp collecting! |
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| October 02, 1869 | Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday | | | Gandhi was a political and spiritual leader who was famous for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance in India. He was assassinated in his home in New Delhi on January 30, 1948. |
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| October 03-09, 2010 | National Fire Prevention Week | | | This week is dedicated to learning more about fire prevention, by Presidential Proclamation in 1925! |
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| October 04, 2010 | UN World Habitat Day | | | The first Monday of October was set aside by the United Nations to draw attention to the importance of preserving the world's habitats. |
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| October 04-08 | Math Literacy Week | | | How important is math in our daily lives? Math Literacy Week hopes to bring attention to just that! |
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| October 05, 1877 | Chief Joseph Surrenders | | | After a 1700-mile retreat, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians surrenders on this day to the US Cavalry troops at Bears Paw, MT. |
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| October 08, 1871 | Great Chicago Fire | | | This infamous fire began on this day when, according to legend, Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern in her barn. The fire destroyed miles of land, thousands of buildings, and killed over 250 people. |
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| October 09 | Leif Ericsson Day | | | Leif Ericsson was a Norse explorer who is widely believed to be the first European to explore the North American continent. |
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| October 11, 1884 | Eleanor Roosevelt's Birthday | | | Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the US. She led many campaigns, and served as the US delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. |
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| October 11, 2010 | Canada's Thanksgiving Day | | | Comparable to the U.S. Holiday in November, this holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in October each year. |
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| October 11, 2010 | Columbus Day | | | This is the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival to the Bahamas, which he renamed El Salvador and claimed in the name of Spain. |
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| October 14, 1890 | Dwight D. Eisenhower's Birthday | | | Dwight David Eisenhower was the 34th president of the US. He served two terms, and was a five-star general of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II. |
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| October 17, 1989 | San Francisco Earthquake | | | In 1989, San Francisco was shaken by an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale during the World Series. |
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| October 17-23, 2010 | National Health Education Week | | | This is celebrated during the third week of October each year to help teachers promote the importance of Health Education. |
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| October 18, 1867 | Alaska Day | | | This date is the anniversary of the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the US on October 18, 1867. |
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| October 18-25 | World Rainforest Week | | | This week helps promote the importance of the world's rainforests, and to raise awareness about the destruction of rainforests throughout the world. |
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| October 19-25 | National Chemistry Week | | | This week is set aside to celebrate the contributions of chemistry throughout history, and to help the public understand the importance of chemistry in everyday life. |
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| October 19-25 | National Character Counts Week | | | This week is set aside to help educators teach children about character and citizenship. |
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| October 21, 1833 | Alfred Nobel's Birthday | | | Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist and engineer who invented dynamite. His will established the Nobel Prize. |
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| October 24 | United Nations Day | | | This official UN holiday commemorates the founding of the United Nations. |
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| October 25, 1881 | Pablo Picasso's Birthday | | | Pablo Picasso was one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He was a painter, sculptor, and engraver. |
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| October 26, 1825 | Erie Canal Anniversary | | | The Erie Canal was the first major US man-made waterway and was opened on this day in 1825. It provides a water route from Lake Erie to the Hudson River. |
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| October 27, 1728 | James Cook's Birthday | | | Captain James Cook was the English explorer who discovered the Hawaiian Islands, and brought New Zealand and Australia under British rule. |
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| October 27, 1858 | Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday | | | Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the US. He was the first president to ride in an airplane, and is generally known as influencing the name, "the teddy bear". |
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| October 28, 1886 | Statue of Liberty Dedication Anniversary | | | On this date, the Statue of Liberty in New York City was dedicated. The sculpture was given to the US by France, and was constructed by Frederic Bartholdi. |
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| October 29, 1929 | Stock Market Crash | | | On this day in 1929, the Stock Market crashed, and billions of dollars were lost. This event resulted in the start of the Great Depression. |
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| October 31 | Halloween | | | Halloween is an ancient celebration of Druid and Christian customs. It dates back to the sixth century, and is associated with ghosts, witches and devils. |
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| November 26, 1789 | Charles Schultz's Birthday | | | Charles Schultz is a famous cartoonist who is known worldwide for his creation of the "Peanuts" comic strip. The comic strip ran for 50 years, starting in 1950, and featured our favorite characters, Charlie Brown, his dog, Snoopy, his sister Lucy, and his friends Lucy and Linus. |
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| November 26, 1865 | Alice in Wonderland Published | | | On this date in 1865, this classic book was first published by author Lewis Carroll. |
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| November 26, 1883 | Sojourner Truth's Death | | | Sojourner Truth was a former slave turned evangelist who fought for abolition and women's rights. She died on this date in 1883. |
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| November 28, 2010 | Advent Begins | | | Advent includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas, and is set aside to prepare spiritually for the birth of Jesus. |
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| November 29, 1832 | Louisa May Alcott's Birthday | | | Louisa May Alcott was a famous American author. Her most famous novel was Little Women. |
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| November 29, 1898 | C.S. Lewis's Birthday | | | C.S. Lewis was a British author famous for his works, Chronicles of Narnia and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. |
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| November 30, 1835 | Mark Twain's Birthday | | | Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorn Clemens, and is a famous author who wrote the American classics The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin, and The Prince and the Pauper. |
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