November Learning Calendar with DVD Schooling Resources
by Diane Flynn Keith
Author of Carschooling
Use DVDs in the classroom, at home, or in the car to enhance learning. There
are historic and important events to commemorate nearly every day of the year.
This DVD Schooling Calendar will help you note events and people that impact our
lives with recommendations for DVDs to further learning and boost your student's
knowledge of the world. All of the DVDs recommended are available through our
affiliation with Amazon.com -- just click on the links to make a purchase that
helps support this website.
November DVD Schooling Calendar
- Michelangelo's painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome was opened to public viewing in 1512. Learn about the life and times of Michelangelo by watching "Michelangelo - Self-Portrait" and "Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel."
Bonus! Take a Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel Your children (ages 9-12) may also enjoy the book, "Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought)" by Kathleen Krull.
- Daniel Boone, American pioneer, was born in 1734. Watch "Daniel Boone" the television series starring Fess Parker as the frontier hero.
Bonus! You can read "The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boone," in which Boone describes in his own words his exploits in the Kentucky wilderness from May, 1769 to October of 1782. It's available for free online! Your children may also enjoy the "Daniel Boone Coloring Book" by Dover Publications that chronicles the wilderness adventures of Boone in captions located below the pictures.
- U.S.S.R. launched Sputnik II with a dog on board in 1957. Learn more about space, Earth, and the atmosphere with the "Children's DVD Encyclopedia - Tell Me Why."
Bonus! Find out more about how satellites work. Your children (ages 4-8) may also enjoy the book, "Race Into Space," by Eric Arnold that provides more information about Sputnik II and other events in space history.
- Tomb of Egyptian boy-King Tut was discovered in 1922. Watch the DVD "King Tut - The Face of Tutankhamun." It tells the wondrous story of the curse, craze, fame and fortune surrounding the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by legendary archeologist Howard Carter.
Bonus! Take a Virtual Tour of a Pyramid! Your children (ages 4-8) may also enjoy the book, "Mummies & Pyramids" by Will and Ma Osborne.
- Guy Fawkes Day in England, commemorates Fawkes' failed attempt to kill King James and destroy the English Parliament in 1605. Watch the DVD, "A History of Britain."
Bonus! Learn more about Guy Fawkes Day.
- Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the U.S. in 1860. Watch the acclaimed mini-series, "American Experience - Abraham and Mary Lincoln - A House Divided."
Bonus! Take this online quiz and test your knowledge of President Abraham Lincoln. Younger children (ages 4-8) may also enjoy the book, "Abraham Lincoln," by Amy L. Cohn.
- Madame Marie Curie, discoverer of radium, was born in 1867. Watch the G-rated film "Marie Curie - More Than Meets The Eye." An ALA Notable Children's Video, this DVD tells the story of two sisters during WWI, who follow Curie to the battlefront and witness her fight to use science and her X-ray machine to save the lives of the wounded.
Bonus! Students ages 8 and up may enjoy reading this online biography of Marie Curie.
- Montana became the 41st state in 1889. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in Whitefish, Montana when you watch "Weekend Explorer Whitefish."
Bonus! Learn all about the state of Montana.
- The Berlin Wall, that had separated communist-controlled East Germany and the democratic republic of West Germany, was opened in 1989 allowing residents to travel freely back and forth. It was symbolic of the beginning of the end of the Soviet regime. Eventually, most of the wall was torn down. "The Cold War Era - Bundle Pack" offers an interesting perspective on the tensions between the Soviet Union and the U.S. during The Cold War Era.
Bonus! Explore the Microsoft Art Exhibit, "Hope, Anguish, and the Berlin Wall." It recounts the history of the Berlin Wall, and explores the artistic graffiti on a large segment of the Berlin Wall that was preserved from demolition.
- Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran religious denomination, born in 1483. Watch the PG-13 rated "Luther." It's a biography of Martin Luther, a priest who led the Christian Reformation, challenging the political and religious authorities of the early 16th century.
- Washington became the 42nd state in 1889. Take an arm-chair excursion to Washington state by watching the DVD, "Washington State: A Scenic Tour."
Bonus! Learn all about the state of Washington.
- Auguste Rodin, master sculptor best known for his work The Thinker, born 1840. Watch the DVD, "Auguste Rodin: The Hands of Genius."
Bonus! Take a virtual tour of the Rodin Museum collection. Your children ages 4-8 may enjoy the book, "Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin" by Michelle Lord.
- Robert Louis Stevenson, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850. A prolific author, he penned Treasure Island, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Watch the classic movie "Treasure Island" on DVD.
Bonus! Read the complete works of Robert Louis Stevenson online.
- Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat, was born in 1765. Learn about many great inventors by watching "The Inventor's Specials 6 DVD Collector's Set."
Bonus! Read Fulton's biography online.
- Georgia O'Keeffe, an American artist, was born in 1887. She used detail and vibrant colors for her paintings inspired by nature. Watch the DVD, "Great Women Artists: Georgia O'Keefe."
Bonus! Take a Virtual Field Trip to see some of the permanent collection of O'Keefe's artwork at the Okeeffe Museum.
- Oklahoma became the 46th state of the U.S. in 1907. Watch the hit Broadway musical, "Oklahoma."
Bonus! Learn all about the state of Oklahoma.
- Suez Canal opened in 1869, cutting travel time for ships between Europe and Asia. Watch the History Channel's "Modern Marvels: The Suez Canal" to fully appreciate this feat of engineering.
- Nathaniel Palmer discovered Antarctica in 1820. Watch "Antarctica Dreaming." This film explores the Antarctic peninsula, South Georgia Island, and the Falkland Islands, and features five species of penguins, four kinds of seals, fierce seabirds, and the most spectacular scenery on the planet.
Bonus! Try this virtual tour of Antarctica designed for kids, then learn more about the wildlife found in Antarctica watch, Nature: Antarctica.
- Abraham Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address, 1863. The highly acclaimed and powerful docu-drama, "Gettysburg" depicts the historical and personal events of the decisive American Civil War battle. Based upon the best-selling novel "The Killer Angels."
Bonus! Take a virtual field trip to the Gettysburg. See what day-to-day life was like for both Union and Confederate soldiers.
- Nuremberg Trials, trying Nazi leaders for crimes against humanity, began in 1945. Watch the movie, "The Diary of Anne Frank," an account of one teenage girl's experience hiding from the Nazi's during WWII. Based on the book, "Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl."
Bonus! Take a virtual tour of the house where Anne Frank hid from the Nazi's during WWII.
- Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, 1877. Watch the DVD, "Biography: Thomas A. Edison - Father of Invention."
Bonus! Play "Edison Invents!" - an online, interactive game for students of all ages that teaches players about the many inventions of Thomas Edison.
- U.S. President John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas, 1963. Learn more about Kennedy's life and presidency by watching PBS' "The American President."
Bonus! Read the biography of John F. Kennedy and learn about his presidency online.
- Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the U.S., born 1804. Learn more about Franklin Pierce's life and presidency by watching PBS' "The American President."
- Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a French artist famous for his poster art of Paris night-life, in particular the Moulin Rouge, born 1864. Take a video tour of great artwork and get a lesson in art appreciation from Sister Wendy Beckett. "Sister Wendy - The Complete Collection." takes you on a trip across the world and through the ages, where her contemplative insights and unorthodox enthusiasm bring the world's great art to life.
Bonus! Students in middle school and up may enjoy learning more about Lautrec's life and viewing his artistic posters.
- Andrew Carnegie, industrialist founder of U.S. Steel, was born in 1835. Watch "Empires of Industry: Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel" to learn more about his life and work.
Bonus! Learn more about Carnegie and other industrialists and entrepreneurs at this site - designed for kids.
- Thanksgiving Day in U.S. proclaimed by George Washington, 1789. Watch "The Mayflower Pilgrims" and learn about the very first Thanksgiving.
Bonus! See Scholastic's interactive lessons and activities about The First Thanksgiving. Take a virtual field trip of Plimouth Plantation and learn the history behind the first Thanksgiving. Find all kinds of terrific suggestions and free resources for learning about Thanksgiving from Preschool through High School at Annette Hall's LocalHS.com!
- The First Crusade was announced by Pope Urban II to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslims. Watch "The History Channel Presents the Crusades - Crescent & The Cross." This documentary tells the story of the key personalities of the First, Second, and Third Crusades - popes, kings, sultans and knights who, in the name of God, ruthlessly fought for land and power.
Bonus! Learn all about the Crusades at HistoryForKids.org.
- Ferdinand Magellan is first to sail from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean in 1520. LibraryVideo.com offers a DVD from the "Explorers of the World" series titled "Ferdinand Magellan." View a clip before you purchase.
Bonus! Learn more about Magellan and his circumnavigation of the globe. Students (ages 9-12) may enjoy reading "Who Was Ferdinand Magellan?" and "Magellan and the First Voyage Around the World".
- Louisa May Alcott, author of "Little Women," was born in 1832. She was a Suffragist and Abolitionist and worked for social reform. Watch the modern movie version of, "Little Women," that was based on the book, starring Wynona Ryder.
- Samuel Clemons, who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain, was born in 1835. He authored "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" & "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". Learn more about his life and times by watching the documentary, "Mark Twain- A Film Directed by Ken Burn's."
Do you have young children?
Check out the Preschool Learning Calendar!
Going on a Road Trip?
Use The Carschooling Learning Calendar
to spark interesting and educational "carversations" with your kids!
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