There’s just something about October in schools.
The weather starts changing. Leaves start turning. Fall sports are in full swing. Students are talking about weekend activities, costumes, pumpkin patches, apple cider, and everything else that comes with the season.
And no matter what grade level you teach, there is usually something about fall that gets kids excited.
That makes October a great time to bring a little of that energy into your classroom, and our searchable First Five database, archives, and Teacher Tools can help you do it.
Looking for something seasonal? Head to the database and try searching terms like pumpkins, leaves, autumn, Halloween, football, costumes, apple, or just about anything else you can think of. You may find a Question, Meme, Quote, Video, activity, or other resource that fits perfectly into what your students are already talking about.
October is also National Bullying Prevention Month, making it a great opportunity to intentionally strengthen the kind of classroom and school community we want our students to experience.
Try searching the database for words like empathy, kindness, belonging, self-esteem, respect, friendship, or inclusion. You can use those resources to start conversations, build Classroom Circles, or simply give students a few minutes to think about how we treat the people around us.
And if you’re a First Five Plus member, you have another option: head back into the archives and explore October 2025. You can pull from alternate fall and October editions and mix those resources into what you’re already doing this year.
October gives us a lot to talk about. Whatever part of the season works for your classroom, chances are there’s something waiting for you in the First Five.
A Look Ahead at this Month’s First Five
The First Five will be delivered 22 times in October, including today, and we have a lot packed into the month.
Keep an eye out for seven fully themed editions, where every component connects back to the theme:
Pet Edition, Resilience Edition, Digital Citizenship Edition, 90s Edition, Responsibility Edition, Spooky Edition Part 1, and Spooky Edition Part 2.
We’ll also sprinkle four timely themes into other First Five editions throughout the month: Bullying Prevention Month, Custodian Appreciation & Smile Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Red Ribbon Week.
Remember, you can see the full year’s schedule for the First Five by clicking here! Let’s get ready for a fun October!
Ask Eddy Question of the Week
Each week, our on-site helper, Eddy, gets tons of questions from educators looking for help finding resources, using our Teacher Tools, or coming up with new ways to make Edtomorrow content work in their classrooms. Each Thursday, we’ll share one real question that was asked to Eddy, along with the answer.
This week’s question:
“Do I do all of the First Five activities with my class, or do I just pick a few?”
You definitely don’t have to do them all! Eddy recommends scrolling through the day’s edition, seeing what’s available, and choosing the activity that feels right for your students in that moment.
Maybe it’s a Meme to start the day with a laugh, a Check-in after lunch, or a Quote to close class. You can use one activity, a few of them, or even go through the entire edition if you have the time and it works for your group.
That flexibility is the point. The First Five is there to fit your classroom, not become another checklist you have to finish.
-Edtomorrow Team