Details and Share
Holiday Traditions
This lesson is designed to help students understand what holidays and festivals are important parts culture through multiple activities, discussions and research surrounding holidays.
Grade Level: K - 2nd
Subject:
Length of Time: About 45 Minutes
Objectives & Outcomes
Students will be able to demonstrate an appreciation for a holiday that is celebrated by another country or culture by sharing what is learned about the holiday and creating unique symbols to represent the important components of the holiday.
Materials Needed
- The Polar Express book - Get it here
- construction paper ‘boarding pass’ for each student (this can easily be made)
- markers
- stickers
Procedure
Opening to Lesson
Brainstorm American traditions and other traditions for Christmas as a class, using a bubble map or other graphic organizer on the white board or smart board.
Body of Lesson
Direct Teaching
Read The Polar Express aloud to students
Guided Practice 1
Move the desks into rows with an aisle down the middle to make our Polar Express Christmas train, and give students their Polar Express train tickets (a simple picture you can print online) and punch it with a hole punch to make it official! (CFU: talk about all of the Christmas/holiday traditions the students do at home with our families.)
Guided Practice 2
Have students write about a traditions they have in their family, complete with one sentence describing it, one colored picture representing the origin of the tradition, and the month or date it is celebrated.
Independent Practice
Have students compare and contrast their celebration with the celebrations of their elbow partners. (CFU: Observe as they work together in groups)
Closing
Introduce the venn diagram to the students and fill the graphic organizer on the board as you have volunteers share their traditions with the class.
Read our guide on Teaching Holidays in the Classroom.
Assessment & Evaluation
Through guided questions, close monitoring and informal observation; the teacher will be able to assess student’s ability and understanding of the subject being introduced. Through individually assessing during independent practice and reviewing during guided practice the teacher will be able to evaluate students.
Modification & Differentiation
Students may work in groups or individually in order to complete their assignments. In order to accommodate for all students, allow extra time to review for lower students and extra worksheets to occupy the time of advanced students.
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