ESL Holiday Lessons
Kwanzaa
Teach English language learners about the week-long holiday of Kwanzaa that is celebrated around the world during December. It includes holiday-themed reading comprehension passages, phrase matching, fill-in-the-blanks, and journaling...
Curated OER
Researching Another Country's Holiday: Focusing and Gathering Information
Fifth graders brainstorm a list of holidays celebrated by a majority of people in the United States. They each select an American holiday from the list as well as another country that may have a holiday that is similar. Next, they...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Holiday
First graders explore American culture by participating in arts and crafts activities. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 1st graders listen to music based upon the Thanksgiving tradition and examine images of the first Thanksgiving. Students...
Curated OER
Benne Cakes and Other Holiday Recipes
Benne Cakes, a West African treat packed with sesame seeds for luck, are a featured part of the celebration of Kwanzaa. Young chefs try their hand at crafting these goodies that are sure to enrich your holiday...
Curated OER
Collage of Kwanzaa Colors
Students explore African cultures by creating a holiday collage. In this Kwanzaa art lesson, students identify the popular colors associated with the African holiday and create a collage using them. Students present their art work for...
Curated OER
Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Students read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojacieckowski. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the Christmas holiday. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies,...
Curated OER
Giving Thanks to Mother Earth
Pupils create an art project to be made into a laminated placemat to use during a classroom Thanksgiving feast. The lesson involves choosing at least three cutouts of elements of nature to glue onto a background page, drawing one picture...
Curated OER
Writing: Wall of Peace Bulletin Board
Students discuss holidays dealing with patriotic national holidays or remembrances. After choosing a teacher-provided prompt. they write responses to it. They write their paragraphs on paper shaped like bricks and pin them to a "wall...
Curated OER
Understanding Freedom: Catching "The Spirit of '76"
Sixth graders complete activities about colonial history through an examination of art from the American Revolution period. In this history and art lesson, 6th graders define an iconic image, sing the song 'Yankee Doodle,' and analyze...
Curated OER
Holidays Seasoned with Meaning
Students consider how the world events of the past year have impacted their perceptions of this holiday season. Each student then explores one general theme related to his or her feelings about the season by creating a news-based collage...
Curated OER
Molly's Pilgrim
Learners read the story of Molly's Pilgrim, create a Native American doll, and explore the meaning of the word pilgrim.
Curated OER
KWANZAA
Young scholars study about Kwanzaa, an African-American celebration established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana, and also participate in some traditional activities.
Curated OER
Kwanzaa
Students explore African American holiday of Kwanzaa, orally share ideas about whom they want to invite to classroom Kwanzaa celebration, create and print invitation to Kwanzaa using Publisher or Print Shop, and share completed...
Curated OER
Make an Uncle Sam Folk Art Figure
Students create an Uncle Sam art figure. In this patriotic lesson plan, students use wood, paint, twigs, and glue to create a folk-art style figure of Uncle Sam.
Curated OER
Veterans Day Fact And Opinion
In this fact and opinion worksheet, young scholars answer 10 questions about the Veterans Day holiday. Students decide if the statements given are facts or opinions.
Curated OER
Labor Day
In this language arts worksheet, students study the American holiday of Labor Day. Students read a short factual passage, and answer 3 questions.
Scholastic
Voyage on the Mayflower
After completing an online activity about the Mayflower, scholars draw a picture about what they know of the Thanksgiving holiday, including a one-sentence summary. A reading of If You Were at the First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma is...
Scholastic
Pilgrim and Wampanoag Daily Life
A lesson looks at the Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe during the first Thanksgiving. Scholars compare and contrast information presented by an online activity then discuss their findings. Learners examine the two group's daily routines and...
Scholastic
The First Thanksgiving Feast
Following an online activity, scholars listen to a read-aloud of If You Were at the First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma. Pupils discuss their family traditions and complete a T-chart comparing the holiday then and now. Collages are made to...
Curated OER
Hark, the Herald Atheists Sing
Students complete a one minute interview on their classmates views on religion and holiday traditions. They read an article about how Americans celebrate Christmas in different ways. Creating in-depth questions, they practice...
Curated OER
Painted Dreams
Third graders explore the importance of art in Haitian culture by analyzing the cause and effect within the story, "Allie's Basketball Dream." They examine all the aspects of the story and characters including their goals, dreams,...
Curated OER
A Salute to Flag Day
Use Flag Day as a learning opportunity for your classroom. Collect a variety of books and other resources on the subject of the U.S. flag. Have pupils conduct independent research at home and come to class prepared to share some fun...
Curated OER
National Turkey Off to Disneyland
Young scholars share their holiday traditions, then read about an American Thanksgiving custom. For this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, the students participate...
Gateways
Teaching the Easter Story
If you are looking for a secular approach to teaching about Easter, this may just be the resource for you. Pupils read a paraphrased text depicting the last supper, arrest, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ as told in the Bible,...