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Day of the Dead Lesson Plans
Day of the Dead lesson plans can provide a meaningful exploration of the holiday and its importance.
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The Polar Express
Here are some ways to include "The Polar Express" into your holiday curriculum
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National Turkey Off to Disneyland
Students share their holiday traditions, then read about an American Thanksgiving custom. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the news article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, the students participate in...
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Thanks for the Memories
Students explore the importance of the family holiday meal, read and discuss "Pass the Turkey, Tamales, Kugel and Criticism" and write their own renditions of a fictitious family's holiday evening.
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Folk Groups and Community Folklife
Young scholars explore folk groups and traditions in their local community. In this folklife lesson plan, students list the folk groups they belong to and its traditions. Young scholars write about their favorite tradition and may...
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Dia de los Muertos
Second graders research the Day of the Dead, an important Mexican holiday. They view videos, investigate Mexican geography and history and compare the Day of the Dead to the celebration of Halloween.
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Christmas in Great Britain
Students investigate the Christmas customs of Great Britain. For this holiday lesson, students construct pomander balls and sing English Christmas carols.
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Kwanzaa
Students examine the holiday of Kwanzaa. In groups, they discuss "The Seven Principles" and the history of the holiday. They explore the objects that are used and what they represent. They end the lesson with a discussion of the...
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A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust: Shemini Atzeret-Simhat Torah
Students explore Jewish traditions through Jewish art. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students research art by Moshe Rynecki, Chaim Goldberg and Emmanuel Levy. Students replicate the artistic styles in their own pieces.
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Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Students participate in various activities which address Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In this holiday lesson, students are exposed to Hebrew songs and construct Haiku poems about Yom Kippur.
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Easter Bunny Baskets
Students create Easter bunny baskets using cardboard half-gallon milk or juice containers, cotton balls, felt, pipe cleaners, and basic art supplies in this holiday Art lesson for the K-8 classroom. This can be adapted and made into a...
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United States Holidays and Customs
Students identify and describe the importance of U.S. holidays and social customs. In groups, Students write a detailed description of a U.S. holiday and how it is celebrated. Descriptions are presented to the class. This activity is...
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The Story of Kwanzaa
Celebrate Kwanzaa with a game of Kalah, also known as Mankala or Owara. Using an egg carton and a set of beans, players take all of the beans out of one of his or her cups and move to the right, dropping one bean into each of the next...
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Music And The Related Arts / Fiesta
Second graders investigate the concept of a celebration through the experience of music and culturally relevant conversation. They have a class discussion about thankfulness and tie it the tradition of celebration. Then students listen...
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Seasonal Customs Worksheet
In this seasonal customs worksheet, students sort the customs that are adhered to when families celebrate special seasons or holidays.
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights
Pupils read Hanukkah Lights, Hanukkah Nights by Leslie Himmelman. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of Hanukkah. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and library...
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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Students create Thanksgiving menu and pre-dinner blessing or ritual that is sensitive to five different imaginary Thanksgiving guests from a variety of backgrounds.
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Make Art Class Merry With Creative Christmas Art Activities
Kids get hands-on with seasonal crafts through Christmas art activities!
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Celebrate Kwanzaa in the United States
Explore the components of the African American celebration of Kwanzaa in the United States. Complete with learning objectives, a materials and preparation list, and eight days of lesson plans, the resource incorporates the principles of...
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What Time Should Black Friday Sales Start?
Young bloggers respond to an article which describes the controversy of Black Friday starting on Thanksgiving night instead of the day after. Target employees were outraged that the store decided to open on Thanksgiving night, which...
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Exploring Cultural Rituals
Learners analyze images and music of common rituals in America with those of other countries. They use worksheets to compare and contrast the events.
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Let's Party!
First graders identify similarities/differences of celebrations and list ways to celebrate. They investigate celebrations from around the world.
ESL Holiday
Chinese New Year—ESL Lesson
Language learners read a passage about Chinese New Year celebrations and then complete a series of reading comprehension and grammar exercises based on the passage.