SSK


Kindergarten, Social Studies Std 9: Describe ways people celebrate their diverse cultural heritages.

Lesson Plans: Everybody Celebrates! In this unit, my students continue to study the world around them. They'll begin to discover diverse cultures and how they celebrate holidays. More specifically, they'll experience celebrations of La Posada, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. (See suggested book list below.) Books for Teaching about Cultural Diversity Through Celebrations These books are useful when introducing the various customs celebrated during Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and La Posada. It's Me The students will complete a "Picture in Print" with three listed characteristics that make them special from anyone else and share these with the class. Where We Came From Children will explore their family heritage. (Adaptable for K-1, better for 2-5) A Nation of Many Cultures Students create a visual representation of themselves to include their family, heritage, and interests and use these creations to compare and contrast similarities and differences. (Adaptable for K-1, better for 3-5) Family Celebrations, Past and Present Students become aware that different families celebrate different holidays depending on cultural heritage. (Adaptable for K-1, better for 2-5) Modern Culture Students will examine their own modern culture and compare it to other cultures around the world. (Adaptable for K-1, better for 3-5) It's a Small World After All The purpose of this activity is to build self-esteem and let children be exposed to other cultures. Lullabies Link People The examination of lullabies from various culture will contribute to the students' ability to identify similarities and parallels among other groups and societies. Comparing Cultures This lesson will encourage students to use the higher level thinking skills and will help them learn to better cooperate with their peers. It will also help students develop a respect for cultures different from their own. (Adaptable for K-1, better for 3-5)

Resources: Celebrating Black History Month A list of books "brimming with heroes of all ages who are willing to stand up for what they believe in." The Gift of Holiday Traditions: Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas December is a month of holidays, celebrations, and gift-giving. How do different holidays develop over time and how do they relate to each other? Christmas Traditions in Other Countries Brief summaries of Christmas traditions around the world. Cinco de Mayo Information, facts, maps, and video clips. The History of Easter Information, facts, maps, and video clips. Celebrating Kwanzaa Information, facts, maps, and video clips. Giving Thanks: The children's book, "Giving Thanks," by Chief Jake Swamp with illustrations by Erwin Printup, Jr., comes alive in this beautiful program. Short video from United Streaming. In the Month of Kislev: The 1992 children's book by Nina Jaffe, with illustrations by Louise August, comes alive in this iconographic program. A wealthy, arrogant merchant learns the true meaning of Hanukkah... Short video from United Streaming. Too Many Tamales: Based on the classic children's book by Gary Soto. Everyone is coming for Christmas dinner at Maria's house. She and her mother prepare by kneading the "masa" to make tamales... Short video from United Streaming. Celebrating St. Patrick's Day Information, facts, maps, and video clips. Differences Are Good This WebQuest, an award-winning entry from the ThinkQuest library, celebrates differences among people by breaking down the walls between cultures. Students are encouraged to learn more about other cultures, learn about heroes from around the world, etc. Written by a group of fourth and fifth graders. Global Trek: Students can learn about each countries' history and culture, and the kids who live there. (Good for Smartboard activities K-5) Suggestions for English Language Learners: (E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding) (E/B) Students tell personal information about family using visual support (such as names of family members from photographs or drawings). (E/B) Students tell information or experiences about their family (such as heritage and language). (E/B) Students match vocabulary or pictures with illustrated holidays or seasons. (E/B) Students sort vocabulary, pictures or phrases according to holidays or seasons. (D) Students find explicit information about holidays or seasons from text and visual source. (E) Students interpret explicit information about holidays or seasons from visual sources. (E/B, D, E) Students draw pictures of their family’s traditions and identify how American student’s culture is different from their own. (E/B, D, E) Students bring in artifacts from their culture for everyone to review. (E/B, D, E) Students explore all the different cultures in the classroom before the school year is over.
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