CHRISTMAS LESSON PLAN

Lesson Plan Title : Christmas around the World

Age Range: Grade 9 through grade 12 (High School) Overview and Purpose: Students are not often aware how Christmas is celebrated differently around the world. This project will allow students to study in-depth how other countries and cultures celebrate Christmas. Objective: The student will be able to *research how another country celebrates Christmas. *write a report using that research. *present the report to the class. Resources: Internet access for students Activities: Have students choose a country to research. Have them do an in-depth study of how the people celebrate Christmas. They should include the traditions, favorite foods, special things for children, traditional dress, etc. After they have completed their research, they should write a one to two page report using the information. They can present their report to the class. Wrap Up: If it is practical, have the students bring in a traditional holiday dish to share with the class when they present their report.

Lesson Plan Title : Halloween Then and Now

Age Range: Grade 9 through grade 12 (High School) Overview and Purpose: Students investigate what Halloween was like in the early to mid 1900's and compare it to what it is like now. Objective: The student will be able to *research what Halloween was like for children in the early to mid 1900's. *write a report comparing their findings with how Halloween is today. Resources: Internet access for each student Teacher created interview sheet Activities: Have the students research what Halloween was like for children in the early to mid 1900's. Encourage them to interview family members about what Halloween was like during their childhoods. The students can then write a report detailing the differences between Halloween then and now. Have them present their reports to the class. Sample questions: 1. What kinds of costumes were popular? 2. What kind of candy did you get? 3. Who did you trick or treat with? 4. Did you do anything on mischief night? Wrap Up: Encourage students to include vintage costumes and old pictures or videos in their presentations.

Lesson Plan Title : Mother's Day Story

Age Range: Kindergarten through grade 2 (Primary)

Overview and Purpose: This activity has students choose words from the word wall and incorporate them into a story about Mother's Day. The children can then practice their words by taking turns reading each other's books. Objective: The student will be able to write and illustrate a story about Mother's Day using words from the word wall. Resources: Lined paper Construction paper Pencils Crayons/markers/colored pencils Glue Brass brads Activities: Have students write a story about Mother's Day using as many words from the word wall as they can. Have them underline the words that they use. They can cut out the words, glue them to the construction paper, and then illustrate the story. Fasten the pages together with the brads and let the students take turns practicing their words by reading each other's books. Wrap Up: Some students might need a story starter. You can brainstorm with the class some beginning sentences to help them get started. Send the books home with the students the Friday before Mother's Day and have them share their stories with their families.

THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is traditionally an American holiday. It is usually a time when family or loved ones get together, eat huge amounts of food, and celebrate the things they are thankful for. Most of the time there is a parade to watch and a football game too.

Many people decorate their houses with items that are reminiscent of the first Thanksgiving. In many schools, children get to reenact Thanksgiving by dressing as the Pilgrims and the Indians and having a meal that they share. Usually the kids make costumes for this giant feast. This kind of thing is really important to keep as a tradition for America and American families, however there are a few things about Thanksgiving that are more of a myth then the truth. Looking at this will give an interesting view of what really happened and make Thanksgiving all that much more special.

EASTER
The earliest celebration of Easter was during a pagan festival that was held in honor of the goddess of offspring. This society celebrated Easter as a time of renewal for the earth, when seeds were planted and animals were giving birth. The springtime tradition of celebrating rebirth has remained, but in modern society Easter is more of a religious celebration, even though children still hunt eggs and are visited by the Easter bunny, which have nothing to do with religious beliefs. After the birth and death of Jesus as the leader of Christianity over two thousand years ago, Easter became symbolic of Christianity as a celebration of the rebirth of Jesus. Nowadays many churches have Easter ceremonies and tell the story of Jesus' life and death on this holiday. VALENTINES DAY February 14th is known as the most romantic day of the year. It is known as Saint Valentine's Day, or Valentine's day for short. It is usually celebrated by giving someone you care about something special. This could be a card, candy, lingerie, stuffed animal, or jewelry. It is a fun and exciting day, but not many people know the history behind Valentines Day. Believe it or not, Valentine's Day was not made up in order to have people buy more flowers and presents a month and a half after Christmas. Valentine's Day is actually a Christian Holiday called Saint Valentine's Day. By celebrating it we are following an ancient Christian and Roman Catholic Holiday.

Lesson Plan Title : Class Book: My Favorite Valentine

Age Range: Kindergarten through grade 2 (Early Elementary) Overview and Purpose: In this activity, each student draws a picture for a class book about a person who is their favorite valentine. They then write one or two sentences about why they chose that person. Objective: The student will be able to draw a picture about their favorite valentine (person) to be included in a class book. Resources: Drawing paper for each student Markers/crayons/colored pencils Stickers Glitter Glue Activities: Show students the first page of the class book they will be making. It can be decorated with valentine symbols and should say, "My Favorite Valentine Is" Explain to your students that they will each make a page for the book about their favorite valentine (person). They should draw a picture showing why that person is their favorite valentine. They should then write a sentence on the paper describing the picture. When everyone is finished, laminate the pictures and bind them into a class book. Wrap Up: Students could take turns taking the book home and sharing it with their parents. Some students may struggle with choosing someone to be there valentine. Remind them that they can choose parents or grandparents; it doesn't have to be a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend".
FATHERS DAY

Father's Day is a holiday set aside to celebrate all of the dads, grandfathers, brothers and uncles who are father figures, and to show appreciation for these males by expressing how thankful we are for them. The first time Father's Day was celebrated was on June 19, 1910 by Sonora Dodd who lived with a Civil War veteran single father with five brothers and sisters. Their mother had died, and Ms. Dodd wanted to show how much she appreciated her father's commitment to her and her siblings and so she started the tradition of Father's Day. There was already a day for mothers, but she wanted a day set aside for fathers. However the idea

did not immediately catch on as many people did not want to accept the idea that fathers were just as important as mothers.

Beacon Lesson Plan Library

Grandparents' Day Celebration
Melanie Henderson Bay District Schools

Description
Before Grandparents' Day Celebration, students make a family tree that dates back to their grandparents. They identify names, places, and particular customs and traditions of their family as well.

Standards
Florida Sunshine State Standards LA.B.2.1.1 The student writes questions and observations about familiar topics, stories, or new experiences. LA.B.2.1.2 The student uses knowledge and experience to tell about experiences or to write for familiar occasions, audiences, and purposes. LA.C.1.1.4 The student retells specific details of information heard, including sequence of events. SS.A.1.1.3 The student knows a family history through two or three generations (e.g., customs, beliefs, and traditions of ancestors and their homelands). Florida Process Standards Information Managers 01 Florida students locate, comprehend, interpret, evaluate, maintain, and apply information, concepts, and ideas found in literature, the arts, symbols, recordings, video and other graphic displays, and computer files in order to perform tasks and/or for enjoyment. Effective Communicators 02 Florida students communicate in English and other languages using information, concepts, prose, symbols, reports, audio and video recordings, speeches, graphic displays, and computer-based programs. Resource Managers 06 Florida students will appropriately allocate time, money, materials, and other resources.

Materials
-Notebook for homework -List of information to investigate at home (see Procedures) -Construction paper

-Dried leaves -Markers or crayons -Glue -Journals

Preparations
1. Put information listed as homework in a format that students can take home. 2. Prepare a homework notebook for students to record their findings. 3. Gather a bunch of fallen leaves and keep them dry.

Procedures
-Announce to students that we will soon be celebrating Grandparents' Day (celebrated the second Sunday in September). In order for us to learn more about each other, we need to understand a little about ourselves and where we come from. --For the next week, I want you to do some research at home about your family. You need to ask questions to find out and record the following information about your family in your homework notebook: Can you... 1. Name all your brother and sisters? 2. Name where they were born? 3. Name your mom and Dad (first and last names)? 4. Name where your mom and dad were born? 5. Name your grandparents on your mom's side? 6. Name where they were born? 7. Name grandparents on your dad's side? 8. Name where they were born? 9. Name one custom or tradition you do from your mom's side of the family? 10. Name a custom or tradition you do from your dad's side of the family? -Add additional questions you want to ask. -This can be completed through conversations with the people, Internet conversations, or looking through a family history book or even photo albums.-After a week of homework to compile the information, students make a family tree on construction paper following the directions listed. 1. First draw a tree trunk. Write your parent's names on the trunk. 2. Draw four roots coming down from the tree trunk. On each root, write the name of one grandparent. 3. At the top of the tree trunk start drawing out branches. Put your name and your brothers and sisters names on each branch (one name per branch). 4. Use markers or crayons to decorate the rest of the picture. 5. Use glue to glue down colored leaves on your branches. -After each student has completed a tree, share it with the class. Display them around the room for students to look at. -Journal entry: What did you learn about your family from this investigation? Did you learn anything new? Name three things you like about your family. Have students answer this in their journals.

Assessments
This activity will be assessed by students' notebook answers and their Family Tree projects. Notebooks will be checked to see if they actually found the answers. I will collect and read these. The projects will be graded to see if the information they provide on the tree is the same as in their notebooks. Check for the following criteria: The student -knows their family history through three generations. -knows customs or traditions of their ancestors. -writes questions or observations about their family. -tells about the information they learned. (Students will be allowed to make up the assignment if they do not complete it.)

Extensions
-Have a Grandparents' Day Celebration. Invite all grandparents and families to school for a picnic lunch. -Invite grandparents to come in and talk to the class about themselves and what life was like for them when they were growing up (a couple each day). -Have students share their customs/traditions with the class by having them bring in food, music, or clothing, etc.
Return to the Beacon Lesson Plan Library.

HANUKKAH Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday based around a tradition that is also called the Festival of Lights. Lasting for eight days, Hanukkah revolves around the lighting of a special candle holder called aMenorah that holds nine candles. Hanukkah is of great importance to the Jewish community because it is in remembrance of the events surrounding the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BC. Hanukkah means "to dedicate" in Hebrew and when the Jewish people rededicated the Temple of Jerusalem they also regained control of Jerusalem, a holy site for the Jewish religion. The eight day holiday starts at anytime during the Hebrew month of Kislev, which falls around the same time as the months of November and December, depending on the geographical location of the celebration. This is because the Jewish tradition follows a different calendar, the Hebrew calendar, while most other parts of society such as in the United States follows the Gregorian calendar.