"Winter Holidays Around the World"

Primary – First and Second Grades
Julia R. Ewan Elementary
Developed by: Brenda Fisher, Dana Taylor, Dana Preston, and Valerie Houlihan

 

Organizer:

How are people around the world alike and different?

Academic Expectations and Demonstrators

1.2: Students make sense of the variety of materials they read. 

Respond to reading through a variety of forms (e.g., conversation, art, media, writing).

Select and use appropriate print materials ( e.g., literary, informative, persuasive, practical) for a variety of purposes (e.g., pleasure, formation, and practical application). .

Show interest by listening to and/or reading a multicultural variety of print materials.

1.11: Students write using appropriate forms, conventions, and styles to communicate ideas and information to different audiences for different purposes. 

Express thoughts/ideas through verbal and/or symbolic representation (e.g., pictures, scribbles, words).

Generate ideas that stimulate language expression (e.g., brainstorming, free writing, storytelling, reading).

Write for a variety of purposes (e.g., expressive, transactive, imaginative) and forms (e.g., journal entry, letter, poem/story) to a variety of audiences.

2.16: Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups. 

Recognize and respect various individual and group belief systems.

Recognize family similarities and differences.

Demonstrate an ability to function as part of a social system.  

2.17: Students interact effectively and work cooperatively with the many ethnic and cultural groups of our nation and world. 

Investigate how our society is influenced by a variety of cultures.

Describe cultural universals, similarities, and differences.

Recognize and respect the right of others to display unique characteristics.

Essential Questions

  1. Does everyone celebrate a winter holiday?
  2. How do different people celebrate their winter holiday?
  3. Why do different people celebrate winter holidays?
  4. How have others influenced how we celebrate our winter holiday?

Culminating activity

Students will individually produce a feature article about their assigned holiday customs/traditions. Using this information, they will work in small groups to create and perform a dramatic presentation before an audience.

Scoring Guide

Criteria

       

Feature Article:

D

P

A

N

Refer to holistic scoring guide.

       

Dramatic Presentation

4

3

2

1

Exemplary vocal expression & speaking style

       

Timing does not interfere with production

       

Participates fully in musical selection

       

Appropriate visual aide

       

Group Participation

4

3

2

1

Full-group participation

       

Organization

       

Accurate, informative presentation

       

Knowledge (Core Content)

SS-E-2.1.1: Language, music, art, dress, food, stories, and folk tales help define culture and may be shared among various groups.

SS-E-2.1.2: Elements of culture (e.g., language, music, art, dress, food, stories, folktales) serve to define specific groups and may result in unique perspectives.

SS-E-2.2.1: All cultures develop institutions, customs, beliefs, and holidays reflecting their unique histories, situations, and perspectives.

Technology Standards

T2.1 Extract information appropriately and record citations

T4.4 Locate information using the Internet

T4.4.2 Access and navigate web sites

T5.3.2 Scan for information within an Internet document

T5.6 Enter and edit word processing information

T6.2 Publish information on the Internet, OR

T6.4 Use a Word Processor to present information

T6.4.4 Write documents to help with oral presentations

T6.5.1 Choose appropriate information for purpose and audience

Skills and Procedures

Instructional Activities

Timeline for Unit

Week 1

Introduce unit

Present culminating performance and scoring guide

Teach research skills

Teach effective internet use

MicroComputer Resource Technician (MRT) and Library Media Specialist (LMS)

Week 2

Determine groups and assign topics to research

Begin research

Start musical selections

Start work on costumes/props

LMS

Music teacher

Art teacher

Week 3

Practice musical selections

Work on costumes/props

Research

Teach MS Word

Teach basic web page design

Teach PowerPoint

Teach writing process

Write feature article

Music teacher

Art teacher

LMS

Technology Resource Teacher (TRT) and MRT

TRT and MRT

TRT and MRT

Week 4

Practice musical selections

Work on costumes/props

Begin work on presentations

Teach appropriate presentation guidelines

Group work on presentations

Music teacher

Art teacher

Week 5

Practice musical selections

Work on costumes/props

Continue group work on presentations

Music teacher

Art teacher

Week 6

Practice musical selections

Work on costumes/props

Continue group work on presentations

Audience presentation

Music teacher

Art teacher

Goals and Objectives

Introduce unit with KWL (Classroom)

Goal: Pre-test on students’ current knowledge

Description: Using guided questions, teacher will determine students’ present knowledge

Assessment: The KW parts of the chart are completed

KWL Guiding Questions

How do you and your family celebrate winter holidays?

Do you notice any differences in how other students celebrate?

How do you think people all over the world celebrate the winter holidays? Does everyone celebrate a winter holiday?

Are there any similarities or differences in how they may dress, what they eat, or the customs they celebrate?

Effective Internet use (Computer Lab)

Goal: Students will learn to search for information on the Internet

Description: Using predetermined web sites, students will search for specific information

Assessment: Students will complete teacher created work sheet

Research Skills: (Library)

Goal: Students will learn to effectively research information in assigned topic

Description: Using pre-determined topics, students will learn basic research skills.

Assessment: Students will complete a teacher-created worksheet.

Start Musical Selections (Music)

Goal: Students will learn musical selections relating to researched holidays

Description: Students will practice and learn musical selections that represent the holidays

Assessment: Student performance

Create Costume/Prop (Art)

Goal: Student will create an individual visual aide that relate to the holiday they are researching

Description: Students will design and create a prop and/or costume that represents the holiday they are studying.

Assessment: Student’s finished product

Learn MS Word (Lab – MRT/TRT)

Goal: Students will learn to use Microsoft Word.

Description: Students will be taught the basic features of MS Word in order to create a feature article about their holiday.

Assessment: Feature Article

Learn MS FrontPage (Lab – MRT/TRT)

Goal: Students will learn to use Microsoft FrontPage.

Description: Students will be taught the basic features of MS FrontPage and web design in order to create a simple web page about their holiday.

Assessment: Web Page about holiday

Learn MS PowerPoint (Lab – MRT/TRT)

Goal: Students will learn how to insert images into a slide.

Description: Students will place a non-copyrighted image into a slide. The image must relate to their holiday.

Assessment: Class slide show

Writing Process/Write Feature Article

Goal: Students will learn basic steps of the writing process.

Description: Using the information they have researched, students will learn to use their pre-writing activity (research WKST) to create a draft, revise and edit their work, and publish (using Word or FrontPage).

Assessment: Final Product

Presentations

Goal: Students will present their information in front of an audience

Description: Using their final writing product, students will create a dramatic production. This will utilize the musical selections, props, costumes and PowerPoint presentation.

Assessment: Final performance

Critical Resources


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