A guide for using our resources

Students will describe various ways of celebrating different winter holidays.

Vocabulary: piñata, latkes, lanterns, celebrate

Social Studies Focus: holidays

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 key details; RF.1.3 phonics and word analysis; SL.1.1 collaborative conversations; L.1.2 standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling; L.1.6 use new vocabulary; W.1.8 write to answer questions

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• Celebrate the many special days throughout the year with this charming story of friendship. Remind kids that one way to make new friends is to share something meaningful about yourself!

• Create physical movement to accompany vocabulary from the article. Students can practice each movement before reading.
• Encourage students to use the physical movement when they hear or read the word. Examples:
  • piñata—swing a stick
  • latkes—hold a frying pan
  • gingerbread—make a triangle roof with two hands facing inward
  • lanterns—a rocking fist motion, like a gently swinging lantern

• It is likely that some students do not celebrate any winter holidays—their cultures’ major holidays might fall outside of the winter season.
• Brainstorm a list of holidays or special days that were not in the article! Ex. Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, birthdays, Earth Day, or any celebratory family tradition!

Skill: writing/drawing, social awareness

Materials: Time to Celebrate skill sheets, coloring materials, stapler, one piece of construction paper

• Create a class book filled with different ways your students love to celebrate!
• Provide each student with a copy of the skill sheet to fi ll out. If students need help, ask guiding questions to help them describe details of an event or holiday they celebrate.
  • What is something you celebrate?
  • Who do you celebrate it with?
  • When does this celebration take place?
  • What foods do you eat during this celebration?
  • What activities do you do during this celebration?
• Collect pages from each student and bind or staple together with a construction paper on top. Title the book “Time to Celebrate!” and have students sign their names on the front. If you’d like, have students read their pages to the class.