Christmas Around the World
Christmas Around the World Thematic Unit
Creating a unit on Christmas celebrations from different cultures introduces students to global diversity. This engaging experience enriches their understanding of traditions and geography. Help students appreciate various these Christmas traditions while using research, and standards based activities which makes academic learning authentic and fun!
Suggested Outline
1. Reading and Storytelling
Book Selection: Choose books highlighting Christmas traditions, such as:
"Christmas Around the World" by Mary D. Lankford
"The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie dePaola
Story Circles: Organize reading circles for students to discuss similarities and differences in traditions.
2. Cultural Exploration
Country Focus: Explore a different country's traditions weekly or daily (e.g., Mexico, Germany, Italy).
Guest Speakers: Invite speakers to share their cultural experiences.
3. Interactive Geography
Map Exploration: Use a world map to locate studied countries and discuss geography's influence on traditions.
Flag Creation: Students create and display flags or symbols from the countries studied.
4. Arts and Crafts
Traditional Crafts: Make crafts like paper lanterns from the Philippines or star piñatas from Mexico.
Decorative Projects: Create decorations inspired by various cultures.
5. Culinary Delights
Recipe Sharing: Introduce traditional holiday treats and involve students in a cooking or tasting session, featuring items like:
Stollen from Germany
Panettone from Italy
6. Music and Dance
Global Playlist: Create a playlist of international Christmas songs and teach students a traditional song or dance.
Performance Day: Organize a day for students to showcase songs, dances, or plays related to the traditions studied.
Assessment and Reflection
Journals: Students keep journals to record and reflect on what they've learned.
Group Projects: Assign projects for presentations on specific countries’ Christmas traditions.
The Unit is all prepared for you!
Our thematic unit offers an engaging way to broaden students' understanding of global cultures and foster curiosity and appreciation for diversity. Enjoy exploring the world with your students! The Complete bundle featuring 20 holidays and 5 non-Christian celebrations is all yours for just $15. Dozens of preplanned lessons, scripted and ready to go!
