Subject:

Holiday Celebrations

Thematic Scenarios:

Celebrate!

Contexts\Outcomes:

Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of traditional holiday celebrations and use this knowledge to interact effectively in cultural contexts.

Learn from Selected Countries/Cultures:

Knowledge and understanding of cultural traditions related to holiday celebrations
Knowledge and understanding of holidays celebrated in target countries

Strategies:

Research:
Students research holiday celebrations from the target countries.
Written Project:
Students create a story about a holiday celebration from target country and share it with the class.
Cooperative Learning:
Student groups use graphic organizers (such as a Venn Diagram or Comparison Chart) to analyze and compare holiday celebrations from the target countries with those from the U.S.
Student groups prepare an oral presentation using the graphic organizer as a visual to explain the analysis and comparison of holiday celebrations.
Student groups recreate a holiday celebration from a target country.

Assessments:

Written Project:
Students create a story about a holiday celebration from target country and share it with the class, meeting rubric criteria.
Oral Presentation:
Student groups prepare an oral presentation using the graphic organizer as a visual to explain the analysis and comparison of holiday celebrations, meeting specified criteria.
Culminating Project:
Student groups recreate a holiday celebration from the target culture including food, traditional costumes, music, dance, games, history, etc., meeting rubric criteria.

Resources:

Internet
Library resources/research
Videotapes
Guest speakers