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Harvest Festival

Lesson Plan

Global Harvest Celebration Plan

Students will identify various harvest traditions globally, describe the connection between agriculture and cultural festivities, and appreciate global diversity in food production.

Understanding global harvest traditions helps students connect with different cultures, recognize the vital role of agriculture, and appreciate where their food comes from.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Through engaging slides, a mini-book, and discussion, students will explore global harvest festivals.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Harvest Around the World Slide Deck, Markers or pens, Harvest Tales Mini-Book (one per student), and Our Favorite Fall Foods Discussion Guide

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What is Harvest?

5 minutes

  • Begin with a brief discussion: "What does 'harvest' mean to you?"
  • Show the first few slides of the Harvest Around the World Slide Deck to introduce the concept of harvest and its importance.

Step 2

Exploring Global Harvests

15 minutes

  • Present the main content of the Harvest Around the World Slide Deck, focusing on different traditions from various countries.
  • Encourage students to share any prior knowledge or ask questions about the festivals shown.

Step 3

Harvest Tales Mini-Book Activity

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Harvest Tales Mini-Book to each student.
  • Have students read through the mini-book, either independently or in small groups.
  • After reading, students can draw or write about their favorite harvest tradition from the book in the provided space.

Step 4

Our Favorite Fall Foods Discussion

10 minutes

  • Facilitate a class discussion using the Our Favorite Fall Foods Discussion Guide.
  • Encourage students to share their favorite fall foods and discuss how they relate to harvest.
  • Conclude by emphasizing the idea of gratitude and community during harvest time.
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Slide Deck

Harvest Around the World!

A Celebration of Abundance!

Welcome students to the lesson! Ask them to think about what 'harvest' means. Prompt them with questions like: "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'harvest'?" or "What kinds of foods do we gather in the fall?" Explain that harvest is a time when crops are gathered, and it's celebrated differently all over the world.

What is Harvest?

Harvest is when farmers gather their crops.
It's a time of hard work and celebration!
It gives us the food we eat every day.

Introduce the concept of harvest. Explain that it's the time of year when farmers collect crops like fruits, vegetables, and grains. Emphasize its importance for food and survival. Ask: "Why is harvest important to us?"

Thanksgiving in North America

A time for family, friends, and giving thanks.
We share big meals with turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberries.
It celebrates the bounty of the autumn harvest.

Introduce Thanksgiving as a familiar harvest festival in North America. Talk about the traditions: sharing food, expressing gratitude. Ask: "What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions or foods?"

Diwali: Festival of Lights (India)

A joyful festival celebrated in India.
People light lamps, share sweets, and celebrate new beginnings.
It marks the Hindu New Year and the autumn harvest.

Introduce Diwali, the festival of lights in India. Explain its significance, including new beginnings and good triumphing over evil, and its connection to the autumn harvest. Mention the sweets and lamps. Ask: "How is Diwali similar to or different from Thanksgiving?"

Sukkot: Festival of Booths (Jewish Tradition)

A week-long Jewish holiday.
Families build temporary huts called sukkahs to eat and sometimes sleep in.
It's a time to remember ancient harvest journeys and give thanks.

Introduce Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival. Describe the building of sukkahs and the idea of spending time outdoors. Emphasize gratitude for the harvest. Ask: "What is unique about how people celebrate Sukkot?"

Mid-Autumn Festival (China)

A time for family reunions and celebrating the full moon.
People eat delicious mooncakes and light colorful lanterns.
It's also a time to give thanks for the summer harvest.

Introduce the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Focus on mooncakes and lanterns. Connect it to family reunion and thanksgiving for the harvest. Ask: "What special food do people eat during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Many Ways to Celebrate Harvest!

People all over the world celebrate harvest.
It's a time to be thankful for food, family, and community.
Each culture has its own special traditions!

Summarize the lesson by reiterating that harvest festivals are a global way to show gratitude for food and community. Encourage students to think about how they can show gratitude for their food. Ask: "What was your favorite harvest festival we learned about today and why?"

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Reading

Harvest Tales: A Mini-Book of Global Celebrations

Page 1: What is Harvest?

Hi friends! Have you ever wondered where our food comes from? Much of it comes from farms! Farmers work hard to grow yummy fruits, vegetables, and grains. When these foods are ready, farmers harvest them, meaning they gather them from the fields. It's a very important time of year!

Page 2: Thanksgiving in America

In America, we celebrate Thanksgiving. It's a special day when families and friends get together. We eat big meals with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie! We also think about all the things we are thankful for. Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful for the good harvest.

Page 3: Diwali in India

Far away in India, people celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights! This festival is full of bright lamps, colorful fireworks, and delicious sweets. Diwali also celebrates new beginnings and good triumphs over bad. It happens around the time of the autumn harvest, bringing joy and light to everyone.

Page 4: Mid-Autumn Festival in China

In China, there is a special holiday called the Mid-Autumn Festival. Families gather to look at the beautiful full moon. They eat tasty mooncakes, which are round like the moon, and light pretty lanterns. This festival is a time to be thankful for the summer harvest and to spend time with loved ones.

Page 5: Your Favorite Harvest Moment!

Which harvest celebration sounded the most interesting to you? Or maybe you have a favorite fall food you love to eat? Draw a picture or write a few sentences below about your favorite harvest tradition or fall food.













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Discussion

Our Favorite Fall Foods: A Harvest Discussion

Teacher's Note: This discussion aims to connect students' personal experiences with food to the broader concept of harvest and gratitude. Encourage active listening and respectful sharing.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. What are some of your absolute favorite foods to eat in the fall?

    • Possible follow-up: Why do you think these foods are popular during this season? (Hint: Think about when they grow!)

  2. Where do you think these fall foods come from?

    • Possible follow-up: Who helps get these foods from the farm to our tables?

  3. **We talked about different harvest festivals today. How do our favorite fall foods connect to the idea of a

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