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Holiday Traditions Challenge!

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Lesson Plan

Holiday Traditions Challenge!

Students will identify and describe various holiday traditions from different cultures and explain the importance of respecting diverse celebrations.

To broaden students' understanding of global cultures and promote inclusivity during the holiday season, helping students appreciate the richness of our global community.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and a fun matching game.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Your Favorite Tradition?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students to think about a holiday tradition they enjoy. Emphasize that 'holiday' can mean any celebration important to them, not just seasonal ones.
    - Facilitate a brief class share, encouraging a few students to share their traditions. Use the Holiday Traditions Challenge Slide Deck Slide 1 for this discussion.
    - Transition by explaining that today, they'll explore traditions from around the world.

Step 2

Global Traditions Overview

5 minutes

  • Use the Holiday Traditions Challenge Slide Deck (Slides 2-5) to introduce a few diverse holiday traditions. Briefly explain each one, highlighting unique aspects and cultural significance.
    - Encourage questions and brief comments from students. Keep this section interactive but focused to stay on time.

Step 3

Holiday Traditions Match-Up Activity

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
    - Distribute one set of Holiday Traditions Match-Up Activity cards to each group.
    - Explain the rules: Students must match the holiday tradition name with its description and country of origin. The first group to correctly match all cards wins.
    - Circulate among groups, providing support and clarifications as needed.
    - After groups have finished (or after about 10 minutes), review the correct answers using the Holiday Traditions Challenge Slide Deck (Slides 6-7).

Step 4

Cool Down: Traditions Takeaway

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Traditions Takeaway Cool Down sheet to each student.
    - Ask students to reflect on one new tradition they learned about and why they found it interesting.
    - Collect the cool-down sheets as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

What's Your Favorite Tradition?

What is a holiday or celebration you enjoy, and what is one tradition you associate with it?

Ask students to share a holiday or celebration they enjoy and a tradition associated with it. Emphasize that 'holiday' can be any celebration important to them. Encourage a few shares to get discussions flowing.

Diwali (India)

Festival of Lights

  • Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists.
  • Signifies the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance.
  • Involves lighting lamps (diyas), fireworks, feasting, and exchanging gifts and sweets.

Introduce Diwali, focusing on its themes of light over darkness and good over evil. Mention the lamps, fireworks, and sweets. Keep it concise.

Kwanzaa (United States)

Celebrating African-American Culture

  • Celebrated by African Americans from December 26 to January 1.
  • Focuses on seven core principles (Nguzo Saba) like unity, self-determination, collective work, and purpose.
  • Involves lighting a kinara (candleholder) and community feasts (karamu).

Introduce Kwanzaa, emphasizing its focus on African heritage, unity, and community. Mention the 7 principles and the kinara.

Hanukkah (Jewish Tradition)

Festival of Lights

  • An eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
  • Celebrated by lighting a nine-branched menorah, one candle each night.
  • Includes traditions like playing with dreidels (spinning tops) and eating oil-based foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts).

Introduce Hanukkah, focusing on the miracle of the oil and the menorah. Mention the dreidel game and fried foods.

Las Posadas (Mexico)

Journey to Bethlehem

  • A nine-day celebration primarily in Mexico and parts of Latin America, from December 16 to 24.
  • Commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging.
  • Features processions, caroling, special food, and breaking piñatas.

Introduce Las Posadas, focusing on the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph's journey. Mention the caroling, processions, and piñatas.

Time for the Challenge!

It's time for our Holiday Traditions Match-Up Activity!

Work with your group to match the traditions with their descriptions and countries. Good luck!

Explain that students will now work in groups to match traditions. Emphasize teamwork.

Match-Up Activity: Answers

Let's review the answers for the Holiday Traditions Match-Up!

  • Diwali: Festival of Lights, India
  • Kwanzaa: Celebrating African-American Culture, United States
  • Hanukkah: Festival of Lights, Jewish Tradition
  • Las Posadas: Journey to Bethlehem, Mexico
  • Christmas: Celebration of Christ's birth, Worldwide
  • Eid al-Fitr: Festival of Breaking the Fast, Islamic Tradition

(Note: While not all traditions are on slides 2-5, these are common global holidays included in the activity.)

Go through each correct answer, clarifying any misconceptions. This is a quick review, not a deep dive.

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Activity

Holiday Traditions Match-Up Activity

Instructions: Cut out the cards below. Work with your group to match each Holiday Tradition Name with its Description and Country/Culture. The first group to correctly match all cards wins!

Holiday Tradition Cards

Holiday Tradition NameDescriptionCountry/Culture
DiwaliFestival of Lights, symbolizes triumph of good over evil.India
KwanzaaCelebration of African-American culture and community.United States
HanukkahEight-day Jewish festival of lights, lighting the menorah.Jewish Tradition
Las PosadasNine-day Mexican celebration reenacting Mary and Joseph's journey.Mexico
ChristmasCelebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.Worldwide
Eid al-FitrFestival of breaking the fast, marking the end of Ramadan.Islamic Tradition



















(Teacher: Print and cut these cards into three separate columns before distributing to groups.)

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Cool Down

Traditions Takeaway: Cool Down

Name: ________________________

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson about holiday traditions around the world. Answer the questions below.

  1. What is one new holiday tradition you learned about today?



  2. What made this tradition interesting or surprising to you?



  3. Why do you think it's important to learn about and respect different holiday traditions?






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