Using the Holidays to Break Student Holidaze - Grades: 1–2, 3–5
That’s right, fellow teachers, snowflakes are blanketing parts
of the country, Christmas carols echo through the malls, and the
attention spans of our students have shortened with the amount
of daylight. If your students are anything like mine, it is
getting hard to hold their attention. So, rather than fight it,
incorporate it. The holidays are steeped in wonderful learning
opportunities, and lessons abound. I use the holidays to teach
about the cultures associated with Christmas, Hanukkah, and
Kwanzaa. There are great opportunities to teach about religion,
culture, and geography; to create art projects; and to
incorporate great literature. This week, I have activity ideas
and book suggestions for winter holidays from three different
cultures. So hold on to your yamakas, because here we go!
Christmas offers lots of great opportunities in the classroom.
For instance, I love that it suggests a great history lesson
about the Roman Empire and its or