Mishayla Pelletier

June 12, 2015

Essential Questions

Unit topic: Holidays Around the World

1.
2.
3.
4.

How
How
How
How

do you celebrate?
does your culture affect your traditions?
is your way of celebrating differ from other cultures around the world?
is your way of celebrating similar to other cultures around the world?

Vision Statement

The purpose of this unit is that students will gain a knowledge and
understanding of holidays, how they came about, and what role they
play in a culture and society.
The environment for this units will be that students will work in a
project based setting as they work in groups to discover more about
holidays.
The methods students will employ will be to read books, watch videos,
and interview others as they seek to gain knowledge and take charge
of their own learning and discovery.
The attitude throughout this unit will be that teacher will create a
positive atmosphere where students are encouraged to ask questions
and be curious. The teacher will illustrate a positive attitude and strive
to create an inclusive attitude where all students can be welcomed.
The role of the teacher will be to ask questions while guiding discovery
and learning. The teacher will assist, monitor, and encourage students
to reach their full potential.
The curriculum will allow students to be engaged in the materials as
they investigate holidays and how they impact students individual
lives and the lives of those throughout the world.

Lesson Outline
Introductory Activity
For my introductory activity I am going to do a firework straw rocket activity.
For this activity students will take a strip of paper and color it to look like their
favorite color of fireworks. Students will then take a straw, scissors, and tape or glue
and create a rocket that fits over the end of the of the straw. Once they are created
students place them on the end of the straw blowing on the other end to launch
them into the air. With this activity I am hoping that students will be engaged and
exited for the upcoming unit on Holidays Around the World.
Lesson Plan One
1. Title
a. North America
2. Social Studies Standards
a. 1.SS.4.2.3 Describe holidays and events and tell why they are
commemorated in the United States. (371.01a.372.01b)
b. 1.SS.2.1 Identify continents and large bodies of water on a globe or a
map. (394.01d)
3. Essential Questions
a. How do you celebrate?
b. How does your way culture affect your traditions?
4. Objectives
a. Students will be able to accurately identify North America on a map
every time they are asked.
b. Students will be able to describe holidays and events in North
America both in a written and oral format.
c. Students will be able to explain why events are commemorated in
North America by writing three sentences.
5. Outline
a. In this lesson students will be shown a map on North America and talk
about different holidays and events that occur. Students will have the
opportunity to talk about their favorite holidays and how they
celebrate them. Students will learn about different holidays like
Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and other holidays. Students will also
have the opportunity to think about and share their culture and how
that affects their traditions.
Lesson Plan Two
1. Title
a. South America
2. Social Studies Standards
a. 1.SS.5.1.2 Discuss family structures and daily routines of various
cultures around the world. (388.01e)

b. 1.SS.4.1.4 Identify personal traits, such as courage, honesty, and

responsibility.
c. 1.SS.2.1 Identify continents and large bodies of water on a globe or a
map. (394.01d)
3. Essential Questions
a. How is your way of celebrating differ from other countries around the
world?
b. How is your way of celebrating similar to other countries around the
world?
4. Objectives
a. Students will be able to accurately identify South America on a map
every time they are asked.
b. Students will be able to describe holidays and events in South
America both in a written and oral format.
c. Students will be able to explain three ways to show respect for others
traditions and cultures.
d. Students will be able to create a poster depicting how culture impacts
events and traditions.
5. Outline
a. Students will view South America on a map. Students will then learn
about different celebrations and holidays that occur in South America.
Students will learn about respect and how to respect others that have
different cultures, traditions, and holidays. Students will also have the
opportunity to be creative and create posters showing the impact
culture has on events and holidays.
Lesson Plan Three
1. Title
a. Europe
2. Social Studies Standards
a. 1.SS.5.1.2 Discuss family structures and daily routines of various
cultures around the world. (388.01e)
b. 1.SS.2.1 Identify continents and large bodies of water on a globe or a
map. (394.01d)
3. Essential Questions
a. How is your way of celebrating differ from other countries around the
world?
b. How is your way of celebrating similar to other countries around the
world?
4. Objectives
a. Students will be able to accurately identify Europe on a map every
time they are asked.
b. Students will be able to describe holidays and events in Europe both
in a written and oral format.
c. Students will be able to create a chart with 5 items on it, showing how
events in Europe are similar and different from events in North
America.

5. Outline
a. Students will learn about events, holidays, and traditions in Europe
and how the people there celebrate those events. Students will be
able to explore these events and analyze how they are similar to and
different from events in North America. Students will do this by
creating charts. Students will also view Europe on the map.
Lesson Plan Four
1. Title
a. Asia
2. Social Studies Standards
a. 1.SS.5.1.2 Discuss family structures and daily routines of various
cultures around the world. (388.01e)
b. 1.SS.4.1.4 Identify personal traits, such as courage, honesty, and
responsibility.
c. 1.SS.2.1 Identify continents and large bodies of water on a globe or a
map. (394.01d)
3. Essential Questions
a. How is your way of celebrating differ from other countries around the
world?
b. How is your way of celebrating similar to other countries around the
world?
4. Objective
a. Students will be able to accurately identify Asia on a map every time
they are asked.
b. Students will be able to describe holidays and events in Asia both in a
written and oral format.
c. Students will be able to defend why it is important to respect others
traditions and events.
5. Outline
a. Students will learn about Asia and the holidays, traditions, and
celebrations they celebrate there. Students will explore Asia by
viewing it on a map. Students will learn about the different holidays
and how they are similar to events that occur in North America.
Students will also determine how those events are different from
events in North America. Students will continue to explore why it is
important to respect the rights of others.
Lesson Plan Five
1. Title
a. Australia
2. Social Studies Standards
a. 1.SS.5.1.2 Discuss family structures and daily routines of various
cultures around the world. (388.01e)
b. 1.SS.2.1 Identify continents and large bodies of water on a globe or a
map. (394.01d)

3. Essential Questions
a. How is your way of celebrating differ from other countries around the
world?
b. How is your way of celebrating similar to other countries around the
world?
4. Objective
a. Students will be able to accurately identify Australia on a map every
time they are asked.
b. Students will be able to describe holidays and events in Australia both
in a written and oral format.
5. Outline
a. Students will explore Australia and learn to identify the country on a
map. Students will discover the different holidays and events that
occur in Australia. Students will have the chance to learn about why
these events are celebrated. Students will practice their writing as
they write about the holidays they learned about.
Culminating Activity
For my culminating activity each student will pick a holiday from around the world,
one that we learned about in out lessons or one that we did not. Each student will
prepare a presentation that explains the holiday, why it is celebrated, and how it is
celebrated, in some creative way. Students will then present their holiday to some of
their peers.

Direct Instruction Lesson Plan

Topic: Holidays
in North
America

Grade
Level: One

CCSS: 1.SS.4.2.3 Describe holidays and events and tell why they
commemorated in the United States. (371.01a.372.01b)
1.SS.2.1 Identify continents and large bodies of water on a globe
(394.01d)

Objective:
Students will be able to describe holidays and events in North America both in a written and oral f
Students will be able to explain why events are commemorated in North America by writing two

Assessment: Observing student and their answers to the questions. Amazing earth worksheets. St
Time Allotment
2 minutes
7 minutes

Sequence of Lesson
Orientation
Family tradition Start by asking students what is your favorite holidays? Why?
you celebrate those holidays? Ask several students to share.

Input & Modeling

Teach students that our country and many countries around the world celebrat
different holidays in many different ways. Today we are going to focus on holid
North America. A holiday is a special day where we honor important people or

history. People celebrate holidays in many different ways. People celebrate in m

different ways and each person will have a unique way of celebrating that is in
by their culture. People may celebrate by being with friends and families, eatin
foods, fireworks, parades, special activities, and traditions.

One holiday that is celebrated in Canada is Canada day. Canada day is the nat
of Canada, kind of like Independence day in the USA. It is a federal statutory ho
celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867. On this day the enactment of t
North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), occurred. Th
constitution act united three colonies into a single country called Canada withi
British Empire. Because of this event, the Constitution Act, people all over the
celebrate on the first of July each year. In Canada this even is mainly celebrate
the community; there are fireworks, parades, and fairs. Each community puts o
celebration.

Within the United States one holiday that is celebrated for a special day is Mem
day. Memorial day is a special day that is set aside to remember and honor the
that have fought in the countries wars. Memorial day was first observed to hon
soldiers that were killed in the civil war. Often memorial day is often celebrated
placing a wreath on soldiers graves. Most people celebrate memorial day the
Monday in May.

2 minutes

7 minutes

2 minutes

Check for understanding

Ask students to share, how do you celebrate? What is a holiday? Why is Canad
celebrated? Why is Memorial day celebrated?

Guided Practice
Another holiday that is celebrated I the United States is earth day. Earth day is
celebrated on April 22 of each year and is celebrated in remembrance of the e
how important it is to take care of the earth. The very first Earth Day was celeb
1970 and was created by American Senator, Gaylord Nelson, to make people a
the importance of keeping our planet healthy and clean. On that day, people m
promises to help the environment and make positive changes in their commun
each student page one and two of our amazing earth. Have each student cut a
dotted lines of the earth. Each student can then color the earth. On the second
have students color or write four ways they can either celebrate Earth day, pro
earth, or four things about the earth. One in each section. After students are d
them share their four things with a partner.

Closure

Review with students. Ask, what is a holiday? What is one way you celebrate?
earth day celebrated?

5 minutes

Independent Practice
Have students get out their journals and write one about one holiday and why
celebrated and how they personally celebrate that holiday in 2 3 sentences.

To Be Collected
Amazing earth worksheets, journals