Cultural Traditions Project

Dear Families:

We are studying the various cultural heritages and traditions within our community. Often,
cultural traditions accompany a holiday. Traditions often include music, clothing, food, and
celebrations specific to the culture. To better learn about each other, our world, and ourselves
each child will present about what his/her family does to celebrate a holiday.

Please help your child complete the attached graphic organizer (included). Your child should
write on the graphic organizer. In class, your child will be responsible for sharing the elements
of his/her cultural traditions the week of DATE according to the rubric (included). I highly
recommend helping your child practice what s/he will say during their presentation.

During your child’s presentation, s/he may should to share an artifact or example that
represents the cultural holiday. Examples could be traditional clothing, an activity from that
holiday, pictures or videos of the celebration, music from that celebration, etc.

ALL GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS ARE DUE ON YOUR CHILD’S PRESENTATION DAY! NO

EXCEPTIONS!

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thank you for helping us in this meaningful learning activity,

TEACHER

Examples of holidays:

Fourth of July Eid al-Fitr Diwali Halloween

Christmas Eid al-Adha Ramadan April Fool’s
Thanksgiving Kwanza Valentine’s Day Chinese New Year
Hanukkah Memorial Day Cinco De Mayo
Easter New Year’s Día De Los Muertos

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,

December 9 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13
STUDENT STUDENT STUDENT STUDENT STUDENT
NAMES NAMES NAMES NAMES NAMES
 Cultural Traditions Project
Oral Presentation Rubric
CATEGORY 20
Preparedness Student is completely
prepared and has
obviously practiced.
Comprehension Student is able to
accurately answer
almost all questions
posed by classmates
about the topic.
Posture and Stands up straight, looks
Eye Contact relaxed and confident.
Establishes eye contact
during the presentation.
Volume/Speaks Volume is loud enough
Clearly to be heard by all
audience members
throughout the
presentation. Speaks
clearly and distinctly all
of the time.
Listens to Other Listens intently. Does
Presentations not make distracting
noises or movements.
Cultural Content/Understanding Rubric
CATEGORY 20
Organization Information is very
organized as student
shares.
Understandin The student
g demonstrates a full
understanding of his/her
cultural holiday.
Answering The student is able to
Questions answer questions
easily.
Graphic Graphic organizer or
Organizer outline has been
completed with lots of
detailed information.
Artifact/ The artifact/example
Example brought adds to the
listener’s understanding
of the topic.
15 10 5
Student seems pretty The student is Student does not seem
prepared but might have somewhat prepared, but at all prepared to
needed a couple more it is clear that practice present.
practices. was lacking.
Student is able to Student is able to Student is unable to
accurately answer most accurately answer a few accurately answer
questions posed by questions posed by questions posed by
classmates about the classmates about the classmates about the
topic. topic. topic.
Stands up straight and Sometimes stands up Slouches and/or does
establishes eye contact straight and establishes not look at people during
room during the eye contact. the presentation.
presentation.
Volume is loud enough Volume is loud enough Volume often too soft to
to be heard by all to be heard by all be heard by all audience
audience members at audience members at members. Often
least 90% of the time. least 80% of the time. mumbles or can not be
Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and understood.
distinctly most of the distinctly some of the
time. time.
Listens intently but has Sometimes does not Sometimes does not
one distracting noise or appear to be listening appear to be listening
movement. but is not distracting. and has distracting
noises or movements.
15 10 5
Information is organized Information is The information
with as student shares. somewhat organized, appears to be
but hard to follow. disorganized.
The student The student tries to The student does not
demonstrates a good share his/her cultural understand his/her
understanding of his/her holiday, but does not cultural holiday.
cultural holiday. seem to understand/
The student answers The student attempts to The student cannot
most questions. answer questions, but answer questions.
does not truly know
how.
Graphic organizer or Graphic organizer is Graphic organizer is not
outline has been partially completed. complete.
completed.
The artifact/example The artifact/example No artifact/example has
brought somewhat adds doesn’t really adds to been brought.
to the listener’s the listener’s
understanding of the understanding.
topic. Confusing.
 Cultural Traditions Project

Name: Name of Holiday:

When was this holiday first celebrated in your Why do people celebrate this holiday? (What makes
culture? this holiday/date special?)

Who do you usually celebrate this holiday with? Where do you celebrate this holiday?

What traditions does your family have to celebrate What kind of clothing do you wear for this holiday?
this holiday?

What kind of music do you listen to for this holiday? What kind of food do you eat during this holiday?

What kinds of things do you say to each other on this Why is this holiday special to you?
holiday?
 Cultural Traditions Project

As a symbol of this holiday, I brought ___________________________________________________

because ______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Use this space to share other information about this holiday (if needed).