Winter Holidays

Grade Level: 7-12

Subject/Content: Social Studies/World Religions/Anthropology

Summary of Lesson: Students will compare and contrast winter holidays celebrated within the United States and around the world

Focus Question: What do various holidays have in common and how are they different?

Resource(s): Student Resource Center and Web Feet K-12 Collection

Procedures by Teacher:

1. Arrange access to Gale online resources
2. Provide time for research
3. Copy comparison chart worksheet

Holiday Comparison Chart Directions: Use the Thomson Gale online resources to complete this chart comparing winter holidays. Use the research you gather to answer the questions on the back of this page. (Hint: Start with Kids InfoBits.) You may use additional paper if necessary and you may fill in information that you know is correct from your own personal experiences. Holiday Group(s) Who Celebrate it Places Celebrated Historical Background Traditions (How Celebrated) Meaning or Significance of the Celebration Symbols Winter Solstice             Chanukah             Kwanzaa             Christmas             Ramadan & Eid ul-Fitr

Steps/Activities by Student(s):

1. Use Gale online resources to complete the Holiday Comparison Chart
2. Use the information gathered to complete the follow-up questions

Holiday Comparison Chart Follow-Up Questions List several characteristics that most of these holidays/celebrations share (example: most are related to an organized religious group) What contrasts do you see that could potentially cause conflict between the people who celebrate these religions? How could the information on this chart help explain religious conflict found around the world, like that in the Middle East?

 

Outcome: Students will have a greater understanding of the meaning behind various winter celebrations, what they have in common and how they are different

Related Activities: Students may choose one aspect of a celebration researched and bring in the materials to share it with the class (examples: teach the class to play dreidel, bring in a Koran and show how to pray)

Standard Date: July 6, 2007

Content Standard(s):

• Analyze and explain the ways groups, societies and cultures address human needs and concerns
• Predict how data and experiences may be interpreted by people from diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference
• Compare and analyze societal patterns for preserving and transmitting culture while adapting to environmental or social change
• Investigate, interpret and analyze multiple historical and contemporary viewpoints within and across cultures related to important events, recurring dilemmas, and persistent issues, while employing empathy, skepticism and critical judgment

Performance Indicators:

• At Level 1, the student is able to:
• Identify the characteristics of each holiday researched.
• At Level 2, the student is able to:
• Analyze the similarities and differences between these holidays.
• At Level 3, the student is able to:
• Evaluate the impact of these holidays on modern religious based conflict.

Computer Literacy and Usage Standards 9-12:

• Predict how data and experiences may be interpreted by people from diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference
• Demonstrate the value of cultural diversity, as well as cohesion, within and across groups
• Describe the ways family, religion, gender, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status and other group and cultural influences contribute to the development of a sense of self

ISTE NETS for Students

• Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures
• Plan strategies to guide inquiry
• Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
• Process data and report results

Information Power; Information Literacy Standards 1-4:

• Select and apply technology tools for research, information analysis, problem solving and decision making in content learning