Ohio Social Studies Strands Third Grade Holidays Special Occasions

1
Ohio Social Studies StrandsThird
GradeHolidays(Special Occasions)

• Karen Bova,
• Dana Falls,
• and
• Amber Spaulding

ED 417-01 Instructor Dr. Helms November 14, 2001
2
Table of Contents

• Introduction- Page 3
• Objectives- Page 4
• American Heritage- Page 5
• People in Societies- Page 9
• World Interactions- Page 12
• Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities- Page 15
• Democratic Processes- Page 18
• Decision Making and Resources- Page 21
• Science, Technology, and Society- Page 25

3
Introduction

• Through the seven Ohio Social Studies Strands,
  students will complete activities dealing with
  holidays and special occasions to increase their
  cultural awareness.

4
Objectives

• Through activities based on the seven Ohio Social
  Studies Strands, the students will increase their
  knowledge of the celebrated holidays and special
  occasions found throughout the world and within
  their own community.
• The students will also come to have a greater
  appreciation of the cultural diversity found
  within their classroom, community, and the world
  in which they live.

5
American HeritageActivities

• 1. A Family Tree of Me (Grandparents Day)- The
  students will invite their grandparents to school
  on Grandparents Day to participate in various
  classroom activities. (If a student can not have
  their grandparents visit the class, then they can
  ask another family relative to participate for
  that day.) During the course of the day, the
  students will organize a family history tree of
  their heritage. The students grandparents will
  be a great resource into their family history and
  heritage.
• 2. Labor Day- The students will research into
  the origin of how Labor Day began. (Labor Day
  began in New York City organized by the
  immigrants that came to our country. They formed
  a parade to show off their skills and trades they
  brought to America from other countries.) The
  students will create a poster or flier to
  describe the trade or skill they would advertise
  in a Labor Day parade in their community.
• 3. Columbus Day- After the discussion of how
  Christopher Columbus discovered America, the
  students will create a community they founded.

6
Activities Continued

• The students will create a set of laws that the
  citizens in their community would abide by. The
  students will also create a type of monetary
  system that will be used in their community.
• 4. Abraham Lincolns Birthday (February 12)-
  The students will use the world wide web to
  access five famous quotes given by Abraham
  Lincoln on www.bartleby.com. The students will
  choose one of the quotes to analyze. The
  students will write two paragraphs on what might
  have been happening in our country when the
  speech was given and the purpose of the speech
  given by Lincoln. Once the paragraphs have been
  written, the class will have an open discussion
  to analyze each of the quotes.
• 5. Mardi Gras- The celebration of Mardi Gras
  came to America through its French heritage in
  New Orleans. There are many different traditions
  associated in the Mardi Gras celebration. After
  discussing the characteristics of Mardi Gras, the
  students will enjoy a King Cake that is a
  tradition of Mardi Gras. The student who finds
  the plastic baby in their portion of the

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Activities Continued

• King Cake will wear plastic necklace beads and
  give an important characteristic of Mardi Gras.
  That student will then pass the beads onto
  another class mate. The process will continue
  until each student has worn the beads. The idea
  that Mardi Gras celebration can from the French
  settlers in America should be stressed.

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Web Sites

• 1. WWW.bartleby.com/99/422 (Lincolns Birthday)
• 2. WWW.holidays.net/mardigras/story/html (Mardi
  Gras)
• 3. WWW.genealogy.com (Family Trees)
• 4. WWW.timeforkids.com
• 5. WWW.mcrel.org/compendium/browse.asp

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People in SocietiesActivities

• 1. Cinco de Mayo- This lesson is designed to
  introduce students to the Mexican holiday, Cinco
  de Mayo. Students will have the opportunity to
  learn about typical foods of Mexico and explore
  the history and origins of some authentic Mexican
  foods. At the end of the lesson, the students
  can make their own healthy tortilla wraps.
• 2. Kwanzaa- This lesson is designed to introduce
  students to the African American holiday,
  Kwanzaa. The students will explore the history
  and origins of Kwanzaa, and some symbols that
  represent the African American holiday. The
  students will make a place mat called a mkeka
  (em-kay-kah) which is one of the symbols of
  Kwanzaa. They will make their mkekas out of red,
  green, and black strips of paper that they will
  weave together. Explain to the students the
  reason for using these particular colors.
• 3. Rosa Louis Parks (Black History Month)- This
  activity is designed to limit the students
  choices. The students will be instructed that
  they must make a picture of their home or
  neighborhood to be displayed in the hall for

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Activities Continued

• all of the school to see. Tell them that they
  must do their best work, and it will effect their
  grade. Then pass out the crayons to the
  children. Boys can only use yellow and blue, and
  girls can only use the red and orange crayons.
  Instruct them that they cant share, and that
  they cant complain because nothing will be done
  about their complaints. After the art is turned
  in discuss the childrens feelings. Discuss the
  structural and funding differences between the
  white and black schools at that time of history.
• 4. Being Treated Equally (Martin Lurther King
  Day)- This lesson is to let the students
  experience prejudice first hand. Pick and choose
  half of the class to come over to a table, while
  leaving the other half of the class sitting at
  their seats. Dont explain why you are doing
  this. Have the chosen half build a wall around
  the table so that the students sitting at their
  desks cant see whats going on. Pass out little
  bags of MMs to the chosen group and explain to
  them that they cant give any of their MMs to
  the other students. Have them go back and sit at
  their seats, and eat the MMs, while you go back
  and sit quietly in front of the class. Allow the
  silence to go

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Activities Continued

• on for a few minutes, then ask the students who
  didnt receive any MMs to comment on how they
  feel. Discuss and explain that you were
  demonstrating prejudice and unequal treatment.
• 5. Cinco de Mayo Party- Plan a Cinco de Mayo
  party. Investigate the history and significance
  of the pinata. Make pinatas and use them for the
  party. Teach the students songs and games that
  are used on Cinco de Mayo. Prepare and eat food
  that is eaten on this day, as well as investigate
  the significance for these traditions and the
  holiday.

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Web Sites

• http//www.asfsa.org/childnutrition/education/cinc
  odemayo.asp
• http//teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/Tlresources/longterm
  /LessonPlans/africa/kargil/index
• http//www.eduplace.com/ss.html
• http//atozteacherstuff.com/lessons/BeingTreatedEq
  ually.shtml
• http//www.umkc.edu/imc/cincomay.htm

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World InteractionsActivities

• 1. Columbus Day- On a world map have the students
  plot each of Columbus four voyages in a
  different color. Continue by creating a key for
  the map to indicate the meaning of each color.
  For extra credit ask the students to calculate
  the distance that Columbus traveled on each
  voyage.
• 2. Valentines Day- Using the Internet, library,
  textbooks, etc. Have students research all the
  different cities found throughout the world that
  have a name that has something to do with
  Valentines Day. Have the students write the
  city name on a heart, made out of construction
  paper, and place it on a map, in its proper
  location.
• 3. Christmas- Using the Internet have students
  research how different people celebrate Christmas
  around the world.
• 4. St. Patricks Day- As a class, have students
  brainstorm ideas on why they think St. Patricks
  Day is celebrated all over the world. In groups,
  have students research the answers to the
  following questions 1. When was Saint

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Activities Continued

• Patrick born? 2. When did Saint Patrick die? 3.
  What was he known for? 4. What is a patron
  saint? 5. Why do people wear green on Saint
  Patricks Day? List three reasons. Using their
  newfound knowledge have students create a story
  strictly about the facts of Saint Patrick. Post
  the stories in the hallway when they are
  completed.
• 5. Halloween- Students will be divided into two
  cooperative teams Orange and Black. Each
  team must use a compass and map and search for
  clues written on Halloween figures around the
  school to find a hidden treasure. The group who
  finishes the treasure hunt first must then
  explain how they used and followed cardinal and
  intermediate directions to find the hidden
  treasure.

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Web Sites

• http//www.cstone.net/bry-back/holidayfun/dec.htm
  l
• http//top-biography.com/9015-Christopher20Columb
  us/
• http//www.howstuffworks.com/valentine.htm
• http//www.weekiwis.com/stpatkiwis.html
• http//www.benjerry.com/halloween/index.html

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Citizenship Rights and ResponsibilitiesActivities

• 1. Independence Day (What does it mean to be an
  American?)- Have students assemble a collage in
  the image of the American flag. The right half
  of the flag will consist of images from the
  students own American experiences. The left
  half of the flag will consist of media
  representations of Americans that the students
  has collected.
• 2. Presidents Day- Students will decide on a
  name and identity as a letter writer. They will
  write a letter to the President discussing what
  might have been their concerns or criticisms
  about the government during that time period.
• 3. Election Day- The students will simulate the
  workings of Congress by bringing the lawmaking
  process into their own classroom. Students will
  role-play Congressmen and women attempting to
  pass a bill into a law through the appropriate
  steps.

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Activities Continued

• 4. Earth Day- Have students pick a particular
  section of the schoolyard and have them write
  down how many pieces of glass, paper, and litter
  they can find. When sufficient data is collected
  have students import the data into a spreadsheet
  program. Have student share their findings and
  discuss why it is our responsibility to keep the
  Earth clean and suggest ways they can diminish
  litter at their school.
• 5. Thanksgiving- Place a picture of a turkey on
  the classroom bulletin board. On the turkeys
  tail feathers have students write why they are
  thankful they are Americans. After this is
  completed, as a class, brainstorm ideas on how
  they can protect our American freedoms and
  rights.

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Web Sites

• http//earthday.wilderness.org/
• http//wilstar.com/holidays/july4.htm
• http//www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/
• http//www.kidsvotingusa.org/students.html
• http//www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/round_t
  he_world.htm

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Democratic ProcessesActivities

• 1. Voting Is Elementary (Election Day)-
  Conducting a mock election helps primary students
  understand the voting process. In this lesson
  the students will conduct a mock election for a
  class mascot, and you through each step of the
  election process.
• 2. The PBS Kids Democracy Project How Does
  Government Affect Me? (Election Day)- In this
  interactive online game, the students will see
  what role the government plays in their lives.
  It breaks the government down into its simplest
  form and shows how the government determines a
  country, state, county, township, city, and
  village and who its run by.
• 3. Community Government (Election Day)- In this
  lesson the students will be introduced to
  community government and its function in the
  local community. The students will become active
  participants in the local government and handle a
  problem that has the entire community alarmed.

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Activities Continued

• 4. Know Your Local Government (Election Day)-
  Often students show little interest in the
  government process because they have grown up in
  an atmosphere where little or no interest has
  been shown in government, and the process and the
  people involved. By the time they become old
  enough to actively participate in this process,
  their interest in other things over shadows their
  interest in the government and the importance of
  their participation in the process. The purpose
  of this activity is to introduce students to the
  local government structure and the people in the
  various power positions. They will see the the
  day to day activities that directly affect their
  lives, and where to see the day to day process of
  the local government and how it affects their
  lives.
• 5. Our Flag (Independence Day)- In this activity
  the students will make an United States flag
  collage. The students will learn the history or
  background of the American flag. They will learn
  that it is a national symbol, and they will learn
  what the symbols mean on the flag. After making
  an United States flag collage, have the students
  try making a flag that would mean something to
  them by using symbols that stand for important
  things in their life.

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Web Sites

• http//www.eduplace.com/ss/act/ourflag.html
• http//www.kidsdomain.com
• http//ericir.syr.edu/virtual/Lessons/Social_Studi
  es/US_Government/GOV0055.html
• http//www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/mygovt/index.htm
  l
• http//205.146.39.13/success/lessons/lesson7/pssd3
  _1.htm

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Decision Making and ResourcesActivities

• 1. Presidents Day- The students will discuss
  the importance of money in society. After, the
  students will learn that there are many symbols
  of the United States of America on money. The
  students will create their own form of money of
  what is important in their lives and what they
  stand for. They will use symbols to create their
  money. They will then write a paragraph to
  describe the importance of the symbols on their
  money.
• 2. Memorial Day- Students will understand that
  Memorial Day began as a remembrance for the
  soldiers who fought in the Civil War. The
  students will create a badge of honor for someone
  in their community who they feel should be
  honored. The students will then write a
  paragraph to that person to describe why they are
  honored in their community. Each student can
  then present their badge of honor to their person
  to thank them for their importance.
• 3. Bill of Rights Day (December 15)- The
  students will identify the values in the Bill of
  Rights that was written for the citizens in our
  country by our

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Activities Continued

• Founding Fathers. The students will show their
  understanding of the purpose of the Bill of
  Rights by creating a personal Bill of Rights.
  Each student will include rules and activities
  that he or she will perform in the classroom, at
  home, and in the community to show his or her
  respect of participating.
• 4. Holiday Celebration Symbols- Each student
  will create his or her own symbol for a holiday
  or celebration that is important to him or her.
  They will do this to show their understanding of
  the different symbols of many cultures to
  describe their winter celebrations. For
  instance, the star is the symbol of Christ for
  Christians at Christmas and the menorah is a
  symbol of Chanukah for the Jewish religion. The
  class will then discuss the different symbols
  that are seen in their community around the
  winter months.
• 5. Labor Day- The students will display their
  gratitude to community workers that provide them
  with services in their community. Each student
  will write a paragraph to a person in their
  community to thank them for their services.

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Web Sites

• Http//www.HolidayFestival.com
• http//www.education-world.com/learning
• http//pecentral.org/lessonideas/holiday/holidayid
  easindex.asp
• http//www.rubicon.com/passport/holidays/holidays.
  htm
• http//ericir.syr.edu/virtual/Social_Studies/Holida
  ys/presidents

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Science, Technology, and SocietyActivities

• 1. Olympics- Using a computer with Internet
  accessibility students will complete Eddie and
  Spikes Virtual Olympic Adventure at
  http//www.school.nt.edu.ao/olsu/olyadvent/index.h
  tm
• 2. Earth Day- The students will create a news
  collage of three to five articles, found on the
  internet, dealing with issues that affect our
  environment. Using markers, crayons, paint, etc.
  students will illustrate their collages. After
  the collages are complete they should be
  displayed in the hallway.
• 3. Birthday- Using a computer with internet
  accessibility the students will research events
  that occurred on their birthday in the distant
  past. Then have the students take one of the
  events and write a creative story to be displayed
  in the hallway.

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Activities Continued

• 4. A Personal Calendar of Special Occasions-
  The students will create a calendar of their own
  on Holidays Round the World Wide Web site. The
  students can explore the background of many
  different holiday around the world. Each student
  will create his/her personal calendar of special
  events and holidays.
• 5. Lincolns Birthday- The students will
  explore the history of Abraham Lincoln through a
  virtual tour website. The interactive website
  will allow the students to journey through the
  hometown of Abraham Lincoln. The students will
  then write a paragraph to compare and contrast
  the characteristics of Abraham Lincolns hometown
  (past) to their own community (present).

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Web Sites

• http//www.schools.nt.au/olsu/olyadvent/index.htm
• http//www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday/
• http//www.calendarzone.com/Holiday/
• http//www.holidays.net
• http//www.wkycorp.org/civilwar/region3/hodgenev.