Holidays Around the World Plans 2022

 Here is an example of what you can do in your K-3 classroom this Holiday season!  I have to be honest, this is one of the things I miss most about teaching 1st grade.  I do have a plan to make a Holidays Around the World for upper-grades this year, but it won't be ready until next year because I am testing it out with my class this year. So, if you teach 4-6th grade....be on the lookout in 2023. :)

Here is the new BUNDLE (1, 2, 3)

This bundle has 20 countries included

Countries and their corresponding holidays included are: 

• Netherlands- Feast of Sinterklaas (Clog Craft)
• Israel- Hanukkah (Dreidel Game)
• Italy- Day of Epiphany (Broom Craft and Poem)
• Mexico- Las Posadas (Poinsettia Craft)
• England- Christmas (Stocking Crafts and Card Writing)
• Germany- Christmas (Gingerbread Man Craft and Writing)
• Australia- Christmas (Koala Craft and Writing)
• Sweden- St. Lucia's Day (Candle Craft)
• America- Kwanzaa (Bead Bracelet)
• France- Christmas (Game)
• Greenland- Christmas (Santa Craft and Letter)
• India- Diwali (Lamp Craft and Writing)
• Brazil- Christmas (Sandpaper Snowman)
• South Africa- Christmas (Bead Christmas Tree)
• China- Chinese New Year (Fireworks Painting)
• Saudi Arabia- Eid al-Fitr (Lantern)
• Russia- New Year's (Nesting Doll Craft)
• Greece- Christmas (Sailboat Craft and Writing) 
• United Arab Emirates- Ramadan (Moon and Star Craft)
• America or Canada- Christmas (Christmas Eve Craft, Christmas (Rudolph Craft, Mad Lib, and Writing) *America/Canada is included in each pack

Something else I've wanted to do FOREVER is make informational slides for each countries that I teach about in Holidays Around the World. There is just not much information out there for so many of the countries/holidays. I have taken what I know and what I've researched/read and put the information in slides with graphics.  There are 20 countries included and 4 slides per country (1 slide with the country's flag and 3 slides with information). 

If you buy Holidays Around the World Bundle (1, 2, 3) you get the informational slides FOR FREE as a bonus! (You can also buy it as a stand-alone product)

I know you're spending your own money on this and I want you to make the most informed decision. Because of the updates I've made the past year, I feel like this product has everything we need to teach Holidays Around the World and not get sick of it each year (there are SO many options, guys!).  Want to know more? I've made this video to describe pretty much everything in the pack so you can see exactly what's included. If you purchase the NEW bundle, you get 20 countries instead of 13! 

If you own Holidays Around the World Bundle (Part 1 and 2), but you still want more countries, Part 3 is the stand-alone pack so you can still get 8 more countries!

• Brazil- Christmas (Sandpaper Snowman)
• South Africa- Christmas (Bead Christmas Tree)
• China- Chinese New Year (Fireworks Painting)
• Saudi Arabia- Eid al-Fitr (Lantern)
• Russia- New Year's (Nesting Doll Craft)
• Greece- Christmas (Sailboat Craft and Writing) 
• United Arab Emirates- Ramadan (Moon and Star Craft)
• America or Canada- Christmas (Ornament Watercolor) 

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Behind the Scenes: Holidays Around the World 2016

Each year I do my Holidays Around the World, I like to give you a sneak peek of what it looks like in my classroom. This year I will complete ALL 13 countries (available in my bundle)! Did you know I just updated this pack last week? It's new and improved for sure (with lots added).

Something I wanted to add in my unit was a complete EXPERIENCE that the students get! Play the sound of an airplane taking off, dress like a flight attendant, pass out the in-flight snack, and fasten your seat-belts!  The WORLD AIRLINES will take off in 3, 2, 1.

  I really wanted to talk about Netherlands on December 5th and Sweden on December 13th because those dates are important to their holiday. Many of the other holidays begin either before we start our unit of after...so the date that you introduce that country doesn't matter. I had to do a little rearranging to make it happen for those two countries, but it'll work!

This lesson plan template is also available in my pack!

These informational reading passages are EVERYTHING! It's nice to have all of the key points right there on one sheet of paper. SHOUT OUT  to my friend Carly who helped me!

Remember, in my pack, there is such a variety that each year you can change it up! You don't have to do all of the countries each year. The wonderful part about being the boss of applesauce is that you decided. With my new update of my pack this year, I've included more writing components and supplementals. It's JAM PACKED! Each country also has a reading passage to go with it so you can stop googling each country right before you "teach" it to your students (I'm talking to you Carly, hahah).  I've also included links to websites and books.... so I have pretty much done all the work for you. You're welcome. Kidding!!! ;) Kind of.

Here's a picture of just some of the extensions included:

Ok, ready to take a look? The best deal is the BUNDLED pack (which includes 13 countries). Or you can break it up and buy JUST Part 1 or JUST Part 2. 

Holidays Around the World

I'm so excited to finally update my Holidays Around the World Pack! I've added A TON of extension activities and fine-tuned what was already there. If you've already purchased any of my Holidays Around the World Packs (Part 1, Part 2, or the Bundle), go re-download!

      

Read about the BUNDLED pack (Part 1 and 2 combined):
Travel near and far to see a glimpse of Holidays Around the World. This is a great way to integrate the Christmas theme into your curriculum! There are 13 countries to learn about and a craftivity and/or game for each country.  This unit ties in literacy, social studies, art, writing, reading and even a little math. There's enough in this pack to use the whole month of December!

Countries included:
*Netherlands- (Clog Craft)
*Israel- (Dreidel Game)
*Germany- (Gingerbread Man Craft and Writing)
*Mexico- (Poinsettia Craft)
*Australia- (Koala Craft and Writing)
*Italy- (Broom Craft and Poem)
*England- (Stocking Craft and Card Writing)
*Sweden (Candle Craft)
*America Kwanzaa (Bead Bracelet)
*France (Game)
*Greenland (Santa Craft and Letter)
*India (Lamp Craft and Writing)
*America or Canada (Christmas Eve Craft, Rudolf Craft, Rudolf Mad Lib, and Writing)

Also Included in this pack:
Lesson Plan Template
Student Suitcase Cover
Passport
Maps
New Word Book
Airline Tickets
BINGO Review Game
Supplementals (KWL, web chart, fact writing, opinion writing)
Bulletin Board Letters and Graphic
Student Book (with fill-in-the-blank)
Country Posters (color and b/w included)
Informational Reading Passages (for each country)
Links to websites and books for each country

Click {here} to check out the bundle!

Christmas Gift Idea: From Students to their Parents

For this gift idea all you have to do is print the survey, buy frames from the Dollar Tree, take pictures of your students (or use their school pictures) and give your students a wet-erase marker to write on the OUTSIDE of their frame (so that their survey is interchangeable each year!). 

Total cost is less than $25 and not much effort at all. You can even do this without the frames by just laminating the survey.  

Tips:

*I used chevron wrapping paper as the backdrop to my students' picture

*If possible, have a parent volunteer take small groups out to write on their frame

*Go to a local grocery store and ask for paper bags for the students to decorate and use as "wrapping paper" 

*Just tape the picture in so that it can be exchanged for a new picture next Christmas

*Remind your students to tell their parents that the marker can be cleaned off and the student can fill this out again next year

Christmas in the {Computer} Classroom

I have to admit…

I love my computer teaching job, but I always get sad around any type of holiday. I miss my 5th graders. I miss having my own group of students. I miss planning parties, getting student gifts ready, and doing fun Christmas crafts. 

Even though I'm not in a regular classroom setting anymore, it doesn't mean I can't have some holiday fun. I have found a few great ways to mix curriculum, technology, and the holidays into my lesson plans!

First of all, I made this Holidays Around the World Webquest for my students to do this year. I made it specifically for my 6th graders because they are studying world history. It's a great Internet research activity but also touches on the social studies curriculum. My students loved learning about the ways that different countries celebrate the holidays. {Read more HERE!}

Another way I'm adding Christmas into my classroom this year, is this fun, *new* Common Core aligned writing project! In our state (Utah!), all 5th graders take a persuasive writing assessment at the end of the year. As the computer teacher, I wanted to help our 5th grade teachers out by creating a fun project for my students to do in the lab with me. This will be *perfect* for my students because it will give them another dose of how to write an essay, help them work on their typing and word processing skills, and it will be a fun activity to do the week before we leave for Christmas break! I know my students will love writing letters to Santa persuading him to add their name to the "nice list" this year! {Read more HERE!}

After we finish our projects, we'll hopefully have time for some fun computer games. ABCYA.com is a great website to find educational games for kids. Here's a peek at some of their holiday games. 

My younger students will also be writing letters to Santa. They will type a friendly letter to Santa and will include their Christmas lists. They'll also have some time to do some Christmas-themed websites. Starfall.com is another great website for younger students. I like these Snowman and Gingerbread Man activities. 

I'm super excited for the fun week ahead. I know students will be a little SUPER crazy, but we are so close to the break, I can almost feel it! YAY!!

Just for fun, here's a picture of my new little baby meeting Santa for the first time!

Is there anything sweeter than a baby's 1st Christmas?! 

I can NOT wait to cuddle him and kiss those chubby cheeks all Christmas break!! 

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Because there's only a week left before the holiday break begins, I have discounted these Christmas items in my store! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas in the Classroom + Cyber Tuesday Sale!!

Yay for day two of the Cyber Monday & Tuesday Sale at TeachersPayTeachers!! I don't know about you, but my cart keeps getting longer as I find new things I need/want to buy! 

{Cute graphic made by Amy Lemons}

I was thinking about all the Christmas resources Rachelle and I have posted over the years. (This is our 4th Christmas as bloggers!) We have quite the collection of Christmas and holiday items in our stores. I wanted to highlight a few of our favorite packs and give you all some ideas of some things that you might want to use in your classroom this month. {Hint: make sure to see some Christmas freebies at the bottom of this post!}

12 Days of Christmas Writing:

Click {here} to check it out!

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness:

Click {here} to check it out!

Christmas Addition and Subtraction Centers:

Click {HERE} to check it out!


Winter Writing Workbook:

Click {HERE} to check it out!

Christmas Around the World - Parts 1 & 2:

Click {HERE} to check it out!

Holidays Around the World Webquest:

Click {HERE} to check it out!

And here are some of our favorite Christmas FREEBIES!

FREE Printable Merry Christmas Banner

FREE Coundown to Christmas printable

FREE Countdown to Christmas Poem

 Free Reindeer & Caribou Graphic Organizers

FREE My Christmas Story writing pack




To see ALL of our Christmas/Holiday blog posts, click {HERE!}

What are some of your favorite holiday 

traditions in your class?

Leave a comment and let us know!

Webquest! (Holidays Around the World)

I am super excited about my new Webquest activity!! 

This 'Holidays Around the World' pack is the perfect way to mix technology integrated lessons, online research, and the fun holiday season! Your students will love using your computers or iPads to learn more about how different countries celebrate holidays in different parts of the world. 

A webquest is a fun way for students to conduct online research projects. Students will use inquiry-based learning to complete the six steps of a webquest: introduction, task, process, resources, evaluation, and conclusion.

Here's what you'll find in this pack:

Cover Page

Table of Contents

Teacher Instructions

Student Instructions

QR Code List

Website List

Country List 1

Country List 2

Blank Country List

Venn Diagram

1-2-3 Chart

Final Project Example 

Final Project Example (large)

Grading Rubric

Everything you'll need to complete this project is included in this pack! Just follow the teacher instructions, copy the student pages, and you'll be all set and ready to go!! 

Click here to purchase:

         

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

I know it's not even Thanksgiving, but this Random Acts of Christmas Kindness pack was one of my favorite projects that I've ever done with my kiddos! It's best to start it right in December...so that's why I'm posting about it today!

I was inspired by that AMAZING Cara Carroll and her family Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar she did with her family. 

 Since I have no children of my own, I decided I wanted to do RACKing it in my classroom!  

Now you can RACK, too!  

Here was our first RACK that was for our principal last year.  My students were so excited and they loved that this whole thing is secretive.  ;)

Click {here} to check it out!

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Can't do Christmasy things in your classroom or just want to do random acts of kindness all year?  Check out this Random Acts of Classroom Kindness pack that you can do all year round!

Click {here} to check it out!

Here are some books suggestions:

  

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