Question:
No matter the season, our lessons must continue student progress in mastering required curriculum. What, if anything, do you do to bring the spirit of the holiday season into your classroom activities while continuing to work toward curriculum goals?
Replies:
Dr. Susan H. Smith - Andover, MA
Students draw a horizontal and vertical line on a piece of cardstock. In each of the four quadrants, they write: 1) The name and relationship of the person to whom they will be giving this 'gift;' 2) They briefly describe how this person has made them happy/positive in their lives; 3) They then describe what their relationship has meant to them; 4) And finally, their hopes for the future of their relationship. Then, they place a colorful, inexpensive bow in the middle of the sheet of cardstock and offer the gift. It is a meaningful, simple, and fun way to share how important other people in their lives are to them, and they look quite festive.
Terri Messing - Port Orchard, WA
Usually during this time of year my students are involved in learning about the causes/effects of the American Revolution. I tie in the holiday season by having my students learn about how the newly established United States celebrated the holiday during the war. Also, to get my students into the spirit of giving, my students learn about the british blocade of Massachusettes and how the Americans were starving because food was hard to get even with smuggling of goods going on. My students set up a food drive for their community to help people get through the holidays so they don't feel like the Americans felt in 1776.
Amanda - Butler, MO
I have actually taken a relaxed approach to pausing in the curriculum as I find student achievement is improved. In addition to that, I am the only Social Studies teacher so the responsibility of teaching the history of the holidays (Pearl Harbor Day, MLK, Jr. Day, etc) falls solely to me. Because of this on the first day back from Thanksgiving Break we discussed the history of many holiday traditions: Christmas trees, menorahs, Santa Claus, Kwanzaa, stockings, etc. In the process we made holiday deocrations for my classroom: snowflakes, paper chains, popcorn garland, Christmas tree ornaments, etc. My room is now decked and the kids feel an ownership of it. In addition to that I turned the entire event into a lesson and through that learning continued.
texas
i like to decorate thing and make them colorful and give things more life. that makes my school day more happier.
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