Christmas Around the World is probably one of my favorite projects. Any “around the world” journey opens the door for multiple ways to level up each students’ cultural learning.
Plus, people celebrate Christmas in several countries on EVERY continent. Yes, every continent: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
This creates a special opportunity to learn about a familiar holiday in combination with the unique aspects of continents, countries, and individual communities.
So, quick question, “How many years have you used the Christmas Around the World” Project with your students?”
How about pulling it out now? Take a look at it. You may decide to completely revamp it, or just tweak it a bit.
I bet that even if you have polished it up a bit lately, you have not looked at it in the way I am going to share as you continue reading.
Let’s go beyond the traditional and have students explore all aspects of Christmas; different people, perspectives, purposes, and passions. Allowing children to see why and how people celebrate is great for developing an appreciation and respect for differences. Children can enjoy their way of celebrating, while respecting someone else’s way of celebrating.
Here are three ways to level up your Christmas Around the World project:
1. Notice and Wonder – Teacher Edition
Notice and Wonder – We often have students complete this thinking activity. Students are presented with a picture or a problem and asked to consider the possibilities for ways to approach or solve the problem, analyze the scene, or discuss different perspectives with peers.
Using the notice and wonder activity can help you easily create a culturally responsive and relevant Christmas Around the World project.
What do you notice? – For example, what patterns stand out? Which continents, countries, and communities are represented? Which are not? Why?
How many countries from each continent are represented? To what is the number proportional – Population size, land mass, religious affiliation?
What do you wonder? For example, how can the large number of countries be equally distributed for the project?
What challenges might students face completing research?
How will students learn about themselves/their thinking and perspective from completing this project?
Can students learn about their peers from discussion?
What will students learn about the world around them; similarities and differences, possibilities, perspective? What myths will be debunked?
Maybe this research will help unearth and then disprove a stereotype or two.
2. Consider removing the country where you and your students’ live from the list
Consider removing the country where you live. If you live in the United States, remove that from the list. The point of the project is to discover traditions of celebration from around the world. You can have a separate assignment for “Christmas in my Country”.
Not all students in your classroom celebrate Christmas, so it is still important to provide general information about Christmas in your country and community. You can give this presentation as an example of the types of information to gather.
3. What gifts have come from each country?
Christmas is all about gift giving. Considering your subject area, have students research “gifts” each country has given this world. Think in terms of inventors and their inventions, natural resources like minerals or petroleum, songs, etc. All the “gifts” connect to your subject area.
For example, if a student in science chooses Syria, the student might discover “Four Syrian Startups Determined to Make it Big” and the thought leaders who founded them.
If a math student decides to study India, the student may learn about the famous mathematician Srinvasa Ramanujan who made significant contributions to the math community with little formal training.
Still a Christmas favorite – check!
Connection to the content – check!
Learning about culture – check!
Connection to the standards – check!
Cheers to a culturally responsive and relevant “Christmas Around the World” Lesson!
Jocelynn
Do you want to chat with me about your Christmas lesson? Click the image below to schedule a call today.
