CURRICULUM EXPECTATIONS
A1. Application: compare some significant traditions and celebrations among diverse groups and at different times, and identify some of the reasons for changes in these traditions/celebrations (FOCUS ON: Perspective; Cause and Consequence)
A2. Inquiry: use the social studies inquiry process to investigate some of the past and present traditions and celebrations within their own family and the communities to which they belong (FOCUS ON: Continuity and Change)
A3. Understanding Context: describe some of the major groups in their community, including different types of families, and some of the ways in which traditions and heritage are passed on by such groups (FOCUS ON: Interrelationships; Significance)
A2. Inquiry: use the social studies inquiry process to investigate some of the past and present traditions and celebrations within their own family and the communities to which they belong (FOCUS ON: Continuity and Change)
A3. Understanding Context: describe some of the major groups in their community, including different types of families, and some of the ways in which traditions and heritage are passed on by such groups (FOCUS ON: Interrelationships; Significance)
| sshg_grades_1-8__big_ideas_and_framing_questions.pdf_-_google_drive.pdf |
| template_grade_2_strand_a_-_google_docs.pdf |
ARTIFACT TASK
| grade2traditionsartifacttask.docx |
VIRTUAL LEARNING COMMONS
CULTURE: describes the practiced beliefs, traditions, customs, arts, foods, sports, language, toys, tools, clothing, etc. of a particular group of people. It often times is a blend/mixture from many different people who influence you!
CELEBRATIONS: a joyful occasion that marks some happy event! They tend to be random. Example: Spring Barbecue
TRADITIONS: are celebrations passed from person to person or generation to generation. Traditions can be celebrated differently across cultures but they usually are celebrated in similar ways every year. Example: In North America, people who celebrate Christmas tend to buy a tree every year and place presents under it.
SYMBOLS: A picture or object that represents/stands for something.
NAMES can be both traditional and celebratory...click here to see the meaning behind your name
www.behindthename.com/
CELEBRATIONS: a joyful occasion that marks some happy event! They tend to be random. Example: Spring Barbecue
TRADITIONS: are celebrations passed from person to person or generation to generation. Traditions can be celebrated differently across cultures but they usually are celebrated in similar ways every year. Example: In North America, people who celebrate Christmas tend to buy a tree every year and place presents under it.
SYMBOLS: A picture or object that represents/stands for something.
NAMES can be both traditional and celebratory...click here to see the meaning behind your name
www.behindthename.com/
| celebrations_-_grades_1-3_.pptx |
OCTOBER
Halloween is celebrated on October 31st. Two thousand years ago, the Celts worried about spirits visiting them before the New Year (November 1st). They would wear masks, light huge bonfires and put candles in turnips to scare away the dead. Over time, November 1st became a day to celebrate famous saints who had died for the Catholic faith. That day was known as All Saints Day or Hallowmas. Over time Hallowmas was changed to Halloween. Instead of putting lights into carved turnips, people would put lights into pumpkins. And instead of playing naughty tricks on neighbors and running away in masks, kids would wear masks and ask for treats in a kind way!
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NOVEMBER
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that celebrates people or animals that have died. It usually is celebrated on November 1st and is a positive tradition. It involves symbols such as sugar skulls, food that is cooked for the dead, and fun illustrations of things that often make us sad. People try to imagine their loved ones as being with them on that day.
Diwali is the Hindu “festival of lights” which is celebrated for 5 days. The date of celebration is based upon the lunar (moon) calendar and changes from year to year. The festival of lights is held in honour of Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity=$). Hindus pray to Lakshmi to bring them good luck and wealth in the New Year. It also celebrates the return of Rama and Sita in the story from the Ramayana. The story shows how good wins over evil. The word Diwali means “rows of lighted lamps”. People light hundreds of lighted lamps called “diyas” to symbolically light the way home for Rama and Sita and to get Lakshmi’s attention to come visit them and offer them wealth!
Remembrance Day happens on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November). We remember all the people who have served and protected our country. We wear red poppy flowers to symbolize the red (blood) fields where the soldiers fought and died. We stand in silence for two minutes to honour the brave soldiers.
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DECEMBER
Christmas: Christmas is celebrated by Christians on December 25th. They celebrate the birth of Jesus (son of God). People celebrate Christmas in very different ways. Gifts are exchanged or placed beneath a tree. Lights and candles are lit as well. Some people enjoy Santa dropping presents off for them. Some people leave cookies for Santa while others (from Sweden) leave porridge for a Christmas Gnome. Check out the videos below for more information:
Christmas Around the World Song: player.vimeo.com/video/246635620?app_id=122963
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Chanukah celebrates the Jewish peoples defeat over Antiochus. Judah Maccabee led an army of Jewish people against the Syrian leader. Antiochus wanted everyone to believe in his beliefs. The Jewish People were able to win but when they entered the temple, they discovered that the temple was in shambles. The menorah had to be lit and there was only enough oil for one day. A miracle happened though and the oil lasted for 8 days! Thus, the Jewish people light the menorah for 8 days! Kids often spin a dreidel (top) with letters and remember through fun that a miracle happened! Kids enjoy chocolate money (gelt).
Kwaanza is a celebration that lasts a week. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American Culture and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba).
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kurmba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Kwanzaa celebratory symbols include a mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed: a Kinara (candle holder), Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), Muhindi (corn), a Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) for commemorating and giving shukrani (thanks) to African Ancestors, and Zawadi (gifts).
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kurmba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Kwanzaa celebratory symbols include a mat (Mkeka) on which other symbols are placed: a Kinara (candle holder), Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), Muhindi (corn), a Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) for commemorating and giving shukrani (thanks) to African Ancestors, and Zawadi (gifts).
JANUARY
New Years Eve
FEBRUARY
Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. It is celebrated roughly every February based upon the lunar/moon schedule. Fireworks are lit to scare off Nian (Mythological Lion Monster), ghosts and spirits with their loud noise. Sometimes a Lion dance occurs! The Lion is often fed a leafy green vegetable. The green colour symbolizes money and prosperity for the New Year! Lai See (Red Envelopes filled with fresh crisp bills usually ending in 8) are given from older people to younger people to wish them a prosperous New Year. Dumplings are traditionally made and lanterns released into the sky on the final day!
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Valentine's Day is a traditional holiday celebrated on February 14th. Valentine was a Bishop who secretly married people during the rule of Emperor Claudius. Cladius didn't want his soldier's to marry because loved ones can distract from battle. Emperor Claudius had Valentine arrested and jailed. During this time, he helped his jailor's daughter regain her eyesight! They fell in love. While he was waiting to learn his fate, he would write letters to her and sign them off: From your Valentine. Despite this, Valentine was killed on February 14th.
| love_by_matt_de_la_peña_-_grades_1-3.pptx |
The Quebec Carnival is a tradition that helps brighten the cold, winter months of Canada. There is a mascot called Bonhomme Carnival. He wears a bright red toque. He also wears a belt that the fur traders used to wear. People celebrate with snow baths, frozen canoe races, dog sled races, and have soapbox derbies from the top part of the city down to the lower part of the city!
Truck Day is a tradition that Mr. Drooker's father passed on to him. It involves watching a truck being loaded with baseball equipment. On the day that it leaves Boston for Florida, Red Sox fans brave the cold and wear silly clothes and cheer while the truck departs. Parents/Guardians usually allow children to take the day off school to watch the festivities. Truck Day participants view this loading of a truck as a sign that spring and summer are coming shortly!
Groundhog Day occurs February 2nd. If a groundhog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow…6 more weeks of winter are left. But, if it’s cloudy and there’s no shadow and it jumps back into its burrow, an early spring will occur. Sadly, using groundhogs to predict weather is not very good. The groundhog is only right 4 out of every 10 times. Ontario has a groundhog by the name of Wiarton Willie! He’s an albino (all white) groundhog.
MARCH
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th! A boy named Maewyn (Later changed to St. Patrick) was born in England. Maewyn didn’t really practice any religion. At around age 16, he was taken by Irish marauders into slavery. While he was a slave, he started to become a Christian. One night he heard a voice that instructed him to escape and spread Christianity. He stayed in a monastery and decided that it was his job to convert pagans to Christianity. He was made to be a bishop and changed his name to Patrick. He did a whole bunch of miracles and died on March 17th.
APRIL
April Fool’s is celebrated on April 1st. The celebration of fools started in the country of France. People were confused about when New Years was to be celebrated. Some people didn’t hear that the calendar was changed! They were called fools! Tricks were played on them. Now we celebrate in modern times with our own pranks.
Do you want to learn about Earth day? Earth Day started in 1970 by a USA senator named Gaylord Nelson. During the first Earth Day, 20 million people protested against the Industrial Revolution. The United Nations actually changed the name of the celebration to Mother Earth Day in 2009. In 2011, over 100 000 people in China rode their bikes to help the air as a way to celebrate the earth. 28 Million trees were also planted in 2011 Afghanistan. We also celebrate by collecting garbage, cleaning up our beaches and coral reefs, show movies, and sign petitions. Now you know all about Earth Day!
Earth Day Song: player.vimeo.com/video/263740342?app_id=122963
| celebrate_our_earth__-_grades_1-3.pptx |
| earth_day_-_grades_1-3.pptx |
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Easter
MAY
| momdayprintable.pdf |
Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It celebrates Prophet Muhammad receiving the holy Qur'an (bible) from god. It is celebrated for a month. The entire celebration focuses on one of the 5 key pillars of Islam (fasting). Fasting allows people to appreciate having enough food while focusing on a connection to God and the other 4 pillars (belief, prayer 5x, charity, pilgrimage). During the days of Ramadan, adults stop eating and drinking at sunrise and resume after sunset. Eid ul Fitr is a special day at the end of the month. Family and friends have a massive feast.
JUNE
Father's Day is a result of Sonora Louise Smart Dodd writing a letter to the President of the USA saying that they should also celebrate fathers (not just mothers). Father's Day is celebrated the 3rd Sunday of June.
JULY
Canada Day used to be known as Dominion Day but this was changed in 1982. July 1st is a day to celebrate Canada's confederation (all the provinces joined together to form a country) and separation from our "parent country" England. We use fireworks to symbolize our happiness!