Holidays Around the World is a popular topic during the month of December. It’s engaging, cross-curricular and culturally inclusive.
So it’s time to take your students on a trip around the world.
Enable all of your students to participate in the unit while you travel to 21 different countries and celebrate a different holiday tradition at each stop with this set of leveled, adapted readers, activities, recipes and more!
Ready to travel?Grab the Holidays Around the World Bundle here.
Where are we traveling to?
In this trip around the world, your students will travel to:
• US / Canada Christmas
• Kwanzaa
• Hanukkah
• Australia
• England
• Mexico
• Germany
• Sweden
• France
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Russia
• Ramadan
• South Africa
• Kenya
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Diwali / Festival of Lights
• Philippines
• Chinese New Year
• Brazil
Adapted books are printable stories that can be fiction or nonfiction. The adapted stories found inside the Holidays Around the World Bundle are nonfiction and tell the history behind each country’s holiday.
To learn how to assemble an adapted book, read this blog post.
Each country included in the Holidays Around the World Bundle comes with a set of adapted books, two books in total for each country.
Level 1 is more of a vocabulary level with singular words to describe the image on each page.
Level 2 is written as an story, with full sentences.
Both levels of adapted books come with comprehension questions at the end of each books, and comprehension printable tests.
QUICK TIP #1
You can store the movable pieces inside of the book, as seen in the pictures to the right.
A second option is to laminate a blank sheet of paper or cardstock, add to the back of the adapted book when binding, and add 2-3 rows of velcro to store the pieces on.
QUICK TIP #2
You have multiple options when it comes to printing adapted books too.
Option 1 is to print them as is, laminate and add hook/loop to the book pages.
Option 2 is to print the books in mini form on regular copy paper and staple.
You can have students cut out their own answer pieces (makes for a great fine motor activity) or have them precut. Students will then glue the answer pieces into their mini adapted books.
Store mini adapted books inside of student suitcases.
HOW TO USE THE ADAPTED BOOKS
On the introduction day, we use the Level 1 book as a vocabulary introduction to the topic, and then we read the Level 2 adapted book as a class. Using the Core Board and Fringe Vocabulary Boards, we discuss the story as a class. Students, also, receive their Holidays Around the World Boarding Pass for the country we are discussing.
On the second day, we work on the adapted books in small groups. Students read the appropriate level of adapted book and answer the accompanying comprehension questions inside the story. Again, we use the Core Board and Fringe Vocabulary Boards to discuss the story.
On the third day, we complete the mini adapted books and take the printable comprehension assessments for a grade. Mini books are then stored inside of a student’s Holidays Around the World Travel Suitcase, and students receive their Passport VISA stamp, which is glued inside of their Holidays Around the World Passport.
It is on the third day that students wear home their Passport Wristbands or take home a Passport Postcard. Parent questions are sent home on this day, along with a printed Fringe Vocabulary Board from that country so families can discuss what the student has been learning. Core Boards are sent home at the completion of the first country.
On the following day, we will further our travels and begin learning about a new country’s holiday.
Each student gets one Holidays Around the World Travel Suitcase. Print the pieces and glue in to a file folder. Students can color in their suitcase pieces during free time, as homework, or at the beginning of your travels.
PASSPORTS + VISAS
Inside of each Passport is a world map (students color each country on the map as they learn about the holiday), a personal information page, 3 pages for VISA stamps, and a two-question survey at the end of your travels.
CORE BOARDS + FRINGE VOCABULARY
The goal of utilizing core vocabulary instruction is to give your nonverbal and limited verbal ability students the ability to express themselves independently. These words are the building blocks to communicating with your nonverbal and limited verbal ability students.
Using the Core Board and the country-specific Fringe Vocab Boards, all of your students will be given the opportunity to express what they have learned, ask questions along the way, and communicate their wants and needs with you throughout your Holidays Around the World trip.
You can learn more about Core Vocabulary in these blog posts.
VISUAL CRAFTS + RECIPES
Each country you travel to also provides the opportunity to make a craft based on that country’s cultural celebration and cook a recipe that is popular in that culture for the holidays (or is a spin on a popular dish).
Each visual recipe comes with a list of ingredients and kitchen supplies, as well as a survey for after cooking. The recipe steps are provided in written and visual format, with a check box to visually check off each step as it is completed.
At the end of the recipe, after you complete the survey, use the writing activity to incorporate ELA skills and more academics.
Each visual craft provides students with the visual steps to completing the craft, as well as a list of supplies needed to complete the craft. Any templates needed are also provided, and just like the visual recipes for Holidays Around the World, you can use the after-the-craft writing activity to incorporate more academics.
CERTIFICATES + PARENT INVOLVEMENT
At the end of the lesson, send students home with these 3 things:
- Traveler’s Certificate – to reward students for their hard work
- Wristband – to let parent’s know what the child learned today
- One Page Info – the Adapted Book text on a one page PDF for parents to learn at home with their children too (includes the comprehension questions)
Do you celebrate Holidays Around the World in your classroom? Tell us what countries you travel to in the comments below!
