Unit Plan 17 (PreK Social Studies): Holidays Around the World
Explore global holidays and family traditions with engaging PreK activities that celebrate food, music, clothing, and customs from diverse cultures.
Focus: Help children explore holidays and celebrations from different cultures, noticing foods, music, clothing, and customs that families enjoy. Children connect these ideas to their own family traditions and learn that people celebrate in different but equally special ways.
Grade Level: PreK
Subject Area: Social Studies (History • Culture)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 15–20 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, children learn that people all over the world celebrate special days with different traditions, such as lighting candles, singing songs, sharing foods, and wearing special clothes. Through stories, pictures, and music, they explore a few holidays (e.g., Lunar New Year, Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid, local celebrations) at a very simple level. Children also have chances to share about their own families’ celebrations, noticing both similarities and differences.
Essential Questions
- What is a holiday or a special celebration?
- How do people celebrate with food, music, clothing, and decorations?
- How do my family’s traditions compare with other families’ traditions?
- How can we respect and enjoy celebrations that are different from ours?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Recognize that people celebrate special days and name at least one holiday from stories or class charts.
- Describe one way people celebrate (e.g., special food, music, decorations, clothing, or gathering with family).
- Share at least one family tradition (a food, song, activity, or symbol) using words, pictures, or gestures.
- Notice and name one similarity or difference between their own celebration and another celebration.
Standards Alignment — PreK (C3-based custom)
- PK.C3.Hist.3 — Identify important people and celebrations. Recognizes helpers, leaders, and special holidays.
- Example: “We celebrate Dr. King because he helped people be fair.”
- PK.C3.Hist.4 — Share family and cultural traditions. Talks about customs, foods, and celebrations at home.
- Example: Bringing a photo from a family celebration to share.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can tell or point to a holiday or celebration we learned about.
- I can say or show one thing people do to celebrate (food, music, clothes, lights, etc.).
- I can share one tradition from my family.
- I can say one way a celebration is the same or different from mine.