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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Winter Holidays

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the traditions associated with winter holidays. They examine why most of the holidays are associated with light. They examine the origins and customs of these holidays before creating an original holiday.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Holidays in Kansas

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify holidays celebrated by different cultures in Kansas and create a timeline of when they started to be celebrated. In this Kansas holidays lesson plan, students create a timeline wall in their class for each holiday.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wiggly Spiders

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create "wiggly spiders" using black paint, construction paper, yarn, and their hands in this fun, messy, art lesson for the early elementary classroom. An ideal lesson for the Halloween holiday or for a lesson/unit on spiders.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"COUNTRY" CHRISTMAS AND OTHER HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders develop an understanding of Christmas traditions of other countries and well as the United States. They discover the meaning of other holiday celebrations and utilize computers and other technology as an integral part of...
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Handout
Other

Why Christmas: Christmas Traditions and Customs: Kwanzaa

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn all about the holiday of Kwanzaa which celebrates African and African-American culture and history each December.
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Website
abcteach

Abcteach: Kwanzaa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site features a worksheet focused on the seven Kwanzaa principles.
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Website
Other

Kwanzaa Information Center

For Students 3rd - 8th
Use this site to discover the history, symbols, celebrations, and language of Kwanzaa.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Anacostia Community Museum: The Meaning of Kwanzaa

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough explanation of the history, symbols, customs and ceremony give meaning to the holiday of Kwanzaa.
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Website
Other

Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, & Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes in detail the African roots of the holiday, the seven principles, and the seven basic symbols. Includes a comprehensive guide for those celebrating Kwanzaa for the first time.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: 5 Things You May Not Know About Kwanzaa

For Students 9th - 10th
As millions of people around the world prepare to celebrate Kwanzaa, explore five things you may not know about this pan-African holiday.
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Website
A&E Television

History.com: Kwanza

For Students 3rd - 8th
The History Channel provides basic information on the African American non-religious holiday of Kwanza. Celebrated for seven days, descriptions are given of the seven principles and the seven basic symbols.
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Lesson Plan
Lin and Don Donn

Lin and Don Donn: u.s. History Lessons: Holidays: Kwanzaa

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Site provides brief background information about Kwanzaa but is primarily a repository of lesson plan ideas, games and clip art.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Holidays for Kids: Kwanzaa

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about Kwanzaa. The history and facts about this holiday which celebrates African American heritage.
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Lesson Plan
History Teacher

Historyteacher.net: Winter Holiday History "Carol"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan that uses holiday music as a way to explore historical events, people, or topics.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: A New African American Culture

For Students 5th - 8th
All immigrants to America bring a part of their homeland with them. The same was true of slaves. See how vocabulary, arts, and music were knit into American culture.