Jami Lemon - Adaptive Lesson Plan

Winter Holidays

Introduction

This lesson provides students with an opportunity to learn about the traditions of the various winter holidays.

Grade Level

• 2/3

Adaptations 

This lesson plan is adapted for two students with ADHD, one that has a slower cognitive speed, and has trouble in class with following the class, and when asked to answer questions in class, and another student who has trouble paying attention in class. 

Objectives

• Students will understand that most winter holidays are associated with an important object that gives light.
• Students will study the origin and customs of several winter holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice.
• Students will create individual holidays that celebrate someone or something that is important to them

Suggested Time Allowance

50-60 Minutes for in class, and have personal holiday celebration thought out at home, and 20 minutes the following day to finish up personal holiday.

Materials

• Copies of a Winter Holiday Article, a Vocabulary Worksheet, and a Winter Holidays Chart
• Pictures of a menorah, kana, advent wreath, and christmas tree
• Pictures of winter and summer
• Winter Holidays Article https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/Winter-Holidays.pdf 
• Vocabulary Worksheet https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/Winter-Holidays.pdf 
• Winter Holiday Chart 

Procedures

1.  Introduce the key vocabulary that will be found on the worksheet: Menorah, Kana, Advent Wreath, Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah.  Explain which religions have each holiday and small background on the people.  Talk about the dates and why those are significant, and have students brainstorm other items they think of when they hear about the holiday (this will help with filling in the Winter Holiday Chart).

2.  Have the students read the Winter Holiday Article individually or in pairs and work on the Vocabulary sheet.

• Adaptation 1: Give the student the article the day before to read over to be better prepared and have parent to assist them.
• Adaptation 2: Have both students work with other students who show a clear understanding of the diverse holidays to assist with questions they may have.  Afterwards have students move around class and talk in groups of 2-3 for a few minutes and then switch groups.  This way the students with ADHD and others, are not sitting in one place the whole time and they get to move around, and get multiple perspectives, this will also help with the vocabulary sheet.  

3.  Have students think of customs and traditions associated with holidays throughout the year and fill in Winter Holiday Chart.

• Adaptation 1: Tell the student about the activity the day before so they are able to ask questions about each holiday so they have some previous information for the class activities, this way they will feel more included.
• Adaptation 2: Have students think of ideas individually and fill in chart, and then come together as a class to insure every student gets as much information as possible
• Adaptation 3: Bring in items associated with each holiday and set them up in areas around the room and have students put in groups and rotate visiting each one, then they will get a better understanding of each holiday and get to move around.

4.  Tell students they are responsible for individually creating a new holiday celebrating something or someone that is very important to them.  They need to include why it is meaningful, how people will celebrate their holiday, and any significant songs, games, or food associated with the holiday.

• Adaptation 1: If unable to write everything out, then have student draw pictures that symbolize the ideas of their holiday, or type out holiday ideas on the computer.
• Adaptation 2: For student who struggles to pay attention, have them and a small group create a dance/song for the holiday in a resource room/hallways.  This way the student gets the chance to move around create something that interests them, as well as giving more creative students in class the chance to show their skills.

5.   Display the students’ holiday descriptions in the classroom

Assessment

Have students discuss the differences and similarities of the four winter holidays described in the article.

• Students should be able to define key vocabulary
• Students should be able to fill in the Winter Holidays Chart using clues from class discussion and Winter Holidays Article
• Students should be able to identify the history and traditions of various holidays

Extension activities

• Have students write down things they respect and like about the other students holidays
• Everyday focus on a different holiday for 4 days, this way it is more focused and in-depth then one day spent on all holidays.

Standards Correlation

• Knows the ways that families have expressed their beliefs and values through literature, songs, art, religion, celebrations, food and language throughout the years.

Original Lesson plan

https://www.teachervision.com/holidays-and-seasonal-events/lesson-plan/3401.html