Holiday

Traditions
Anusha Dadwani
 • Students will be able to
demonstrate an
appreciation for a holiday
that is celebrated by
another country or culture
Objective by sharing what is learned
about the holiday and
creating unique symbols to
represent the important
components of the holiday.
Opening the Lesson

•Brainstorm American traditions and

other traditions for Christmas as a
class, organizing on a smart board.
 Polar Express Summary
One Christmas Eve many years ago, a boy lies in bed, listening hard for the bells of Santa’s
sleigh, which he has been told by a friend do not exist. Later that night he hears not bells but
a very different sound. He looks out his window and is astounded to see a steam engine
parked in front of his house! The conductor invites him to board the Polar Express, a train
filled with children on their way to the North Pole.
The train takes the children to the center of the city, where Santa and the elves have
gathered for the giving of the first gift of Christmas. The boy is chosen to receive this first
gift. Knowing that he can choose anything in the world, he decides on a simple gift: one silver
bell from Santa’s sleigh. Santa cuts a bell from a reindeer’s harness and the delighted boy
slips it into his bathrobe pocket as the clock strikes midnight and the reindeer pull the sleigh
into the sky.
When the children return to the train, the boy realizes the bell has fallen through a hole in his
pocket. Heartbroken, he is returned to his home. In the morning, his little sister finds one
small box with the boy’s name on it among the presents. Inside is the silver bell! The boy and
his sister are enchanted by its beautiful sound, but their parents cannot hear it. The boy
continues to believe in the spirit of Christmas and is able to hear the sweet ringing of the bell
even as an adult.
Read the Polar Express aloud to students
Guided Practice

• Move the desks into rows with an aisle down the middle to make
our Polar Express Christmas train, and give students their Polar
Express train tickets and punch it with a hole punch to make it
official!
• Have students write about a traditions they have in their family,
complete with one sentence describing it, one colored picture
representing the origin of the tradition, and the month or date it
is celebrated.
Polar Express Train Pass
Independent Practice

• Have students compare and contrast their

celebration with the celebrations of their elbow
partners.
• Observe as they work together in groups
Closing

• Introduce the venn diagram to the students

and fill the graphic organizer on the board
as you have volunteers share their traditions
with the class.
Assessment

• Through guided questions, close monitoring and

informal observation; the teacher will be able to
assess student’s ability and understanding of the
subject being introduced. Through individually
assessing during independent practice and
reviewing during guided practice the teacher will
be able to evaluate students.
Modification

• Students may work in groups or individually

in order to complete their assignments. In
order to accommodate for all students,
allow extra time to review for lower
students and extra worksheets to occupy
the time of advanced students