Like the best-selling first edition, this book is filled with strategies to motivate your staff and maintain a high level of energy at your school. This guide will help all educators approach work every day in an enthusiastic, focused, and positive state of mind. This book will help you: (1) Motivate your faculty with the Friday Focus; (2)…

Presents a collection of holiday-related winter activities for elementary students. November activities celebrate the Great American Smokeout, National Children's Book Week, National Geography Awareness Week, and Thanksgiving. December activities celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the coming of snow. Hands-on activities include cooking,…

This article describes a project that can help students learn more about historic figures-or remember lost loved ones--with this Day of the Dead project from Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The purpose is to remember the wonderful things the person did, and to celebrate his or her life. Directions for construction, as well as a suggested list of…

Activities that explore the history of the New Year tradition in the United States and other countries help students gain a better understanding and appreciation of other cultures. (DF)

Addresses holidays in the curriculum and concerns raised for educators about how to be inclusive and recognize students' different cultures. Presents a sample approach to exploring holidays in the classroom, including techniques for brainstorming, celebration activities, children's individual experiences, expanding experiences, engaging families,…

Poetry that relates to the beliefs and actions of Martin Luther King, Jr. can be used to help students appreciate the civil rights leader's contributions, examine their own aspirations, and critically analyze poems. A reproducible poetry page is included. (IAH)

Suggestions for decorating pumpkins using paint and other materials are offered. Many imaginative pumpkins are pictured. (MT)

Presents a Holiday Trivia Quiz that is designed to highlight American holidays throughout the year. Includes primary questions for grades one through three and intermediate questions for grades three through six; bonus questions; and a writing activity to create a holiday for the month of August. (LRW)

Discusses three approaches that schools and teachers can use to plan for and celebrate special days with young children: the "wholly dazed," or multicultural, approach; the holidays, or nonreligious, approach; and the "holy days," or religious approach. (BB)

Folk tales which are particularly suited to February cover legends about George Washington, the Chinese zodiac, and Groundhog Day. Also included is a calendar of activities for February. These activities are appropriate for Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, President's (Washington and Lincoln) Day, and Leap Year. (KC)

This 1989 activity calendar, developed to commemorate the "Year of the Young Reader," is divided into three sections. The first contains a calendar that lists authors' birthdays, special commemorations, anniversaries, and events. The second includes descriptions of book-related activities that complement monthly themes, weekly themes, or…

Combined craft and library media activities with Christmas holiday themes are suggested to develop card catalog and indexing skills, Dewey decimal classification system and location skills, and literature appreciation. (MES)

This lesson uses the informational power of the Internet for a prewriting activity. Through various Internet sites, students gather information about the history and celebration practices associated with Veterans Day. Following the prewriting activity, students write content-rich poems that honor veterans. During the 45-minute prewriting session,…

Presents class activities, bulletin boards, songs, games, stories, plays, recipes, and art ideas for November and December, with emphasis on Thanksgiving, Book Week, and Christmas. (SJL)

Provides activities for the study of light as a theme for December, which encompasses Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Includes science activities and suggested books for children and teachers. (HTH)