Young children benefit from learning about and experiencing cultural and ethnic diversity. Early childhood practitioners often strive to diversify the curriculum by including children's cultural traditions, holidays, or foods. Yet, one knows that young children need more than a celebration or a circle time story about a place or people to feel…

Describes the holiday celebration of Dia de los Muertos at Pacific Oaks Children's School in Los Angeles. Considers the decision to celebrate the holiday, preparation for the celebration, its place in the curriculum, its relationship to Halloween, adult conflicts related to personal religious values, children's misunderstanding of the rituals, and…

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)

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)

An innovative approach to traditional classroom themes is explained. Three stages of planning creative themes involve (1) brainstorming for innovative topics; (2) designing the implementation of themes; and (3) planning specific activities for the group as a whole and for learning centers. (DG)