Teachers' beliefs regarding civil sanctity were studied in the context of their pedagogical activities regarding two Israeli national memorial days--Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day. Interviews were conducted with 30 educators in six secular and six religious junior high schools with diverse populations and 12 memorial…

People all over the world relish the opportunity to count down the final moments of the year and welcome an exciting New Year full of opportunities and fresh beginnings. Different cultures have historical traditions of welcoming in the New Year, from eating black-eyed peas in the American South to creating geometric "Rangoli" (a form of…

The festivals of Mexico are renowned for their colorful decorations, energetic music, exuberant parades, and cultural significance. "Los Dias de los Muertos," the Days of the Dead, is no exception. Often misunderstood by those who live elsewhere, this festival commemorating the dead is one of Mexico's most important holidays. As Americans prepare…

In many elementary classrooms, Thanksgiving is celebrated by donning homemade Pilgrim hats, grocery bag vests, and colorful construction-paper headdresses, as students join together to reenact the "first" Thanksgiving with a mock feast. Students compose journal entries on the topic, "what I am thankful for." These typical Thanksgiving activities,…

The "Census in Schools Educator Update" is sent to educators and educational organizations periodically to keep them informed about current and upcoming census data and to provide ideas about how to use data in the classroom. This issue of the "Census in Schools Educator Update" newsletter focuses on the following topics: (1) 2010 Census Video: A…

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,…

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

Teachers in the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) Program of Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services have recognized the need to foster intercultural awareness and understanding as well as language learning in their classrooms. Discussion of cultural traditions and holiday celebrations in the countries of origin of Central…

This article addresses the issue on school policy concerning holidays and outlines some steps schools can take to keep the children and their enrichment as the focus. In the United States, there are many kinds of holidays: religious, cultural, national, and sentimental. School calendars usually honor some of the most prominent of these. If the…

Author discuss reasons for exploring holidays and for including holiday studies in early childhood programs. (NL)

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 brief article describes the history, traditions, and food of the Mexican holiday known as Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Day, and explores classroom and studio activities that teachers can do with their students. Teachers are urged to encourage students to explore the topic of the Day of the Dead, comparing it to other traditions and…

Noting basic misconceptions clouding the dialogue about the role holidays play in an antibias curriculum for young children, this guide for early childhood practitioners invites them to rethink their approach to holidays and provides the tools for addressing the holiday question in new, creative, and effective ways. The three sections of the guide…

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)