Christmas Around the World
Christmas Greetings
Resources
/ Possible Activitieshttp://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/christmas.htm
The site has greetings for Christmas and the New Year in a range of languages. Some of the entries have sound files so that you can hear the greetings.
http://www.santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm
The site has greetings for Christmas and the New Year in a range of languages but unfortunately no sound files. / Learn seasonal greetings in a number of languages.
Thinking skills: Remembering
Finding greetings similar to those used in English, finding greetings which are very different.
Find greetings in languages spoken in your class/your school/your community.
Find the longest/shortest greeting.
Compare greetings to find similar ones and trying to work out why might they be similar?
Thinking skills: Applying
KS2 Framework for Languages:
O 3.3 Perform simple communicative tasks using single words, phrases and short sentences
Similarities and differences
Resources
/ Possible ActivitiesChildren in the class
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_around_the_world
Information on Christmas festivities around the world and other winter festivals.
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm
Web pages with information on Christmas celebrations in 31 countries around the world.
http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/journey.htm
Web pages with information on Christmas celebrations in 8 countries around the world.
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/trees-traditions/armenia-to-bulgaria/
Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Link takes you to pages on trees and traditions for Christmas and holidays of light around the world, from Armenia to Wales. / At home is where we are comfortable. What would it be like to be at home with someone else in the class on 25th December? In groups children discuss what they do and eat on 25th December.
What would they do or eat differently, if someone from the class spent 25th December at home with them so that they felt comfortable?
Thinking Skills: Understanding
Using one or more of the websites to compare christmas festivities across the world. Pupils could provide information under different headings, e.g. gift giver, when gifts opened, decorations or symbols, food.
Thinking Skills: Analysing
Using the information above, which traditions do you really like from your own Christmas, from other Christmas celebrations around the world?
Thinking Skills: Evaluating
Similarities and differences
Resources
/ Possible ActivitiesWrite a Christmas menu for 3 people from different countries so that there is something from the Christmas traditions from each country and your family.
Thinking Skills: Creating
KS2 Framework for Languages:
IU 3.3. Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures
IU 4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures
IU 5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their own culture with those of another country
IU 6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life
The view of Christmas in England
Resources
/ Possible Activitieshttp://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm
A Canadian site with information on Christmas in the British Isles.
http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm
An Australian site with information on Christmas England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The site asks you to note the following:
“The information placed on this site may not be the way all people celebrate traditions today many are over 100 years old. Many people change to suit their families.” / How much of this is true for the class? Does this fit with their view of Christmas. How does it compare to Christmas at home (see above).
Thinking Skills: Analysis
KS2 Framework for Languages:
IU 3.3. Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures
IU 4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures
IU 5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their own culture with those of another country
IU 6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life
Winter Festivals
Resources
/ Possible Activitieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_around_the_world
Information on Christmas festivities around the world and other winter festivals.
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/trees-traditions/armenia-to-bulgaria/
Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Link takes you to pages on trees and traditions for Christmas and holidays of light around the world, from Armenia to Wales. / Summarising common elements of the different festivals.
Thinking Skills: Understanding
Classifying features of winter festivals, e.g. when, food, customs.
Thinking Skills: Analysis
KS2 Framework for Languages:
IU 3.3. Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures
IU 4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures
IU 5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their own culture with those of another country
IU 6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life
Silent Night
Resources
/ Possible Activitieshttp://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/silentnight.html
Words to Silent Night in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian Spanish and Swedish
http://www.silentnight.info/
Information on the composers and the history of the song. / Learn to sing a verse in a different language.
Thinking skills: Remembering
KS2 Framework for Languages:
O 4.1 Memorise and present a short spoken text
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