LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 4

The learner will explain different celebrated holidays and special days in communities.

Objective 4.03

Recognize and describe the historical events associated with national holidays.

Resources aligned to this objective

Family Traditions
This lesson is a follow-up to the lesson “Who's Your Mama? A Family Who's Who” and is mainly based on The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant; therefore, family structure including titles or roles is assumed to be prior knowledge for this lesson.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Social Studies and English Language Development)
By Laura Bahlmann and Mary Lail.
Traveling on the Mayflower
Students will participate in a role-play to understand the experiences of Pilgrims on the Mayflower.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Theatre Arts Education, Social Studies, and English Language Development)
By Ellen Douglas and Melissa Park.

Lesson plans on the web

Culture goggles: Same holy land, different holidays
Students visit the Culture Goggles exhibit in National Geographic's Xpedition Hall, where they will select a religion to see how a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim might view the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Eyewitness to history
Students talk with family members about landmark events they have witnessed in their lifetimes to learn how history touches our lives. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
French and family
Students will learn about French families and gain a preliminary knowledge of the French language, learning the French names for various family members. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Information Skills and Social Studies)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
La familia
This is an introductory lesson to Spain and the Spanish language. Students will learn basic elements of the language through lessons on Spanish families and geography. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Information Skills and Social Studies)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
Martin Luther King, Jr. and me: Identifying with a hero
Explores ways to help students make connections to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
Packing the Pilgrim's trunk: Personalizing history in the elementary classroom
In this lesson, students investigate the Pilgrims—who they were and why they came to America. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: IRA/NCTE
World view: National anthems around the world
Students visit the World Viewer exhibit in National Geographic's Xpedition Hall and explore the different geographic information about countries around the globe. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Music Education and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic