Fun Ways to teach USA Holidays and Celebrations to Kids
USA Holidays and Celebrations are a big part of our culture. I like to start my year with activities that teach students about good citizenship. Next, I teach students about patriotism and fun holidays we celebrate in the U.S. Teaching USA Holidays and Celebrations to Kids at the beginning of the year is a great way to get students to open up to one another.
Here is an inside look at some of the activities my students and I love to do when learning about USA holidays and celebrations.
Review Your Calendar and USA Holidays and Celebrations to Kids
To kick off our discussion, I like to give all of my students a school calendar. First, we talk about all of the fun plans we have coming up. Next, I point out each holiday on the calendar. Then, we talk about each holiday and what we love about them. My class loves to share their memories and how they celebrate at home.
Share Family Traditions and USA Celebrations
The next day we review our discussions about our class calendar and all of the holidays we love. Then, I have my class pick one holiday and share their favorite family traditions.
This is a great activity to have students share. It gives the students a chance to make connections with one another and strengthen their friendships among their peers.
Jot the Facts about USA Holidays and Celebrations
Throughout the week, I use this worksheet to have students collect facts and information about each of the USA holidays and celebrations. Students use books and websites to jot down notes about each one. Afterward, we review each holiday, and I make sure that they understand the meaning and importance of each one.
Websites about National Holidays for Kids
Here are some great websites I like to use when I teach USA Holidays and Celebrations for Kids.
- https://houstonpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/43c3ae84-c685-4828-9d7e-1c8fc09cad3f/presidents-day-all-about-the-holidays/?#.WwbKB62ZP-Y
- https://houstonpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/8cb55681-9129-467d-96e6-0bd7b5bd16e5/martin-luther-king-day-all-about-the-holidays/#.WwbKnK2ZP-Y
- https://houstonpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/e585b233-e750-45a4-b782-fb0a9e3136a4/veterans-day/#.WwbK6q2ZP-Y
- https://houstonpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/98318600-2348-499a-8727-5376258e761e/labor-day-all-about-the-holidays/#.WwbLha2ZP-Y
- https://houstonpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/87a8f1c1-a555-448a-9aae-78a7b9110375/memorial-day-all-about-the-holidays/?#.WwbMBq2ZP-Y
Plan for Early Finishers and Morning Work
Whenever I have extra worksheets leftover from my U.S.A Holidays, Customs and Celebrations Worksheets pack, I use them for morning work or homework. An easy way to keep up with these activities is to make a morning work folder or “Work in Progress” folder that the students can keep at their desk or in a cubby.
I like to add a handful of activities that students can pick through to work on. It’s an easy way to make learning student-centered and keep them motivated. You can grab these worksheets in my National Holidays and Celebrations activity pack here.
Low-Prep USA Holidays and Celebrations Activities
Teaching your class about good citizenship and focusing on nationalism and patriotism at the beginning of the year is a fun way to kick start your social studies class!
The resources in this post are from my U.S.A Holidays, Customs and Celebrations Worksheets and Activities. I also have a digital version and bundle that is perfect for student centers or a distance learning situation.
Click HERE for the printable unit and HERE for the digital version. OR save money by purchasing the paper and digital bundle HERE.
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