Christmas Around the World: Similarities and DifferencesCore Integration: English as a Second Language, Social Studies, and Cultural Studies
Level Taught: Beginners / Intermediate Level High School Students-- Ninth/ Tenth/ Eleventh/ Twelfth Grade
Unit: Christmas Around the World: Similarities and Differences
Activity Time: Period of 10 Days, with 50-minute sessions each.
Concept: How to identify the similarities and differences between cultures through the most celebrated annual custom of Christmas.
Goals for Outcome:
1. To create awareness of cultures, raise current level of knowledge of world cultures, increase technological aptitude by use of the Internet, Power Point, and other programs.
2. Unite students together in familiar ways: technologically, culturally, and allow them to work together to create a final product to present to the class.
3. Students will develop better Pronunciation, more confidence with more practice and development of the English language by researching in English and communicating with classmates solely in English.Lesson Plan Procedure:
DAY ONE
1. Students will first watch a video that portrays Christmas traditions in various countries. (20- 30 minutes)
2. Students will divide up into groups based on random selection (or you can choose to pair up students from different areas of the world) and decide which area of the world they want to focus their research on. (10 minutes)
3. Students will brainstorm on which similarities and differences they noted most strongly in the video. Notes will be taken and handed in for viewing by teacher. (10 -- 20 minutes)DAY TWO
1. Students will meet in the library today, to learn how to properly construct a PowerPoint presentation, citing examples of sound, animation, uploads from the Internet, etc. Handouts will be given. (30 minutes)
2. Students will gather in groups to brainstorm again, and use any related materials (books, etc) to collaborate on their country's celebration of Christmas. (20 minutes)
3. Notes from Day One will be handed back and given recommendations and suggestions.
DAY THREE
1. Students will meet in the library today, to do research on the Internet. Searches required include: Christmas tradition in their country of choice, similarities and differences to their own families' Christmas celebrations. (50 minutes)DAY FOUR
1. Students will meet in the library to begin construction on their Power Point presentations. This process will last three days only.
2. By day's end students will have constructed their outline and included most of the highlights of their presentation to be given. (50 minutes)DAY FIVE
1. Students will meet in the library to continue their Power Point presentations.
They are expected to have completed the depth of their presentation by day's end.
2. Continues research will be done on the Internet and use of various CD Rom programs is allowed.
3. Animation/audio sounds may be implemented at this time. (50 minutes)DAY SIX
1. Students will meet in the library to complete their Power Point presentations. Total presentation duration will be 20 minutes approximately, per group.
2. Students are expected to have uploads from the internet, including two websites that reflect their country's Christmas customs.
(50 minutes)DAY SEVEN through DAY TEN
1. Students will begin presenting their projects, and they will last approximately four to five days.
2. Total presentation duration will be 20 minutes approximately, per group.Students will be graded based upon:
1. The presentation itself
2. Depth of Research on Country
3. Individual Contribution of Each Student
4. Level of Difficulty by use of Audio/ Uploads, etc from the InternetRequired Materials:
1. Computers
2. Library Access to Books
3. Power Point Program
4. Paper for NotesDianne Hojnacki, UCF Teaching English as a Second Language Course, TSL 5245
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