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Traditions of the Family—American Celebrations and Philanthropy
Lesson 1:
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Lesson
Handouts
Academic Standards
Philanthropy Framework
6th-8th Grade
Subjects:

Language Arts, Library / Technology, Philanthropy and Social Studies

Key Words/Concepts click to view
ELA: Presentations; Reflection; Response to Text/Others
PHIL: Community; Family; Time/Talent/Treasure; Traditions; Values
SOC: Cultures; Freedom; Inquiry; Primary/Secondary Sources

Purpose:

The students will realize the importance of American celebrations through philanthropic actions. They will be able to explain how cultures and experiences shape the lives of their community. Although this lesson uses the Fourth of July as the example of a national celebration, the lesson concepts are also applicable to other holidays such as Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, President's Day and Memorial Day.

Duration:

Two to Three Thirty to Forty-Five Minute Class Periods
Instructor's Notes: Additional class periods may be required for meeting "writing across the curriculum" writing process outcomes. Learners should be grouped into writing pods of four students per pod. In this grouping, learners are to brainstorm ideas, create rough drafts, peer edit and produce each learner's final product.

Objectives:

The learner will:

  • describe how family values are demonstrated through the ways they celebrate the Fourth of July.
  • summarize key points of an American celebration of the Fourth of July as shown through current events that are connected with the family unit.
  • explain the use of traditional means of organizing and celebrating the Fourth of July celebrations.

Service Experience:

Although this lesson contains a service project example, decisions about service plans and implementation should be made by students, as age appropriate.

See Lesson Four: Our Partners in Philanthropy

Materials:

  • Notebook paper
  • Pencils
  • Fourth of July pictures
  • Pictures of flags
  • Markers
  • Magazines that can be cut up to find pictures for other holidays
  • Bar Graph of Holiday Sharing (Attachment One)
Handout 1
Bar Graph of Holiday Sharing

Instructional Procedure(s):

Anticipatory Set:
The instructor will write five different holidays on the blackboard. The instructor will wear red, white and blue, wave a flag and say "yahoo." The instructor will sing or play a tape of "It's a Grand Old Flag." The instructor will then ask, "What holiday am I celebrating?" When the students respond correctly, ask what they like best about the Fourth of July.

 

  • Distribute pictures of the U.S. flag and allow them to color each stripe in the correct sequence. Also color the background of the stars.

  • Explain what the colors stand for:
    • Red: courage
    • White: purity
    • Blue: perseverance and justice
    • Stars: the states

  • Who else celebrates the Fourth of July in these great United States? (Communities all over the United States celebrate in many different ways.)

  • How can we be a part of the community and share our time, talents, and treasures? This is called philanthropy.

  • What can we give back to the community as a symbolism of our freedom?

  • Find pictures of people in communities working, sharing, or celebrating together and make a mural with the participation of the entire class.

  • Discuss how the celebration has affected the lives of those around them.

  • Distribute Attachment One: Bar Graph of Holiday Sharing.
    (Explain how to use the graph.)

  • Write a short story about a celebration and how it touched other lives.

Assessment:

  • As a group the students will compare and contrast how other holidays are celebrated by sharing their ideas from different cultural backgrounds.

  • Use a chart (Attachment One) to demonstrate the differences in giving or sharing on different holidays.

  • The instructor will evaluate the short story written by the learners on how the celebrations named have affected the lives of others.

Short Story Rubric

Four points
  • The short story should effectively describe community or family need or needs.
  • It should describe how a character(s) met the family or community need through acts of philanthropy, demonstrating how the character(s) gave his/her time, treasure and talent for the common good.
  • The short story should effectively use a majority of the vocabulary developed through the lessons.· Elements of style, grammar and construction are met with a minimum of 90% accuracy.
  • The short story should connect to celebration of a public holiday.
    • Three points
  • The short story should describe need of family or community.
  • It should describe philanthropic giving to meet that need.
  • It should demonstrate use of at least 50% of the vocabulary as developed in the lessons.
  • Elements of style, grammar and construction are present.
    • Two points
  • A need and philanthropic act are identified in community or family but without specific identification of time, treasure or talent for the common good.
  • Less than 50% of the vocabulary as developed in the lessons is used.
  • Elements of style, grammar and construction are minimally present.
    • One point
  • Need(s) or philanthropic act(s) identified or an act of giving is described.
  • A minimum of one vocabulary term is used.
  • Minimal demonstration of rules of style, grammar or construction.
    • 0 points
  • None of the requirements are met.

    • Each learner is to bring a minimum of two pictures and two writings to add to the collage. The instructor is to record each contribution, with full participation being two examples of each.

    School/Home Connection:

      The students have had philanthropic experiences, both at home and in school, by the different ways of celebrating the holidays. The students are to prepare a chart which lists two family celebrations and two school celebrations with activities from the family and school.

      Holidays Celebrated By Students
      Sample:

      My Family

       

       
      Harvest Celebration
       
       
       
       
       
       
      Memorial Day

       

       

       


      My School

       

       
      Martin Luther King Day

       

       
      President's Day

       

       

    Cross-Curriculum Extensions:

    The students will continue to bring in pictures and writings of celebrations that will be assigned throughout the year. Designate space on a wall or board to display all of the pictures and writings as a collage.

    Bibliographical References:

    • Leslie, Clare Walker. The Ancient Celtic Festivals: And How We Celebrate Them Today. Inner Traditions Intl. October 2000.

    • Wiggins, Kate Douglas. The Bird's Christmas Carol. Houghton Mifflin Co. September 1999.

    Lesson Developed By:

    Karen Hager
    St. Charles Community Schools
    Anna M. Thurston Middle School
    St. Charles, MI 48655

    Handouts:

    Handout 1Print Handout 1

    Bar Graph of Holiday Sharing

    Take a few minutes to think about how you share on the following holidays.
    Use the bar graph below to share the number of times you shared on each holiday.

      Christmas, Chanuka, Kwanzaa, Ramadan Valentine's Day Harvest Celebrations (Thanksgiving) Celebrations of National Independence (Fourth of July) Celebrations of National Heroes (Martin Luther King Day)
    10

    9

    8

    7

    6

    5

    4

    3

    2

    1
    		         

     

    Give examples of the types of sharing you did.

     

    Time:

     

    Talent:

     

    Treasure:

    Philanthropy Framework:

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