Lesson Plan II

1. Lesson Plan II Teacher: Asher Mandel Subject Area: Social Studies Grade Level: 4 Unit Title: Cultural Contributions Lesson Title: Multi-Cultural Calendar

2. Things to Think About? Where is your family from? What kind of holidays does your family celebrate? Can you find where your family comes from?

4. Some More things to think about What is a Multi-Cultural Calendar? What do you know about other cultures holidays and how they celebrate them? What do you think you will get out of this project?

5. Daily Outline Sponge Activity: World Map Activity Anticipatory Set: What is a Mult-Cultural Calendar? Lecture: Different Cultural Holidays Multi-Cultural Calendar Review Closure

6. Objectives Students must describe the holiday of their different countries and explain the significance in forming a national heritage Students must describe the ceremonies of their different countries and explain the significance in forming a national heritage. Students must describe the traditions of their different countries and explain the significance in forming a national heritage.

7. Mexican National Holidays Carnaval - is an official Mexican holiday that kicks off a five-day celebration of the libido before the Catholic lent. Beginning the weekend before Lent, Carnaval is celebrated exuberantly with parades, floats and dancing in the streets. Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz, and Veracruz are excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities. Dia de la Constitucion - an official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution. The Birthday of Benito Juez - a famous Mexican president and national hero, this is an official Mexican holiday. Primero de Mayo - is the Mexican national holiday that is equivalent to the U.S. Labor Day. Cinco de Mayo - is the Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican victory over the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862. Dia de la Raza - This day celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race. Mexican Revolution Day - This official Mexican holiday celebrates the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

8. Mexican Religious Holiday Feast Day of de San Antonio de Abad is a religious holiday during which the Catholic Church allows animals to enter the church for blessing. Dia de la Candelaria or Candlemas, is a religious holiday that is celebrated with processions, dancing, bullfights in certain cities, and the blessing of the seeds and candles. The festivities are best seen in: San Juan de los Lagos, Jalapa; Talpa de Allende, Jalisco; and Santa Maria del Tuxla, Oaxaca. Saint John the Baptist Day is celebrated with religious festivities, fairs, and popular jokes connected to getting dunked in water. Dia de los Muertos - is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholocism. Europe's All Saints' Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico's dead. Dia de Nuestea Senora de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a feast honoring Mexico's patron saint. Las Posades - celebrates Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem with candlelight processions that end at various nativity scenes. Las Posadas continues through January 6.

9. Buddhist Holidays New Year’s Day - Buddhist celebrate the New Year by renewing commitments to live the Dharma in the new year and vow to renounce the 108 Bon-No (or 108 ways one can transgress against one’s fellow creatures). Nirvana Day - Usually observed the second Sunday in February, is the date, according to Mahayana tradition, of Shakyamuni Buddha’s death and passing into Mahaparinirvana (complete extinction of ego-self and reunification with the universe). O-Higan - Usually observed on the Sunday on or immediately preceding the Spring and Fall equinoxes, the change in seasons from extreme cold or heat to moderate temperatures is symbolic of crossing from the shore of illusion (extreme beliefs held in ignorance) to the other shore of enlightenment (the middle path of recognizing and continuously overcoming one’s ignorance) Hanamatsuri or Wesak--Usually the Sunday on or before April 8, the observance of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, who would eventually become the historical Buddha. Hatsumairi or Parents’ Day--This is the first formal visit by a child to the Temple. The child and parents participate in a brief ceremony including the Three Treasures. Each child receives a certificate of Hatsumairi (First Presentation) and an o-juzu (meditation beads).

10. Buddhist Holidays Bon Odori or O-Bon - is the annual memorial dance to commemorate the lives of loved ones who have passed away during the previous 12 months. Over a two day period, many Japanese-American communities celebrate the Bon Odori Festival. This Buddhist dance festival is celebrated on the Saturday as a reminder of the gratitude we feel toward our ancestors. Ho-on-koor Shinran Shonin’s Memorial (usually the fourth Sunday in November)--is devoted to recalling the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, how he brought the Buddhadharma down--from the mountaintop monastery where he was a monk--to the rest of Japan, and what that has meant for the ordinary working people of the world. Bohid Day - This the day were modern Buddhism began. This is when The prince, Siddhartha Gautama, was known as the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

11. Christian Holidays Palm Sunday - Christian celebration of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The day begins Holy Week. It is observed by worship celebrations and parades using palm branches. Good Friday - Christian remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus and related events. Holy Saturday - Christian observance of the Saturday before Easter - a time meditation on the mystery of Jesus Christ. Easter - The most holy of Christian sacred days. The day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his death by crucifixion. Observances include worship services beginning at sunrise, special music, feasting, and parades. All Hallows Eve - Christian celebration of mystery combining prayers and merriment involving children and families. It is a prelude to All Saint's Day. All Saints' Day - Christian day for honoring saints, known and unknown.In general, saints are persons with reputation for unusual lives of holiness and devotion to God. A Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church where saints have special formal status. Christmas Eve - Christian celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for for the birth of Jesus. It is observed with worship, candle lighting, manger scenes and festive meals.

12. Jewish Holiday Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year. The Beginning of the High Holy days. Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement.This is when G-d judges his people and places them in the Book of Life or the Book of Death. Chanukah - The Festival of Light. This holiday lasts for 8 days to commemorate the amount of oil lasted to light the old temple. Passover - This 8 day festival dedicates the Jewish people being saved form Egypt. Shavuot - This holiday commemorates the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is also known as the spring harvest festival of first fruits.

13. Irish Holiday: St. Patrick’s Day This Holiday is the feast of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. One of the biggest saints to convert the Irish into Christianity. In the U.S, it is a National Holiday but in Ireland it is a religious holiday to honor Saint Patrick. Irish people celebrate by attending religious services, enjoying family and friends, and wearing Shamrocks. Saint Patrick used the Shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity to the Irish.

14. Vietnamese Holiday: Tet Nguyen-Dan Vietnamese believe the first day and the first week of the new year will determine the fortunes or misfortunes for the rest of the year. It is a time to pay debts, forgive others, correct one's faults, and start the new year with a clean slate. During Tet, all actions should be pure and beautiful as the attitude of the first few days of the new year sets the tone for the remainder of the year. The first signs of the impending holiday show up a month before Tet. Workmen start building stalls near the markets to sell holiday items such as New Year's greeting cards, candied fruits and decorations. Prices for everything begin to rise. Houses and buildings get a coat of new paint. People buy new clothes, exchange greeting cards, wish each other Happy New Year (Chuc Mung Nam Moi). It is auspicious if the branches bloom on the first morning of Tet: apricot blossoms are reputed to keep demons out of the homes at this time.

15. Activity

16. Review Outline Mapping out our countries and remembering cultural holidays Our questions Did we achieve our goals and objectives for today Our cultural lecture Multi-Cultural Calendar

17. Review Objectives Students must describe the holiday of their different countries and explain the significance in forming a national heritage Students must describe the ceremonies of their different countries and explain the significance in forming a national heritage. Students must describe the traditions of their different countries and explain the significance in forming a national heritage.

18. Homework Write 3 paragraphs telling me something about your own cultures holidays, your groups culture, and another culture that your classmates did.