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Festive season

Festive Firework Artwork PosterTheme: Cultural diversity and multiculturalism
Key Learning Area: English - Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE)
Age Group: Primary Upper (10-12) Resource Type: Posters and artwork
Stimulus Name: Celebrations
Jessica, Year 6, 1999, Noumea Public School, Mount Druitt District, NSW

Outcomes

Students examine the various cultural and religious festivals celebrated by Australians, describing common elements and identifying adaptations that have been made for life in Australia.

Worksheets to download
Teacher's notes (gif File)
Study of a celebration (gif File)
What makes a celebration (gif File)

Suggested Activities

  1. Festivals and celebrations observed by Australians
    Teacher brainstorms religious and cultural festivals celebrated locally or elsewhere in Australia with the class and makes a list on the board or butcher's paper. Research and record the date each festival is celebrated.
  2. Study of a celebration
    Teacher suggests religious or cultural festivals for which there is access to support resources (books, videos, community members etc). Singly, or in pairs or groups students research a summer festival using Study of a celebration worksheet.
    These festivals include: (see Teacher's notes)
    Baha'i: Birth of Baha'u'llah
    Buddhism: Bodhi Day
    Christian: Christmas
    Hinduism: Diwali
    Islam: Eid ul-fitr
    Judaism: Hanukkah
    Sikhism: Guru Nanak's birthday
  3. What makes a celebration?
    Teacher downloads What makes a celebration matrix and enlarges it onto butcher's paper or the board.
    As each group completes their Study of a celebration research, the details are added to the matrix.
    Teacher leads a discussion, drawing out the common elements of celebrations and how they have been adapted for Australian communities.
Suggested Activities

  1. In groups students prepare and present activities related to the festival they have researched e.g. factual texts, stories, music, dance, costumes, food, videos etc. If possible include community members.
  2. On a world map students locate and label the areas where the festivals have originated.
  3. Invite guest speakers to discuss cultural celebrations.
  4. Visit local community or religious centres and talk to the members.
Related Resources

Activities adapted from: Celebrating Together A multistage unit for K-6 HSIE
NSW Department of Education and Training, Curriculum Support Directorate 2001
Marking Time
Our Country Our Culture Multicultural Calendar 2002 and
The Colours of Australia Multicultural Calendar 2003
Multicultural Programs Unit, NSW Department of Education and Training
New York Times Lesson Plan Sweet on Faith

Relevant websites to visit
The Calendar Zone
Encyclopedia of Days

Date: 19 November 2002