Holiday Hues Lesson Plan
Holiday Hues: Culture Quest
Teacher Facilitation Guide
30 Minutes
7th Grade Social Studies/SEL
The "Why"
"Understanding diverse holiday traditions promotes cultural awareness, empathy, and an appreciation for global communities, fostering a more inclusive classroom and world view."
Prep: Activity Setup
- • Review the Culture Quest Activity sheet.
- • Prepare handouts or digital research links.
- • Gather markers and chart paper (optional for sharing).
- • Ensure student devices are charged and ready.
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will identify and describe at least three different holiday traditions from various cultures around the world.
The Journey (Instructions)
1
Introduction & Groups
5 Min
- Introduce the lesson and objective.
- Explain students will explore global traditions.
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 members).
2
Culture Quest Activity
15 Min
- Distribute the Holiday Culture Quest Activity sheets.
- Instruct groups to choose 1-2 unique countries/cultures.
- Groups research: What is it? When is it? Why is it? How is it?
- Circulate to offer guidance and check for understanding.
3
Share & Discuss
10 Min
- Groups share one interesting tradition with the class.
- Facilitate a short discussion on global inclusivity.
Discussion Prompts:
- "What similarities did you notice between different traditions?"
- "What differences surprised you?"
- "Why is it important to learn about holidays celebrated by others?"
Holiday Hues: Culture Quest Series
Created for 7th Grade Inclusive Classrooms
Holiday Culture Quest Activity
Holiday Culture Quest
Global Explorer's Log
NAME:
GROUP:
Mission Briefing
Welcome, global explorers! Your mission is to uncover the fascinating ways holidays are celebrated around the world. Dive into diverse cultures and discover unique traditions that make our world vibrant!
Instructions:
- In your groups, choose 1-2 different countries or cultures to explore.
- Identify a specific holiday tradition for each.
- Research: What is it? When is it? Why is it important? How do people celebrate it?
- Record your findings clearly in the sections below.
Discovery #1
Country / Culture
Holiday Tradition
Key Aspects (When, Why, How)
Discovery #2
Country / Culture
Holiday Tradition
Key Aspects (When, Why, How)
Bonus Question: Reflection
What similarities or differences did you notice between your chosen traditions and holidays you or your family celebrate? How does learning about these traditions make you feel about our global community?
Holiday Hues Presentation
Culture Quest
Holiday Hues
Exploring Traditions Around the World
Our Mission
"Today, we will identify and describe holiday traditions from at least three different cultures to understand how our global community celebrates."
Discover
New cultures
Appreciate
Global diversity
Connect
Common threads
The Quest Rules
1
Form groups of 3-4 explorers.
2
Choose 1-2 unique cultures (think beyond the familiar!).
3
Research When, Why, and How they celebrate.
Pro-Tip:
"Look for traditions involving unique foods, specific colors, special songs, or community gatherings!"
Discovery Time
15 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK
Use your devices or library resources to fill out your Explorer's Log.
Active Research Mode
Sharing the Light
Each group, share ONE tradition that surprised or interested you most.
Who goes first?
Reflecting Together
1
What similarities did you notice between different holiday traditions?
2
What differences surprised you?
3
Why is it important to learn about holidays celebrated by others?
Keep Exploring!
Understanding others' traditions is the first step toward a more inclusive and empathetic world.
Mission Complete
