Introduction
All over the world, people welcome Winter Holidays. Most Winter celebrations focus on family and friends. It is a time to reflect on the past and envision a future, perhaps, in a world where people live together in harmony.
    In the United States some groups of people celebrate Christmas, Kwannzaa, and New Year's. However, these are just a few Winter Holidays celebrated within the United States and throughout the world. People in different parts of the world use different calendars and they have different celebrations for Winter Holidays. China and Israel keep a lunar calendar.This calendar is based on the movement of the moon around the Earth. Various countries have many different ways of celebrating Winter Holidays.
  Task
Time to celebrate!  Our class will have a Winter celebration to learn about the cultural and religious similarities between ourselves and other diverse cultures.Each of you will be required to research and present the Winter Holiday traditions from a different country or culture to the class and complete a chart for comparisons.

In groups of three each student will be assigned a role.
-two researchers
-one recorder

1.The researchers will gather important information about their chosen winter holiday from the chosen country.
2. The recorder will write necessary information describing important facts about the assigned winter holiday.


  Resources
To complete this assignment, you may use the selections of books, encyclopedias, digital curriculum, magazines, and other resources available in our classroom and media center. You will also find the following Internet sites useful for your project:
Isreal (Hanukkah) Mexico (Dia de Reyes) http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
http://www4.district125.k12.il.us/faculty/mplank/newyear.html

**Teacher will provide a list of  books and magazines

  Process
Once you have selected one of the countries from the list above, your group will  research the Winter Holiday traditions of your country to include (but you are not limited to) the following:

• Continent/Location
• Winter Holiday Date(s)
  
• Origins
• Traditions or Customs
• Food
• Clothing and Gifts

 Working together, you will complete a project to share with the class.
    1. poem (acrostic)
    2. give a report
    3. Art project (collage) 

Each group will also add a custom and explain ..WHY?? During your project, you may want to include music, costumes, literature or stories, language phrases or vocabulary, related crafts or activities, charts or displays, decorations, and/or traditional foods and recipes.

  Evaluation
During the project, all students will complete the following chart.
You may use notebook paper to record additional information.

Winter Holiday Comparison Chart
Name:
 

Country	Continent	Winter Holiday Date	Origins	Traditions	Foods
United States
Mexico
Sweden
China
Isreal
France
Germany

Winter Holidays Around the World Student Evaluation Rubric

Name:                                                       Date:
Topic:                                                       Partners:
 
 

Tasks	Attempted (69-below)	Acceptable (70-79)	Admirable (80-89)	Awesome (90-100)
Project	Exhibits little or no planning and practice, and lacks organization.	Exhibits some planning and practice, but lacks organization.	Exhibits adequate planning, practice, and organization.	Exhibits extensive planning, practice and organization.
Internet Research	Did not use web sites effectively. Little facts collected to selected culture.	Used the web sites available in an acceptable manner but did not consult any additional resources.	Utilized the web and additional resources fully.  At times, took the initiative to find information outside of school.	Went above and beyond to research information and brought in ideas to enhance project.
Objective Knowledge	Knowledge of subject not evident. Outcome is confusing or flawed.	Some knowledge is evident. Outcome is somewhat confusing or flawed.	Knowledge of subject is evident. Outcome is clear, correct and appropriate.	Knowledge is evident throughout and outcome was more than required.
Decision Making Process	Minimal use of analysis in selecting  criteria and alternatives.	Some logical sequence of selections. Criteria and alternatives demonstrate some analysis.	Logical sequence of information.  Alternatives are clear, reasonable, and direct.	Logical information. Evaluated all criteria and alternatives clearly.
Collaboration	Rarely contributed to project; often reminded to focus and produce; frequently off-task.	Contributions were not equal although some of the criteria was accomplished.  At times, was distracted from task.	Contributed good effort to the project.  Was helpful and cooperative in his/her share.	Contributed exceptional effort to the project.  Went above and beyond the call of duty to further group's work.

  Conclusion

Congratulations!!! Now you know more about the world around you. Please take a moment and write in your journal. Explain what you liked and disliked about this project.

Questions and Answers

http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/cquest/asia/asia.html