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December Celebrations

DecemberCelebrations

Curriculum Materials Center

David & Lorraine Cheng Library'

William Paterson University

History and Lesson Planning Websites

Lesson planning resources for educators in the PreK-12 classroom.


Christmas Celebrated

Teacher resources for grades K-8 include discussion guides, lesson plans, and activities for Christmas.


Christmas Around the world Lesson Plans

Introduce your students to Christmas traditions around the world with text and creative activities.


Las Posadas (Mexico and Central America)

Teacher resources for grades PreK-8 include discussion guides, lesson plans, and activities for Las Posadas.


Hanukkah Jewish Festival of Lights

Celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah with these lesson plans, articles, and teaching ideas for grades 1-8.


Hanukkah Lesson Plan

Resources for lesson planning includes the history and traditions of Hanukkah through text and creative activities.


Hanukkah Lesson Plans

J Teach Connects explores an expansive collection of educational resources for Jewish teachers. Lesson plans include Crafts, poetry, foods, and the rituals for the Hanukkah holiday in the K-12 classroom. Many of these can also be used in public education.


Celebrate Kwanzaa in the United States

Resources to teach about the traditions and seven principles of Kwanzaa.


Kwanzaa for Children

Background information about the meaning, fun activities, and participation of children within the Kwanzaa framework.

Kwanzaa Lesson Plan

Teach your students the history, symbols, and traditions of the Kwanzaa celebration through text and creative activities.

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Gifts of the Heart

Kay Lamity, Trisha and Richie's new housekeeper, shows them how special it is to give gifts that come from the heart.
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Christmas Around the World

Describes the way different countries around the world celebrate Christmas and includes craft ideas and activities.

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Las Posadas: An Hispanic Christmas Celebration

Follows a family as they prepare for and celebrate Las Posadas, a festival that occurs just before Christmas.
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All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah

Gertie feels left out while Mama and her four older sisters cook Hanukkah dinner until Papa comes home and she helps him with an important task.
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Oskar and the Eight Blessings

A young Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany arrives in New York City on the seventh night of Hanukkah and receives small acts of kindness while exploring the city.
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Hanukkah

Examines the traditions and celebrations associated with the Jewish festival of lights.
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All New Crafts for Kwanzaa

22 fun projects for kids help them learn about Kwanzaa.
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Kwanzaa

Introduces young readers to the origin of the holiday Kwanzaa and how it is celebrated.
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Li'l Rabbit's Kwanzaa

L'il Rabbit searches for a gift for his grandmother when she is sick during Kwanzaa and surprises her with the best gift of all.

Annotated bibliographies available in the Curriculum Materials Center and online.

Christmas Literature

This is a selected list of books about Christmas that can be used in grades PreK - 8.


Hanukkah Literature

This is a selected list of books about Hanukkah (Chanukah) for preschool through Grades 8.


Kwanzaa Literature


Kwanzaa, a Swahili word that means, ”first fruits of the harvest,” is a non-religious holiday that celebrates the African American people and their past. The holiday starts on December 26th and ends on January 1st.