Learn About Christmas Around the World

One of the fun things about teaching during the holidays is getting to learn about traditions that come from other parts of the world from where you live. My daughter’s class last year learned about the Feast of St. Nicholas and the fun traditions that go along with that celebration from a classmate whose mother is from the Czech Republic. The school also does a Christmas around the world day, where each classroom represents a different country, which is a lot of fun.

Whether you have a class full of kids or your own children, learning about how other people celebrate Christmas and other holidays can add meaning to your own celebrations.

There’s a great collection of information on celebrating Christmas around the world at 123 Homeschool for Me. This fantastic resource includes a free ebook with coloring sheets and writing prompts, as well as links to information on the holidays in more than 30 countries, from Brazil to Scotland, Kenya to Egypt and many more.

Pick a couple of countries from your heritage or that your kids are particularly interested in to learn about, or tackle as many as you can between now and Christmas.

Does your family have any holiday traditions that have been passed down in your family or home country? I’d love to hear about them!

[Photo via 123 Homeschool for Me.]

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Books about Passover for Kids

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

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