13 Easy Ideas to Teach Holidays Around the World

Are you teaching a unit on holidays around the world? I’ve taught this unit in my classroom for many years, and throughout the years, I have scrambled to gather ideas and resources from many different places, and it always took more time than I wanted. After years of spending so much time gathering resources to teach this unit to my students, I decided to create a unit that had everything I needed in one place. No more time spent looking for books here, videos to show there, and scrambling to create something that worked for my class or grade-level team, and I’m so excited to share with you what I have created!

Holidays Around the World Unit Resources

To make this unit exciting and engaging for my students, I pretend we are traveling around the world to visit different countries to learn about their holiday traditions. Students begin by completing a passport application. After being approved, they receive a passport! Then, we are ready to begin our travels! Students receive a Holidays Around the World plane ticket. As they enter each country we are visiting, they are welcomed by a welcome sign and a passport stamp. Depending on how you would like to use them, students may glue their passport stamp into their passport or on their suitcase. Templates are included for all of these activities! Additionally, a travel journal is included for students to write about their journey and the facts they learned during the unit.

Which Countries and Holidays Are Included?

The Holidays Around the World unit I have created teaches students about the holiday traditions of the following countries/holidays: China (Chinese New Year), The United Kingdom, Ethiopia, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Israel (Hanukkah), Mexico (Las Posadas), Sweden (St. Lucia’s Day), Australia, India (Diwali), and Kwanzaa.  Each country/holiday includes a welcome sign, passport stamp, information sheet for teachers including holiday history and book, video, and music suggestions, a craft, an emergent reader, a text-based evidence reading passage, a comprehension check consisting of multiple choice and/or written response questions, and an answer key.  Comprehension question checks include basic recall and higher-order thinking skills. The included passages can be used in a variety of settings –  whole group, small group, or independent work. The passages can also be used without the comprehension checks if desired.  Students will have a blast learning fascinating facts about different countries and holidays around the world while also learning geography skills!

What kind of Holidays Around the World crafts do students get to make?

As students visit each country/holiday, they will have the opportunity to create a keepsake craft related to the traditions of the country/holiday. Each craft includes step-by-step instructions, and minimal resources will be required. Most crafts can be made with resources most teachers already have in their classrooms such as paper, tissue paper, sentence strips, and paper bags. A few crafts will require items that might need to be purchased or donated such as cups, parchment paper, and cardboard tubes. Students will love creating keepsakes for each of the holidays around the world to keep in their suitcases!

What is Included in the Holidays Around the World unit?

China (Chinese New Year)
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Paper Lantern Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

The United Kingdom
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Christmas Cracker Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Ethiopia
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Drum Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

France
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Shoe Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Germany
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Tree Puppet Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

The Netherlands
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Wooden Shoe Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Italy
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
La Befana Broom Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Israel (Hanukkah)
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Menorah Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Mexico (Las Posadas)
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Poinsettia Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Sweden (St. Lucia’s Day)
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
St. Lucia’s Day Crown Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Australia
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Sandman Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

India (Diwali)
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Diya Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Kwanzaa 
Welcome Sign
Passport Stamps
Information Sheet
Mkeka Craft
Emergent Reader
Reading Passage
Comprehension Check
Answer Key

Unit Book Suggestions

I hope you and your students enjoy learning about different holiday traditions around the world! You can grab these activities by clicking here. Enjoy!