Go here for more information about Easter: Origin, Activities and Books for Children on this site.

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BOOK REVIEWS:

• Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli.  Good for ages 3-8.  Story about how an anonymous Valentine card changes an unsociable man into a friend who wants to help his neighbors and also who appreciates them.
• Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane de Groat.  Gilbert gives two not-so-nice Valentine cards and learns something about forgiveness.

Use this link to register for a free book!

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• 1 cup of your favorite ice cream (not ice milk)
• 1 cup self rising flour

Let the ice cream sit out at room temperature until completely melted but still cold.  Stir in the flour.  Do not overstir.   Spoon into greased muffin tin.  Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.  Makes 6 muffins.

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ORIGIN:

The colonists celebrated their first Thanksgiving in 1621 to give thanks to God for their harvest, and the Wampanoag tribe were the native Americans who celebrated with the colonists.  This took place at Plymouth Plantation.

Abraham Lincoln is the president who decided that Thanksgiving would fall on the last Thursday of November.

ACTIVITIES:

• Have student work with their family to decorate a turkey picture such as the one pictured above.  Glue the turkey onto poster board and cut out the turkey shape, or better yet, print the turkey out on card stock.  Color and decorate with ribbon, buttons, cereal, etc.  Make sure every family member adds something to the turkey. This turkey will probably be used by the family for many years to decorate for Thanksgiving.    A great addition to this family fun project would be to write what each family member is thankful for along the feathers of the turkey.
• Have student trace their hand to make a turkey.  The thumb is the head of the turkey.  The four fingers are the feathers.  Draw turkey legs on the bottom and finish adding the details of the turkey.  In the middle of the palm, write “I am thankful for…” and then on each finger name something the student is thankful for.
• Trace students hands on red, orange, and yellow pieces of construction paper.  Cut them out.  Curl the fingers just a little bit on the ends.  Overlap the hands to form the body of a turkey and glue onto cardboard.  Draw a turkey head and turkey feet to go with the body.  This can be a small turkey to fit onto a piece of construction paper, a medium size turkey to fit onto a piece of poster board, or a very large turkey to fit onto a long sheet of bulletin board paper.

• Have students decorate Pillsbury Turkey Sugar Cookies for a fun turkey project.  Use icing for the “glue.”  Glue 6-8 pieces of Candy Corn along the top edge of the cookie with the candy pointing downward.  Glue 2 M&Ms in the middle of the cookie for the eyes.  Use a small tube of icing to form the beak underneath the eyes (a small v-shape).  Use the icing to make turkey feet at the bottom of the cookie.

INTERESTING TURKEY FACTS:

• The turkey was first domesticated in Mexico and Central America.
• A female turkey is called a hen.
• The sound a female turkey makes is called a cluck.
• A male turkey is called a tom.
• The sound a male turkey makes is called a gobble.
• The skin that hangs from a turkey’s neck is called a wattle.
• A mature turkey has 3,500 feathers.
• Wild turkeys can run 25 miles per hour.
• Wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour.
• Minnesota produces the most turkeys annually.
• Benjamin Franklin lobbied to make the turkey the national symbol.
• Approximately 90% of American homes eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
• The best way to defrost a frozen turkey is in the refrigerator.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

• Thanksgiving by Miriam Nerlove.  Good for ages 3-6.  Has not only a brief overview of the first Thanksgiving feast but also a modern-day family’s visit to Grandma’s house for a celebration.
• Thanksgiving Is For Giving Thanks (Reading Railroad Book Series) by Margaret Sutherland.  Good for ages 3-6.   A child tells everything he is thankful for.
  
• Dora’s Thanksgiving (Dora the Explorer Series) by Sarah Willson.  Good for ages 3-7.  Find out what Dora is thankful for.
• Just So Thankful (Little Critter Series)  by Mercer Mayer.  Good for ages 3-7.  Little Critter is jealous of things his rich friend has but then learns what to truly be thankful for.
• Thanksgiving:  A Harvest Celebration by Julie Stiegemeyer.  Good for ages 4-10.  This is a book with beautiful illustrations.  It emphasizes the faith of the characters.
• Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes.   Good for ages 4-7.   Children tell about the people and things they are thankful for.  Beautiful illustrations.
• The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing.  Good for ages 4-8.   “Twas the night before Thanksgiving when…”
• Thanksgiving on Thursday (Magic Tree House Series #27) by Mary Pope Osborne.  Good for ages 6-9.  Jack and Annie experience the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Indians.

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This site, National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, contains the following  information:

• 9-11 History
• Exploring 9-11:  The World Before & After
• Timeline of Events
• Origins & Impacts
• Explore the designs and learn about the planning of the museum
• Photo Albums of the Memorial & Museum
• Growing collection of artifacts & oral histories
• Education Resources (see below)

This site, Education Resources for Teachers & Students, contains the following information:

• For high school educators:  a discussion guide and activities to download
• 9-11:  Stories of Survival and loss
• The Spirit of Volunteerism:  9-11 and Beyond  (a short film)
• Teaching Guide with take-home pages to download
• Scholastic Kid Reporter Articles

Video: September 11 Memorial Video Tribute

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Although many people have this misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day which is in September.  Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over the French army at the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862.  It is a significant victory because the French had not been defeated for almost 50 years and the Mexicans were outnumbered almost two-to-one, so the battle was not in favor of the Mexican army.  Also, it is a significant battle because it was the last time a foreign country invaded the Americas.

ACTIVITIES:

• Have an activity center with Mexican dresses, pinatas, and other items.  Place books about Cinco de Mayo in the center.
• Have a pinata party where the children take turns trying to break the pinata and release all the candy.  Pinatas can be bought at some Mexican restaurants such as Pulidos or at a party supply store.
• Make a pinata with paper mache.
• Let kids make bean burritos.  Have soft flour tortillas already warmed.  Mix water with a can of refried beans to make an easily spread consistency.  Let kids spread refried beans on their tortilla, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and roll up.  Enjoy eating!
• Have kids learn how to count to ten in Spanish.  Play Spanish Bingo by called out numbers in Spanish and having numbers 1-10 on Bingo cards.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

• Cinco de Mayo by Kate Torpie.  Full color photographs, history & customs, directions for making a pinata, and a recipe.
• Cinco de Mayo:  Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith.  Great book with nice, large illustrations.  Book explains history, traditional dances, dress, and food of this celebration.
• Cinco de Mayo (Holidays and Festivals) by Alice K. Flanagan.  Covers the history, symbols, and customs of the holiday.  Beautiful illustrations, interesting facts, and additional resources are included in this book.
• Cinco de Mayo (Read About Holidays) by Mary Dodson Wade and Nanci R. Vargus.  Scholastic.
• Cinco de Mayo:  Yesterday and Today by Maria Christina Urrutia.  Beautiful illustrations.  Historical references.

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Easter is a Christian celebration and originated as a feast day.  Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion, and many Christians celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday.  Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon which is the first full moon on or after March 21.  The egg is a symbol for rebirth, specifically the rebirth of man.

The Easter bunny probably originated in Germany where it was part of a pagan celebration and first mentioned in German writings in the 1600′s.  The Easter bunny was brought to America by German settlers in the 1700′s and was eventually combined with the celebration of Easter.  According to their tradition, if children were good then the Easter bunny would lay brightly colored eggs in nests for the children.  The nests were replaced by Easter baskets as the tradition spread.

ACTIVITIES:

• How to save dyed easter eggs
• Decorate Easter cupcakes
• Make little Easter baskets out of decorated Easter party cups.  Punch two holes at the very top on either side.  To make a handle, use a long, colored pipe cleaner and secure on either side of the cup at the top by inserting the end of the pipe cleaner into the punched hole.  Twist both ends of the pipe cleaner onto the cup.  Fill with Easter basket grass.
• Play Easter Egg Toss by trying to toss plastic Easter eggs (ones that stay closed) into an empty Easter egg basket that is several feet away.
• Sing “The Bunny Hop” song.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

• Berenstain Bears and the Real Easter Eggs by Berenstain.  Mama Bear teaches the bear cubs about rebirth and life.
• Easter by Gail Gibbons.  Explains the significance and traditions of Easter.
• Easter Bugs by David A. Carter.  Discover much more than eggs on an Easter egg hunt.  Discover all sorts of bugs!
• Easter Crack-Ups:  Knock-Knock Jokes Funny-Side Up by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg.  Enjoyable egg hunt and parade.
• The Easter Story by Patricia Pingry.  Explains the reason for celebrating Easter.
• The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing.   Written in the style of Clement Moore’s classic poem.
• The Story of the Easter Bunny by Catherine Tegen.   A legend about how the easter bunny got his job of painting eggs.   According to the story, the job originally belonged to an older couple.
• Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs? by Karen Katz.   Preschoolers and toddlers will enjoy lifting the flaps to find the eggs.

CHILDREN’S DVD:

• The Easter Story Read-A-Long Sing-A-Long DVD by Nest Learning System.  Spanish version available.  (Good for ESL)

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Actually, “St. Patrick’s Blue,” a dark blue, was the original color associated with St. Patrick for a long time.  The phrase “the wearing of the green” became popular and was associated with wearing a green shamrock.  Also, green is the color associated with Ireland.  The popular phrase and showing allegiance to Ireland probably influenced the change from wearing blue to wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day which occurred around the 1750′s.  Today, if you are caught not wearing green, you will most likely be pinched!

As I was growing up, I would always try to remember to wear green to school so I wouldn’t be pinched!  I forgot one year, and the teacher pinned a piece of green paper on me.  When I got a little older, I realized, “Hey, I have green eyes so I always have on green!”  I was rarely pinched after that!  So…all of us who have green eyes can point to them if someone tries to pinch us!

ORIGIN OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY:

St. Patrick’s Day originated somewhere around the 400′s as a religious holiday in Ireland.  Nowadays, it is celebrated as a public holiday in the United States, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and New Zealand to a large extent.  There are many parades associated with the celebration.  In the United States, the first public celebration took place in Boston in the 1700′s.

ACTIVITIES & CRAFTS:

• Have children cut out 3 green hearts, all the same size.  Glue the hearts together to make a shamrock.  Cut out a simple green stem and glue to the shamrock.
• Have children trace their hands on different colors of construction paper to make a large rainbow on a wall in the classroom.
• Have children use colored circle stickers to make a rainbow.
• Have each child paint a smooth stone with green paint and glue green felt on the bottom to make a Blarney Stone paper weight.
• Buy medium-large sized, plain sugar cookies or bake them.  Let kids decorate their cookie with a rainbow by using tubes of colored icing.  Or put a solid color of icing such as light blue to make the sky and then let kids make a rainbow out of M&Ms.
• Serve Rainbow Jello Dessert (actually called Ribbon Jello Dessert).  You could add another layer or two of color to make it look like a rainbow.
• St. Patrick’s Day Crafts by Carol Gnojewski.  Good for ages 8-9.  (10 easy crafts with pictures, directions, and traceable patterns)

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

• Good Luck!:  A St. Patrick’s Day Story by Joan Holub.  Good for toddlers and preschoolers.  (illustrates concept of parades)
• St. Patrick’s Day Countdown by Saline Yoon.  Good for toddlers and preschoolers.
• It’s St. Patrick’s Day by Rebecca Gomez.  Good for ages 4-6 and ESL.
• St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet by Beverly Barras Vidrine.  Good for ages 4-8.
• Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever! by Teddy Slater.  Good for ages 4-8.  (illustrates concept of parades)
• Shamrock Scare (Scooby-Doo!) by Courtney Tyo.  Good for ages 4-8.  (“Picture Clue” book that uses a rebus to teach words)
• St. Patrick’s Day by Mari C. Schuh.  Good for ages 4-8.
• That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting.  Good for ages 4-12.  (great illustrations by award winning illustrator, Emily Arnold McCully)
• Fine St. Patrick’s Day by Susan Wojciechowski.  Good for ages 5-8.  (great story of generosity versus greed)
• Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing.  Good for ages 5-8.  (story is in verse like Twas the Night Before Christmas)
• St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons.  Good for ages 5-8.  (the story of Patrick’s life, how this day is celebrated, and six legends)
• St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting.  Good for ages 5-8.  (illustrates concept of parades)
• St. Patrick’s Day by Carmen Bredeson & Don L. Curry.  Good for ages 6-7.  (Scholastic – gives a little history of St. Patrick’s Day)
• Green Gravy by Beverly Lewis.  Good for ages 7-10.  (great author)
• Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs by Edna Barth.  Good for ages 8-12.  (explains the legends and historical facts of St. Patrick’s Day)
• Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Peter & Connie Roop.  Good for ages 8-11.  (question and answer format about the history and how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated)

CHILDREN’S DVD’S:

• American Cultures for Children:  Irish-American Heritage by Schlessinger Media .  Good for grades K-4.  Presents Irish immigration to America, history and customs,  how to say some Gaelic words, Irish dances, how to make a Celtic harp, a folktale, a folk song for children to sing.  Features Phylicia Rashad (from the Cosby Show).
• Holidays for Children: St. Patrick’s Day by Schlessinger Media.  Good for grades K-4.   Gives history, brief biography on St. Patrick,  info on leprechauns and how to make a hand puppet, and festive celebrations.  A teacher’s guide comes with it and is also available online.

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Many people celebrate both Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays or all of the presidents’ birthdays on Presidents Day, but it was originally instituted to celebrate George Washington’s birthday alone.  However, it is convenient to celebrate more than one president on that day and most people do that.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS ON PRESIDENTS:

• So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George.  (2001 Caldecott Medal Award Winner)  Great for ages 8-12.
• Our Country’s Presidents:  All You Need to Know About the Presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama by Ann Bausum.  Great for ages 9-12.
• You’re Kidding!  Incredible Facts About the Presidents by Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff.  Great for ages 8-12.
• Don’t Know Much About the Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis.

CHILDREN’S DVD’S & VIDEOS:

• Presidents Day DVD ( Holidays for Children DVD Series)  by Library Video Company
• Presidents 2-DVD Special – Abraham Lincoln and George Washington by Nest Learning System

MORE INFORMATION ON WASHINGTON & LINCOLN:

• Teaching About George Washington
• Teaching About Abraham Lincoln
  

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