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Activities for Week 1

READING: Look through the newspaper and find articles and pictures about the holiday celebrations. As you read, try to find the following words: "mistletoe," "North Pole," "dreidel," "latke," "zawadi" and "Kwanzaa." Explain the context in which the words were used.

WRITING: Create a greeting card to send during the holidays. First, look through the newspaper to find a photo or piece of art that you like. Then, write a short poem or greeting to go along with the art. Make copies of your card and send it to your friends and family.

MATH: Find a picture of a Santa in the newspaper. Look at his beard and estimate how long it is. Then, figure out how long it would take his beard to grow to that length if it grows one quarter of an inch every two months.

CAREER CONNECTION: Artists, graphic artists, and photographers contribute a great deal to a newspaper. Write to your local newspaper and ask them what classes you need now to prepare for such a job.

Activities for Week 2

READING: Read articles in the newspaper that explain the history and traditions of Kwanzaa and Kwanzaa´s importance to African Americans. Then do an Internet search and find at least two articles on families celebrating Kwanzaa. Describe each article´s style and purpose.

WRITING: Zawadi is a word in Kiswahali, an African language. Zawadi are gifts that people give at Kwanzaa. These gifts are usually handmade and each has a special meaning. Look through the newspaper to get ideas on gifts you could make for your family. Then write in your journal which gift you would give to whom. Explain why.

MATH: Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966 and is now celebrated by more than 20 million people. If the number of people celebrating Kwanzaa grows at the same rate, how many people will celebrate it in the year 2030?

CAREER CONNECTION: Look through the want ads to find jobs that require the applicant to speak more than one language. What can you do now to prepare for such a job?

Activities for Week 3

READING: Find and read articles in the newspaper about Hanukkah and special treats. Latkes, made from potatoes, are a Hanukkah treat. Find a recipe for latkes in the newspaper and explain to a friend how to make them.

WRITING: At Hanukkah, menorahs burn bright, dreidels spin, and gifts are opened. Find articles in the newspaper about these traditions and write a poem in rhyme about Hanukkah.

MATH: Hanukkah is based on an historical event that occurred in 165 B.C. Read articles in the newspaper to learn about this event and the history of Hanukkah. Then figure out how many years have passed since 165 B.C.

CAREER CONNECTION: Archaeologists have helped us learn much about the ancient past. Contact a state archaeology agency or a university and ask what types of jobs are available for archaeologists. Find out what kind of education you would need to work on a dig.

Activities for Week 4

READING: There are many events planned during this time of year. Read the newspaper to find out about the events and then make a chart that shows the events in chronological order.

WRITING: The title of a holiday song is "Over the River and Through the Woods." Look through the travel section of the newspaper and decide where you would like to go during the holidays. Then write your own song that describes where you will go and how you will get there.

MATH: Look in the newspaper to find out how much a quart of milk costs. Since there are 4 cups of milk in a quart, how much does each cup cost? If you drank 3 cups of milk with some holiday cookies, how much would the 3 cups of milk cost? If your friend drank one half pint of milk with his cake, would it cost more or less than your 3 cups?

CAREER CONNECTION: There are many jobs for musicians. Speak to your band or choir director to learn about such jobs. Why is it important for musicians to study other subjects?

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