Celebrate an Australian Christmas

This center is based on an Australian Christmas, however, you could substitute any country or area, by altering some of the activities. I run this centre for the last four weeks of the year in the lead up to Christmas. There are 6 areas of activities to choose from based on Bloom's taxonomy of Learning, this allows all children to complete some activities. I allow each child to choose their own activity to work on and then I conference with them individually during the week to check that they are on the right track.

Here are the activities they can choose:

KNOWLEDGE
1. Read poems and stories with Australian Christmas themes.
2. Learn and perform an Australian Christmas Carol
3. List the foods traditionally eaten at Christmas. What foods do we eat in Australia at Christmas.
4. Describe what you and your family do to celebrate Christmas.
5. Read the big book 'Santa Visits Australia'
6. Ask five people what they think the meaning of Christmas is and record their answers

COMPREHENSION
1. Make a comparative chart to compare traditional Christmas carols and Australian Carols.
2. Collect pictures of different Christmas foods. Are the foods we eat at Christmas good for us? Make a list of good, healthy Christmas foods.
3. Make up a crossword puzzle with a Christmas theme.

APPLICATION
1. Make some decorations for the classroom with an Aussie theme.
2. Plan and write an Aussie Bushman's menu for Christmas dinner.
3. Design and draw a plan of the table decorations.
4. Can you write a set of instructions to:
(a) Put Christmas lights on a tree
(b) Make a Christmas ice cream cake
(c) Wrap a bicycle for Christmas

ANALYSIS
1. Design an Australian Christmas card.
2. Design a questionnaire to find out what the most desired present is
3. Plan a Christmas party. Write down all the areas that would need to be organized to make it successful, eg. seating arrangements, decoration and so on

SYNTHESIS
1. Compose an Australian carol using a known tune.
2. Predict what Christmas will be like in the year 2091. Talk about it with your friends and illustrate your thoughts.
3. You have invented a new toy. Write an advertisement to convince children to buy it.
4. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ 200 years ago. Three wise men traveled by camel to Bethlehem. Write the conversation the camels might have had as they were traveling.
5. Invent a machine to wrap presents with the push of a button. Draw a diagram of it.

EVALUATION
1. Make a booklet of five rules designed to keep you safe during the school holidays.
2. What are some of the differences between the way Christmas is celebrated in Australia and in America? What things are the same?
3. How could we celebrate Christmas with consideration being given to others in our community who are less fortunate?
4. Write a report on how you think you worked in this unit. What did you do well? What could you have improved?
Submitted by: Janelle Standish janelle_s@email-removed

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