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Storytelling
45 minutes
Individual sharing with whole group

Family Tradition Show & Tell

Week 2 Activity - Detailed Instructions

Learning Objectives

  • Students will identify and describe family traditions
  • Students will practice public speaking and storytelling
  • Students will learn about diverse cultural traditions

Materials Needed

  • Items representing family traditions
  • Special sharing chair
  • Chart paper for recording traditions
  • Camera for documentation
  • World map (optional)

Preparation Steps

  • 1Send home a family letter explaining the activity and asking for tradition items
  • 2Prepare your own family tradition to share as a model
  • 3Set up a special sharing area
  • 4Create a chart to categorize different types of traditions

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Begin by sharing your own family tradition as a model

2

Explain that traditions are special things families do together

3

Invite each student to share their tradition and show their item

4

Ask follow-up questions to help students elaborate

5

Record traditions on chart paper by category (holidays, food, activities, etc.)

6

Encourage students to ask respectful questions

7

Celebrate the diversity of traditions represented

Assessment

  • Note students' ability to describe family practices
  • Observe comfort level with public speaking
  • Document understanding of tradition concepts
  • Assess respectful listening and questioning skills

Teaching Tips

  • Be inclusive of all types of traditions, big and small
  • Help students who may struggle to identify traditions
  • Take photos of students with their tradition items
  • Consider spreading this activity over several days

Extension Activities

Additional ways to extend and enrich this learning experience

  • 1
    Create a class tradition book with photos and descriptions
  • 2
    Try some of the shared traditions as class activities
  • 3
    Invite family members to demonstrate traditions
  • 4
    Research the origins of different cultural traditions