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Week 3: Special Foods & Decorations

Weekly Focus

Children explore the special foods, decorations, and events that are part of different celebrations and how these elements make celebrations meaningful.

Week at a Glance

  • Identify special foods associated with celebrations
  • Explore decorations used in different celebrations
  • Learn about special events and activities in celebrations
  • Compare and contrast celebration elements across cultures
Special foods and decorations for celebrations

Weekly Overview

Theme

Special Foods & Decorations

Focus Areas

  • Celebration foods
  • Celebration decorations
  • Special events and activities
  • Cultural traditions

Key Vocabulary

feastdecoratepatterntraditionspecialpreparesharesymbolceremonycustom

Food Allergies and Sensitivities

Be mindful of food allergies and dietary restrictions when planning celebration food activities. Consider non-food alternatives or ensure all children can participate safely. Always check with families before introducing food items in the classroom.

Daily Plans

Monday: Celebration Foods

Daily schedule and activities

Morning Activity

Morning Circle: Discuss how food is an important part of celebrations. Read 'Everybody Cooks Rice' by Norah Dooley or a similar book about foods from different cultures.

Literacy Focus

Create a class book about favorite celebration foods, with each child contributing a page.

Math Focus

Sort and classify pictures of celebration foods from different cultures.

Afternoon Activity

Visit a family home (pre-arranged) or invite a resource person to showcase special foods from a cultural celebration.

Materials Needed

  • Everybody Cooks Rice book
  • Pictures of celebration foods
  • Book-making materials
  • Sorting trays
  • Chart paper

Assessment Notes

Observe students' prior knowledge about celebration foods and their ability to identify foods from different cultures.

Featured Activities

Celebration Food Collage

Children create collages depicting special foods from different celebrations using pictures from magazines or drawings.

Duration

30 minutes

Materials

  • Construction paper
  • Magazines
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Drawing supplies

Learning Areas

Art
Cultural Studies
Fine Motor Skills
Language

Pattern Decorations

Children create celebration decorations using repeating patterns with different shapes and colors.

Duration

35 minutes

Materials

  • Colored paper shapes
  • String
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Pattern cards

Learning Areas

Math
Art
Fine Motor Skills
Pattern Recognition

Mystery Box Game

Children identify celebration items from a mystery box and match them to the appropriate celebration.

Duration

25 minutes

Materials

  • Box with lid
  • Various celebration items
  • Picture cards of celebrations
  • Sorting mats

Learning Areas

Social Studies
Language
Critical Thinking
Cultural Awareness

Celebration Role Play Centers

Set up centers for children to role play different celebrations with appropriate props, decorations, and pretend foods.

Duration

Ongoing centers

Materials

  • Celebration props
  • Dress-up clothes
  • Pretend foods
  • Decorations
  • Center signs

Learning Areas

Dramatic Play
Social-Emotional
Language
Cultural Studies

Documentation

Document the children's exploration of celebration foods, decorations, and events through photos and work samples. Create a display that shows the diversity of celebration elements and helps children make connections between different cultural traditions.

Resources

Books

  • "Everybody Cooks Rice" by Norah Dooley
  • "Maisy Goes to a Wedding" by Lucy Cousins
  • "The Ring Bearer" by Floyd Cooper
  • "Binny's Diwali" by Thrity Umrigar
  • "Let's Have a Celebration" by Gyo Fujikawa

Printables

  • Celebration food sorting cards
  • Pattern templates for decorations
  • Celebration vocabulary cards