2013 C H R I S T M A S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D Christmas Senior Years Learning Community Teaching and Learning Leader Mrs. Angela Shaw Merry Christmas The History of Christmas in Australia So how do we REALLY celebrate Christmas? You must remember that Australia, though huge in size, has a population of just over 23 million people. Our country is a harmonious mix of many ethnic groups. Our backgrounds are varied and our people have connections with England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Europe, Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Middle East, Vietnam, China, Japan, Thailand as well as North and South America. So you can imagine that each of these national groups brings the colour, customs and festive rituals of the Christmas celebrated in their respective homelands. Most celebrations include things like candles, trees and gift giving, but there are other customs that are different. As Australians we are able to appreciate culturally diverse Christmas celebrations. Present Your Christmas in Australia by using an online Learning Tool Weebly or iweb Prezi or Wiki Key Noteusing animation and hyperlinks TASK 1:My Family Christmas Traditions Describe what you and your family do to celebrate Christmas. List the foods traditionally eaten at Christmas. What foods do you eat in Australia at Christmas? Design and make an Australian Christmas card to give to your family.
THE LOREM IPSUMS Task 2: Traditions Christmas (meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated on December 25 by millions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season. Religious Significance and Traditions Identify the major feasts of the season of Christmas and explain their significance for the Catholic Church: Christmas Day The Feast of the Mother of God The Feast of the Holy Family Epiphany Food and Favourite Recipes Investigate common and popular menus for Christmas Day, include your favourite recipe: Christmas main meal- turkey ham seafood, BBQ, cake, pudding, drinks Candy canes, lolly stockings, gingerbread house, chocolates Decorations and Customs Explore the following customs for your country: Christmas Trees, lights, table centres Decoration, candles, wreaths, craft ideas Giving gifts, cards and toys Writing letters and notes to Santa Songs and Carols Explore the following stories for your country: Traditional Stories Hymns Popular Songs Traditional and Modern Christmas Carols 2
THE LOREM IPSUMS Task 3: Blooms Taxonomy Christmas Around Australia 1. Remember 1. Read poems and stories with Australian Christmas themes. Draw a table to record what you read. 2. Learn and perform an Australian Christmas Carol. (Group Activity) 3. Read the big book 'Santa Visits Australia', to a Prep child. 4. Ask five people what they think the meaning of Christmas is and record their answers. Record in Photo Booth. 2. Understand 3. Apply 1. Make a comparative chart to compare traditional Christmas carols and Australian Carols. Use a Venn Diagram or comparison Graphic Organiser http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ 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 or search-a-word puzzle with a Christmas theme. http://www.puzzlemaker.com/ 1. Make some decorations for the classroom with an Aussie theme. (Partner Activity) 2. Plan and write an Aussie Bushman's menu for Christmas dinner. 3. Design and draw a plan of table decorations for Christmas. 4. Write a set of instructions on, How to (a) Put Christmas lights on a tree. (b) Make a Christmas ice cream cake (c) Wrap a bicycle for Christmas 3
THE LOREM IPSUMS Blooms Taxonomy Christmas Around Australia 4. Analyse 1. Design a questionnaire using https://www.surveymonkey.com/ to find out what the most desired present is for different age groups. 2. Plan a Christmas party. Write down all the areas that would need to be organised to make it successful, e.g. seating arrangements, decoration and so on. Use the Evernote app to track your web searching leads you. http://evernote.com/ 5. Combine 1. Compose an Australian carol using a known tune. (Partner Activity) 2. Predict what Christmas will be like in the year 2063. Talk about it with your friends and illustrate your thoughts. 3. You have invented a new toy. Create an advertisement to convince children to buy it. 6. Evaluation 1. Make a Joomag 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? http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ 4. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ 2000 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. You could present an animation using the Stykz app. 3. How could we celebrate Christmas with consideration being given to others in our community who are less fortunate than us? Create a Keynote of Organisations and Foundations that help others during a time of need at Christmas. 4
THE LOREM IPSUMS Task 4: Choose another country and continue to add to your online learning tool to present your research. Complete an introductory project first about the country you have chosen. See Page 6 PART A Include: General information about the country, capital city, flag, population, language, climate, a map, geography, government, history, currency and economy. PART B Culture PART D Use the ideas from Task 3: Bloom s Taxonomy to complete tasks for your research. Substitute your countries name where the word Australia is written, e.g. Read poems and stories with Australian Christmas themes. Literature, Art, Cinema, Architecture, Music and dance, Cuisine, Science and technology, Sport, Public holidays and festivals. PART C Christmas Change it to Read poems and stories with Spanish Christmas themes. Use Task 2 as a model to explore Christmas in the country of your choice. Tutorials and Conferences Tutorials: Look out for daily tutorials, by teachers and students, to explore creative ways to present your tasks. There will also be hints and short cuts for refining your Internet searches. Conference: Have a conference with your teacher after every second activity. Choose two more activities and plan what you might do to complete the task. Discuss these ideas with your teacher. 5
THE LOREM IPSUMS Christmas Around the World http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/ Christmas In Brazil Christmas In British Isles Christmas In Canada Christmas In China Christmas In Czechoslovakia Christmas In Denmark Christmas In France Christmas In Greece Christmas In Germany Christmas In India Christmas In Iran Christmas In Iraq Christmas In Ireland Christmas In Italy Christmas In Japan Christmas In Mexico Christmas In Netherlands Christmas In Nicaragua Christmas In Norway Christmas In Poland Christmas In Portugal Christmas In Romania Christmas In Russia Christmas In Scandinavia Christmas In Scotland Christmas In South America Christmas In Spain Christmas In Sweden 6
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CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 2013 Self Evaluation After Each Activity Evaluation: Write a brief blog on how you think you worked after each activity. What did you do well? What could you have improved on? Did you manage your time well? Go to our private online Kidblog http://kidblog.org/mrsshawssenioryears/ Self Evaluation After the Unit What was your ultimate goal or outcome for this activity? What are some important concepts, factors and ideas that you discovered/learned? How did you solve problems to complete the tasks? Did you reach your goal? Explain. Were your ideas good or need improvement? Would you make revisions or changes if you had to do the unit again? Explain. How could your activity and the manner by which you approached it be important to a reallife situation? Website Acknowledgements http://ilearntechnology.com/?tag=digital-blooms-taxonomy http://kbarnstable.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/basic-student-reflection-questions/ http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/ http://kidblog.org/mrsshawssenioryears/ http://www.teach-ict.com/seasonal/xmas/webquest/christmas_webquest.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/christmas_around_the_world http://learningteachnology.com Just For Fun! Christmas Web Quest Well done! Have a Merry Christmas! http://www.teach-ict.com/seasonal/xmas/webquest/christmas_webquest.htm Your Task: Use the Internet to help you find out whether the 16 myths are true, false or simply not proven.