Christmas Around the World
Christmas Greetings
Resources
Possible Activities
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/christmas.htm
Learn seasonal greetings in a number of languages.
The site has greetings for Christmas and the New Year in a range
of languages. Some of the entries have sound files so that you
can hear the greetings.
Thinking skills: Remembering
Finding greetings similar to those used in English, finding greetings
which are very different.
http://www.santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm
The site has greetings for Christmas and the New Year in a range
of languages but unfortunately no sound files.
Find greetings in languages spoken in your class/your school/your
community.
Find the longest/shortest greeting.
Compare greetings to find similar ones and trying to work out why
might they be similar?
Thinking skills: Applying
KS2 Framework for Languages:
O 3.3 Perform simple communicative tasks using single words,
phrases and short sentences
© Cambridgeshire County Council
Similarities and differences
Resources
Children in the class
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_around_the_world
Information on Christmas festivities around the world and other
winter festivals.
Possible Activities
At home is where we are comfortable. What would it be like to be
at home with someone else in the class on 25th December? In
groups children discuss what they do and eat on 25th December.
What would they do or eat differently, if someone from the class
spent 25th December at home with them so that they felt
comfortable?
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm
Thinking Skills: Understanding
Web pages with information on Christmas celebrations in 31
countries around the world.
http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/journey.htm
Web pages with information on Christmas celebrations in 8
countries around the world.
Using one or more of the websites to compare christmas festivities
across the world. Pupils could provide information under different
headings, e.g. gift giver, when gifts opened, decorations or
symbols, food.
Thinking Skills: Analysing
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-aroundthe-world/trees-traditions/armenia-to-bulgaria/
Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Link takes you
to pages on trees and traditions for Christmas and holidays of light
around the world, from Armenia to Wales.
© Cambridgeshire County Council
Using the information above, which traditions do you really like
from your own Christmas, from other Christmas celebrations
around the world?
Thinking Skills: Evaluating
Similarities and differences
Resources
Possible Activities
Write a Christmas menu for 3 people from different countries so
that there is something from the Christmas traditions from each
country and your family.
Thinking Skills: Creating
KS2 Framework for Languages:
IU 3.3. Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures
IU 4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures
IU 5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their
own culture with those of another country
IU 6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life
© Cambridgeshire County Council
The view of Christmas in England
Resources
Possible Activities
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm
A Canadian site with information on Christmas in the British Isles.
How much of this is true for the class? Does this fit with their view
of Christmas. How does it compare to Christmas at home (see
above).
http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm
Thinking Skills: Analysis
An Australian site with information on Christmas England, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales. The site asks you to note the following:
KS2 Framework for Languages:
IU 3.3. Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures
“The information placed on this site may not be the way all people
celebrate traditions today many are over 100 years old. Many
people change to suit their families.”
IU 4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures
IU 5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their
own culture with those of another country
IU 6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life
© Cambridgeshire County Council
Winter Festivals
Resources
Possible Activities
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_around_the_world
Summarising common elements of the different festivals.
Information on Christmas festivities around the world and other
winter festivals.
Thinking Skills: Understanding
Classifying features of winter festivals, e.g. when, food, customs.
Thinking Skills: Analysis
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-aroundthe-world/trees-traditions/armenia-to-bulgaria/
Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The Link takes you
to pages on trees and traditions for Christmas and holidays of light
around the world, from Armenia to Wales.
KS2 Framework for Languages:
IU 3.3. Identify social conventions at home and in other cultures
IU 4.1 Learn about festivals and celebrations in different cultures
IU 5.3 Compare symbols, objects or products which represent their
own culture with those of another country
IU 6.1 Compare attitudes towards aspects of everyday life
© Cambridgeshire County Council
Silent Night
Resources
Possible Activities
http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/silentnight.html
Learn to sing a verse in a different language.
Words to Silent Night in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian
Spanish and Swedish
Thinking skills: Remembering
http://www.silentnight.info/
KS2 Framework for Languages:
Information on the composers and the history of the song.
O 4.1 Memorise and present a short spoken text
© Cambridgeshire County Council