TABLE OF CONTENTS - AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH HOLIDAYS
Introduction
What is Readers Theatre?
How to Use this Resource
Tips for Success (Rehearsal, Performance, Costumes, Props, and Characterization)
Readers Theatre Terms
Holiday Readers Theatre
January – New Year
Background/Countries: USA, China, South Korea, Venezuela, Greece, Australia, Scotland
Script: Happy New Year!
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World am I? (Geography)
Make a Scottish flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Australia (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a New Years Celebration
Seesaw (Science)
Chinese Paper Cutting (Math, Art)
Korean Yut Game (Math)
New Years Celebration: Auld Lang Syne (Literacy, Music)
Suggestions for Further Activities
February – Fastelavn
Background/ Country: Denmark
Script: Tilting the Barrel
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Danish Flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Denmark (Literacy, Music, Geography, Social Studies)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Fastelavn Celebration:
Ladyfingers Recipe (Math)
Tilting the Barrel (Art, Physical Education)
Lenten Branches (Art, Science)
Calculate the Height of a Tree (Math)
Danish Folk Dance (Physical Education)
Golden Crowns (Art, Math)
Black Cats (History, Art, Science)
Suggestions for Further Activities
March – St. Patrick’s Day
Background/Country: Ireland
Script: Kidnapped!
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make an Irish Flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Ireland (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration:
Trifle (Math)
Paper Chains (Math, Art)
Shamrocks (Science, Art)
Leprechaun Footprints (Language Arts, Art)
Celtic Designs (Math, Art)
Limericks (Language Arts, Literacy, Geography, History, Math)
Brainstorming Saints (Literacy)
Suggestions for Further Activities
April – Passover
Background/Countries: Israel and Ancient Egypt
Script: Escape to Freedom
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World am I? (Geography)
Make an Israeli Flag (Math, Art)
Israeli National Anthem (Literacy, Geography, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Passover Celebration:
Charoset Recipe (Math)
Matzo Bread Recipe (Math)
Frogs (Math, Art)
Timeline (Math, History)
Suggestions for Further Activities
May – May Day
Background/Countries: England, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, USA
Script: The Merry Month of May
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a French Flag (Math, Art)
German National Anthem (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a May Day Celebration:
Treacle Parkin Recipe (Math)
Bannock Recipe (Math)
May Dance (Math, Physical Education, Music)
May Baskets (Math, Art, Community Service)
Springy Poetry (Language Arts)
Planting Flowers (Science)
Suggestions for Further Activities
June – Dragon Boat Festival
Background/Country: China
Script: Searching for Chu Yuan
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Chinese Flag (Math, Art)
Chinese National Anthem (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Dragon Boat Celebration
Rice Ball Recipe (Math)
Traditional Zongzi Recipe (Math)
Dragon Head (Art)
Xiangbao Pouches (Science, Art)
Suggestions for Further Activities
July – Independence Day
Background/Country: United States
Script: Freedom Isn’t Free
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Colonial American Flag (Math, Art)
American National Anthem (Literacy, History, Art)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have an Independence Day Celebration
Johnnycakes Recipe (Math)
Learn the Names of the Thirteen Colonies (Literacy, History)
Dominos (Math)
Go Fly a Kite (Math, Science, Art)
Suggestions for Further Activities
August – Obon
Background/Country: Japan
Script: Until Next Year, Grandpa Sato
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Japanese Flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Japan (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have an Obon Celebration:
Ramen Soup Recipe (Math)
Paper Fans (Art)
Bon Odori Dance (Physical Education)
Paper Lanterns (Art)
Toro Nagashi Boats (Science, Art)
Haiku (Literacy, Language Arts)
Japanese Phrases (Literacy, Language Arts)
Suggestions for Further Activities
September – Homowo
Background/Country: Ghana
Script: Hooting at Hunger!
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Flag of Ghana (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Ghana (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Homowo Celebration
Yam Foofoo Recipe (Math)
Hot Plantain Crisp Recipe (Math, Science)
Adinkra Cloth (Math, Science, Art)
Antoakyire (Physical Education)
Suggestions for Further Activities
October – Divali
Background/Country: India
Script: Festival of Lights
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make an Indian Flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of India (Literacy, Geography, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Divali Celebration
Barfi Recipe (Math)
Make a Divali Lamp (Art)
Saris and Turbans (Costumes, Social Studies)
Rangoli (Art, Social Studies)
Pachisi Game (Math)
Suggestions for Further Activities
November – Ramadan
Background/Countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
Script: The Five Pillars
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Kuwaiti Flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Kuwait (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Ramadan Celebration
Ma’amoul Cookie Recipe (Math)
Eid Greeting Cards (Language Arts, Art)
Helping the Community (Physical Education, Community Service)
Muslim Calendar (Math, Literacy, Language Arts)
Locating Mecca (Science)
Suggestions for Further Activities
December – Las Posadas
Background/Country: Mexico
Script: Outside the Inn
Follow-Up Activities:
Where in the World Am I? (Geography)
Make a Mexican Flag (Math, Art)
National Anthem of Mexico (Literacy, Music)
Currency Conversion (Math)
Have a Las Posadas Celebration
Bizcochito Recipe (Math)
Make Farole and Farolitos (Art)
Piñata (Math, Art)
Suggestions for Further Activities
Supplemental Chapters
Timelines and Number Lines
Timeline Activity: Make Your Own Timeline (Language Arts)
Number Line Activity: Make a Thermometer (Science, Math)
Calendars
Our Solar Calendar
Lunar Calendars
Activity: Stars of Wonder (Science, Language Arts)
Latitude and Longitude
Latitude
Longitude
Activity: Where in the World Are We? (Math, Geography)
Measurements and Metric Conversions
Measurement Charts:
Capacity
Weight
Distance
Area
Temperature
Activity: Do It Yourself
Flags
Flag Symbolism
Parts of a Flag
Activity: Vexing Vexillology (Art)
Appendix – Recommended Resources for Teachers and Students
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Index
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Bibliography
