Teaching students about winter holidays around the world can be a wonderful way to celebrate diversity and foster cultural understanding. With so many December holidays from around the world, Holidays Around the World books are the perfect way to introduce students to different customs and celebrations. From Christmas across the world to unique December holidays around the world, each book in this collection provides a glimpse into traditions that children celebrate.
Holidays Around the World Books
When you are first introducing your Holidays Around the World unit, you will want to start with books that cover the concept of the holidays overall. These books can introduce the concept of similar holidays being celebrated in various ways around the world. Or, they can introduce the concept of various holidays around the world being celebrated around the same time of year.
I enjoy these three books for the start of a Holidays Around the World unit because they are beautiful, engaging, and cover a large part of the world’s holidays.
Specific Holidays Around the World Books
Then, I like to direct my instruction to specific holidays by choosing more focused books from holidays around the world! You can use a read aloud to spark students interest, curiosity or connection to the holiday. Follow up with lessons, activities, crafts or integrated projects for the various holidays!
Kwanzaa Picks:
When teaching Kwanzaa, these two books are excellent choices for introducing or revisiting the holiday! My First Kwanzaa and Lil Rabbit’s Kwanzaa are easy to understand and keep the students excited about this special holiday!
Hanukkah Picks:
These three Hanukkah books will help your students understand the customs and traditions of this special holiday! They will love hearing about Latke, the lucky dog, about the excitement of a little girl and boy lighting the menorah, about Caleb and his family playing dreidel, eating foods, and, of course, opening gifts!
Diwali Picks:
These books are also great for your Holidays Around the World unit! In 5 Days of Diwali, students will learn about the traditional foods, gifts, practices, and events that surround the holiday! In Archie Celebrates Diwali, Archana is thrilled to have her friends over for her family’s annual Diwali party! But, the electricity goes out! The kids will love hearing how Archie and her family and friends make the most of the festival of lights!
Need resources for your Holidays Around the World unit?
Bring cultural celebrations into the classroom with my Holidays Around the World Unit, which offers engaging activities, passports, a bulletin board, and lessons focused on winter holidays from various cultures.
Christmas Around the World Unit
For a comprehension focus, my Holidays Around the World Reading Passages provide easy-to-read content with follow-up comprehension questions.
Christmas Around the World Reading Passages
Thanks for reading this blog post! Including read-alouds on holidays around the world is a fantastic way to connect students to cultures beyond their own, especially during the festive season. Books about Christmas around the world and holidays around the world Christmas bring to life the various traditions celebrated by children worldwide. As your students listen to stories of December holidays around the world, they’ll gain a greater appreciation for the diversity that makes each holiday special. This winter, let’s make learning about holidays in winter around the world a memorable journey for every child in your classroom.
Want to read more blog posts about Winter Holidays?
- Christmas Read Alouds
- Hanukkah Teaching Ideas
- Kwanzaa Read Alouds
- Christmas Around the World Teaching Ideas
Want FREE Christmas Around the World Planning pages?
Plan your Christmas Around the World unit with this freebie!
