james TS12

8/5

A couple days ago Nikolia asked me "what is this Labor Day?"  and I tried to explain as best as I could without having much background information.  This made me go home and look up the origin of the holiday and also inspired this lesson plan about holiday's.  We discussed Labor Day and Memorial Day specifically.  

When is the holiday celebrated?

Is it celebrated as a family or a group?

Does your family celebrate this holiday?

Has your family always celebrated this holiday? If not, when did you start celebrating it?

When does the celebration for this holiday generally start?

Is it a religious holiday?

Which religion celebrates it?

Is attending a temple or a church on that day part of the celebration?

Are there specific prayers or blessings that go with the holiday?

Are there special foods connected with the holiday?

Have you eaten any of these foods?

Do you or did you like the foods?

Can you make these foods?

Are you good at making them?

Is gift giving a part of this holiday?

Are there specific types of gifts to be given?

Who are they given to?

What are some of the things that are done to show that this holiday is being observed?

Is it strictly an American holiday?

When did Congress approve this holiday? Or did they?

Is it only a state or city approved holiday?

Has is ever been disapproved by officials?

What does the holiday stand for? Why is this holiday celebrated?

Are the banks, post offices or schools closed for this holiday?

Is there is a person or god connected with the holiday?

Who are they and do you believe in them?

If you do not believe in these people or gods, does the celebration of these bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)?

Do you enjoy the holiday?

Why or why not?

Do you decorate the outside of your house for the holiday?

Do your neighbors decorate their house?

How is the house decorated?

Is the inside decorated? How?

Are there special songs associated with the holiday?

Do you know the songs?

Can you sing some of them?

Do schools, temples or churches have special programs for this holiday?

Are there parties?

Are these for adults, children or both?

Do you see your relatives during this holiday?

Who did you visit?

Do you visit them every year on this holiday?

How many different nationalities or ethnic groups do you see celebrating this holiday?

What do you usually do for this holiday?

What did you do last year?

What would you like to do next year?