December is a relatively short month, because of Christmas break, but it also feels like a long one, because so much needs to get done! To still have some fun during this busy month, I'll give you a list of things to teach about in December:
1. Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December. On that day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It is document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. It's a great topic to discuss with students.
2. Winter Solstice
It’s the shortest day of the year—but also brings the promise of more daylight ahead. The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun. It usually happens on December 21 or 22, at the exact same second around the world. I found this article a very useful source for my students. As the winter reason starts around this time, I also talk about winter-related stuff with them. I will go into more detailed in a separate blog post!
3. New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve (also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries), the last day of the year, is on 31 December. Fireworks are often set off at midnight to celebrate the new year. New Year's Day is January 1, the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. New Year's Eve is celebrated to welcome the year. Many people will come up with New Year's Resolutions to start the year off good. I will get my students to write their New Year's Resolutions and have them set goals for themselves to reach them.
4. Christmas
I want to talk about Christmas with my students, because it is widely celebrated in English-speaking countries, and they often celebrate it with their families as well. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas in the United States brings together many customs from other countries and cultures. Around the world, family members help to decorate the tree and home with bright lights, wreaths, candles, holly, mistletoe, and ornaments. On Christmas Eve, many people go to church.
Other Celebrations
However, I want my students to know about other celebrations too:
5. Hanukkah
Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday honoring the Maccabees's victory over King Antiochus, who forbade Jews to practice their religion. For eight nights, Hanukkah is celebrated with prayer, the lighting of the menorah, and food.
6. Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is celebrated December 26 through January 1. It is a holiday to commemorate African heritage, during which participants gather with family and friends to exchange gifts and to light a series of black, red, and green candles. These candles symbolize the seven basic values of African American family life: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
7. Diwali
Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance".
I love to get my students to research the different celebrations. I will divide them into groups and tell them to become experts on their topic. Then they must present everything they have learned to the rest of the group. It's always a lot of fun, and they learn so much from it!
I hope I inspired you to use some of these tips in your lessons! Have fun!
Source: National Geographic
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