NY Social Studies K.3a

Social StudiesKindergartenKey Idea K.3

The Standard

Diverse cultural groups within the community and nation embrace unique traditions and beliefs, and celebrate distinct holidays.

New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework

Symbols and traditions help develop a shared culture and identity within the United States.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify how people celebrate holidays through foods, clothing, music, decorations, stories, and gatherings. They compare two celebrations by naming what is alike and different.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can use pictures or objects to describe two holiday celebrations. They name at least one similarity and one difference without saying all families celebrate the same way.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think everyone in a cultural group celebrates in the same way. They may confuse a holiday with one food or symbol. They may call unfamiliar practices strange rather than different.
How to Assess It: Show picture sets from Diwali and Lunar New Year. Ask students to draw or tell one similarity and one difference between the celebrations.

Lesson moves

Students sort photo cards of foods, decorations, and activities onto labeled mats for Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, and Lunar New Year.
Show two celebration photos and ask: What is the same, what is different, and what clues support your ideas?
Play a memory game by matching holiday name cards with picture cards showing related foods, clothing, decorations, or activities.
Send home a family celebration survey, then make a class chart showing different foods, activities, and traditions families share.

Free download