Virginia SOL 2.3

2.3 is a Standards of Learning history and social science standard. These are the skills expectations under it.

• 2.3.a

  Labor Day

• 2.3.b

  Columbus Day (also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day*) and Yorktown Victory Day

• 2.3.c

  Election Day

• 2.3.d

  Veterans Day

• 2.3.e

  Thanksgiving Day

• 2.3.f

  Christmas Day

• 2.3.g

  New Year’s Day

• 2.3.h

  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• 2.3.i

  George Washington Day (commonly known as Presidents’ Day)

• 2.3.j

  Memorial Day

• 2.3.k

  Juneteenth

• 2.3.l

  Independence Day

01

What Students Need to Do

Students identify Virginia holidays and tell what person, event, group, or idea each one recognizes. They use calendars, pictures, and local examples to explain how communities observe them.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Students can match each holiday to its purpose and identify alternate names, such as Presidents’ Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. They can describe a community observance and explain what it honors.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think every holiday celebrates a person or always falls on the same calendar date. They often confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day, or assume Presidents’ Day honors every president equally. They may also think all families and cultural groups observe holidays in the same way.

04

How to Assess It

Give students four cards: Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Election Day, and Independence Day. For each, have them write or draw what it recognizes and one community observance.

1. 01

   Give pairs holiday picture cards and a blank yearly calendar to place each card, then add one community tradition.

2. 02

   Ask, “How can two families honor the same holiday differently?” Students write two examples and share one.

3. 03

   Play holiday clue bingo using clues about purpose, season, people honored, and common observances instead of holiday names.

4. 04

   Examine a town calendar or local news flyer, then circle holiday events and label what each event honors.

• VS.2

  The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the Indigenous nations of Virginia past and present by

• K.2

  The student will apply history and social science skills to explain how communities honor state and national traditions and recognize designated Virginia holida...

• 1.2

  The student will apply history and social science skills to explain how communities honor local and national traditions and recognize designated Virginia holida...

• 1.4

  The student will apply history and social science skills to understand Virginia’s history by