Holiday and Learning Fun in Unit I
Unit I students enjoyed a number of holiday events that incorporated language arts curriculum and multiculturalism. The students’ study started off with “The Legend of the Poinsettia” by Tomie dePaola. Students read the story, discussed the main idea and significance of the poinsettia within the Mexican culture, and then designed poinsettias with paper cut-outs. The students then celebrated Grinch Day, which took place mid-December. “The students dressed in green or wore outfits inspired by characters from the story, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’” said Unit I teacher Amy Kulhavik. “Then they completed work on adjectives describing the Grinch, comparing the Grinch’s character traits in the beginning of the story to those at the end.” Unit I students then engaged in a writing activity with the prompt that asked the students to describe how they would try to make the Grinch grin. “Our students learned pertinent vocabulary words and how current traditions stem from our past,” said Unit I teacher Joan Claybourn.