This unit teaches 4th grade students about holiday traditions. Students will be paired with classmates of different backgrounds. They will interview their partner about their holiday traditions, research the traditions online, and create a PowerPoint presentation to share with the class. The goal is for students to learn about each other's cultural backgrounds and traditions.

1. 1
Nathan Hale
Assure Method
CI-350
The students will learn the holiday traditions of their classmates while also assisting their classmates
understand their own traditions. At the end of this unit 100% of students will be able to name the
holiday traditions of the students in the class, as well as give detail to the different traditions.
Analyze the Learner
Student’s General Characteristics
This unit on holiday traditions is for grade four students who are in an English first language class
designed for average learners. The class is made up of eleven girls and nine boys. None of the students
have learning disabilities but come from varied cultural backgrounds. The majority are white middle
class Americans; but two are Muslim, three Jewish, and two are African American. These varied cultural
backgrounds will be very important in a lesson unit dealing with a topic as cultural as holiday traditions.
Entry Competencies
The fourth graders have had prior instruction and have working knowledge in:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Using search engines to find information.
Keyboarding
Average reading comprehension level of 3.8
Microsoft Word
Rudimentary utilization of power point
Learning Styles
The students are hands on learners. They enjoy projects where they can touch the object and make a
connection to their past in order to truly learn what it is. They are beginning to do oral presentations
although they are short and usually not well organized. They generally do well on written assignments
and the oral assignment that will be given will be short, with a “show and tell” format. The rubric will
show the students and their parents, details of what exactly is expected on this assignment.
State Objectives
1. Students will break into pairs. The pairs will be organized so that each student’s partner is of a
different cultural background; in the case of the 6 students who will be the “same” background
they will be split into different socio economic pairs, if possible.
2. The pairs will tell each other what the holidays are like in their house; in a brief overview.

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3. The students will research, using a search engine, the traditions of their partner’s family.
4. Students will interview in depth their partner, to find out specific details of the family’s holiday
tradition.
5. Students will identify similarities and differences in the way they celebrate the holidays and the
way their partner’s family celebrates the holidays.
6. Students will find pictures and at least one video from the internet that demonstrate a holiday
tradition of their partner.
7. Students will take these pictures and video and create a slide show in power point.
8. Students will ask their partner to bring in at least one item relevant to their holiday tradition.
9. Students will present their power point and the item to the class in a short (5 min) presentation.
Select Methods, Media, and Materials
The students will search the internet for pictures and videos relevant to the tradition they will be
presenting, this requires computers and internet access. The teacher will need to be watchful to keep the
students on task when they are looking up these multimedia items. This activity is an activity in selfdiscovery, where the students will be able to see examples of what they have heard from their partner.
The school has a computer lab that will be available twice during this unit; and a minilab in each classroom
that will also be used by the students. The computers have Microsoft Word and PowerPoint on them,
both of which will be used by the students.
Microsoft Word will be used by the teacher to print out a set of standards and what is expected of the
students. This will also provide the students with three interview questions for their partner (the students
will also need to ask their partner two additional questions that they come up with, and they cannot use
the question that their partner asked them). The students will save their work on a flash drive, if they
have to take their work home and do not have access to a flash drive one will be loaned to them. The
students will present their PowerPoint using the Smart Board in the classroom.
Utilize Media and Materials
Preview the Materials
The instructor previews all of the images and videos also reviews the answers to the “interview”
questions and the rough draft of the speech that each student plans to give, before it is presented in
front of the entire class.
Prepare the Materials
The teacher prepares the interview question sheets as well as the standards and rubric that the student
will follow. The teacher should also check the computers to make sure that they are ready for the
searches (safesearch activated) and that the projector works. Also the teacher should have at least two
if not three thumb drives so that one or two can be borrowed out if absolutely needed (the students
should be able to complete the activity with time given in class). The students will also have access to an
online dropbox that they can save their work in, meaning the only use for the thumb drive should be in
the event a student must work at his or her house and doesn’t have internet access.

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Prepare the Learners
The teacher goes over the lesson on holiday traditions followed by an explanation of the entire lesson.
The students are told what they will be doing but not given all of the materials in the beginning because
being 4th graders the possibility for misplacing the material is high. The students are also reminded how
to credit the pictures and video they add to their PowerPoint. After the teacher talks about his or her
personal holiday tradition, they split the students into their pairs. The students are instructed about
how to conduct the interview, then given the interview sheets. Next the students will be in the
computer lab for the first session. At the beginning of this class the students will set up their dropbox
account and given a quick lesson how to add images and video to the dropbox. The teacher continues to
review and work with the students throughout the process to make sure they are on track.
Provide the learning Experience
The student is given the materials as they progress. The original lesson is presented using the Smart
Board in the front of the class. The teacher gives their presentation of what holiday traditions their
family has. The students are told how to link a video into their PowerPoint and they are also taught how
to use the dropbox/thumb drive. The minilab of six computers in the back of the room is fully equipped
with internet access and everything the student will need to complete the project; as is the computer
lab.
Require Learner Participation
Large-Group Activities
The instructor will go over the initial lesson of the holiday unit. The instructor will then give their own
presentation of what the holidays are like for them and their traditions. The students will each have a
mini white board and the instructor will use this to quiz the students on the lesson as well as their own
tradition. The instructor will also give examples of questions that will be on the interview sheets and
will demonstrate for the entire class the proper use of the search engines for this activity.
The instructor will present their own PowerPoint on the topic and demonstrate for the students how to
add an image to the PowerPoint and to the dropbox; as well as how to add a link to the video in the
power point (because this is an activity not accomplished until the end of the unit it will be
demonstrated later on as well).
Small Group Activities
The majority of this unit’s activity could be classified as small group activities. Following the instructions
already given during the large group activity the students will collaborate with their partner to discuss
their own traditions. They will discuss with their partner their own traditions. Then the students will do
basic searches to find more information about the traditions of their partner. After this the students will
go over the interview hand out and ask the three questions provided as well as the two they came up
with on their own. After the students complete the interviews they return to the computer lab in order
to search for pictures and a video of the tradition they are studying. They also start to work on their
report and presentations using the standards and goals sheets given to them by the instructor. The
students will be working with each other in pairs most of the unit this will allow them to ask each other
questions and help each other out and learn to work together to accomplish their goal.

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Technology
The students will use the computer lab and the internet to search for the images and video. The
students will also utilize word to write out their report; as well as PowerPoint when delivering their
reports to the class.
Evaluate and Revise
Interview sheet (25 pts)
Computer lab participation (25 pts)
Participation in group [bringing items needed assisting partner] (15 pts)
Presentation (35 pts)
Total: 100 pts

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Interview Sheet
The student will receive half credit for each complete answer they write on their interview
sheet. The student will receive the other half credit from the answer that they give to their
partner.
1. On Which day[s] does this tradition take place every year? (2.5 pts)
2. During this tradition does your extended family gather or is this a tradition that only your
3. Is this tradition celebrated with your extended family or is this a holiday tradition that only your
immediate family celebrates together? (2.5 pts)
4. (2.5 pts)
5. (2.5 pts)

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Computer Lab Participation Sheet
The student will be graded on the following factors. A [5] will be given for an exemplary effort that meets
to criteria. A [1] will be given in any category that the student does not participate or does not in any way
meet the criteria given.
The student used the search engine properly:
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
Comments:
The student was not distracting to other students:
Comments:
The student was helpful to their partner:
Comments:
The student was able to find material needed:
Comments:
The student followed directions in completing the activity:
Comments:
Total: 25 points

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Group Participation Sheet
The students will be given a [5] for exemplary participation when they meet the criteria given. When a
student fails to meet the criteria or participate they will receive a [1].
The student participated in group discussion with their partner 5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
Comments:
The student gave accurate information to their partner
Comments:
The student was helpful in providing items for their partner
Comments:

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Presentation
The student provided accurate information on the tradition they were studying
Comments:
5
4
3
5
4 3
2
1
The student met the time requirement given
Comment:
2
1
2
1
The student used a video in their PowerPoint as instructed
Comment:
5
4 3
The student used pictures that were accurate and representative of the holiday
Comment:
5
4
3
2
1
The student credited the photos that were used in their PowerPoint
Comment:
5
4
3
2
1
The student made eye contact with their classmates while giving their
presentation
Comment:
5
4
3
2
1
5
4
3
2
1
The student’s presentation was informative
Comment: