Cultural Celebrations Teaching Resources
Explore cultural celebrations and holidays around the world and promote cultural awareness in your social studies classroom with printable worksheets, fun crafts and more teacher-created teaching resources!
The Teach Starter team of expert teachers has curated a curriculum-aligned collection of activities and interactive ideas to teach young students about the ways people in different cultures come together to celebrate. Save time on your lesson plans with resources that have been carefully curated by expert teachers just for you!
Is this your first year teaching this section of the social studies curriculum, or are you just looking for some fresh ideas? Read on for some tips from our teacher team on expanding your students' appreciation of different cultures and exploring their celebratory traditions!
Holidays Around the World Activities for the Classroom
Exploring how people around the world celebrate isn't just an important part of meeting social studies standards. Learning about these major holidays celebrated outside of the US is also a way to help students build a greater appreciation for other people and other cultures!
So how do you do that? Here are some fun holiday around the world ideas from our teacher team on bringing these cultural celebrations into your social studies lesson plans.
Create a Gallery Walk
Assign each student a specific holiday from another country such as Holi or Diwali from India or Japan's Hinamatsuri festival. Or provide a list, and allow them to pick their favorite! Have students research the holiday and create posters that detail where and when the holiday is celebrated as well as specific information about its history and specific traditions. Display the posters on the hallway wall, and allow your class to go on a gallery walk to take in the information about each holiday!
Hold a Holiday Lunch in the Classroom
Ask students to bring in a dish from a cultural holiday their family celebrates that can be shared with the class. Each student can present the dish to the class and tell their peers a little bit about the holiday.
Have Students Plan a Holiday-Based Trip for a Teacher
Break your class into small groups, and let them choose a cultural celebration from another country. Each group then has to plan a trip for you (or another teacher) to that country to celebrate that holiday. Include math skills practice by having students create a trip budget, and encourage them to interview the teacher about their likes and dislikes to figure into their planning!
- Plus Plan
Halloween vs. Dia de Los Muertos - Differentiated Paired Passages
Integrate reading, writing, and celebration of world cultures with differentiated paired passages comparing Halloween and Dia de los Muertos.
- Free Plan
The Day of the Dead Word Search
Introduce vocabulary surrounding the Mexican holiday known as “The Day of the Dead” with a printable word search.
- Plus Plan
Veterans Day - 4th Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Explore this 4th Grade Reading Comprehension pack and learn about the Veterans Day holiday.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Spain - Printable 3D Shoe Template
Assemble this Christmas shoe template to introduce your students to a fun Christmas tradition from Spain.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Japan - Kindness Christmas Light Template
Use a Christmas light template to create a Kindness Christmas bulb craft while learning about Christmas in Japan.
- Plus Plan
What is Dia de Los Muertos? Instructional Slide Deck
Promote cultural awareness and learn about the Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead with an instructional slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Egypt - Ornament Template
Use this beautiful template to design your own Christmas ornament inspired by Christmas in Egypt!
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World For Kids Book - Christmas in Spain
Introduce your students to Christmas in Spain with a printable Christmas Around the World mini-book
- Plus Plan
An Egyptian Christmas - Holidays Around the World Mini Book
Introduce your students to Egyptian Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas in Egypt Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Traditions in France - Mini Book for Kids
Learn about Christmas traditions in France with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book for kids.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World Mini Book - Germany
Introduce your students to Germany's Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Holidays Around the World — Brazil Mini Book
Introduce your students to Brazil’s Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Holidays Around the World Mini Book - Sweden
Introduce your students to Christmas in Sweden with a printable mini book and graphic organizer.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Gnome Craft Template - Sweden
Introduce your students to one of Sweden’s most popular Christmas figures with a printable “tomte” or gnome craft template.
- Plus Plan
Day of the Dead Coloring Pages
Promote cultural awareness and create your own Day of the Dead decorations with Dia de Los Muertos coloring pages.
- Plus Plan
Day of the Dead - Skeleton Craft Activity
Promote cultural awareness make a Dancing Calavera craft for Dia de Muertos.
- Plus Plan
Dia de Los Muertos - The Day of the Dead Printable Book
Promote cultural awareness and learn about the Mexican holiday of Dia de Muertos or the Day of the Dead.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in France - Yule Log Craft Activity
Introduce your students to the Yule Log Craft, a common tradition for Christmas in France.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World- The Philippines Mini Book
Introduce your students to Filipino Christmas celebrations and traditions with a printable Christmas in the Philippines book for kids.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in the Philippines - Parol Craft Template
Learn traditions related to Christmas in the Philippines with a printable Filipino Parol craft template.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Switzerland Activity Book
Introduce your students to Christmas in Switzerland with a printable Christmas Around the World mini-book.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Japan - Holidays Around the World Mini Book
Introduce your students to Japanese Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas in Japan Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Switzerland — Samichlaus Paper Plate Craft
Teach about Christmas in Switzerland and introduce students to Samichlaus with a printable paper plate Christmas craft.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Italy — La Befana Christmas Craft
Introduce your students to the traditions and figures associated with Christmas in Italy by crafting a La Befana tree topper!
- Plus Plan
Australian Christmas Bush Craft Template
Introduce your students to one of Australia’s Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas bush craft template.
- Plus Plan
Holidays Around the World Mini Book - Mexico
Introduce your students to Mexico's Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Holidays Around the World - Australia Mini Book
Introduce your students to Christmas in Australia with a printable mini book and graphic organizer.
- Plus Plan
Brazilian Tinsel Tail Bird Ornament Craft
Introduce students to Christmas in Brazil with a printable tinsel-tailed bird Christmas ornament template.
- Plus Plan
Dragon Coloring Pages
Create colorful Chinese dragon art to celebrate the Lunar New Year in the classroom with a pack of printable dragon coloring sheets.
- Plus Plan
Year of the Dragon – Paper Lantern Craft
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with this Chinese New Year paper lantern craft activity.
- Plus Plan
Winter Celebrations
A set of educational posters covering popular celebrations that fall in Winter.
- Plus Plan
Dia De Muertos Vocabulary and Writing Prompts
Learn and use the language of Mexican tradition with a Dia de Los Muertos vocabulary word wall and writing activity.