Dear Educators,
December is a time of celebration and family togetherness for many Americans – and not just those who celebrate Christmas as a sacred holiday or cultural event. Jews celebrate Hanukkah, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day, many African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa, and cultures across the world celebrate the Winter Solstice.
For educators, however, the convergence of so many holidays can create The December Dilemma: how to acknowledge and respect the wide variety of traditions students and their families hold dear without implying that some are more important than others.
Turn this dilemma into an opportunity for promoting inclusion and religious literacy. Teach your students about the many ways people celebrate in December – and throughout the year. Use our holiday planning template to create a yearlong schedule of holidays to explore in your classroom.
• Read our information-packed blog post, Teaching the Holidays: The December Dilemma
• Download an elementary-level lesson on the Winter Solstice.
• Download an elementary-level lesson on Rituals and Traditions about Light: Hopefulness and Waiting.
• Check out Tanenbaum’s curricula for all grade levels.