Lesson Plan

Let's Celebrate Diwali!

About this book

Grade Level Equivalent: 1.9
Lexile Measure: 380L
Guided Reading Level: H
Age: Age 6, Age 7, Age 5
Genre: General Nonfiction
Subject: Social Studies, Diwali

Overview

Students will learn about multicultural celebrations.

Objective

Students Will:

  1. List prior knowledge of Diwali.
  2. Listen to books.
  3. Compare and contrast Diwali to other celebrations.
  4. Create a project.

Materials

  1. Diwali (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Christina Mia Gardeski, David F. Marx
  2. Here Comes Diwali: The Festival of Lights by Meenal Pandya
  3. Self-hardening clay for Diwali Diya
  4. Sandwich-size Zip Lock baggies
  5. Tempera paint
  6. Brushes
  7. Tea candles (one per child)
  8. Kidspiration software and computer

Set Up and Prepare

  1. Check paint and brushes for condition
  2. Divide up clay into bowl size balls and put in Zip Lock baggies
  3. Check computer connection to large screen monitor

Directions

Step 1: As a group, list what the children already know about Diwali. I use Kidspiration as a brainstorming tool and add a new part to the chart we made about Ramadan. We continue on this chart with each celebration.

Step 2: Read Diwali (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Christina Mia Gardeski, David f. Marx and Here Comes Diwali: The Festival of Lights by Meenal Pandya, et al. As an alternative, you can also read about the festival online at diwalifestival.org .

Step 3: Using Kidspiration list what the children learned about Diwali.

Step 4: Compare and contrast Ramadan and Diwali.

Step 5: Create a Diya. Using self-hardening clay the children create a small bowl to hold a tea candle. Or you could have the children create the candle out of clay also to avoid a fire hazard. After the clay has hardened, paint the Diya and the candle.

Step 6: As a group, create a letter to parents explaining about Diwali and the Diya. Ask that an adult light the candle at home.

Assess Students

Teacher observation will assess student participation in listening to the book and contributing to the discussion.

  • Subjects:
    Ceremony and Tradition, Arts and Crafts, Charts and Graphs, Main Idea and Details, Literature, Compare and Contrast, Literature Appreciation, Listening Comprehension, Expository Writing, Letter Writing, Creativity and Imagination, Culture and Diversity, Diwali, Educational Technology, Tolerance and Acceptance, Understanding Self and Others
  • Skills:
    Compare and Contrast, Main Idea and Details, Charts and Graphs, Social Studies, Listening Comprehension, Expository Writing
  • Duration:
    90 Mins
top