North and South American New Year Celebrations
Explain to your students that the people of Canada, the United States, and Ecuador celebrate New Years according to the different customs of their heritage.
New Year in Canada
Many Canadians celebrate the end of the old year and the ringing in of the new year on December 31. The Coptic New Year celebration is held in Canada on September 11. This is when Egyptian-Canadians celebrate the return of Sirious (star) to the sky. It was a signal for the Egyptians that the River Nile would soon overflow.Chinese New Year in Canada
Toronto has a large population of Chinese. In Toronto's “China Town,” the street name signs are printed in both English and Chinese symbols. There is a celebration of the New Year (Gung Hay Fat Choy) with dancing in the streets and the traditional Chinese dragon.New Year in the United States
New Year's Day is full of parades. Many “Bowl” parades are held on this day – not the least of which is the Rose Bowl Parade. The floats are made of fresh flower petals, and are a beautiful sight. The parades are televised nationally and are held prior to the football playoffs.New Year in Ecuador
This is a time for new clothes. Old clothes are often thrown away or burned. There is a parade in the evening in the center of town and a giant puppet figure wrapped in cloth is set on fire as a symbolic act. All of the mistakes, problems, and worries of the old year go up in smoke, and the new year marks a new beginning.
2008 Summer Olympics
Celebrate this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China, with our resources, activities, and lessons.
Teaching about Natural Disasters
The world has suffered two natural disasters this May — Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. These tragedies may have your students wondering why such large catastrophes occur. We have resources to help you explain earthquakes and cyclones, and for dealing with the subjects of death and crisis with your class.
July Events
Find educational activities for every day in July. Take a look at our Summer Activities Slideshow for our favorite summer-themed activities, lessons, and printables.
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New Customizable Printables
Easily create personalized hall and office passes or teacher stationary with our customizable classroom passes and notes. Prepare for substitute teachers, field trips, parent-teacher conferences, and more with our customizable charts and forms.
Drama Resources
Explore our drama resources – from Shakespearean plays to The Miracle Worker to Readers Theater – to widen your curricular focus. Students will enjoy the change of pace that putting on a classroom play will bring!
ADD/ADHD Resources
From frequently asked questions to assessment accommodations, these articles and resources will help you to deal with the special nature of students with ADD/ADHD.
