Heritage and Citizenship: Grade 2 - Traditions and Celebrations

In Grade 2, study of Heritage and Citizenship focuses on the wide variety of cultures and traditions in Canada. Using either their own or well-known families, contemporary or historical, students identify various family origins and discover important events in family histories and cultures. They describe the ways in which cultural traditions are shared, and learn how different cultures and traditions contribute to society.

Overall Expectations (O.E. column below)

1. demonstrate an understanding that Canada is a country of many cultures;
2. describe family history and traditions as they relate to being Canadian;
3. describe contributions made by individuals and groups to the local community

Site Name	Online	O.E.	Description
Birthday Celebrations		1,2	In this lesson, students elaborate on birthday celebrations of their own families as well as the global family.
Birthday Traditions From Around The World		2	This is a comprehensive site describing the origin of the tradition of the birthday party along with some of the traditional gifts given around the world.
Boat People No Longer: Vietnamese Canadians		1, 3	This website discusses the traditions of the Vietnamese people with attention made to the Canadian situation as well as conditions in Vietnam.
Christmas Around The World		2	This site has a short descriptor of customs for several different countries around the world.
First Peoples		2, 3	This website deals with the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis of Quebec with a section is devoted to native women.
Gaelic Nova Scotia Home-Page		1, 2, 3	This page is dedicated to the social and economic development of the Gaelic language in Nova Scotia and around the world.
Groundhog Day		2,3	This is a good background about how Groundhog Day, a Canadian and U.S.A tradition, came to be.
History's Relationship to One's Life		1,2,3	Many students think "history" is political and military events that happened long ago and has little relationship to their own lives. This activity shows that everyone has a personal history that is affected by the times in which they live.
The Holiday Page		1,2	This page contains many holiday choices - even Groundhog Day! There are links to information, customs and traditions. There are songs, poems and many activities relating to each holiday.
Integrating BC First Nations Studies:  A K-10 Guide for Teachers		1,2,3	Sample Teaching Unit for British Columbia teachers dealing with BC First Nations.
Marvelicious Christmas		2	This site provides links to celebrations and customs in different coutries around the world. There is a Christmas Chronology as well as numerous links to songs, activities, recipes, and activities.
Multicultural Games		1	Students will learn, appreciate, and teach the history, cultural significance, and the rules of a multicultural game.
Time Line Project		2	A lesson plan devoted to the student of events by relating timelines to events in students' lives.
A Tribute to Canada		1,2,3	This is an all-in-one stopping place for all things Canadian written by a proud Canadian. The Thanksgiving site is a part of the overall site.
Atlapedia Online		1,2,3	Atlapedia Online contains full colour physical and political maps as well as key facts and statistics on countries of the world.
Better Homes and Gardens - Holiday Traditions		2	This site contatins the three major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. There are many links to sites which refer to customs and traditions for these holidays.
Canadian Thanksgiving Traditions		2	An interesting website discussing the history of the Canadian Thanksgiving.
The Canadian Communities Atlas		1,2,3	The Canadian Communities Atlas offers a unique national network of geographic information by providing schools the opportunity to create an Internet-based Atlas of their community.
Central Valley Christian School Christmas Page		1,2	This is a site for teachers looking for background information on Christmas traditions in other lands, history of Christmas cards, sleds, and other Christmas related topics.
Christmas Traditions in France and in Canada		1	This imaginary exhibition introduces the Christmas traditions in Canada and France.
Global Education: Lesson Plans Grade 3-5		1,2,3	Lesson plans are written for teachers about many countries and include mapping activities and games to help children learn about other cultures.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day		2	Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.A great Irish web site.
Holidays & Festivals Around the World		1,2	Holidays & Festivals Around the World - created by grade 5 students at the International School of Amsterdam.
Kids’ Japan		1,3	A very interesting websites designed in a question and answer game format to teach children about life in Japan.
Navrongo and Lawra HomePage		1,3	This is an excellent website including photos and describing with easy to read text what it is like to live in in a village in Northern Ghana.
Outline Maps		1,2,3	This is a teacher/student resource page consisting of a selection of outline maps for use in the classroom or at home.
Santa’s Favourites Around The World		2	This site has links to information about 38 countries around the world with respect to their Christmas traditiona .
Wiarton Willie’s Home Page		2,3	A unique site about the world’s top weather prognosticator. A fun site for everyone.
My World Of The Nisga'a Nation		1	Nisga'a Culture, the way of life of the Nisga'a, is represented in part, as categorized in this site.