Christmas

Objectives:

• Students will be able to explain the origin of Christmas.

• Students will be able to describe Christmas traditions and their origins.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade - 5th Grade - 6th Grade

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

Christmas is celebrated each year on December 25th, to remember the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a religious holiday for Christians, but non-Christians also celebrate the Christmas season. Though it isn't clear exactly when Christmas was first celebrated, most people who study history believe it was some time during the fourth century. The early Christians most likely chose late December for Christmas to substitute for pagan festivals that took place around the same time to celebrate the winter solstice.

Christmas is celebrated throughout the world in many different ways.

Continued...