New Years and New Year’s Resolutions

Objectives:

• Students will be able to explain how and when the New Year is celebrated.

• Students will be able to describe the tradition and history of the Times Square “time ball”.

• Students will be able to describe the origin of New Year’s Resolutions.

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 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:

The beginning of a new year is always a time for celebration. In the United States, like much of the world, we follow the Gregorian calendar and begin the New Year on January 1st. The night before, New Year's Eve, is traditionally a night for parties and fun. Many people stay up until midnight (and often long after) to ring in the New Year. In some parts of the world, other dates mark the beginning of the year. For example, the Jewish New Year begins on Rosh Hashanah, which is usually in September. In China, the year begins some time between January 21st and February 19th of the Gregorian calendar. Historically, the New Year has been celebrated at other times as well. For example, in Europe in the Middle Ages, the Julian calendar was followed and March 25th was the beginning of a new year.

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