Celebrate!: Connections Among Cultures By Jan Reynolds

Brief Overview: Throughout this picture book, it displays many different cultures. Although each culture is unique with their own traditions, this book illustrates how cultures also have many similarities. The main focus is celebrations. Although each culture may celebrate different traditions, it shows that each culture acts as a community, celebrating with music, food, decorations, etc.

Teaching Strategies:

Key Vocabulary:
Celebration
Culture
Diversity
Tradition

Before Reading: Before reading, students should have an understanding of culture and what makes a culture. Have students fill out the (K) of a K-W-L chart to show what they know about culture and the (W) for what they want to know or learn about culture. Have a discussion asking children what they believe a culture is and what it consists of including the key vocabulary words. *If you have a diverse classroom, asking parents to come in as a guest speaker would be helpful for students to realize that there are even cultures that differ from their own within their very own class, but also have many similarities as well! Children would be able to have a better connection of diversity to have an actual person come in and speak of diversity and their own culture and traditions.*

During Reading: While children read and see the pictures of different cultures, they will get a broader idea of what culture includes (dress, food, music, gathering, etc). They can brainstorm similarities they see throughout the book to their own culture.

After Reading: After reading, the students should fill out the (L) what they learned section of their graphic organizers. Students should know what culture is and what makes a culture. Have students break into small groups to brainstorm ideas to make up their own culture based on what they know makes culture (food, music, language, dress, traditions, etc).

Extra Resources:
What is culture?
Culture on Youtube

Reynolds, Jan. Celebrate!: Connections Among Cultures. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2010.

Reflects Diversity.