Tag Archives: holiday

Flag Day – June 14

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Flag Day
In memory of the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States, the president proclaims June 14 as Flag Day every year. Americans respond by displaying the flag and holding other patriotic demonstrations.

The most widely known symbol of a nation is its flag – a piece of cloth with a picture or design that represents something special about that nation. In the United States, that flag, of course, is the Stars and Stripes.

Every part of the flag’s design represents an American ideal. The red, white, and blue colors are symbolic of the American spirit – red for hardiness and valor, white for purity and innocence, and blue for perseverance and justice. The 13 red and white stripes stand for the original 13 colonies. And the stars represent the 50 states.

For more than 200 years, the Stars and Stripes has flown over the United States in good times and in bad. Created during the Revolutionary War, the flag has changed as the nation has changed, but the ideals for which it stands have not.

Honoring the Stars and Stripes 

In 1942, Congress adopted the Flag Code – a set of rules governing the use and treatment of the U.S. flag. The code is based on the principle that the flag should be honored and respected as a symbol of the nation it represents. Here are just a few of the rules to give you an idea of how we are to treat our national flag:

Flag Etiquette

The U.S. flag should be displayed every day except when weather conditions might damage it. It is customarily displayed from sunrise to sunset but can be flown 24 hours a day. It should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.

When flown with a group of flags other than national flags on separate staffs, the U.S. flag must be in the center and higher than the others.

If there are other national flags being displayed, they should be flown on separate staffs of the same height and of the same size as the U.S. flag.

During times of mourning, raise the flag to its peak then lower it to half-mast. Raise it to peak again before lowering it at the end of the day.

When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be placed with the union at the head and over the left shoulder. It should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.

At no time should the U.S. flag touch the ground, the floor, or anything beneath it.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.

The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

Discarding the flag

When a flag is no longer usable, the most dignified way to destroy it is to burn it. But burning a flag that is still fit for display is considered a sign of political protest. It’s also the subject of much debate. Research the issue of flag-burning. Then write a newspaper opinion piece, editorial, letter to the editor, editorial cartoon, column that summarizes your thoughts about this issue.

Here is a great interactive site for you to check out: americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/

Information and activities are from KRP’s Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide and Patriotism tab distributed by the NIE Institute.

 

Cinco de Mayo

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Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico, but it is also widely celebrated by Mexican-Americans in the United States. The holiday, which in Spanish means the “Fifth of May,” commemorates the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican patriots stopped a French invasion. It often is  confused with Mexico’s Independence Day, which is Sept. 16.
The Battle of Puebla victory was significant in that the smaller, less well-equipped army toppled the bigger, stronger one.

To honor the day, people throughout Mexico, as well as many cities throughout the United States, celebrate with festivals and fiestas, enjoying traditional Mexican food and special music and dances. People often don clothes of red and green — two of the colors of the Mexican flag (along with white).  -McClatchy Newspapers

ACTIVITIES from the KRP Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide

While most Mexican-Americans celebrate the traditional American holidays, many also continue to observe the major holidays of their homeland, such as Cinco de Mayo. Often, they do so with fiestas. Explain to students that fiesta means festival, a colorful celebration that can include fireworks, dancing, the ringing of bells, parades, and plenty of food and drink. Another Mexican tradition, the pinata, is also usually present. Pinatas, which are commonplace in many American celebrations, are usually made of papier-mache and are shaped like animals. Find a papier-mache “recipe” and old newspapers and help your students make a pinata for Cinco de Mayo. Display their work throughout the school.

Discuss other ways Mexican-Americans have had an influence on American society and your community. Ask students to find and clip newspaper stories and photos that illustrate this influence. They can create a bulletin board display in honor of this important Mexican national holiday.

Mexico is an important American neighbor. Things that happen in Mexico often affect the United States and vice versa. Have students look for a news story about an event or happening in Mexico that will have an impact on the United States. Allow them to discuss their conclusions. Then have them look for a U.S. story that might have an effect on Mexico.

St. Patrick’s Day Newspaper Activities

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In Ireland and Northern Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. But in the United States, it is primarily a secular, or non-religious, holiday in which people don green attire and lucky shamrocks in celebration of Irish heritage. Parades are also a big part of St. Patrick’s Day in more than 100 U.S. cities.

Here are some activities from KRP’s Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide.

1. The shamrock a plant with three leaflets is a national symbol in Ireland. Find information on the shamrock, then, in the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, collect shamrocks found in newspaper ads.

2. Pretend you are going on a trip to Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. First, do research on Ireland to find out what the weather is like and which places you would like to visit. Then pack your bags using items found in the newspaper ads.

St. Patrick’s Day Newspaper Scavenger Hunt 

Find as many of these items as you can in the newspaper:

1. An advertisement for an item that would take a “pot of gold” to buy.

2. A recipe for preparing corned beef and cabbage.

3. A feature story about lucky people or events.

4. A city that might be able to see a rainbow due to their weather.

5. A list of all the different shades of green named in the paper.

6. Four lucky things you wish for, that you could write on each leaf of a four leaf clover.

7. Somewhere hosting a St. Patrick’s Day parade, party or dance.

8. Something Irish.

9. A photo of someone celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

10. A story about someone who is helping others, like St. Patrick helped his fellow Irishmen.

11. Find a classified help wanted listed that would be a good job for a leprechaun.

12. A list of Irish names found in the obituary listings.

13. The name of a sport’s team whose colors are green & white.

14. A comic strip about St. Patrick’s Day.

The Saint Patrick’s Day Newspaper Scavenger Hunnt was provided by Diane Goold, Newspaper In Education Director, St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, MO and Dale Miller (Essex County Newspaper)

Presidents’ Day Activities

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Information and activities are from KRP’s The Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide and News Relief’s A Plan for All Seasons both from the NIE Institute.


Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday and is observed on the 3rd Monday in the month of February.

Presidents’ Day officially observes the birthdays of two famous American leaders: George Washington (Feb. 22) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12). However, many Americans take this day to honor all those who have served the United States as president.

The office of the U.S. president is the most powerful elective office in the world, partly because he is the leader of the world’s richest, most productive nation but also because he wears many hats. He serves as chief executive, commander-in-chief, chief diplomat, chief lawmaker, and chief of state. Find out more about each of these roles. Then write a Help Wanted ad for president of the United States. Check the classified section of the newspaper for examples of Help Wanted ads.

Newspaper ads often use a holiday or seasonal theme to sell products or services. Businesses often want to attract attention to those people who have some time off from work and might be deciding how to spend extra time and/or money.

Skim through the pages of the newspaper to find examples of ads that refer to Presidents’ Day, Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. Some ads may only use symbols or pictures that refer to this holiday. You may find other ads that use words or phrases to refer to the holiday. Other ads may use a combination of both.

Select two ads from the newspaper that refer to Presidents’ Day. One ad should be an example of what you think is an effective ad. The other ad should be one that you think is not so effective.  Answer the following questions about each.

THE EFFECTIVE AD 

1. What is the ad trying to sell?

2. What type of symbols or words are used to make a connection between the product/service and Presidents’ Day?

3. Explain why you think this ad is effective.

THE INEFFECTIVE AD

1. What is the ad trying to sell?

2. What type of symbols or words are used to make a connection between the product/service and Presidents’ Day?

3. Explain why you think this ad is not as effective as the first ad you selected.

Mardi Gras Activities

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Information and activities are from KRP’s The Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide and News Relief’s A Plan for All Seasons both from the NIE Institute.

Mardi Gras is a colorful celebration that takes place on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penitence in many Christian communities. In the United States, especially in New Orleans and other Southern cities, Mardi Gras has become a popular two-week festival of balls, parties, and parades leading up to Lent.

Mardi Gras means fat Tuesday in French. Do you know any other words that have French origins. Look through the newspaper for words you think might be French in origin. Look up the words in a dictionary or word origin book.

The custom of celebrating Mardi Gras was brought to the United States by French colonists. What other groups of people brought their holiday customs to this country, such as the Germans (Groundhog Day) and the Irish (St. Patrick’s Day)? Think of a holiday custom you and your family cherish. Then write an editorial that might persuade others to adopt that custom for their families. Check the editorial pages of the newspaper for examples of how editorials are written.

The newspaper serves as an excellent guide to entertainment in the local area.  Wherever you may travel, the local newspaper will usually contain the latest information on places to go and things to do.

Use your local newspaper as a guide to local attractions. Look for ads, news stories and pictures that refer to some of the things in your city that provide recreation.

See how many attractions and special events you can find in the newspaper. Then categorize them in the groups listed.

PLACES TO EAT

HISTORIC PLACES TO SEE

SPECIAL EVENTS

GREAT PLACES FOR RELAXATION

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT

Ground Hog Day

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Information and activities are from KRP’s Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide and Understanding Weather from the NIE Institute.

Does the groundhog seeing his shadow on Groundhog Day really mean anything? Legend has it that if he sees his shadow when he awakens from his winter sleep, six more weeks of winter will follow. But if it’s cloudy and the groundhog does not see his shadow, spring will arrive soon.

There is a grain of truth to the beliefs associated with the American tradition of Groundhog Day. Most of the time, mild, sunny weather in January and February will be followed by wintry weather in March. After bad weather in January and February, spring often comes early.

Although most people don’t take Groundhog Day seriously, the custom of predicting the arrival of spring on this day is based on a few traditional weather signs. For example, people have looked to the awakening of hibernating animals as one of the first signs of spring.

Here are some activities you can do with the newspaper.

Create a comic strip about Punxsutawney Phil (the famous groundhog) or other characters from weather folklore. Check the Herald comic strips to see how comic strips are written and drawn.

Make a prediction about the weather based on an aspect of weather folklore. Write your prediction in the style of a newspaper weather report.

Clip newspaper ads for businesses that are affected by weather. Based on the extended forecast in your newspaper, what kind of sales can these businesses expect in the coming days?

To learn more fun facts about groundhogs check out www.groundhog.org the official website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Information and activities are from KRP’s The Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide from the NIE Institute.

Since 1986, the United States has observed the birth of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as a legal public holiday. It is always celebrated on the third Monday in January. This day is set aside each year to honor King, the powerful black minister from Atlanta who was the main force behind the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He was also a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1964) for leading non-violent civil rights demonstrations.

Despite his belief in peaceful demonstrations, King himself was often the target of violence. It ended King’s life at the age of 39, when an assassin shot and killed him while he supported a strike by black garbage workers in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968.


1. Even though slavery was officially abolished in 1865, Martin Luther King Jr. talked often about his desire for freedom for African-Americans. Ask students to discuss what they think King meant by freedom. Then have them cut out words and pictures from the newspaper that illustrate freedom to use on a poster.

2. Martin Luther King Jr. was a hero to many people both when he was alive and after his death. Have students look through the newspaper for a present-day hero. Then have them make a list of the character traits that make that person a positive influence. Conclude by having them find a person featured in the newspaper who would not be a good role model. Allow them to discuss their thoughts.

3. Civil rights, such as the right to free speech, are the freedoms a person has because he or she is a member of a civilized society. Ask students to imagine what it would be like to lose their civil rights. What freedoms would they have to give up? Now, ask students to look through the newspaper for a story about someone who is denied his or her civil rights. Have them discuss their thoughts in small groups.

4. Provide students copies of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream Speech” along with examples of news stories and editorials from the newspaper (see the link below for the speech.) Ask each to assume the role of reporter and pretend they were present when King gave the speech. Conclude the activity by having them write either a newspaper story about the speech or an editorial expressing opinions about what was said.

Click on the following read or download Martin Luther King Jr.’s  “I Have a Dream Speech.” http://legacy.grandforksherald.com/pdfs/I%20HAVE%20A%20DREAM%20PRINTABLE.pdf

One more resource:  http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/martin-luther-king-jr-and-power-nonviolence#sect-activities

Holiday Scavenger Hunt

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Here’s a newspaper holiday scavenger hunt for you and your family to enjoy from the NIE Institute.  Merry Christmas!

Look through your newspaper and find the following (add to the list if you wish). Write down what you find and where you find it.

1. An ad for something you would like for Christmas/Holidays

2. A story about someone helping others

3. A place where there is little joy or sadness this holiday season

4. Something or someplace to eat for Christmas/Holiday dinner

5. A Christmas tree, Menorah, Santa or other symbols of holiday traditions

6. Someone who has been naughty

7. Someone who has been nice

8. A story from another country where Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukah or other holidays are celebrated

9. An entertaining place or event you would like to visit or attend during the winter break

10. Someone less fortunate than you are

11. Something Santa might say

Holiday Season Newspaper Activities

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Looking for some activities to do in the classroom? Here are some ideas from the NIE Institute. The actvities cover a variety of subjects from art to social studies.

ART: During the holiday season, many gifts are exchanged between friends and family. Students can use your newspaper (including advertisements and regular content) to create personal wish lists. First, have students pick five items they’d like to receive, then five items they would like to give. Using the design skills they’ve learned in your class, allow students to cut and paste these items into an attractive collage.

Students can cut letters from the newspaper (or use their own artistic flair) to create an appropriate title for their collages. After their collages are created, students can practice their drawing and copying skills by recreating their favorite item from the 10 onto a new sheet of paper.

CAREER EDUCATION: Retail establishments are very busy throughout December. Use your newspaper to find examples of other businesses that are impacted positively or negatively by the holidays. What jobs can you find that would ONLY exist during the holiday season? Are there any jobs can you find that would NOT be affected in any way by the holiday season?

ENGLISH/ LANGUAGE ARTS: Christmas is the most widely known and celebrated holiday in December, but many other holidays also occur in this season. Use your newspaper to find examples of some of these other holidays. Write a persuasive essay encouraging your classmates to celebrate another winter holiday (either in addition to or in place of Christmas). Use your newspaper to research more about the holiday you’ve chosen to promote and utilize outside sources to locate additional details.

GEOGRAPHY: Although many people in our area wish for a “white Christmas,” use today’s weather map to locate other areas in our country where a white Christmas might be more likely to occur. If you decided to drive to one of these areas during the holidays, what route would you take? How many miles would you be traveling? What scenic features (mountains, rivers, etc.) would you cross on your journey? What states would you pass on your way there? If you decided you definitely wanted to AVOID snow on Christmas, where would you be most likely to visit? Answer the same questions for your new travel plans.

HISTORY: The New Year is fast approaching. What do you think will be historically the most important things that happened in 2011? Use your newspaper to locate stories you think will still matter in 2012 and even further into the future. Based on what you’ve found in your newspapers, what are the five items you most think deserve a spot in a 2011 time capsule? Write an essay to explain your decisions.

MATHEMATICS: The month of December traditionally has more advertising than other months of the year. Work with a partner or two to determine how many column inches of advertising are included in one section of today’s newspaper. Now determine how many column inches are devoted to editorial content (stories or photos). Compare the two numbers: what percentage of that section’s content is advertising and what percentage is news? When your class has completed this job, compile your numbers and determine which section has the most advertising and which has the most news. Create a graph to compare these numbers.

MUSIC: Well-written articles are often very lyrical. Work with a couple of students to fnd a story in today’s newspaper that you think would make a good song. Make a list of the story’s main points and especially note any sentences or phrases that you think might work “as-is” in your song. Use a popular holiday tune to set your song to music. Share your song with the class.

NEWSPAPER KNOWLEDGE: A good newspaper includes a wide array of topics and materials each day. What topics do you find in today’s newspaper that probably wouldn’t occur in other months? Create a list and see how many December-specific stories you find.

SCIENCE & HEALTH: As the weather gets colder, we know cold and flu season is upon us. What are some specific steps you can take to avoid being sick during your winter vacation? Compile a class list of ideas and submit them to the newspaper as a letter to the editor. (Letters that are brief, well-written and well-edited are more likely to be published, so don’t send a first draft!)

SOCIAL STUDIES: Holidays are celebrated differently throughout the world. Pick a country outside of the United States and research what December celebrations might be like there. Using a current holiday newspaper article as a guide, write a feature story about your chosen country and holiday. Be sure to include an attention-grabbing headline and lead!

COMMUNITY SERVICE: More people are interested in helping out during the holidays than at any other time of the year. Create a newspaper clip file or bulletin board that details organizations in your area that could use community support. As a class, choose a group you’d like to help. Because many organizations need help year-round, determine what your class can do AFTER the holidays to help out as well. Your contribution could be as simple as designing artwork for their buildings or as complicated as a fundraising drive.

JUST FOR FUN: Go on a newspaper scavenger hunt! It shouldn’t be hard to find holiday-related items in this month’s news. Time yourself as you look for the following:

1. A holiday article or photo that is NOT about Christmas;

2. A dateline that indicates a place you’d really like to visit during your vacation;

3. An example of a gift you’d really like to receive;

4. A word or phrase that you think best exemplifies this season;

5. A classified advertisement for something holiday-related;

6. A photo that reminds you of winter;

7. A food you’d like to eat during the holidays; and

8. A sporting event that will occur during your winter vacation.

Columbus Day Activities

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Here are some Columbus Day activities from KRP’s “The Ultimate Holiday Activity Guide”.

Christopher Columbus is one of the most famous names in history. When he voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, his discoveries changed the world forever.  In honor of Columbus’ landfall in the “New World” on Oct. 12, 1492, Americans celebrate the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. It was first celebrated in 1792 but didn’t become a legal federal holiday until 1971.

•Have students assume the role of a reporter at the site of Columbus’ famous landing on the island of San Salvador. Have them write a short story about the landing and Columbus’ first meeting with the natives using the five W’s of newspaper writing: who, what, when, where, and why.

•When Columbus lived during the 15th century, people had no way of knowing about other countries and the people who lived there. They waited for months to hear about Columbus’ voyage. Today, of course, newspapers and other media keep us up to date about what’s happening in the world. A dateline, which appears at the beginning of a news story, tells us where a story comes from. Have students look in today’s newspaper for stories from countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and other faraway lands. Allow them to share one story with the class.

•Was Columbus a hero or a villain? That’s the subject of much debate, even today. He was a brave and able seaman whose discoveries led to the world we know. But his treatment of the Native Americans he encountered along the way has been criticized. Allow discussion on this topic, as well as additional research. Then have the students write a newspaper editorial titled:  Columbus: Hero or Villain.

For more information visit http://www.usconsulate.org.hk/pas/kids/cd.htm