Outcomes
Social Studies Primary, Outcome 4:
Students will recognize that people (local), including Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, Mi’Kmaq including Treaty Education and additional cultural groups, have varied traditions, historical roots, rituals and celebrations.
Social Studies 6, Outcome 1:
Students will explore the concept of culture and demonstrate an understanding of its role in their lives inclusive of Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, Mi’Kmaq and additional cultures.
Social Studies 6, Outcome 2:
Students will analyze the importance of cross-cultural understanding inclusive of Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, Mi’Kmaq and additional cultures.
Challenge
Primary: To familiarize children with a custom practiced by Gaels at Halloween.
Grade 6: Look at a some Gaelic Halloween customs and make connections with some of our own practices on Halloween.
Suggested time
Primary: 45 minutes
Grade 6: 1.5 hours
Anticipated Outcomes
Primary:
Students will
- be able to speak about customs and recognise that people have different practices on holidays and celebrations.
Grade 6:
Students will:
- in their own words, define the term "custom" and differentiate between what is and what is not a custom.
- appreciate that some peoples have different customs.
- note the similarities and differences between their own Halloween customs and those of the Gaels.
Procedure
Primary:
- Talk about what things children tend to do at Halloween.
- Mention that some people do different things to celebrate days like Halloween.
- Talk about who the Gaels are.
- As a class, make fuarag and instead of the ring etc, add a number of buttons of all sizes.
Grade 6:
- Discuss what we understand the term "custom" to mean. What are some customs that we practice? Do we know of any customs practiced other peoples that differ from our own?
- Look at how our dictionary defines "custom". Note the criteria:
- Not written down and not obligatory.
- Done regularly at certain times.
- Has been done for a long time.
With this criteria in mind, have students fill our "It's a Custom!" worksheet (17 KB PDF)
- Review findings from filling in teh "It's a Custom!" worksheet. What have we learnt from completing this exercise?
- Read the section on "Halloween in Gaelic Culture"
- How do the Gaels' Halloween customs differ from our own? How are they similar?
- Make and enjoy fuarag!
Review and Reflection
Primary
- Speak about how many buttons we each have.
- Who has the largest button or the most large buttons?
- Who has the smallest or the most small buttons?
Grade 6:
- What do the similarities between Gaelic Halloween customs and those that we ourselves practice today tell us?
- Are there any customs that are unique to your family?