Year 1

Year 1 Celebrations 

Year 1 decided to end the year with an exploration of something very important in our lives: celebrations. For our final unit of inquiry, "How We Express Ourselves," we focused on the main features of world celebrations.

Central Idea: Celebrations and traditions are expressions of shared beliefs and values. 

 Lines of Inquiry:  

•  Events that people commemorate and celebrate. 

•  Characteristics of celebrations and traditions. 

• The significance and meanings attributed to various celebrations and traditions.

To understand celebrations better, we focused on the main characteristics/features: Language, Decoration, Costume, Food, Activities, and Music and Dance. We also used visible thinking routines to assess our prior knowledge and to formulate questions for future exploration.

🎤 Language Day 🗣️

Our first investigation was to examine how language is used in celebrations. The students investigated celebration greetings for different celebrations in different languages. They applied this newfound knowledge by making cards, videos, or creating WordArt.

🎊 Decoration Day 🎃 

We explored the significance and reasons for specific decorations in various celebrations or holidays. These decorations symbolized the messages and traditions of the celebrations. We made lanterns, designed rangoli, and made decorations using craft materials to consolidate our learning.

💃 🎓 Costume Day 🥳 🎭

On this day, we explored how certain types of clothes make celebrations special. These costumes could be traditional or simply for fun. Students expressed themselves creatively by making costumes and attaching them to paper figures or decorated masks associated with the Day of the Dead. 

🎂 Food Day 🥠

We discussed the importance of food in celebrations. Students made clay models of foods they would love to eat during a celebration. Our wonderful parents prepared a feast, demonstrating examples of celebration foods. In the end, the students learned a lot and enjoyed delicious meals.

🎁 🪅 Activity Day

We examined the significance of activities in various celebrations. Students participated in group activities requiring cooperation and energy. To end this fun day, we made and decorated windmills and then flew them, which everyone enjoyed immensely.

🎤 🎹 Music & Dance Day 🕺💃

During our final investigation, we explored the use of music and dance in celebrations around the world. The students learned how to play the song ‘Ibu Kita Kartini’ on the xylophone, they danced both traditional and modern dances, including Maumere, the Macarena, and the Waltz, and sang along to popular songs used in celebrations.

As we conclude our Year 1 journey through celebrations, it’s clear how deeply these traditions connect us all. Each special day brought learning to life with creativity, collaboration, and joy, and allowed our students to gain a richer understanding of how celebrations express shared beliefs and values

🙏 Thank You 👏

We are grateful to our amazing parents for their enthusiastic support, which made these experiences even more meaningful. Together, we celebrated not just the events themselves, but the stories, meanings, and connections that make celebrations so important in our lives.