What do winter holiday celebrations tell us about geography, history and culture?
Subject(s): Arkansas History, Geography, and US History
Time Period(s): (1850-1877) Civil War and Reconstruction, (1870-1900) Development of The Industrial United States, (1890-1930) Emergence of Modern America, (1929-1945) Great Depression and World War II, (1945-Early 1970s) Postwar United States, and (1968 to the Present) Contemporary United States
Grade level(s): 6-8 and 9-12
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Supporting Question(s):
What people, places, and things do we associate with Christmas?
How are Christmas celebrations in the past similar to and different from Christmas celebrations in the present?
Source Set
- The One Horse Open Sleigh
- Santa Claus with a basket of toys
- New York City--the Chanucka celebration by the Young Men's Hebrew Association
- Feast of Lights
- Christmas subjects. Boys' choir with nativity scene
- Christmas parade on North Eighth Street in Fort Smith
- Opening Christmas presents
- Credit card 500
- Season's Greetings card featuring a family photograph of Jim Guy, Betty, Sarah, and Anna Tucker
- Chinese New Year Celebration in Chinatown in Washington, D.C.
- National Dunbar Alumni Association Newsletter
- Christmas tree at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Description
Hanukkah illustration from Frank Leslie’s magazine, 1880
Description
Photograph of a Christmas parade in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Picturing Santa on his float.
Description
Photograph of family opening Christmas presents, circa 1970-1980s.
Description
Cartoon drawing of Santa leading a group of women in cars label, VISA, Mastercard, Bank and Checks racing to shop.
Description
Greeting card from Juy Guy Tucker and his family in 1992.
Description
Lunar New Year parade, 1980
Description
Drawing & description of Kwanzaa principles
Description
Photograph of the Christmas tree at the U.S. Capitol
Arkansas Frameworks:
United States History Since 1890
Era7.2.USH.6
Construct historical arguments and explanations about the long-term impact of social, economic, political, and cultural changes that occurred during the 1920s utilizing evidence from a variety of primary and secondary sources.
Era10.8.USH.4
Critique the historical accuracy of a variety of secondary sources on social and economic trends since 1968 (e.g., websites, documentaries, movies, newspaper articles, biographies)
Sociology
SS.3.S.1
Analyze ways culture influences individuals using a variety of sources.
SS.4.S.3
Examine the importance of norms and values to a culture and the effects on social structure.
SR.5.S.2
Evaluate the role of norms and values in society
Geography
HS.6.7.1
Examine the cultural characteristics of various regions (e.g., celebrations, language, child-rearing, clothing, food, beliefs, behaviors)