Minds On

Family fun time

Family playing a board game together

Press the following tabs to explore how families can have fun together!

Brainstorm

Let the good times roll!

What are some activities that families might do to have fun together?

Throughout this activity, you can record your ideas on the computer, orally, or on paper.

Action

What is a celebration?

A celebration is when you do something special for an event or a holiday.

Each family has their own ways to have fun or celebrate occasions like birthdays and holidays. How they celebrate is not the same from family to family.

Children thinking about different types of celebrations.

Student Tips

Did you know?

Not everyone celebrates the same event the same way.

Press Family Fun to reveal an example!

Some families may have a big party for a birthday with many friends, while others may mark the occasion in a simpler and more private way.

Task 1: My family has fun!

  • Choose something special or a family celebration that your family does.
  • Describe your family activity.
  • You can create a picture or two if you like.

Complete the Family Celebration or Special Event activity in your notebook, using the following fillable and printable document, or using a tool of your choice.

Family Celebration or Special Event

Press the Activity button to access the Family Celebration or Special Event.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

Task 2: Celebrations

What is a celebration that your family participates in? Why is it important to you?

In this activity, you will learn about various celebrations and choose one that you would like to explore. For example, it could be one that your family, friends, or community celebrates. It can also be one that you would like to know more about.

There could be more celebrations that are not listed in this section. You could explore one of those celebrations as well.

While you explore the celebration, take note of:

  • Who celebrates it?
  • What is the celebration called?
  • When is it celebrated?
  • What are some important traditions associated with the celebration?

You can record your ideas using your notebook, the following fillable and printable Let's Celebrate! document, or use another method of your choice.

Let’s Celebrate!

Press the Activity button to access the Let’s Celebrate!.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

If you would like some help, press Example to reveal a model of how to complete your task.

Let’s Celebrate model

Name of celebration Who celebrates it? When is it celebrated? Important traditions that are part of the celebration
Example: Name of celebration. Celebrated by (Blank) around the world. Changes every year because of (Blank). Happens in the month of (Blank). People celebrate during the month of (Blank). Enjoy a feast with (Blank) to mark the day.

Seasonal celebrations

There are certain times in the year that families and communities celebrate. Here are some examples of some celebrations by season.

Winter celebrations

Press each celebration to see some examples of celebrations that happen between December 21st and March 21st every year.

Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration that is often called the Festival of Lights. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is a Christian celebration that is held in many countries on December 13. In Sweden, Finland, and Norway, St. Lucia Day (also known as St. Lucy's Day) is celebrated with candles, a feast, and special clothing.

This is an important celebration in the Caribbean country of St. Lucia. Explore the following video to learn more about this special day!

This is a Christian holiday that takes place on December 25th. It celebrates the birth of Jesus, which is an important part of the Christian faith. Christmas includes the giving of gifts and the decorating of a Christmas tree. A large meal is often served on Christmas.

Family of 2 parents 2 grandparents & 2 kids having Christmas dinner. A Christmas tree is behind them.

This is an African American and African Canadian celebration from December 26th to January 1st.

This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is a Japanese celebration for the New Year. It is celebrated on January 1st. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is a harvest festival for Hindu people from South India. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is celebrated by many communities and celebrates the shortest day of the year. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is festival held by communities from India, Pakistan, and Nepal. It celebrates the beginning of spring, usually in February. The skies are filled with colourful kites and yellow ribbons. Often people wear yellow clothes during this festival.

Boy & girl celebrating Basant, seeing colourful kites with yellow ribbons outside.

This is a Scottish holiday that is named after a Scottish poet. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

Spring celebrations

Press each celebration to see some examples of celebrations that happen between March 21st and June 21st every year.

This is a Hindu and Sikh festival that celebrates the end of winter. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is Thailand’s most famous festival that happens over three days from April 13th to April 15th. It is a water festival to celebrate the Thai New Year. Those who are celebrating get others wet and spend time with their families.

Children celebrating Songkran by splashing water from bowls they are holding at each other.

This is celebrated by Italians from Venice. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

Easter is a Christian celebration and holiday. It celebrates Jesus rising from the dead. Today, Easter is often celebrated with egg hunts and family gatherings that include a large celebration and a meal.

1 grandparent, 2 parents & 2 kids wearing bunny ears, Easter eggs are on a table in front of them.

This is an Iranian festival that is also known as the Persian New Year. It is celebrated at the beginning of Spring. It includes music, dancing, food, traditional clothes, and singing.

You can learn more about this celebration by accessing Lili's New Year from TVOkids.

Press ‘TVOkids’ button to access Lili’s New Year.

TVO Kids (Opens in a new window

Summer celebrations

Press each celebration to see some examples of celebrations that happen between June 21st and September 21st every year.

This is a Swedish and Finnish holiday. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is a Japanese Buddhist festival that takes place for three days in the summer. During this festival people welcome the spirits of their ancestors back home. It is celebrated with family.

Kids dancing in front of a stage with hanging lanterns while 2 drummers play music on stage

This is a day to celebrate Indigenous heritage on June 21st. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The dates change every year, but it always lasts one month. This is a time for Muslims to fast (not eat) during the day, pray, and reflect with community members.

Family sitting around a spread of food at nighttime. Their hands are open in prayer.

This is a Muslim religious holiday that celebrates the end of Ramadan. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

Autumn celebrations

Press each celebration to see some examples of celebrations that happen between September 21st and December 21st every year.

This is the Jewish New Year and is also called the Feast of Trumpets. It lasts for two days in September. There is candle lighting, horn blowing, and a large meal with family.

Boy blowing traditional trumpet with food in front of him & his parent standing beside him.

This is a Mexican celebration filled with mariachi music, food, and Spanish performances to honour people’s ancestors who have died. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is a Chinese festival held for one day in the middle of Autumn. It is a day for family gatherings when the moon rises. Together they may eat moon cakes and sing moon poems.

Nighttime sky with the full moon & some banner decorations & paper lanterns.

This festival is all about Greek pride and includes a parade, dancing, and a great feast. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is a festival celebrated by different communities from India. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

This is an Iranian festival that takes place 100 days before spring. This video will help you learn more about the celebration:

Consolidation

Happy New Year!

Families watching fireworks in the sky at nighttime.

Student Tips

Keep in mind

Family traditions are not always the same, even among families celebrating the same holiday or celebration.

Option 1: Ways to celebrate New Year

Does your family celebrate New Year’s Eve? If you do, what are some of the traditions that you have around this celebration?

Record your traditions using a tool of your choice.

Now you are going to compare your traditions to that of Ashley, who celebrates Lunar New Year.

We are going to explore the following video from TVOkids series, It’s My Party, to learn more about Lunar New Year.

Please fill out the following New Year Celebration Option 1 chart, use your notebook, or use a tool of your choice to examine the celebration you chose.

New Year Celebration Option 1
Name of celebration
What is the same between the celebrations?
What is not the same between the celebrations?
Why is it important to learn about the traditions and celebrations of other communities?

Press the Activity button to access New Year Celebration Option 1. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Option 2: Comparing two New Year’s

In this task, we are going to compare two community’s celebrations of the New Year. This will help us to learn more about holidays and traditions that kids all over Canada celebrate.

In the first video, you will learn about Lunar New Year, which is a Chinese New Year celebration.

In the second video, you will learn about Oshogatsu, which is a Japanese New Year celebration.

As you explore the two videos, think about what is the same between the two celebrations and what is not the same.

Press Lunar New Year to learn about the Chinese New Year celebration.

Press Oshogatsu to learn about the Japanese New Year celebration.

Please complete the New Year Celebration Option 2 chart in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document.

New Year Celebration Option 2
Name of celebration
What is the same between the celebrations?
What is not the same between the celebrations?
Why is it important to learn about the traditions and celebrations of other communities?

Press the Activity button to access New Year Celebration Option 2. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press Discover More to extend your skills.

Party Time! – Online game

Create your own party with this TVOkids online game!

You will get a chance to make your party truly yours.

You can include some holiday traditions depending on the type of celebration you want to have.

Party Time!

Press the ‘TVOkids’ button to access Party Time!

TVO kids (Opens in a new window)

More family fun time videos!

Here are some more family fun time videos! You can explore each of the following videos for fun!

Morgan’s family fun time: Board game fun

Ruby’s family fun time: Building blocks creations

Zoe’s family fun time: Watching movies

Phoenix’s family fun time: Baking a cake