Minds On

What is a tradition?

A tradition is handing down customs, beliefs, and information from one generation to another.

Press ‘Generation’ to reveal the definition of generation.

Generation is a word that means people are born around the same time. In a family, this means that grandparents, parents, and children are all from different generations.

What traditions does your family have when they celebrate different events?

Explore the following examples of different family traditions.

Press each event to access a question about the way in which it’s being celebrated.

Is there a special food served?

Is there a special ceremony?

Is there a gift given?

Is there a special dance?

Is there a picture taken?

Is there a place you always go?

Now that you have explored different family traditions and the ways in which they are celebrated, choose one or two traditions that your family has, and explain what they are using a method of your choice.

Action

What’s for dinner?

In this task, we will examine the role that food can play in different cultures.

Press each tab to explore an episode of the TVOkids show, My Home, My Life

Reflect on the following questions:

  • Can you describe the food item being prepared in the video?
  • Why is this tradition important to the family?
  • Does your family have any traditional foods that they make? Do you have a favourite meal?

Passing down traditions

In the videos you recently explored, both families passed down the cooking of traditional foods through generations.

Press Nyal’s story to reveal what was in the video.

Nyal learned how to cook chicken curry with his dad.

Press Nasir’s story to reveal what was in the video.

Nasir learned how to make a traditional Ghanian fritter called ‘kakro’ with his dad.

In these videos, more than food was passed down. Traditional music and stories about what life was like for older generations were also shared.

An important tradition in my family

Choose an important family tradition that you would like to share. Describe the tradition in a few sentences. You can also include a picture if you wish.

Complete the A Tradition That Is Important to My Family activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also use a method of your choice.

A Tradition That Is Important to My Family

Press the Activity button to access the A Tradition That Is Important to My Family.

Activity(Opens in a new tab)

We all have different traditions that our families follow. Explore the following video from TVOkids. In this video, Quill shares some family and community traditions.

Think about the following questions:

  • What is one tradition that Quill shares in the video?
  • Why is this tradition important to Quill?

Consolidation

Traditions

Two male adults and a young boy cooking.

Communities have a variety of traditions. These traditions can be based on food, gift-giving, celebrations, and more.

Think about the following questions:

  • What are some gift-giving traditions or celebrations you know about?
  • What are some traditional foods you enjoy or learned about from the Minds On videos?
  • Are any of these traditions similar to your family’s?

Share your ideas using a method of your choice.

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.

Optional gift giving traditions

Explore the TVOkids video entitled “The Mystery of Gifts.”

In this episode, it’s Tilly’s birthday, but the kids pretend they’ve forgotten because they’re planning a surprise party.

Think about the following questions:

  • What are some of the different cultures that were shared in the video?
  • What are their gift-giving traditions?
  • Are any of these traditions similar to your family’s?
  • Are there times when you give gifts to one another? If so, when or on what occasions?