My Big Day- Celebrations

Introduction

BEFORE THE LESSON

 

Class: 4 +

Number of Students Present: 14

Duration: 20 minutes session

Subject: Celebrating Special Days (Social -Studies)

Topic: Birthdays

Class Arrangement and Grouping of Students: 

The classroom will be arranged using the pair pods arrangement. A large circular mat will be located nearby on the floor for students to easily access when needed to engage in whole class discussions and activities. 

Students will be grouped in pairs/ groups of twos for the class activity, so they can collaborate and build positive relationships, as they learn to respect and value each other's differences- promoting students’ social and emotional development.   

Specific Resources/Materials used in the Lesson: 

Material for a Colourful Pinata

Large chart depicting the months of the year, strips of colorful paper to use as name tags, pencils, crayons, paper, tape, markers, balloons, paper mache (strips of colorful paper, flour, and water), word strips with Spanish greetings for “Happy Birthday”, number chart in Spanish, kite paper, Spanish songs ( Cumpleaños feliz) via Youtube, play dough, birthday cake playdough mats.

Task

DURING THE LESSON

 

Objectives: At the end of this lesson students will be able to:

  • Orally identify their names

  • State orally the month of their birthdays and their ages

  • Count aloud from 1 to 5 candles on the birthday cake 

  • Orally identify words associated with birthdays

  • Orally describe the activities students engage in as they celebrate their birthdays

  • Orally extend “Happy Birthday” greetings to each other in Spanish

  • Create a pinata using color and design.

 

Questions for Activity: 

  1. Can you say “Happy Birthday” in Spanish? Feliz Cumpleaños is “Happy Birthday” in Spanish.

  2. What are some items people use when they celebrate their birthdays? Some items people use when they celebrate their birthdays are hats, decorations, and cake.

  3. Who comes to your birthday party? People who you love; such as your friends and family, come to your birthday party.

  4. Do you know when is your birthday? My birthday is ________.

  5. How old will you be on your next birthday? I will be ____ years old on my next birthday.

 

 

Process

Introduction to the lesson:

The teacher introduces the activity by stating what the lesson will be about. Then encourage the students to listen to the video closely, after which questions will be asked about the video. The teacher also sings along to the Happy Birthday Song in English and Spanish to the students. 

Students actively participated, by closely listening to the video, while dancing and singing along to the song. 

See Links to the videos Below:

Sesame Street: Happy Birthday Song in Spanish & English | Feliz Cumpleaños (youtube.com)

🎶🎸2024 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG / WOW Tv Kids Songs [English and Spanish Version] Sing alone (youtube.com)

After the videos were played the teacher elicited from the students, what the video was about by asking specific questions.

 

Instructions:

Activity 1: Birthday Cake Play Dough Mats

  1. The teacher presents the birthday cake playdough mats to the students and asks the children to use playdough to make the number of candles that represent their age. Then invite the students to count the number of candles in Spanish and English.

Students listen and follow instructions for the activity. Students count the number of candles that represent their age in Spanish and English.

  1. Students are then prompted to say their name and age in English or Spanish.

Students say his/her names in either English or Spanish. For example, students will say: My name is Sally John. I am five (5) years old. (English)  or Me llama Sally John. Tengo cinco años. (Spanish) 

  1. Students are then presented with a large chart depicting the months of the year and asked to orally state the month of their birthdays, in both English and Spanish.

Students orally state the month of their birthdays in both English and Spanish. For example, students will say the month of my birthday is January- Enero;  February- Febrero; March- Marzo; April- Abril; May- Mayo; June- Junio; July- Julio;  August- Agosto; September- Septiembre; October- Octubre;  November- Noviembre; or December- Diciembre.

  1. Students are prompted to orally identify words associated with birthdays. 

Students orally identify words associated with birthdays. For example, students will say: Party, Celebration, confetti, cake, candles, balloons,etc.

  1. Students are invited to extend “Happy Birthday” greetings to each other in Spanish. 

Students extend “Happy Birthday” greetings to each other in Spanish by saying “Feliz Cumpleaños .”

 

Transition:  

Activity 2: Create a Class pinata using color and design

.

Material for a Colourful Pinata

  1. Cardboard box (a cereal or delivery box, for example)

  2. Tape or glue.

  3. Colorful kite paper.

  4. Scissors.

  5. String or ribbon.

  6. Cotton balls (optional)

  7. Markers, pom-poms, or other art supplies (optional)

  8. Small treats or objects to place inside the piñata.

Students are directed to discuss the activities that they engage in as they celebrate their birthdays. Then given step-by-step instructions to create a pinata using color and design.

  1. The teacher shows a picture of the colorful pinata and the materials need to be used to make it

Students listen and follow instructions for the activity

  1. The teacher gives each student 5 pieces of colored kite paper and demonstrates how to crumple the kite paper.

Students listen and follow instructions for the activity

  1. The teacher allowed each student to stick their crumple kit paper on the box with paper glue until it was all covered.

Students listen and follow instructions by sticking the kite paper on the box.

 

Student’s Progress and Feedback: 

As students work independently in making the candles for the playdough mat and the pinata, we as educators will constantly remind students to work together and take turns using the materials provided to make the playdough candles and the pinata. Also, while monitoring students' progress, we will provide feedback by guiding them where needed.

 

Strategy to monitor students' behaviour:  

One effective strategy to monitor students' behavior is to provide individualized support and guidance to ensure that students stay on task with whatever activity is provided.

Evaluation

AFTER THE LESSON

 

Active participation in activities 

For both activities,

  • The teacher observes the students during the activity to help monitor their progress during the instructions to ensure that it's done properly. 

  • Gather the class together for a brief reflection on the lesson. 

  • Allow each student to take turns showing the class the picture with their cake and candles. 

 

Display of the piñata  

The teacher displays the pinata and allows each student to get a chance to hit the pinata 3 times with a stick.

 

Birthday Playdough Cake Mat and Pinata 

Teacher Name: 

Students Name: 

  1. Braylie Benjamin  

  2. Hailey McDowell 

  3. Anasha Ramkison 

  4. Antonella Hernandez 

  5. Aden Daniel  

  6. A’mya Caparitia 

  7. Aaliyah Ramai 

  8. Royalty Leonsingh

  9. Shakeem Marcelle 

  10. Cairo Flemming  

  11. Ari Burgess 

  12. Zephaniah Nagassar  

  13. Samiyah English  

  14. Chris Drayton 

 



 

CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

Content

 

All of the graphics, colors, or objects used in the creation of making a pinata and the playdough mat reflect a degree of student creativity and logical ideas in their display.

 

Most of the graphics, colors or objects used in the creation of making a pinta and playdough mat reflect student creativity and logical ideas in their display.

Only a few graphics, colors, or objects reflect student creativity, but the ideas were typical rather than creative

None of the graphics, colors, or objects reflect student creativity.

Design

Graphics are arranged neatly. 

Care has been taken to make the birthday  play doh cake mat  and pinata.

Pinata is colourful. 

1-2 graphics are lacking in design.   

Not much care was provided in making the playdough mat and pinata.

Pinata missing one or two colours.

3-4 graphics are lacking in design. 

Poor care was provided. 

Pinata missing one or two colours. 

Graphics are not neatly arranged. Care was somewhat evident and the pinata missed a lot of colors.   

Presentation

Information  is presented with creativity and logical ideas.

Information is presented with acceptable 

Creativity and logical ideas.

Information is presented with limited 

and minimal creativity.

Information is unclear or lacking and is presented with little creativity.

 

Conclusion
  • Ask the students some reflective questions.

Activity 1 Questions

  1. Can you say “ Happy birthday” in Spanish

  2. What is your favorite part of a birthday celebration?

  3. How did you feel when everyone sang Happy Birthday?

  4. Do you remember what month is your birthday?

  5. Can you  show me on your fingers the number of candles you placed on your birthday cake?

 

Activity 2 Questions

  1. What is a Pinata?

  2. What colors are used to make the Pinata?

  3. Can you count how many different colors you see?

  4. Do you remember what we use the pinata for?

  5. Can you remember what material we use to stick the kite paper?

 

Follow up activity:

My Big Days- International Literacy Day

 

 

The End !!!

 

Credits

References:

Sesame Street. (2021, August 4). Sesame Street: Happy Birthday Song in Spanish & English | Feliz Cumpleaños. YouTube. Retrieved April 21, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVCCtOuROV8

 

WOW TV. (2020, July 1). 🎶🎸2024 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG / WOW Tv Kids Songs [English and Spanish Version] Sing alone. YouTube. Retrieved April 21, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdCDfrn4jfw

Teacher Page

The lesson aimed to teach students about the celebration of birthdays where they will learn to say what month their birthday is and their age, count numbers one - five as candles (1-5), identify words associated with birthdays, reflect on their activities as they celebrate their birthday and say happy birthday in Spanish.