There are a few empirical studies that examine the portrayal of the Middle East and its people in young children's picture books. Many of these books depict Muslim life and celebrations without delving into the specificities of each Middle Eastern country. This study, which focuses on Iran as a non-Arab Muslim majority Middle Eastern country,…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the socio-political rituals such as national festivals and student pledges have changed in the Turkish Republic primary schools over the last twenty years. Method: The data used to achieve this purpose was collected from four different sources; the applicable legislation, statements of…

A mixed-method approach was used to explore parent and child perspectives on death in Mexico. Parents' and children's death-related experiences and understanding of death were examined. While all children in this sample displayed a biological understanding of death, older children were less likely to endorse that all living things die. Children…

In the study, it was aimed to determine the opinions of social studies teachers in distance education for specific days and weeks. An explanatory sequential pattern, one of the mixed method designs, was used. The quantitative sample consists of 204 social studies teachers. 112 of the teachers are women and 92 are men. The qualitative study group…

National Day, or Constitution Day, in Norway, May 17, is often referred to as Children's Day. On this day, thousands of young Norwegian students march in parades and participate in celebrations in schoolyards and similar meeting places. Some students are selected to give speeches, performed in front of family members, neighbors, classmates, and…

This article examines the socio-cultural significance of birthday cakes with the purpose of reflecting upon birthday cake practices enacted in four early childhood settings in England. I argue that birthday cakes occupy an ambiguous place in early childhood practice: seen to be both "risky"--a term I problematise--"and"…

The increased diversity in pupils' cultural and ethnic backgrounds in schools creates urgent demands for the organization of school celebrations in many countries. Celebrations represent the cultural values of the society and it is important to find out how various traditions are expressed in them. This study examines teachers' and other…

A considerable number of research studies that have involved mainly primary and secondary school students have shown that students' participation in collaborative projects through digital communities contributes to the positive development of intercultural interaction. The present research report examines the validity of the previous findings in…

The idea of "taking art education to the streets" is important for making art education more visible in the community. Such arts-based events demonstrate the value of the arts in the community. As education moves from the classroom into the streets through the media of art, music, and performance, participants build solidarity and…

The tradition of Thanksgiving in America dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrims were virtually starving. Nowadays, Americans celebrate this event by eating more than they need and giving some thoughts to the blessings they had for the past year. Many of today's children are not accustomed to how it feels to be hungry, although many experience it on…

Holiday and festival celebrations are a unique form of cultural expression. Physical activities associated with cultural traditions offer the perfect opportunity for physical educators to integrate interdisciplinary teaching in their programs. This article focuses on the application of a multicultural perspective by introducing 12 station tasks…

Presents a collection of holiday-related winter activities for elementary students. November activities celebrate the Great American Smokeout, National Children's Book Week, National Geography Awareness Week, and Thanksgiving. December activities celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the coming of snow. Hands-on activities include cooking,…

In this article, the authors relate how they decided to offer their fifth graders a one-day celebration in honor of Diwali, one of the most popular Hindu festivals in India, enjoyed by people of every religion. They combined learning about the tradition with Indian music and film, art-making, special foods, and dance performances. Their students…

Author discuss reasons for exploring holidays and for including holiday studies in early childhood programs. (NL)

The Christmas season in Mexico starts on December 16 with "las posadas," a series of religious processions in which families or neighbors reenact Joseph's search for shelter for Mary en route to Bethlehem. Those representing pilgrims travel from home to home until they are finally accepted by those representing innkeepers at a home with…