With December comes time for visiting relatives and friends. It’s also a time that many people celebrate religious and cultural holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa and look forward to the new year. Here are just a few of the FREE multimedia instructional resources for grades PreK-12 (most include teacher support materials!) that you’ll find on PBS LearningMedia.
Sid’s Holiday Adventure | Sid the Scientist Kid | PBS LearningMedia
Suggested for grades PreK-K
In Part 1 of Sid’s Holiday Adventure, Sid explains that, in his house, they celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa. Sid finds out that his family is traveling to Minnesota for the holidays, so he decides to investigate cold weather.
Olive’s New Year’s Resolutions | The Odd Squad
Suggested for grades K-2
Learn about counting down in this fun clip from the Odd Squad. Olive completes the last of her New Year’s resolutions as time winds down and the countdown to the New Year begins!
Christmas | All About the Holidays
Suggested for grades 3-5
Christmas Day isn’t just a holiday for Christians. Learn about the various traditions that people hold to celebrate it. Then have yourself a merry little Christmas!
Hanukkah | All About the Holidays
Suggested for grades 3-5
Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration, but anyone can find meaning in the holiday. Check out the origins of the tradition, and and how it is observed today.
Kwanzaa | All About the Holidays
Suggested for grades 3-5
Kwanzaa is a time to celebrate African American heritage. Learn the ways people observe this festivity and trace back its roots to ancient African customs.
Hanukkah’s Light | Regions and Ethics Weekly | PBS LearningMedia
Suggested for grades 6-12
Hanukkah is “a good time to think about the miracles in our own lives,” according to Dr. Erica Brown of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
Is Santa Real? (A Scientific Analysis) | It’s Okay to Be Smart
Suggested for grades 6-12
Happy Holidays! Ever wonder how Santa could possibly manage to deliver all those presents in a single night? Or what gives red-nosed reindeer the ability to fly? And why do your Christmas lights get tangled in knots no matter how carefully you put the away?!
What Was Jesus’ Last Name | The Origin of Everything
Suggested for grades 9-12
Jesus’ name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua. So how did we get the name “Jesus”? And is “Christ” a last name? Watch the episode to find out!
Why Does Santa Wear Red? | The Origin of Everything
Suggested for grades 9-12
It’s the holiday season and we all know that means seeing old St. Nick in his big red suit. But have you ever stopped to wonder why he doesn’t wear any other color? Because he used to be seen wearing blue suits, purple suits, yellow suits and sometimes he was even skinny! So how did we end up a jolly bearded Santa who only dresses in red? Watch the episode to find out.
For even more resources, visit our curated folder. Have questions or need assistance? Contact a KET Education Consultant! We love helping educators and students!