I Love Holidays!

American Celebrations

I Love Holidays!
American Celebrations
Ladner
Langevin
Vermond

ESL

Resources

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Printed in Canada
ESL Resources
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Printed in Canada
I Love Holidays! American Celebrations ISBN 0-968079-77-6

A special thanks to the authors of I Love Holidays! Canadian Celebrations, Joseph

Macchia, Sandy Offenheim, Donna Langevin and Thane Ladner, whose work
inspired the publication of this book.

To the Teacher
Why These Holidays?
We have chosen the holidays in this book because they are widely celebrated in
America, and are often marked with a day (or days) off work or school. But because
America is a land of immigrants, there are many other traditions and holidays celebrated. We encourage students and teachers to share their own holiday traditions. You
may be surprised by how much we have in common. For example Thanksgiving, or
similar harvest festivals, are celebrated around the world. Use these opportunities to
explore other traditions. Follow the format of the units in this book to create your own
holiday units. Send them to us and well publish a beginner level book called More
Holidays Americans Celebrate! If you would like a multi-cultural holiday book written
at fifth-sixth grade reading level, we suggest you try The International Holiday and
Festival Primer Books One and Two.

For All Adults, Teenagers and Children

Although I Love Holidays! is written at a third grade reading level it is for high
beginner ESL and literacy students of all ages. It is also an excellent book about
American culture for all students.

Readings and Exercises

Each unit begins with a short essay explaining the holiday or special day. The essays
are written at a third grade reading level. The sentences are short, with one idea per
sentence. The sentence structure is simple, and we take care to use the passive voice as
little as possible. Simple illustrations support the essays and aid the understanding of
new vocabulary.
The exercises allow the students to practice the four skill areas - reading, writing,
speaking and listening. The exercises are straightforward, easy-to-use and versatile.
Each exercise is designed to reinforce holiday concepts, information and vocabulary.
You can adapt the exercises to the needs of your class. You may want to use the exercises for reading and writing, or you can adapt them for listening and speaking by
reading them aloud to the class and asking for verbal responses. Students who enjoy
performing should try Readers Theater. Those who enjoy a challenge should tackle True
Stories.
This is a resource book for teachers, written by teachers. We hope you and your
students have as much fun learning about and celebrating American holidays as we did
testing the exercises.
Thane Ladner
Donna Langevin
Nicole Vermond

Contents
New Year
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Valentines Day
Presidents Day
Easter
April Fool
Arbor Day
Mothers Day
Memorial Day
Flag Day
Fathers Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Halloween
Election Day
Inauguration Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas

1
13
25
37
51
63
75
83
95
107
115
127
139
151
163
168
169
181
193

New Years

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New Year

pot

ghost

plate

bell

firecracker

champagne

New Year's Day is January 1. Long ago, people believed ghosts came on
New Year's Eve, December 31. People broke dishes, banged pots and rang
bells to frighten the ghosts away.
Today, most people are not afraid of ghosts on New Year's Eve, but they
still make a lot of noise. They go to loud parties, blow noisemakers and set
off firecrackers. Just before midnight they have a countdown: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6,
5, 4, 3, 2, 1! They hug and kiss and wish each other Happy New Year!
Some people drink champagne and sing.
The New Year is also a time to make a new beginning. Some people clean
their houses and wear new clothes to make a new beginning. Others make
resolutions. They say they are going to stop smoking, learn English, go on
a diet or look for a new job.
New Year's Day is quieter than New Year's Eve. Many people visit their
families, friends and neighbors to eat together and have a good time.

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Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

1. When is New Years Day?
_______________________________________________________________
2. Who do people visit on New Year's Day?
_______________________________________________________________
3. Where do some people go on New Year's Eve?
_______________________________________________________________
4. How do people make noise on New Year's Eve nowadays?
_______________________________________________________________
5. Why do some people clean their houses for the New Year?
_______________________________________________________________
6. What are some examples of New Years resolutions?
_______________________________________________________________

True or False - Correct the False Statements

1. A long time ago people broke eggs to frighten away ghosts.
_______________________________________________________________
2. At midnight people drink shampoo and say Happy New Beer.
_______________________________________________________________
3. New Year's Day is January 1.
_______________________________________________________________
4. Just before midnight people have a countdown.
_______________________________________________________________
5. On New Year's Eve people blow firecrackers.
_______________________________________________________________
6. Long ago people believed ghosts came at New Year's.
_______________________________________________________________
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Fill in the Blanks

pots resolutions rang wish
diet banged frighten
countdown
1. A long time ago, people

bells to

away ghosts.

each other Happy New Year.

2. People

to frighten away ghosts.

3. People

4. Many people make New Years

5. People have a

just before midnight on New Years Eve.

is an example of a New Years resolution.

6. Going on a

Now Try the Words in New Sentences

1. I cant eat fried chicken because I'm on a
2. I

I had a million dollars.

3. The numbers in a
4. This year my

are 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.

are to stop worrying and to study English.

5. The robber tried to

the bank teller with his gun.

6. Last night my phone

eighteen times.

7. Those dirty
8. The baby
4

need to be washed.
on the table with her spoon.
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Choose the Correct Answer

May be done as a listening exercise.
1. A long time ago people believed these came on New Year's Eve . . .
dishes
firecrackers
pots
ghosts
2. The New Year is a time to make a new . . .
end
middle
beginning

noisemaker

3. On New Year's Eve some people drink . . .

water
champagne
medicine

orange juice

4. At the New Year some people clean their . . .

clothes
dishes
houses

teeth

5. Stopping smoking and going on a diet are examples of . . .

wishes
resolutions
chores
a good time
6. On New Years Day many people like to visit . . .
ghosts
firecrackers
school
their friends
7. Today people are not afraid of . . .
ghosts
countdowns
parties

noisemakers

8. People start a countdown just before . . .

noon
midnight
lunch

the end of school

9. The New Year is a time for people to make . . .

friends
pots
bells
10. People rang bells to . . .
stop smoking frighten ghosts

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resolutions

learn English

stay awake

Word Groups - Circle the Wrong Word

1. bang

visit

rang

broke

2. hug

kiss

cry

sing

3. juice

milk

water

champagne

4. quiet

firecracker

noisemaker

loud

5. families

friends

neighbors

ghosts

6. friends

hour

midnight

time

7. eat

drink

meal

smoke

8. family

clean

wash

sweep

9. scare

hug

frighten

fear

Write Questions Using the Circled Words

Ask Your Classmates the Questions
1. ____________________________________________________________?
2. ____________________________________________________________?
3. ____________________________________________________________?
4. ____________________________________________________________?
5. ____________________________________________________________?
6. ____________________________________________________________?
7. ____________________________________________________________?
8. ____________________________________________________________?
9. ____________________________________________________________?

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Word Find
BELIEVE
BROKE
BANGED
RANG
PARTIES
GHOSTS
HUG
KISS
CLEAN
DIET
NOISEMAKERS
FIRECRACKER
COUNTDOWN
CHAMPAGNE
RESOLUTIONS

Fill In The Missing Letters

1. b__oke

2. __le__n

3. __ire__rac__er

4. r__ng

5. g__os__s

6. n__is__ma__ers

7. ba__g__d

8. h__g

9. __oun__do__n

10. __iss

11. pa__ti__s

12. ch__mp__g__e

13. b__li__v__

14. __ie__

15. re__olu__io__s

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Readers' Theater - Mr. Perfect

It is New Year's Day. Peter and Anne are brother and sister.
Peter: Happy New Year, Sis. Made any resolutions yet?
Anne: You bet. I'm going to stop biting my
nails, keep my room clean and do my homework every night.
Peter: Wow, Im impressed!
Anne: You should be. And how about you? Have you made any resolutions?
Peter: No, I havent. Can't you see I'm perfect?
Anne: Oh yeah, Mr. Perfect. Your room looks like a garbage dump.
Peter: So what! I find my room perfectly comfortable that way.
Anne: And how about doing your dishes instead of leaving them everywhere? And, Mr. Perfect, how about picking up your clothes and cleaning
the bathtub? And stop skateboarding in the house!
Peter: I'll do everything you ask if you'll add one more
resolution to your list.
Anne: What's that?
Peter: STOP BUGGING ME!
Anne: But Mr. Perfect, cant you see I'm PERFECTLY GREAT
at bugging you!

Ask Your Partner

1. What are Anne's New Years resolutions?
2. Has Peter made any New Years resolutions?
3. What does Anne call Peter?
4. What does Anne say about Peter's room?
5. How does Peter feel about his room?
6. What resolutions does Anne think Peter should make?
7. What resolution does Peter think Anne should add to her list?
8

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Making Resolutions
1. Im going quit smoking.
2. Im going to
3. Im going to
4. Im going to
5. Im going to
6. Im going to
7. Im going to
8. Im going to
9. Im going to

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Find the Words in the Story - Write New Sentences

resolution
garbage dump

homework
impressed
perfect
comfortable bugging bathtub list

1. ____________________________________________________________.
2. ____________________________________________________________.
3. ____________________________________________________________.
4. ____________________________________________________________.
5. ____________________________________________________________.
6. ____________________________________________________________.
7. ____________________________________________________________.
8. ____________________________________________________________.
9. ____________________________________________________________.

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True Stories - A New Beginning

People from all over the world live in America.
When they come to America, they bring their own way
of celebrating holidays. If you hear firecrackers and
see a dancing dragon, do you know what it means?
Penny Wong does. Its Chinese New Year!
Penny came here from Hong Kong in 1987. She is
married and has two sons named Joshua and Justin.
They celebrate the New Year in January or February
according to the lunar calendar.
At Chinese New Year its important to do things that bring good luck
and to make a new beginning. Penny's family cleans the house and decorates it with fresh flowers. They wear new clothes and shoes. Many people
come to visit. Penny cooks fish, chicken and other special food.
Red is a lucky color. Penny and her family eat special red seeds for luck.
Children get red envelopes with lucky money inside. Penny says the more
seeds you eat, the more money you get.
On New Year's Eve children stay
up late. Some people believe the
longer the children stay awake, the
longer the parents will live.

Ask Your Partner

1. What does it mean when you see a dancing dragon?
2. When does Penny Wong celebrate the New Year?
3. What does Penny do to bring good luck and make a new beginning?
4. What color is lucky?
5. Why do Penny and her family eat red seeds?
6. Who is the lucky money for?

10

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Things You'd Like to Buy with Lucky Money

1. Skates.
2. _________________________________.
3. _________________________________.
4. _________________________________.
5. _________________________________.
6. _________________________________.
7. _________________________________.
8. _________________________________.

The Party Invitation - Fill in the Blanks

countdown
party
December
555-1212
invited
in
8:30
midnight
your
Tuesday
apartment
Oak
dancing
#606

PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!

You're
to a New Year's Eve
. It's
on
,
31. It starts at
p.m. at 234
Street, apartment
. At 9:30
we're going in-line skating
King's Park. So bring
in-line skates. Then back to our
at
for the New Year
,
good food, friends, family, music and
.
Rita and Manuel
RSVP
PS Please bring your guitar. Children are welcome.

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11

Mr. Party

9:00 pm

10:30 pm

10:00 pm

11:30 pm

11:30 pm

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

11:59 pm

12

12:00 pm

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