Cultural Celebrations Teaching Resources
Explore cultural celebrations and holidays around the world and promote cultural awareness in your primary classroom with printable worksheets, fun crafts and more teacher-created teaching resources!
The Teach Starter team of expert teachers has curated a curriculum-aligned collection of activities and interactive ideas to teach young students about the ways people in different cultures come together to celebrate. Save time on your lesson plans with resources carefully curated by expert teachers just for you!
Is this your first year teaching this section of the HASS curriculum, or are you just looking for some fresh ideas? Read on for some tips from our teacher team on expanding your students' appreciation of different cultures and exploring their celebratory traditions!
Holidays Around the World Activities for the Classroom
Exploring how people around the world celebrate isn't just an important part of meeting standards. Learning about these major holidays celebrated outside of Australia is also a way to help students build a greater appreciation for other people and other cultures!
So how do you do that? Here are some fun holiday around the world ideas from our teacher team on bringing these cultural celebrations into your lesson plans.
Create a Gallery Walk
Assign each student a specific holiday from another country such as Holi or Diwali from India or Japan's Hinamatsuri festival. Or provide a list, and allow them to pick their favourite!
Have students research the holiday and create posters that detail where and when the holiday is celebrated, as well as specific information about its history and specific traditions. Display the posters on the hallway wall, and allow your class to go on a gallery walk to take in the information about each holiday!
Hold a Holiday Lunch in the Classroom
Ask students to bring in a dish from a cultural holiday their family celebrates that can be shared with the class. Each student can present the dish to the class and tell their peers a little bit about the holiday.
Have Students Plan a Holiday-Based Trip for a Teacher
Break your class into small groups, and let them choose a cultural celebration from another country. Each group then has to plan a trip for you (or another teacher) to that country to celebrate that holiday. Include maths skills practise by having students create a trip budget, and encourage them to interview the teacher about their likes and dislikes to figure into their planning!
- Plus Plan
Christmas Poinsettia Craft Template
Introduce your students to Mexico's Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable poinsettia craft template.
- Plus Plan
Matariki – Mindful Colouring Sheet
A mindful colouring-in worksheet to celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year celebration in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
- Free Plan
Bastille Day Fact Sheet
A fact sheet covering important facts and traditions of Bastille Day in France.
- Free Plan
Chinese New Year Fact Sheet
A fact sheet covering important facts and traditions of Chinese New Year.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Egypt - Bauble Template
Use this beautiful template to design your own Christmas ornament inspired by Christmas in Egypt!
- Plus Plan
This or That? Christmas Edition
Take a Holiday Brain Break and play a game of This or That! Christmas Edition!
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World For Kids Book - Christmas in Spain
Introduce your students to Christmas in Spain with a printable Christmas Around the World mini-book
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Spain - 3D Printable Shoe Template
Assemble this Christmas shoe template to introduce your students to a fun Christmas tradition from Spain.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in the Philippines - Parol Christmas Craft Template
Learn traditions related to Christmas in the Philippines with a Filipino Parol Christmas craft printable.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Traditions Around the World - Switzerland Mini Book
Introduce your students to Christmas in Switzerland with a printable Christmas Around the World book
- Plus Plan
Christmas in France - Mini Book for Kids
Introduce your students to Christmas traditions in France with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Free Plan
Diwali Word Wall Vocabulary
Use these twenty-seven Diwali-related vocabulary cards for a word wall display when learning about the Festival of Lights.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Switzerland - Samichlaus Paper Plate Craft
Learn about Christmas in Switzerland and introduce your students to Samichlaus with a printable paper plate Christmas craft template.
- Plus Plan
Remembrance Activity - Brochure Template
Make a brochure about the history of Remembrance Day with printable remembrance activities from Teach Starter!
- Plus Plan
Printable Day of the Dead Masks
Bring the traditions of Día de los Muertos into your classroom with our set of printable Day of the Dead Masks.
- Plus Plan
Printable Day of the Dead Book for Kids
Learn about Mexico's cultural celebrations with printable books about The Day of the Dead.
- Plus Plan
Dia De Los Muertos Word Wall and Informative Writing Stimulus
Learn and use the language of Mexican tradition with a Dia de Los Muertos vocabulary word wall and informational writing prompt.
- Plus Plan
Printable Day of the Dead Decorations - Papel Picado
Create your own Day of the Dead decorations with printable papel picado colouring sheets.
- Free Plan
The Day of the Dead Word Search
Introduce vocabulary surrounding the Mexican holiday known as “The Day of the Dead” with a printable word search.
- Plus Plan
Lunar New Year Mini-Workbook
Read, research and learn about the Lunar New Year with this activity book.
- Plus Plan
Year of the Dog String Puppet Craft Template
A Lunar New Year themed 'Year of the Dog' string puppet template.
- Plus Plan
Year of the Rabbit - String Puppet
Create a Lunar New Year String Puppet for Year of the Rabbit.
- Plus Plan
Chinese New Year Hat Templates
Make a gorgeous Chinese New Year hat with these animals that represent each year.
- Plus Plan
Christmas in Italy - La Befana Christmas Craft
Introduce your students to the traditions and figures associated with Christmas in Italy by crafting a La Befana tree topper!
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World Mini Book - Germany
Introduce your students to Germany's Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Australian Christmas Bush Craft Template
Decorate with one of Australia’s Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas bush craft template.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World – Brazil Mini Book
Introduce your students to Brazil’s Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World Mini Book - Sweden
Introduce your students to Christmas in Sweden with a printable mini book and graphic organiser.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Around the World Mini Book - Mexico
Introduce your students to Mexico's Christmas traditions and decorations with a printable Christmas Around the World Mini Book.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Gnome Craft Template – Sweden
Introduce your students to one of Sweden’s most popular Christmas figures with a printable 'tomte' or gnome craft template.
- Plus Plan
Christmas Gingerbread House Template
Introduce your students to one of Germany’s most popular Christmas traditions with a printable gingerbread house craft template.
- Plus Plan
Year of the Tiger - String Puppet Craft Template
A Lunar New Year-themed 'Year of the Tiger' string puppet template.
- Cultural Celebrations Templates
- Cultural Celebrations Posters
- Cultural Celebrations for Foundation Year
- Cultural Celebrations for Year 1
- Cultural Celebrations for Year 2
- Cultural Celebrations for Year 3
- Cultural Celebrations for Year 4
- Cultural Celebrations for Year 5
- Cultural Celebrations for Year 6