Global Christmas Reflections

Year Level

Year 6

Duration

30 minutes

Class Size

25 students

Lesson Overview

In this final lesson of the unit "Global Christmas Celebrations", students will present their research findings about Christmas traditions from various cultures around the world. Following the presentations, students will engage in a guided reflection to deepen their understanding of cultural diversity and the religious significance of Christmas globally. This lesson promotes intercultural understanding and critical reflection aligned with the Australian Curriculum (v9).

Australian Curriculum Alignment

Content Descriptions and Achievement Standards

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) - Year 6
- ACHASSI132: Reflect on learning to propose action in response to an issue or challenge, and consider points of view.
- ACHASSI124: Communicate ideas, findings and explanations using a range of communication modes including oral presentations and digital technologies.
Cross-Curriculum Priorities and General Capabilities
- Intercultural understanding: Recognising and respecting cultural diversity and understanding different perspectives is central to the lesson.
Languages (optional correlation if considering language connection)
- Recognise that language reflects cultural practices, values, and identity, and impacts communication (see AC9L... standards for Years 5-6).

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Present clearly and confidently their findings on diverse Christmas celebrations around the world using oral and/or digital modes.
Reflect meaningfully on the similarities and differences in Christmas traditions globally, including the religious significance behind them.
Discuss how cultural perspectives influence the way Christmas is celebrated.
Demonstrate respect and understanding of cultural diversity.

Resources Needed

Student presentations prepared in previous lessons (oral, slides, posters, posters with images, or short videos).
Whiteboard or digital display for note-taking during reflection.
Reflection prompts printed or displayed.
Timekeeper or timer.
Feedback sheets or reflection journals (optional).

Lesson Plan Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description	Australian Curriculum Links
5 minutes	Introduction and set-up	- Teacher outlines lesson purpose and format. - Set expectations for respectful listening and feedback. - Brief recap on previous learnings about global Christmas traditions.	ACHASSI124
15 minutes	Student Presentations	- Students present their research findings individually or in pairs/groups. - Encourage use of visuals and clear communication. - Teacher facilitates smooth transitions and supports speakers.	ACHASSI124
7 minutes	Class Reflection and Discussion	- Teacher leads a guided discussion with questions: • What new things did you learn about Christmas in other cultures? • How are the celebrations similar or different? • What surprised or interested you? • Why do you think Christmas has different meanings for people? • How does understanding these differences help us respect each other?	ACHASSI132, Intercultural Understanding
3 minutes	Conclusion and Personal Reflection	- Students write a brief reflection or share verbally: • One interesting fact they learned. • What Christmas means to them now after learning about others. - Teacher summarises key learnings and reinforces respect for cultural diversity.	ACHASSI132

Detailed Activity Description

Introduction and Set-up (5 mins)

Teacher briefly recaps the unit on global Christmas celebrations.
Explains that today, students will share their work and explore what they have learned about the diversity of Christmas customs and religious meanings worldwide.
Establishes norms for listening and giving constructive feedback.

Student Presentations (15 mins)

Each student or pair/group is allocated 1-2 minutes to present their chosen country's Christmas traditions.
Presentation modes can include digital slides, posters, or oral storytelling.
Teacher encourages clear communication, eye contact, and engaging presentation styles appropriate for Year 6 students.

Class Reflection and Discussion (7 mins)

Teacher facilitates a whole-class sharing session using prepared prompts.
Notes key ideas on a whiteboard/interactive board, highlighting diversity and common themes.
Encourages students to connect their own experiences with global perspectives.
Supports empathy and intercultural understanding by questioning “Why?” and “How do you feel?” types of questions.

Conclusion and Personal Reflection (3 mins)

Students either write a quick journal entry or share verbally what they've gained from the unit.
Teacher summarises and links reflections back to concepts of cultural respect and understanding.

Assessment Suggestions

Formative:
- Observation of student presentations for understanding and communication skills (ACHASSI124).
- Participation in reflection discussion demonstrating critical thinking and intercultural understanding (ACHASSI132).
Optional Written Reflection:
- Short reflective journal entry capturing students’ insights on cultural diversity and the religious significance of Christmas, assessing depth of thought and personal connection.

Differentiation and Engagement Strategies

Provide presentation aids such as cue cards or sentence starters for less confident speakers.
Encourage the use of visuals, videos, or artifacts to support engagement.
For extension, students could compare their learnt traditions with Australian Christmas customs and consider why differences exist.
Use questioning to scaffold reflection, helping all students articulate their thoughts.

This 30-minute lesson offers a meaningful and curriculum-focused wrap-up to the unit “Global Christmas Celebrations”, encouraging Year 6 students to confidently share their learning and reflect on cultural diversity with sophistication appropriate to their developmental stage. It aligns closely with the Humanities and Social Sciences curriculum standards for year 6, particularly on reflecting on learning and using a variety of communication modes to share findings.

Teaching Instructions