Celebrating Together

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Overview

This 40-minute introductory lesson is designed for Reception pupils (age 4–5) and aligns with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework within the Understanding the World – People, Culture and Communities strand. The focus is on exploring the idea of festivals, encouraging curiosity, empathy, and awareness of diverse cultures. This engaging and visually stimulating session uses storytelling, hands-on activities, and movement to ignite interest in celebrations around the world and in the UK.

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Curriculum Links

• Prime Area: Communication and Language

  • Listening attentively and responding to what they hear.
  • Participating in discussions and answering questions.

• Specific Area: Understanding the World

  • Recognise that people have different beliefs and celebrate special times in different ways.
  • Talk about members of their immediate family and community.

• Expressive Arts and Design

  • Explore and play with a wide range of media and materials.
  • Share their creations, explaining the process they have used.

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify that different people celebrate special times in different ways.
2. Name at least two festivals celebrated by people in the UK and other countries.
3. Begin to use simple descriptive language to talk about celebrations.
4. Engage creatively and thoughtfully during hands-on, multi-sensory activities.

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Resources Needed

• Large world map or globe
• Festival story sack (containing objects/symbols linked to different festivals: e.g. diya lamp, Christmas bauble, dreidel, lantern)
• Picture cards of festivals (Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Eid, Hanukkah)
• Sound clips of celebrations (drums, bells, fireworks, singing in different languages)
• Art supplies: paper plates, tissue paper, glue, crayons, sequins
• Battery-operated tealight candles
• Music player or device for playing culturally themed songs

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Lesson Structure

🌍 1. Welcome & Hook (5 minutes)

Whole-class activity

• Pupils sit in a circle.
• Teacher opens with a sparkly gift box, shaking it to create curiosity. Inside are small artefacts representing different global festivals.
• Introduce the idea: “People all around the world celebrate different special days. These are called festivals. Some are joyful, some are quiet, and some are full of colour and light!”

🔄 Think-Pair-Share: Ask children “What have you celebrated before?” (Help scaffold with birthdays, Christmas, weddings, etc.)

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🧳 2. Festival Discovery – Show & Tell (10 minutes)

Whole-class interactive session

• Use a “Festival Story Sack” with physical items and photo cards.
• Introduce 2–3 major festivals (e.g. Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year).
• Pass objects around the circle (e.g. show a Diwali diya, bells from Christmas, red envelope for Chinese New Year).
  • “How does it feel?” “What do you think it is used for?”

Embed language: celebration, decorate, light, family, special, food.

• Highlight ways people celebrate (lights, food, clothes, music, giving gifts, gathering with family).

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🔊 3. Sensory Exploration – Sound & Movement (8 minutes)

Whole-class activity & movement break

• Play 10–20 second sound clips:
  • Christmas carols
  • Fireworks for Diwali/New Year
  • Drums for Eid or African celebrations
• Children choose a movement to go with each: marching, swirling, clapping, etc.
• Ask: “How does that sound make you feel?” “Can you swirl like a ribbon at a Chinese New Year parade?”

🎵 Integrate rhythm: simple repeating clapping or tapping patterns inspired by festival music.

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🎨 4. Create Your Own Festival Plate (10 minutes)

Independent or small group activity (3–4 at each table)

• Children decorate a “festival plate” using collage materials to show things that make them feel happy or something they’d like at a festival (e.g. lights, stars, food, gifts).
• Encourage connections: “Does your plate have stars like Diwali lights?” “Are those fireworks like New Year?”

🎨 Differentiation: Pre-cut shapes for fine motor support; use visual aids.

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🕯 5. Reflect & Shine Time (5–7 minutes)

Calm whole-class reflection circle

• Children place their plate near a “festival light” (use tealight in middle).
• Teacher re-emphasises key learning:
  • “We all celebrate special times in different ways.”
  • “Festivals help us to feel joy and be together.”

🌟 Celebration Sharing: Invite 2–3 children to describe one thing on their plate or share how they like to celebrate.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation: participation in discussions, responses to objects and images.
• Listening for language use: names of festivals, description of celebratory items.
• Review of festival plates: look for evidence of recall and personal expression.
• Peer interactions: listening, turn-taking, sharing.

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Extension Ideas

• Set up a “Festival Corner” as part of continuous provision with rotating materials linked to different global celebrations.
• Develop a class “Celebration Wall” with photos, festival symbols, and children’s reflections.
• Invite families to send in pictures or share (via Tapestry or in person) a celebration from their home.

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Inclusive & Diverse Learning

• Representation from multiple religious and non-religious traditions.
• Use non-fiction picture books available in school library or BookTrust recommended titles.
• Encourage children to see both similarities (togetherness, food, lights) and differences in festivals.

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Teacher’s Top Tips

⭐ Use open-ended questions: “What do you notice?” “What do you wonder?”
⭐ Keep transitions natural – use festive music cues or visual cards to switch between activities.
⭐ Be open to “teachable moments” by responding to children’s own celebration experiences.

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Final Thought

Reception is the perfect time to plant seeds of curiosity and empathy. Festivals represent joy, community, and shared traditions across the world – themes all young children can relate to. By exploring them with awe and wonder, we make learning meaningful, inclusive, and truly magical.