Holy day pages, a festival calendar, and a places match. Year projects are on Projects.
Holy day projects
One project for each major holy day. Shabbat comes every week.
Every Religion Ever
Easter
Christianity. Spring. The date moves.
Many Christians
People tell the story that Jesus died and rose again. Many families go to church. Some share a meal. Some keep the day quiet.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw spring leaves, or a simple cross as a shape. Do not draw Jesus. Do not draw God. Then finish the lines.
Many Christians mark Easter by
The date of Easter moves. That means
Some families keep the day quiet by
With a team
Plan a quiet spring welcome. Leave room for friends who do not mark Easter.
Choose a calm hello the whole class can use.
Plan a snack with more than one choice.
Write one kind sentence for the class board.
Do not act out the story. Do not draw a holy person.
Every Religion Ever
Vaisakhi
Sikhism. April
Many Sikhs
People tell the story of the Khalsa, a community that promised courage, honesty, and care. Some families also mark a harvest. Many people go to a gurdwara and share langar.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a gurdwara from the outside, or a plain orange flag on a pole. Do not draw a Guru. Then finish the lines.
Vaisakhi comes in
Many Sikhs remember the Khalsa, who promised
Langar is a shared meal. Everyone may
With a team
Plan a snack where everyone can sit together. Offer a vegetarian choice so more friends can eat.
List foods the people in your team can all eat.
Plan seats so no one is left on their own.
Practise a respectful hello. You may say Sat Sri Akal, or Hello.
A turban is not a costume. Do not draw the Gurus. The Guru Granth Sahib is a holy book, not a person you draw.
Every Religion Ever
Vesak
Buddhism. Late spring. The date can differ.
Many Buddhists
People tell the story of the Buddha’s birth, his awakening, and his death. Many people offer lamps or flowers. Some places use another day. The day stays calm.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a lotus or a lamp. Do not draw the Buddha as a toy. Then finish the lines.
A story many people tell is about the Buddha’s
They also remember his
Many people bring
With a team
Plan one quiet giving act for the class.
Choose flowers for a shared table, or a kindness note.
Use a quiet voice while you plan.
Leave room for friends who do not mark Vesak.
A statue of the Buddha is a reminder. It is not a toy. Draw a lotus or a lamp.
Every Religion Ever
Ramadan
Islam. A fasting month. The date moves.
Many Muslims
Many Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. Young children, and people who are ill, often do not fast. Many families eat before dawn and again after sunset. The Muslim calendar follows the moon, so the date moves.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a moon and star pattern. Do not draw Muhammad. Do not draw God. Then finish the lines.
In Ramadan, many Muslims
Young children often do not fast because
After sunset, many families
With a team
Plan a kind day for a friend who may be fasting.
Offer a quiet place at lunch. Do not tease.
Do not call the fast strange. Do not tell a child their food is strange.
Plan a kind word. Do not plan a food joke.
Do not draw any prophet of Islam. Do not act out prayer as a joke.
Every Religion Ever
Eid
Islam. The dates move. There is more than one Eid.
Many Muslims
Eid al-Fitr comes after Ramadan. It is a festival of prayer, food, and giving. Eid al-Adha comes at another time. People tell a story of trust and of sharing food. Families do not all mark the day in the same way.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a pattern, a lantern, or a shared plate of food. Do not draw a holy person. Then finish the lines.
Eid al-Fitr comes after
Eid al-Adha is another Eid. People may share
A kind act on Eid can be
With a team
Plan a class greeting and a snack with choices.
Practise As-salamu alaykum, or Hello.
Choose food with choices, including food with no pork, so more friends can share.
Plan one way to give, such as a cheerful note for someone.
Do not draw God or any prophet. Do not act out a sacred story.
Every Religion Ever
Diwali
Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Autumn
Many Hindus, many Sikhs, and many Jains
Diwali is a festival of lights. It is not only one religion’s day. Many Hindus light lamps and share sweets. Families do not all tell the same story. Many Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas around this time. Many Jains remember the teacher Mahavira.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a pattern of lamps. Do not say the day belongs to only one faith. Then finish the lines.
Many Hindus mark Diwali by
Many Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas around this time. People tell a story of
Many Jains remember
With a team
Plan a paper lamp display. Do not use a real flame.
Make lamps from paper. Use calm colours.
Add a label: many Hindus, many Sikhs, and many Jains mark this time.
Families tell different stories. Write that, if you wish.
Do not use a sacred image as a toy. Lamps, patterns, and flowers are enough.
Every Religion Ever
Hanukkah
Judaism. Late autumn or winter. The date moves.
Many Jews
Hanukkah lasts eight nights. Many families light a hanukkiah. People tell a story of a small amount of oil that burned for eight days. Shabbat is different. It comes every week.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a hanukkiah with eight lights and one helper light. Do not draw God. Then finish the lines.
Hanukkah lasts
A hanukkiah is
Many families light the lamps for
With a team
Plan eight small kind acts, one for each night.
Write eight short acts, such as holding a door or sharing a pencil.
Make sure no one is left out of the plan.
Remember that Shabbat comes every week.
Do not draw God. A kippah is not a costume.
Every Religion Ever
Christmas
Christianity. Winter. Some families use January.
Many Christians
People tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Many families go to church, share food, and give gifts. Some celebrate in December. Some celebrate in January. Some families with no religion share a meal on this public day. Some do not.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw a church, a candle, or a wrapped gift. Do not draw Jesus. Do not draw Mary. Do not draw God. Then finish the lines.
Some families mark Christmas in
Some families mark it in
A gift can also be a kind act, such as
With a team
Plan a winter kindness list that includes friends who do not mark Christmas.
List three kind acts that need no gift.
Include a friend who does not celebrate.
Write what many families do, and what some families do not do.
Do not draw God, Jesus, or Mary. Show a church, a candle, or a gift.
Every Religion Ever
Shabbat
Judaism. Every week
Many Jews
Shabbat is not once a year. It begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening. Many Jews light candles, share a meal, and rest from everyday work. Some families eat a special bread. Some families rest in a different way.
Name
Class
On your own
Draw two candles and a loaf of bread. Do not draw God. Then finish the lines.
Shabbat begins on Friday
Shabbat ends on Saturday
Many families rest by
With a team
Plan a short Friday calm time. It is a class pause. It is not a copy of a family’s prayer.
Choose one quiet minute and one kind sentence.
Leave room for children who do not mark Shabbat.
Do not treat a kippah, or any head covering, as dress-up.
Do not act out prayer. Do not draw God. Rest can look different in each home.
Festival calendar
Label each time. Some dates move. Shabbat comes every week.