Too Cute to Count? Examining the Place of Holidays in Primary-Grade Social Studies

• In Event: (Re)Defining Social Studies in the Elementary Classroom

Abstract

With clear connections to civics, history, religion, and culture, many secular and religious holidays fall well within the scope of social studies education. In Kindergarten to third grade classrooms (K-3), holiday activities and celebrations may range from superficial, “cute” crafts to justice-oriented, interdisciplinary inquiries. Through a lens of transformative citizenship education, this presentation is intended to promote scholarly consideration of meaningful holiday lessons as avenues for increasing young children’s civic capacity. Findings from a mixed methods study of K-3 teachers’ rationales for addressing certain holidays/celebrations in their classrooms will be presented.

Author

• Michelle Bauml, Texas Christian University