Each section contains details of events during the festival and activities which support children’s understanding and awareness of cultures. These activities are easy to plan and resource and enable children to really feel part of other children’s lives. The dvd has the story behind each of the festivals and shows ways to bring these stories to life. This dvd is an invaluable resource for all practitioners and it shows children and adults that, although we come from different cultures and backgrounds which have different beliefs, there are many similarities in the way we celebrate festivals. There are many ideas to give a lively focus to the festivals which allow all children to fully participate. 

No nursery, school or centre should be without this dvd !

Finding a lucky red envelope under your pillow, putting up decorations, dancing and cooking. Cooking chines dumplings.
Dragon parade, fortune cookies and fireworks. 
In nursery school: looking at instruments, ribbon dancing and making new year banners.

Diwali

Preparing party food for the family party and lighting the diva lamps. Going to the mosque. Hindu New Year. Making rangoli patterns with fruit and flowers.
In nursery school: food, songs and dancing, shadow puppets.

Eid-ul-Fitr

Getting ready for Eid, buying a new prayer mat, new clothes, choosing sweets. Visiting the mosque. In nursery school: painting simple mehndi patterns on hands. Building a mosque out of wooden bricks from the construction area and adding other materials to make the dome and a minaret. 
Story and songs, playing a memory game and trying dates and sweets.

Hanukkah

Going to the synagogue and lighting the hanukiah. Preparing latkes at home putting on a puppet show, giving presents and playing the dreidel game.
At nursery school: making hanukiah using different materials. Songs, games and the story of Hanukkah.

The booklet gives details of recipes and resource information and early learning goals for the Foundation Stage curriculum.