Lesson 3 How Do We Pass on Traditions?
Essential Question
How do we pass on traditions within our families and communities?
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Describe how traditions are passed on within their own communities.
Materials Needed
- Computer or Tablet
- Media links (see below)
- Berklee PULSE Account
- Whiteboard
Media
Lesson 3: How Do We Pass on Traditions?
- Ask students what they think of when they hear the word community.
- Write student responses on the board.
- Explain to students that community can be defined as:
- A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common
- A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
- Ask students what they think of when they hear the word tradition.
- Write student responses on the board.
- Explain to students that a tradition is the passing down of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
- Ask students to reflect on the community that the Mardi Gras Indians have created. What are some of the things that they have done to build their community where they are able to celebrate and pass down their traditions?
- Distribute the Worksheet - What Are Your Traditions? Students will fill in the worksheet for steps 7 - 10 below.
- Ask students to think about traditions they have, whether it's with family members or as a part of a larger community.
- Then ask students to fill in the worksheet, responding to the following questions:
- What is a tradition that you have with your family or within your community? Some ideas for traditions to explore include traditions around food and holiday celebrations.
- How do you celebrate or continue this tradition today?
- Where does the tradition take place? Can it occur in any location?
- When does this tradition occur? Is it during a specific time of year?
- Who taught you this tradition? How did they pass this tradition on to you?
- Has this tradition changed at all over the years? How?
- Once students have had an opportunity to fill in the worksheet, have them split into pairs or small groups to share their traditions with one another. As they share their traditions in small groups, have them discuss:
- How their traditions are different.
- How their traditions are the same.
- Then ask students to share any takeaways they had from this experience.
- Was it difficult or easy to share information with one another about their traditions?
- How were their traditions similar to those of the Mardi Gras Indians?
- How were their traditions different from those of the Mardi Gras Indians?
- How do they think traditions can sustain over multiple generations?
Assessment/Extensions
Assessment
- Students are able to articulate a personal tradition and be able to compare and contrast their tradition with both their peers and with Mardi Gras Indian Tradition.
Extensions
- Have students conduct oral histories with family members around their family traditions. Students can explore questions and lines of inquiry around the traditions they named and can use Soundtrap to record their family member’s responses.
Key Terms
- Community - A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common; A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, traditions, and goals.
- Mardi Gras Indian - Mardi Gras Indians are African American men, women, and children in New Orleans who are part of tribes (also referred to as gangs) that mask in elaborately hand-beaded and feathered suits inspired by Indigenous and West African ceremonial dress.
- Tradition - The passing down of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.
