Michael Keck
1) Easter
Series
Description
Children are taken to the home of a Polish-American family, where they discover some of the festivities and traditions associated with the Easter Sunday celebration.
3) Ramadan
Series
Description
Children experience the beauty of the month-long religious observance as they construct their own Ramadan diorama and hear the exotic sounds of live Islamic and Middle Eastern music. They discover the religious significance of song and prayer, as well as the principles and traditions that mark the holiest of the Islamic holidays.
5) Christmas
Series
Description
Focuses on both the legendary and religious stories of Christmas. Explores Christmas around the world, with emphasis on similarities of American traditions.
8) Thanksgiving
Series
Description
Children learn the story behind the first Thanksgiving celebration. They visit Plimoth Plantation. Nanticoke tribe dancers re-create the sense of excitement and wonder the Pilgrims must have felt upon meeting Native Americans. Children learn an Abnaki tribe myth on the origin of corn that teaches the importance of sharing resources.
9) Halloween
Series
Description
Explores several folk traditions from Costa Rica, Mexico and Ireland to explain some Halloween symbols, the origin of costumes and the custom of trick-or-treating. Children learn that, despite the many rituals surrounding the holiday, Halloween is a time to celebrate and honor the memory of loved ones past, and can be a time to talk about death and other subjects that may be frightening to them. The importance of Halloween safety is discussed.
10) Arbor Day
Series
Description
Teaches children about the importance of respecting and maintaining the splendor and resources of our environment. Explores the importance of trees to the pioneers. Children can discover their own passion for nature as they learn about the legend of Johnny Appleseed and the real-life sotry of J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day.