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Winter Around the World

Complete each section of the winter packet for a grade in language arts, math, reading, and social studies. This is an optional assignment! Students who complete the packet will receive extra credit if returned on the due date Tuesday, January 6th. Follow each set of directions below.

1. Journal Entries (use lined paper) You must have at LEAST 8 journal entries. You can choose any days you want from your holiday vacation. Remember to create vivid descriptions of what really happened in order to paint a picture in the reader’s mind-what did you see, hear, taste, smell, touch, and feel? Each journal entry should be written neatly on loose-leaf paper and be at least 5-6 sentences. Example:Monday, December 20, 2014

Four more days until Christmas and I can hardly wait! I woke up this morning to the smell of maple bacon, scrambled eggs, and buttery pancakes. Yummy to my tummy! After helping clean the kitchen, I was off to ride my old rusty bike with my friends outside. Hopefully, my mom didn’t forget that I really want the ten-speed mountain bike I saw at Toys R Us last Saturday. I was a little embarrassed to ride my rickety bike, but I am glad I have something to get me around the neighborhood. As I rode in the cold frostbite of the winter, my nose turned as red as Rudolph’s.

2. Reading and Math (included in packet)a. Warm up your winter by completing the multiplication chart. Check for

accuracy.b. Read each passage about 4 countries from the continent of Asia and solve the

math problems in the space provided. Be sure to show all your work for each question.

c. Select 2 countries to compare and contrast holiday traditions. Fill in the Venn diagram provided.

d. Use the Holiday Treats Recipe to solve the math problems and see if you can try the recipe for your family!

e. Find as many words as you can in the Word Search which includes vocabulary from the following passages.

3. Science (Create a melting chart)

Predict what will make ice melt the fastest (salt, cold water, hot water, salt water, soda or juice, nothing). Record your findings on a chart.

4. Social Studies and Geography (included in packet)It is very important to understand where you are in comparison to other countries around the world.Use the map to locate China, Iran, Russia, and India in comparison to where you live in the United States. Follow the directions on the map.

Multiplication Chartx 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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Christmas in ChinaThe Christian children of China decorate trees with colorful ornaments. These ornaments are made from paper in the shapes of flowers, chains and lanterns. They also hang muslin stockings hoping that Christmas Old Man will fill them with gifts and treats.

The Chinese Christmas trees are called "Trees of Light." Santa Claus is called Dun Che Lao Ren which means "Christmas Old Man.".

The non-Christian Chinese call this season the Spring Festival and celebrate with many festivities that include delicious meals and pay respects to their ancestors. The children are the main focus of these celebrations, they receive new clothes and toys, eat delectable food and watch firecrackers displays.

Jalen decided to take a trip to China during the winter holiday! While he was there, he saw 24 paper lanterns at each home. If Jalen visited 12 homes, how many paper lanterns did he see in all?Answer________________________________

Corlin decided to take a trip to China to visit Sebastian. While visiting, he bought tickets to a wonderful firecracker show with 654 other people. There were 5 sections for people to sit in. If there were the same number of people in each group, how many people were seated in each section?Answer_________________________________

Christmas in Iran Christmas in Iran is known as the Little Feast. For the first 25 days of December, a great fast is observed, during which no meat, eggs, milk, or cheese is eaten. It is a time of peace and meditation; a time for attending services at the church. When the fast is over, the feast is begun, for plenty of meat is prepared for the Christmas dinner.

Christmas Eve is the last day of the fast. Almost before dawn on Christmas Day, the people attend Mass to receive Communion and it is not until they have received this Communion that they are permitted to break fast.

The boys and girls of Iran have never heard of Santa Claus, so they do not exchange gifts at Christmas. But they do receive new clothes, which they proudly wear all during the happy Christmas week.

A dish eaten for Christmas day is a kind of chicken stew. It is cooked in large quantities and lasts several days.

Janae visited a friend in Iran. When she went, she realized they could not eat meat, eggs, milk, or cheese for 25 days before Christmas. If she came to Iran on December 12, how many more days does she have to fast?Answer________________________________

If a little girl in Iran received 4 new shirts, 2 pair of pants, and a coat during the happy Christmas week, how many different combinations of outfits can she wear?

Answer_________________________________

Christmas in IndiaChristians in India decorate banana or mango trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers.

They give presents to family members and baksheesh, or charity, to the poor people. In India, the poinsettia is in flower and so the churches are decorated with this brilliant bloom for the Christmas Midnight Mass.

In South India, Christians put small clay lamps on the rooftops and walls of their houses at Christmas, just as the Hindus do during their festival called Diwali.

Jermon learned about India at school before the holidays. He learned that in India, people decorate banana and mango trees for Christmas. If a mango tree grows about 300 mangoes a year, about how many mangos could be grown in a grove of 30 trees?

Answer________________________________

Victoria visited an Indian church during the holidays to learn more about Christmas in India. While there, she realized that people in India decorate their churches with poinsettias for Christmas since they are in bloom. There were 492 poinsettia plants in the church. There were an equal number of the poinsettias in each room of the church. How many poinsettia plants were in each room if there were 8 rooms in all?Answer_________________________________

Christmas in Russia

In Russia, Christmas is annually celebrated on January 7th, thanks to the Russian Orthodox Church that has made it an official holiday in the country. Previously the occasion was observed on December 25th in much the same way as it was in the rest of the world, complete with Christmas trees and Christmas gifts, Saint Nicholas and the like. But after the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It was much later, in 1992, that the holiday began to be openly observed again. However, the church in Russia still uses the old Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used in the Western nations. This is why, Christmas is celebrated in Russia on January 7th. But these days, a few Russians have begun to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.

Today, Christmas is celebrated in the country in a grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in Cathedrals. The main religion in Russia is called Russian Orthodox. The Russian Orthodox Church is more than one thousand years old and most of the Christian population in the country belong to it. In Russia, many people don’t eat meat, eggs or milk from a few weeks before Christmas and it is customary to fast until after the first church service on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve dinner is meatless but festive. The menu usually depends on the wealth of the families. A typical Christmas dinner however, includes delicacies such as hot roast Pirog (Russian pies made out of meat or cabbage), and Pelmeni (meat dumplings). The most important ingredient is a special porridge called kutya. The traditional ingredients that go in its preparation are wheat berries (or other grains which symbolize hope and immortality), and honey and poppy seeds which ensure happiness, success and peace. The kutya is eaten from a common dish to symbolize unity.

A Christmas ceremony of great significance here is the blessing of individual homes. During Christmastime, a priest visits every home accompanied by boys carrying vessels

of holy water. A little water is sprinkled in each room, which is believed to usher in happiness and fortune to them. Another popular custom here is that of young children going from house to house on the first day of Christmas carrying a star and singing carols and getting sweets from adults.

A ceremony involving the blessing of the home is frequently observed. A priest visits the home accompanied by boys carrying vessels of holy water, and a little water is sprinkled in each room. The kutya is eaten from a common dish to symbolize unity.

Russia celebrates a white Christmas what with the weather being very cold and snowy during this time and the temperature always dropping to minus degrees.

In Russia, people celebrate by eating Russian food called, roast Pirog, Pelmeni, and kutya. There were 23 Russian chefs creating this meal for a party. Each of them had to create a meal for 17 people. How many people were they preparing for in all?Answer________________________________

Jasmine learned in class that Russia has a very snowy Christmas and the temperature is always dropping below zero degrees. If it snowed 12 inches in Moscow every day for a week, how many inches of snow would have fallen?

Answer_________________________________

Holiday Treats-Candy Cane Cookies

Use the recipe to solve the word problems that follow and try to make the cookies with your parent’s permission!

Preparation Time: 25 min/Cooking Time: 9 min/Ready In: 45 min/Servings: 48These colorful candy canes, sprinkled with sugar and crushed candy canes and festively flavored with peppermint, make the perfect Christmas cookie, sure to bring delight to little elves everywhere. Ingredients

1 cup margarine 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring 1/2 cup peppermint candy canes, crushed 1/2 cup white sugar for decoration

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, sugar and powdered sugar. Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extracts. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Cover or wrap dough and chill for at least one hour.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Divide dough into halves. Color one half red by mixing in the food color. Roll a small amount of each dough into a 2-inch-long worm. Roll them together in a twisted rope and curve the end like a cane. Place onto prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. In a small bowl, mix together the crushed candy cane and remaining sugar. Roll hot cookies in the sugar mixture.

Wick preheated the oven. After one minute, the temperature reached 208 degrees. How much warmer does it need get in order to bake the cookies?

Answer___________________

How many total cups of margarine, sugars, flour, and crushed candy canes are required for the recipe? (Hint: 2 halves= 1 whole)

Answer____________________

Nick made 2 batches of cookies to share with himself and 6 more friends. If they each get an equal amount, how many cookies will be remaining?

Answer_______________________

Use the Venn diagram to compare and contrast how 2 countries you read about from the continent of Asia celebrate their winter holidays. Find at least 5 similarities and 5 differences among the

countries.

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Winter around the World: Where are you? Where are they?1. Color the United States and draw a star on the region of the United States where you live. 2. Locate China, Russia, Iran, and India. 3. Trace and lightly color those countries and place a star next to the label.4. About how many miles do you think it is from Texas to China? (Hint: It is about 9,000 miles from Texas to Italy) Answer:________________

Due Tuesday, January 6, 2015

College Research Project

(Extra Credit – replace lowest daily grade in Math, Reading, Science, or Social Studies)

You are going to research a college of your choice.

Your final presentation can be a PowerPoint, poster, or trifold poster.

You will need to complete and hand in the following as part of your college research:

Map of the College: You will need to draw and label a map of the college using colored pencils, markers or crayons. If it is a large university, choose a specific area for your map.

History of the College: You will need to include a brief history of the college including items such as date it was founded, who it was founded by, and any other related information.

Description of College: The following should be highlighted: whether it is a public or private college, religious affiliation, co-ed vs. gender specific, location, size, and facilities.

Application Materials: You will need to include a blank or completed application for the college. You should also include the requirements for admission, deadlines, early decision/early action opportunities, etc.

Academics: Discuss types of majors offered, degrees, if they offer such opportunities like an honors program, double major, study abroad, liberal arts, internships, etc.

Surrounding Area Activities: Discuss what is around the college such as shopping malls, grocery stores, museums, theatres, restaurants, outdoor activities

Financial Aid and Scholarships: Explain what types of aid and scholarships are offered, a typical award, student requirements for scholarships and financial aid, deadlines, etc.

Career Services: Discuss what the placement rate is for the major(s) in which you are interested, whether or not they help you find a job, other services that are available.

Social Activities: Provide information about extracurricular activities, intramurals, varsity sports, Greek life, volunteer service, etc. On Campus Living: Discuss dorms that are available, items that you can bring to your dorm room, curfews etc. Meal Plans: Discuss the dining halls that are available, cost, where they are, what they offer, hours of operation etc. Personal interest: Explain why you would like to attend this university. Article about your College: Find at least one article that features information about your college to include in your presentation. School Pride: Create a pennant for the university you selected.