Grade 1 Celebrates Diwali

In the current unit of inquiry, Grade 1 students are learning about how people migrate in response to needs, challenges, and opportunities. Students are currently examining their first line of inquiry – that humans have fundamental needs that have existed since the early stone age.

Back in time, people found a way to light the darkness. Light became a fundamental need as people began to engage as a community and participate in different activities after dark. They built fires to keep warm and cook their food. They lit torches to drive away danger. To help them see at night, they learned to make candles and lanterns. Light was so important in their lives that they came to use it in worship and in celebrations.

Students have also learned that spiritual needs are expressed and met in different ways across cultures, manifesting in major celebrations. In most years, the Hindu celebration of Diwali is the first of many celebrations of light which take place through the winter months around the globe. By looking at these festivals, students will learn how celebrations around the world feature light in different ways. With exposure to these different cultural celebrations, students have the opportunity to focus on the similarities among these needs and expressions.

On Thursday, November 12th – the third day of Diwali – Mrs. Pradnya Kasar came and shared traditions and customs of their celebration. Students learned about the story of Rama and Sita, and learned the song “Diwali is Here” in English and in Hindi. Pradnya made ‘rangolis’ on the classroom floor, and students made clay lamps that are symbolic of the traditional ‘pramidalu’ lights that are used during the holiday. They ate delicious Diwali snacks that Pradnya and daughter Shambhavi had made for the class.