Culture, Traditions, Celebrations

Here is a sampling of resources that can be helpful in teaching and learning English as a second language. Search our database to find more similar resources.

Legend:
	Available in English		Collections		Extra Cost
	Available in French		Access Restricted

Canadian Heritage: Arts and Culture
http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/sujct/arts-culture/index-eng.cfm

This page is sponsored by Canadian Heritage and includes the following links: Books, Broadcasting, Conservation, Copyright, Exhibitions, Film and Video, Literature, Magazines, Media Arts, Museums and Galleries, Music, New Media, Newspapers, Performing Arts Publishing, Radio, Sound Recording, Television and Visual Arts.

Centre for Intercultural Learning – Country Insights
http://www.international.gc.ca/cfsi-icse/cil-cai/index-eng.asp

For 39 years, the Centre for Intercultural Learning has been preparing Canadians for assignments abroad. Country Insights provides country facts and cultural information on the countries of the world. Go beyond the do's and don'ts with Country Insights.(This resource would be of interest to teachers of the advanced ESL learner – lots of interesting information to be found.)

Christmas Traditions in France and in Canada
http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/noel/angl/noel.htm

This website describes Christmas religious ceremonies and familiy traditions in Canada and France.

Christmas Around the World Internet Scavenger Hunts
http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/pges/projects/around.htm

Four scavenger hunts, each with links to 15 web sites offering information on Christmas traditions in countries throughout the world.

Cultural Profiles Project
http://www.cp-pc.ca/

Cultural profiles of more than 100 countries. Each cultural profile provides an overview of life and customs in that country.

The Diversity of African Art
http://www.nmafa.si.edu/pubaccess/pages/divfrm.htm

Throughout the centuries, African artists have created artworks in various media that underscore the dynamic quality of Africa's visual traditions. The categories presented here represent the breadth of the collection and are intended as a guide

Global Sound Learning – Tools For Teaching
http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/teaching_intro.aspx

Tools for Teaching provides ideas and resources for educators to inspire their use of music from around the world. Information about these sounds and the cultures that create them are a valuable resource to courses in history, geography, language arts, social studies, visual arts-and of course music and dance.

Indian and Northern Affairs – Kids’ Stop
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ach/lr/ks/index-eng.asp

An excellent resource for children to learn about Canada’s Aboriginal people. Topics include language, history, the people and geography.

Interfaith Calendar - Primary sacred times for world religions
http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/

This calendar features sacred times and occasions for celebration, reflection, prayer, and devotion with links to important dates and holidays for the major world religions: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hindu Christianity, Baha'i, Zoroastrian, Sikh, Shinto, Jain, Confucianism/Taoism Native American, and more.

Multi Cultural Calendar
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/MCC/index.html

This Web site shows the unique ways our KIDLINK kids are celebrating their country's holidays and festivals. The entries might contain recipes for holiday foods, historical background, significance of the holidays and the special ways in which these days are celebrated. The calendar entries are rich in local customs that perhaps might not be found in books.