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One of the benefits of using videos in your world holiday lessons is that it brings the holiday traditions alive for your students. Written descriptions can only do so much in showing the sights and sounds of a holiday.
I use videos as a supplement to my world holiday lesson plans and task students with immersing themselves in the five senses of the holiday, in this case, Holi and Diwali.
Benefits of Teaching about World Holidays
- When students learn about other world holidays and cultures, they understand their own cultural traditions better.
- Exposing students to a wide range of beliefs means they’ll be better prepared to engage with new ideas and perspectives.
- It helps students learn to approach cultural differences with curiosity.
- They’ll be better friends and global citizens.
5 Educational Videos on Holi and Diwali
In order to take one thing off your busy schedule, here is a compiled list of student-friendly videos on India’s biggest festivals, Holi and Diwali. Each video includes discussion questions to activate students’ critical thinking and curiosity. (Read until the end for a special offer to kickstart your lesson).
1. Diwali – Festival of Lights | National Geographic
In this video, learn about one of the most significant festivals in India called Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. It’s a five-day celebration that includes good food, fireworks, colored sand, and special candles and lamps. Learn about traditions and events that happen during Diwali.
- 3:05 minutes
- Ages 7-11
Discussion Questions:
- What are some traditions of Diwali?
- What do people wear?
- What do people do?
- What do people eat?
- What does Diwali mean to people who celebrate it?
- How can holiday traditions vary from family to family? Can you think of an example in your own life?
2. Get an Up-Close Look at the Colorful Holi Festival | National Geographic
Bring Holi Festival alive for your students with this colorful video. See the clouds of neon-colored powder (gulal) envelop villages across India. Each year, crowds gather to celebrate the beginning of spring with an explosion of color, traditional folk music, and more.
- 1:33 minutes
- Ages 9-12
Discussion Questions:
- What do you see and hear in the video?
- What is the tone of the festival?
- What do you think it is like to be in India during Holi Festival?
3. Holi Festival Of Colour | Planet Earth II | Cities Behind The Scenes
See authentic images from Holi, the Festival of Colors.
- 2:50 minutes
- Ages 8-12
Discussion Questions:
- Holi is sometimes called the Festival of Colors and the Festival of Light – why?
- What are people doing in the video?
- How do you think people feel?
4. CBeebies Songs | What is Diwali? | The Let’s Go Club
In this sing-along, you will learn about the important traditions of Diwali. This catchy tune will engage young learners and help them remember cool facts about Diwali.
- 2:23 minutes
- Ages 5-8
Discussion Questions:
- What is another term for Diwali?
- What is the meaning of Diwali?
- What does Diwali celebrate?
- When is Diwali?
- What are some Diwali traditions?
5. CBeebies: Celebrating Holi – Let’s Celebrate
Sumedh is celebrating Holi – Hindu festival of color. Sumedh visits the temple with his family.
- 4:02 minutes
- Ages 6-8
Discussion Questions:
- Why do people take their shoes off in the temple?
- What do you notice in the temple?
- What happens while visiting the temple during Holi?
TIP: Put the video link into safeshare.tv in order to remove any ads and distractions from the video.
Free Worksheet for Summarizing Videos
How to use it:
- Write the big idea in the middle hexagon, for example, Diwali Festival. Then, watch the video closely and listen for key ideas that summarize the big idea.
- Turn on the video subtitles by clicking CC to help students who need them.
World Holiday Resources
Videos are just one piece of the instructional puzzle. You can add world holiday lessons into many subjects. You will find that this interdisciplinary lesson includes math, social studies, writing, and reading. Teaching about world holidays does not have to take precious instructional time. Instead, add upcoming holidays throughout the day or week as a theme.
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