Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and gras means “fat.” In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” The first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. The History of Mardi Gras Find out more about the history of Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, and how the holiday came to be synonymous with New Orleans. Find the Resources You Need! Greet students at the door wearing a Mardi Gras mask. Present each student with a strand of beads. Have students design and make Mardi Gras masks. Briefly explain the history and meaning of Mardi Gras. Have students try some King Cake. (The recipe can be found at Mardi Gras on the Net.) Two students, a girl and a boy, will find a token in the cake. The blank lines on this page are available for you to write out thoughts and ideas you have as you prepare the lesson. MARDI GRAS LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES History of Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras lesson plan contains two content pages. Mardi Gras—which is French for “Fat Tuesday”—is a famous festival that people celebrate worldwide. "Mardi Gras" is French for / by “Fat Tuesday”. It is the name of a celebration that takes placed / place on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day during / period of Lent. Mardi Gras is the final / finally day of a three-day period which starts on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In Catholic countries, Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a lively celebration that takes place before the season of Lent in many parts of the world, especially in New Orleans, Louisiana. This festive occasion is marked by colorful parades, lively music, and fun costumes. Plan a Mardi Gras Day in Your Classroom! Mardi Gras is a great bridge to learning more about New Orleans. Mardi Gras is a part of the history of New Orleans. This video by the History Channel offers perspective on Mardi Gras: the history, different krewes, king cakes, jambalaya, and the crazy party. History Channel: Mardi Gras History & Facts Teach your students about Mardi Gras with help from this lesson plan. Students will read about the history, popular traditions, and famous celebrations of Mardi Gras before applying what they've learned to an activity. Eighth graders in an 8th grade French class explore the history and activities of Mardi Gras. They research Mardi Gras using the Internet and then with a small group, create a PowerPoint presentation for presentation to the entire class. Trust me, this is way cooler than just looking good. What's in the package: A reading passage that'll make Mardi Gras history feel like an adventure 10 questions that'll make you think (and don't worry, an answer key is included!) A note-taking sheet to catch all those awesome facts This isn't just another boring history lesson. 7:00 p.m. George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Honoree Parade Following the George P. Mitchell Mardi Gras Award Presentation, this is the first parade to Kick Off Mardi Gras Galveston 2025! This parade is packed with marching bands, dancing squads & tons of energy. There is no pinpointing the origins of the celebration known today as Carnival or Mardi Gras. Indeed, because its most elemental characteristics — drinking and feasting, dancing and music, masks and costumes — extend back into the mists of time, there’s no tidy way to connect the dots between prehistoric cave paintings of dancing stick-like figures wearing animal masks and the modern pre Mardi Gras Activities For the Classroom. Learning about Mardi Gras will be a blast using these fun classroom activities. 1. Make a Mardi Gras Word Search. Encourage students to explore Mardi Gras vocabulary words by having them create a Mardi Gras word search. First, as a class, brainstorm all the words possible related to Mardi Gras. 26 Kid Friendly Mardi Gras Activities for Kids Learn About Mardi Gras History. Get the kiddos started with a little history of Mardi Gras from these online videos: Mardi Gras history VIDEO and about Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Also, learn the Mardi Gras vocabulary (Mardi Gras lingo) Learn about the music of Mardi Gras and create a Mardi Gras If you’re looking for literacy-focused Mardi Gras activities for the classroom, we’ve got you covered there, too, because this Mardi Gras Crossword is perfect for dropping into your lesson plan on March 2! Not only do crosswords boost executive function and working memory, but they’re also ideal for expanding vocabulary for your students. And that history is far more religious than we usually recognize. Mardi Gras is French for ‘Fat Tuesday.’ Mardi Gras is the final day of the festivities known as Carnival and is celebrated in predominately Catholic locations around the world—most famously in cities such as New Orleans and Rio de Jainaro.
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