This fun puzzle set turns the transition to a new year into an opportunity to teach about diversity and global culture by exploring a range of traditions for marking “New Year’s Day.”

For most of the world, the big New Year’s Eve celebration is on December 31st. By contrast, in other countries or for some groups, the beginning of the new year may start in March or another month (in our puzzle these are posted in parentheses at the end of the clue). These celebrations also have religious significance or a wider array of traditions associated with them.

Teachers may want to use this activity set as part of a discussion about understanding and valuing the differences between people. Set includes:

• Two-Page Activity Set – Crossword with facts about new year celebrations in a range of different countries; Fill-in-the-letters Puzzle with traditional new year's dishes from several countries; Fill-in the rhyming words poem about what people do at midnight on New Year's Eve.
• Word Search Puzzle – Reinforces key vocabulary words used in the Activity Set
• Puzzle Pals Crossword – Kids can work together or race to finish these two-to-a-page mini puzzles, which discuss ways to try new things in the new year.

Concepts explored: resolutions | new year around the world | global |diversity | culture | baby new year | New Year | New Year's Eve | New Years | midnight | world | customs | resolution