The first and third grade students from Freeport Public Schools' Archer Street Elementary School recently completed lessons on holiday celebrations and how the Festival of Lights occurs in many different cultures.
Students in Ms. Nicole Gomes's first grade class learned about how the Festival of Lights is celebrated during Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa and how lighting candles is a symbol of joy, family, life, happiness, peace, prosperity and hope.
In Ms. Josephine Velez's third grade class students learned about Kwanzaa and made Mkeka mats, the woven mat on which other Kwanzaa symbols rest.
With dozens of holidays celebrated around the world in the winter months, students learned about these celebrations and their focus on light, warmth and community and how to celebrate these festivities with their families and friends.