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Whether your students have biological or adopted grandparents, great aunts or uncles, or other grandparent-like figures in their lives, you can use this holiday as an opportunity to engage them in timely Grandparents Day activities and learn more about their family relationships along the way.
[Explore grandparent and grandchild relationships in ELA](id-ela)
Encourage students to explore family relationships and how they can learn from older relatives and family friends in their lives with these ELA activities:
How are grandparents significant in our lives?
Explore the origins and significance of Grandparents Day with a fiction text and accompanying activities with this upper elementary lesson:
First, have students consider the qualities that grandparents show in real life and in fiction. Compile a list of adjectives to display while working through the lesson.
Next, have students read“Something Strange in Grandpa’s Woods” by Jane Dauster. As students read, ask them to highlight details about Alex’s relationship with her Grandpa.
Finally, have students work in small groups to answer the question, “What makes relationships with grandparents special?” Have them use the class adjective list and their annotations to guide their discussion.
Extend the lesson by asking students to write a thank-you note to their grandparents or other influential figures in their lives, expressing gratitude for all that they do.
Explore poems about family relationships
Family dynamics often serve as a source of inspiration for writers and artists. Students can read poetry inspired by these relationships with selections like:
“My Grandfather’s Typewriter” by student author Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer
“When You Are Old” by W.B. Yeats
“The Arrow and the Song” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Novels with grandparents as main characters
Many middle-grade and young adult novels feature grandparents as main or significant secondary characters. Try adding one of these selections to your students’ recommended independent reading list or diving into one as a whole-class novel.
“Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis
In “Bud, Not Buddy,” Bud’s journey leads him to discover his grandfather Herman. Although their relationship is initially strained, it becomes central to Bud’s sense of identity and belonging. Students can learn more about these types of relationships and build background knowledge on the themes of the book by exploring resources like:
An article that lists different ways Americans had fun during the Great Depression.
An article explaining what Hoovervilles were during the Great Depression.
The poem “My People” by Langston Hughes, which explores the themes of identity, family relationships, and community.
“Esperanza Rising” by Pam Muñoz Ryan
In “Esperanza Rising,” Esperanza’s grandmother is a significant figure in her early life in Mexico and later in the United States. Abuelita’s wisdom and love are a guiding force throughout the novel, as she encourages Esperanza to keep going despite the hardships she encounters. Students can learn more about the themes in this novel with resources like:
A video explainer on the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.
A video that looks at the role of symbolism in stories.
A fictional story called “The Sun Stands Still” by Josephine Cameron that looks at grandparent and grandchild relationships from another perspective.
“Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech
In “Walk Two Moons,” Sal’s Gram and Gramps accompany her on a road trip across the country. They’re quirky, loving, and drive the emotional depth of Sal’s coming-of-age story. Students can learn more about the themes in this novel by exploring articles on topics like:
Storytelling and cultural traditions.
Empathy.
Dealing with the death of a loved one.
[Create Grandparents Day gifts and learn about genetics in science](id-science)
Help students create Grandparents Day gifts for the important people in their lives and use the holiday as an opportunity to teach a genetics lesson with these science activities:
Grandparents Day STEM projects
Students can create small gifts for those they want to celebrate while learning about science, technology, engineering, and math concepts! Try activities like:
Bath fizzers
For the grandparent who needs a relaxing moment for themselves, a bath fizzer could be the perfect gift. Use this lesson to help students create their own:
First, explore the definition of a mixture in the context of science.
Next, consider how chemical reactions and chemical changes are related to each other.
Finally, ask students to create a bath fizzer using materials such as baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils.
Toolboxes
For the handy grandparent, a toolbox made of recycled materials can make it easier to carry supplies from one project to the next. Use this lesson to help students create their own:
First, teach students about the engineering design process and how the steps work together.
Next, ask them to use the process to build a toolbox out of recycled materials, such as shoeboxes, cereal boxes, and paper towel rolls.
Finally, let students take the toolboxes home and give them as gifts. Extend the lesson by asking students to write a paragraph about how their grandparent reacted when they received the present.
Where do our genes come from?
Our genes, traits, and physical characteristics are all passed down to us from our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and even further back! Use Grandparents Day as a time to introduce a genetics lesson into your science class and explore topics like:
How Gregor Mendel researched and documented the inheritance of traits.
How siblings can have different traits, such as hair and eye color, even if they share the same parents and grandparents.
The differences between dominant and recessive genes, and how they show up in people.
What holiday will you teach about next?
Grandparents Day is one of many holidays you can explore with your students throughout the school year. With Newsela's subject products, you can access over 18,000 pieces of relevant, real-world content to pair with any seasonal lesson you can plan.
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