The holiday of Purim commemorates the salvation of ancient Jewish peoples from the Persian empire, as told in the Book of Esther. During this celebration, people send mishloach manot (like gift baskets!) to friends, family, and those in need; eat Hamantaschen cookies to celebrate Haman’s defeat; dress in costumes; and read the Book of Esther to recount the story behind the holiday. 

You can bring diverse perspectives into your ELA and social studies classrooms by sharing Purim activities with your students:

• Explore Purim’s history and storytelling roots in ELA
• Discover other Jewish American cultural traditions in social studies

[Explore Purim’s history and storytelling roots in ELA](id-ela)

Help students explore the role scriptures and other texts play in the joyous Jewish celebration of Purim with nonfiction articles on topics like:

• Why storytelling is a part of the Purim celebration.
• How storytelling is also an important theme in many other religious and cultural traditions.

After students explore these resources, pair them up for small group discussions. Have them research answers to the following questions:

• Who are the main characters in the story of Purim?
• How does the story of Purim show the characteristics of courage and resilience?
• What are some customs and traditions associated with Purim?

Finally, have them use their knowledge to create a party invitation to a Purim celebration. The invite should include:

• Information about the holiday's history and its associated symbols.
• Other information you’d see on an invitation, like the date, time, location, attire expectations, and any other special instructions.

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[Discover other Jewish American cultural traditions in social studies](id-ss)

Purim is just one of many holidays Jewish Americans celebrate each year. Teach students about these cultural and religious traditions with relevant social studies resources.

Understand Jewish American culture and traditions

Teach students more about Jewish culture and how it influences our broader American culture with resources like:

• An explainer article that breaks down the branches of Judaism.
• An article that details the symbolism and steps in a Bar Mitzvah.
• A government proclamation about the acknowledgment of Jewish American Heritage Month in May.

Discover how Jewish Americans create and sustain their communities

Whenever and wherever people gather together, they create communities. Students can explore hallmarks of Jewish American communities by reading articles on topics like:

• This history of Jewish immigration to the United States.
• Why delis are a staple in most Jewish American communities across the country.
• How Black and Jewish communities in different cities have shared their stories and cultures with each other.

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Cover all the major spring holidays in your classroom

Purim is one of many religious and cultural holidays celebrated during the Spring. With Newsela’s suite of subject products, you can access various content and resources—like news articles, primary sources, literature selections, and interactive videos—to help you teach about all of them!Not a Newsela customer yet? Sign up for Newsela Lite for free and start your 45-day trial. You’ll get access to our premium content and activities for everything you need to teach about every holiday this spring.