A fun place for educators to share Mardi Gras traditions with their students.  It is our mission to help others celebrate the season! - We encourage everyone to join the Kemah parade as a group, or families to create a fun activity.  Parade is Sunday, March 6th in the Kemah Lighthouse District. In Krewe du Lac there are no strangers...only friends we have yet to meet.  Contact us if you have any questions or suggestions... - Questions??????CLICK HERE to email us prime_minister@krewedulac.org ****************************** Click on a link or scroll down to check out some great resources LESSON PLAN WEBSITE 1 - CLICK HERE LESSON PLAN WEB SITE 2 - CLICK HERE LESSON PLAN WEBSITE 3 - CLICK HERE Mardi Gras Lesson Plan Included:  Lesson Plans: Objectives, Supplies Needed, Procedures Mardi Gras Find A Word How to Create Your Own Shoe Box Float Link to www.mardigrasday.com for all your Mardi Gras educational needs. Objectives: Students will learn where Mardi Gras comes from and how it is celebrated. Students will understand the different aspects and traditions of Mardi Gras. Students will be able to produce Mardi Gras Floats, Masks, and Doubloons and participate in Mardi Gras Celebrations. Time Allotment: Approximately 5 (1 hour) class periods. 10 (1 hour) classes if more involved!!!! Supplies Needed: Mardi Gras Beads (one for each student) Doubloons (Variety) 2 King Cakes (ordered) Shoeboxes (1 Per Student) Tissue paper, construction paper, glue, glitter, pipe cleaners… Yarn and Mask Cutout Two crowns or cool hats for the King and Queen of Mardi Gras For more information and to order Mardi Gras items, Games, King cakes, Masks, Please visit: www.mardigrasday.com  for more exciting ideas. Procedure: Before Week long lesson begins Homework Assignment: Two weeks before lesson is to begin, have all students acquire one shoebox. This will become their Mardi Gras Float. The Friday before lesson is to begin, start introducing Mardi Gras: what it is, where it is celebrated and pique the children's interest for the up and coming week.(Food, Fun, and a Parade) Day 1 Mardi Gras Introduction: Greet all children with Mardi beads and wearing a homemade mask. Give overview on Mardi Gras, why people celebrate it, where it is celebrated, and how people celebrate it. Make sure to emphasize Lent, Beads, King Cakes, Doubloons, Krewes, Masks, and Parades. Day 2 Krewe Introduction and Doubloons Hand out beads and Doubloons to all students. Explain what the significance is of each Mardi Gras Krewe, the history, why they where masks, and why they throw beads, toys, and candy. Also explain the rest of the week; what will be happening, and how to become Mardi Gras Queen and King. Split your students up so you have five-six students in each Krewe. Have each group come up with a Krewe name, a topic for their Krewe and a Doubloon representing all of them. Day 3-4 Start of Parade Floats/Masks Get all of the Krewes together and have them start on their Floats and Masks. Explain where there are parades (New Orleans, Venice, Brazil), why they are still used, and what happens at parades. Each student gets a shoebox and will use their shoebox as a float. Use anything to decorate but each float should represent something, a final theme. (Spring, summer, harvest, food, candy, animals, history, anything…) Note: reference www.mardigrasday.com to learn how to make a shoebox float. Also, help kids pick out themes and work on. Also have masks cut out and ready for the kids to draw on and decorate. Make big noses, eyelashes, feathers, anything to help hide their identity. Use Yarn to tie the mask on. Students will have the following day to finish up Floats and Masks because the Parade is on Friday. Day 5 Parade, King Cake, Assessment Put students into Krewes and have a parade by each Krewe. Play Mardi Gras Music (Mardi Gras Mambo is a Classic). You can do this for the school, for parents, for other classes, or just for your students. Following the parade have an election (quick vote) and elect a King and Queen of Carnival (Best Float/ Mask). The King and Queen will get to where their Crown all day long (maybe even a certificate to entice more elaborate Mask/Floats). Have the King and Queen cut the King Cake. Explain the meaning of finding the baby. While eating king cake discuss with the students what they have learned about Mardi Gras and Carnival: how it got started, some of the traditions, and when and where it occurs. Ask each student to answer any of three questions for a homework paper over the weekend. Assessment Verbal assessment (questions) Group participation Krewes, Doubloons Mardi Gras Party Word Find E B Y N B J Q A F M K W Z L X E J A E E H H L A Q Z O U A O I K A L X L A S E M A G N V J K D T D L M K S R L H U T I P S S E M B B Y P A I O L O N J C U A E G M O N A M S D I R A J A A M E N A C I R R U H A Z T U P V K W C Y O N O D E C Z X E J T M C A Y O X O V U U J D W T B A D I O W O Y J A S E F E P P R I L T M L J D I F S U R D O V B N T S J A J Q K T C K W A U H W K I N G C A K E W S N O Q B A B Y P K B A O R I X D T R U O C V J N W R Y Q BABY    BALL   BEADS   CAPTAIN   CARNIVAL   COURT   DOUBLOON   FAVOR   FLAMBEAUX   HURRICANE   JAZZ   JESTER   KINGCAKE   KREWE   MASK   STICKMASK   SWORD     SHOE BOX MARDI GRAS FLOATThese little floats are much simpler logistically, but still as elaborate as wagon floats. You should accept nothing less than a majestic transportation device for your beloved Barbie doll  or Puppet riders. Things you will need for your dream float are: Supplies:·         1 Shoebox ·         Green tissue paper or aluminum foil ·         Scotch tape / Stapler ·         Doubloons ·         Mardi Gras Beads ·         Glitter ·         1 Jester Doll/Barbie Doll/Puppet/Stuffed Animal The first step is picking a shoebox. Usually whatever is hanging around your house that isn't holding bills or other random junk will work. Oh, and by the way, it will need to have a lid.Now it is time to put your thinking cap on (remember that?) and create a theme for your float. Some suggestions would be "Barbie goes to Hollywood!", or "Poseidon's Undersea Adventure", and of course, "Goin' to the Mardi Gras!" Your chosen theme will dictate how your float looks, and the materials you will need.Take your box and cover both parts (the lid and the base) with the colored tissue paper or aluminum foil. You don't need to cover the inside of the box with paper, only the outsides and the bottom. Now, flip the box over and attach the lid to one side of the box using the stapler or, if there is a parent around, a hot glue gun is a fantastic tool. (See picture if this seems confusing.)Now you are ready to decorate! You can write your theme on the side of the box in glitter, build a "seat" for your rider, or hang ribbons off the sides- be as creative as you can be! Find that old dollhouse furniture, jazz it up, and stick it on the float, too. The options here are as endless as your imagination! Have fun!

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