Activity Overview
Holidays are incredibly significant in religion, and highlight stories, seasons, or other significant aspects of a religion. Buddhists celebrate many holidays, and their calendar is based on the lunar cycles. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting the major holidays celebrated by Buddhists. They should describe the significance of each holiday and create an illustration to help summarize what it is and how it is practiced.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing 3 different major holidays in Buddhism
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify at least three major Buddhist holidays and write their name in the title box.
- For each cell write 1-3 sentence descriptions about each holiday explaining its significance.
- Create an illustration that represents each holiday using appropriate scenes, characters, symbols or items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3 cells showcasing different major holidays celebrated by Buddhists. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Holiday | All holidays are correctly identified and are significant to the religion. | Most holidays are correctly identified. | Most significant holidays are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. | No holidays are correctly identified. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions accurately explain the holiday and highlight its significance. | Descriptions mostly accurately and explain the holidays' significance. | Descriptions contain inaccuracies in their explanations, or do not highlight the holidays' significance. | Descriptions are missing or too minimal to score. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations include appropriate scenes, characters and items that accurately represent the holiday and reflect time, effort, thought, and care. | Illustrations are mostly accurate and reflect time and effort. | Illustrations are somewhat inaccurate and show minimal effort, time, and care. | Illustrations are inaccurate or inappropriate and are missing too many elements or are too minimal to score. |
| English Conventions | There are no errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions reflect careful proofreading. | There are a few errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions show accuracy and some proofreading. | There are several errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. Most writing portions do not reflect proofreading or accuracy. | Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics in writing portions of the storyboard seriously interfere with communication. |
Activity Overview
Holidays are incredibly significant in religion, and highlight stories, seasons, or other significant aspects of a religion. Buddhists celebrate many holidays, and their calendar is based on the lunar cycles. In this activity, students will create a spider map highlighting the major holidays celebrated by Buddhists. They should describe the significance of each holiday and create an illustration to help summarize what it is and how it is practiced.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a spider map focusing 3 different major holidays in Buddhism
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify at least three major Buddhist holidays and write their name in the title box.
- For each cell write 1-3 sentence descriptions about each holiday explaining its significance.
- Create an illustration that represents each holiday using appropriate scenes, characters, symbols or items.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Minimum of 3 cells showcasing different major holidays celebrated by Buddhists. Appropriate scenes to illustrate each cell. 1-3 sentence description for each cell demonstrating your understanding.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | Needs Improvement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Holiday | All holidays are correctly identified and are significant to the religion. | Most holidays are correctly identified. | Most significant holidays are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. | No holidays are correctly identified. |
| Descriptions | Descriptions accurately explain the holiday and highlight its significance. | Descriptions mostly accurately and explain the holidays' significance. | Descriptions contain inaccuracies in their explanations, or do not highlight the holidays' significance. | Descriptions are missing or too minimal to score. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations include appropriate scenes, characters and items that accurately represent the holiday and reflect time, effort, thought, and care. | Illustrations are mostly accurate and reflect time and effort. | Illustrations are somewhat inaccurate and show minimal effort, time, and care. | Illustrations are inaccurate or inappropriate and are missing too many elements or are too minimal to score. |
| English Conventions | There are no errors in spelling, grammar, or mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions reflect careful proofreading. | There are a few errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. All writing portions show accuracy and some proofreading. | There are several errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics throughout the storyboard. Most writing portions do not reflect proofreading or accuracy. | Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics in writing portions of the storyboard seriously interfere with communication. |
How Tos about Buddhist Holidays
Make Buddhist holidays meaningful with class discussions
Encourage students to share what they've learned about each Buddhist holiday and discuss their significance. Open discussions help deepen understanding, connect to personal experiences, and promote respect for diverse cultures.
Introduce each holiday with a story or video
Start by sharing a brief story or a short video about each Buddhist holiday. Stories and visuals spark curiosity and make abstract traditions feel real for students.
Guide students to research authentic symbols
Ask students to look up traditional symbols or imagery for each holiday before they draw. Authentic visuals help students create more accurate illustrations and deepen cultural respect.
Facilitate peer sharing and feedback
Invite students to present their spider maps in small groups and offer positive feedback. Peer sharing builds confidence, encourages collaboration, and reinforces learning.
Wrap up with a reflection on similarities and differences
Lead a class reflection on how Buddhist holidays compare with those in other religions or cultures. Comparisons help students appreciate global diversity and find connections to their own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions about Buddhist Holidays
What are the major Buddhist holidays students should know?
Major Buddhist holidays include Vesak (Buddha Day), Magha Puja, and Asalha Puja. These holidays commemorate key events in Buddha's life and are observed with ceremonies, meditation, and community gatherings.
How can I teach Buddhist holidays in a simple classroom activity?
Use a spider map activity where students identify three major Buddhist holidays, write short descriptions of each, and create illustrations representing their significance and traditions.
What is a spider map and how does it help students learn about religious holidays?
A spider map is a graphic organizer that helps students visually break down and connect key facts about topics like Buddhist holidays, making it easier to understand their meaning and importance.
Why do Buddhists celebrate holidays according to the lunar calendar?
Buddhists use the lunar calendar because many of their important events and festivals are tied to phases of the moon, reflecting ancient traditions and regional customs.
What are some creative ways students can illustrate Buddhist holidays?
Students can draw scenes, symbols, or characters such as lotus flowers, temples, or Buddha figures to represent each holiday, helping them connect visually with the traditions and meanings.
More Storyboard That Activities
Buddhism
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
