Student-Friendly Mardi Gras Activities for the Classroom

Mardi Gras, also known as “Fat Tuesday,” marks the last day of Carnival season and is also tied to the start of Lent. In your classroom, this holiday can help students explore traditions, culture, and history through reading and writing.

Newsela’s Mardi Gras activities support ELA and social studies instruction with age-appropriate, differentiated texts.

Jump to:

• How can I use Mardi Gras activities to build literacy skills in ELA?
• Mardi Gras social studies lessons that teach students about Louisiana

[How can I use Mardi Gras activities to build literacy skills in ELA?](id-ela)

Key takeaways:

• Mardi Gras provides real-world context for research, writing, and learning descriptive language.
• ELA activities help students connect cultural celebrations to storytelling and informational texts.
• Newsela ELA’s differentiated articles make it easy to meet students at their reading levels and scaffold to grade-level proficiency.

How can students research and write a Mardi Gras storybook?

Students learn best when they can turn new knowledge into something creative. They can build background knowledge by researching Mardi Gras traditions and celebrations and transforming what they’ve learned into original writing. Try this research writing activity to practice these skills:

• Assign an article that explores the history of Mardi Gras.
• Share an article about the family-friendly activities that are an important part of Mardi Gras celebrations.
• Ask students to use what they’ve learned to write their own Mardi Gras picture books for young readers, including images and descriptive language.

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Newsela Knack: Looking to add even more writing opportunities to your daily lessons? Newsela Writing supports students as they plan, draft, revise, and publish work across content areas.

Why is Mardi Gras a good way to teach traditions and celebrations?

Mardi Gras helps students understand what makes an event a tradition and why communities continue to celebrate it today. Comparing Mardi Gras to other global celebrations builds cultural awareness and critical thinking.

Use Newsela ELA articles to help students explore and compare traditions, including ones on topics like:

• Definitions and examples of customs and traditions.
• Traditions associated with the Lunar New Year.
• Celebrations and customs associated with Diwali.

[Mardi Gras social studies lessons that teach students about Louisiana](id-ss)

Key takeaways:

• Mardi Gras lessons connect directly to Louisiana’s history and cultural identity.
• Social studies content can deepen students’ understanding of regional and national history.
• Newsela Social Studies texts support inquiry-based learning with primary and secondary sources.

How does French culture influence Louisiana today?

While many students associate French culture in North America with Canada, Mardi Gras offers an example of its influence in Louisiana. Students can explore how the French language, architecture, and traditions shaped the region using the following lesson:

• Share an article about the influence of French colonial architecture on the Mississippi Valley region.
• Explore the evolution of the French word “bourgeois” and its different adaptations and meanings in English-speaking countries.
• Extend the lesson by asking students to research another country’s cultural influence on the United States—like Mexico, Ireland, or China—and use a Venn Diagram to compare that country’s influence with France’s influence on American culture.

What makes Louisiana’s history and geography unique?

Louisiana’s geography, wildlife, and cultural diversity make it unlike any other U.S. state. These Newsela Social Studies articles help students understand what sets Louisiana apart while helping them practice informational reading skills:

• An overview of Louisiana’s history, geography, wildlife, and natural resources.
• A story about the Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe and their efforts to preserve culture as their land faces environmental changes.
• An article explaining why volunteers worked to restore a Civil War-era cemetery in Louisiana.

Why did the United States complete the Louisiana Purchase?

The Louisiana Purchase reshaped the future of the United States and expanded the nation westward. Students can explore the reasons behind the purchase and its long-term impact through these Newsela Social Studies resources:

• An explainer article breaking down the Louisiana Purchase in clear, student-friendly language.
• An article explaining the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, and its role in U.S. expansion.
• A video featuring maps and visuals that help students understand how U.S. territory changed.

Who were Lewis and Clark, and how did their expedition shape U.S. history?

After the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired land. These Newsela Social Studies resources help students examine the challenges and outcomes of the expedition:

• A video explaining how Lewis and Clark prepared for their journey.
• An explainer article detailing the dangers and significance of their 8,000-mile expedition.
• A biography of Sacagawea, the Indigenous woman who helped guide Lewis and Clark to success.

Plan engaging year-round lessons with Newsela’s products

Bring the spirit of Mardi Gras and other cultural celebrations into your classroom all year. With Newsela’s knowledge- and skill-building products, you can create timely, engaging lessons aligned to standards and student interests.

New to Newsela? Sign up for Newsela Lite to access a 45-day free trial of premium, differentiated content and activities for Mardi Gras and beyond.