"Laissez les bons temps rouler" - Let the good times roll!
Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras (/ˈmɑːrdiɡrɑː/), also called Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, in English, refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.

Questions to guide student learning:

• Why do we celebrate Mardi Gras?
• How did Mardi Gras come to be?
• When is the Marci Gras celebration?
• What are the economics of Mardi Gras today?

Mardi Gras Vocabulary:

• Krewes. ...
• Rex, King of Carnival. ...
• Bead throwing. ...
• Zulu coconuts. ...
• Flambeaux. ...
• King cake.

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Enjoy the two videos above, then go to this page for New Orleans music!

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Web sites for student research on Mardi Gras

• Mardi Gras resources on History.com
• Top Ten Mardi Gras Traditions
• Mardi Gras History and Facts:  The Real Meaning Behind These "Fat Tuesday" Traditions​
• From King Cake to Zulu Coconuts - The History of Six Mardi Gras Traditions
• ​Mardi Gras - a History

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Curriculum Projects

These projects were designed for and implemented in specific grade levels, but are easily adaptable to upper or lower grades.

• You can find some wonderful ideas from this Mardi Gras Project 2016 done at St. Cecelia Catholic School for grades 2-8.

• Mount Carmel Academy gives project-based learning a Mardi Gras spin.
• ​Mardi Gras Project Lesson Plan for first grade.

Find many more links to projects about Mardi Gras here.  We will continue to vet these projects and make recommendations for those we find to be excellent.