Image of two kids, one with a megaphone and a speech bubble, "3...2...1... Pineapple?"
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Infographic,

3 … 2 … 1 … Pineapple?

Every December 31, people stay up until midnight to welcome the new year. One way people celebrate: by watching a giant object drop! Check out some of the wacky objects that are dropped on New Year’s Eve.

From the December 2022/January 2023 Issue
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,

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Matt Smith/The Express-Times via AP Images (Peep); Bayfront Park Management Trust (Orange); Courtesy the Town Center of Mililani (Pineapple); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Crystal Ball

Each year, thousands of people head to New York City. At midnight, they watch an enormous crystal ball drop! More than 3,000 pounds of confetti also falls on the crowd. 

Peep

Marshmallow Peeps are made in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. How does the city celebrate the new year? By dropping a 400-pound Peeps chick! Unlike the real candies, this Peep is made of foam and glass. 

Orange

Florida grows millions of oranges every year—more than any other state. So the city of Miami says “Happy New Year!” by dropping a neon orange wearing sunglasses! 

Pineapple

One town in Hawaii welcomes the new year by dropping a 14-foot-tall fake pineapple. It comes down at 7 p.m. so kids don’t miss out on the fun!

Think and Write Contest

Imagine your school is dropping an item to celebrate the new year. Write a letter to your principal describing what other places have done and what your school should drop. Five winners will each receive a Scholastic e-gift card. 

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras

Check out other fascinating ways people celebrate the turn of the year with “New Year's Traditions Around the World,” our December 2019/January 2020 Grammar feature.

“New Year’s Eve” is a wonderful poem that uses personification to offer a very different look at what happens at midnight on December 31.

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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1. READING AND DISCUSSING

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

  • Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and main image to identify the topic of the infographic.
  • Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to 
    • explain something to you?
    • convince you of something?
    • tell you how to do something?
  • Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the main image. Ask:
    • How are they related to the main image? (They provide details about the main idea.)
  • Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.
  • Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. WRITING

  • Preview the writing prompt in the “Think and Write Contest” box.
  • Download and distribute the Guided Writing skill builder that goes along with the infographic.
  • Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. Details are at Storyworks 3 Digital.

EXTENTION!

Have students create their own infographics! Download our Make Your Own Infographic skill builder from Storyworks 3 Digital.

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARD

RI.1, RI.2, RI.7, W.1, W.2

Text-to-Speech