Image of a cat and dog in party hats against a fireworks background
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Infographic,

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Happy New Year!

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, we’ll ring in 2023! Here are some fun facts about New Year’s Eve celebrations across America. 

From the December 2022/January 2023 Issue
Complexity Factors
  • Purpose
    This infographic presents fun facts and figures having to do with New Year’s celebrations.
  • Structure
    Information is organized in three sections around a central image. Pictures, text, and a graph are included.
  • Language
    The language is mainly familiar.
  • Knowledge Demands
    The infographic mentions Times Square in New York City and other places, including Raleigh, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, and Boise, Idaho.
Standards
  • Common Core
    Anchor Standards: R.1, R.2, R.7, W.2 Grade 4: RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.7, W.4.2 Grade 5: RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.7, W.5.2 Grade 6: RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.7, W.6.2
  • TEKS
    Grade 4: 4.9f; 4.12c Grade 5: 5.9f; 5.12c Grade 6: 6.8f; 6.11c

Presentation View
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Yuki Iwamura/AP/Shutterstock (Crystal Ball); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)

Americans Say It’s Not a Celebration Without . . . 

  • wishing friends and family a happy new year.
  • watching the new year’s countdown on TV.
  • fireworks and sparklers.

By the Numbers

On New Year’s Eve, 26% of Americans fall asleep before midnight.

2022 New Year’s Resolutions

  • 23% be healthier
  • 21% be happier
  • 9% travel
  • 7% exercise

About 3,000 pounds of confetti are released during the countdown at Times Square in New York City.

Sources: YouGov, ABC News

Drop Something Big

One way people celebrate the new year is by watching a giant object drop. For example . . .

  • New York City drops a crystal ball covered with about 32,000 lights.

  • Raleigh, North Carolina, drops a metal acorn in honor of its many oak trees. 

  • Atlanta, Georgia, drops a fake peach because Georgia’s nickname is the Peach State. 

  • Boise, Idaho, drops a glowing potato because Idaho grows more potatoes than any other state.

Write to Win

You’re organizing a New Year’s Eve get-together for your neighborhood. What giant object would you drop? What else would your celebration include? Write a short essay about your event. Use details from the infographic—and add your own ideas! Send it to “New Year’s Contest” by February 1, 2023. Five winners will each receive a Storyworks prize. Visit the Storyworks Contests page for more information.

This infographic was originally published in the December 2022/January 2023 issue.

Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (3) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Table of Contents

1. Reading and Discussing 

2. Writing

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central 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 central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central 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 “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic.

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

3. Ideas to Engage and Inspire

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity from Storyworks Digital.

Text-to-Speech