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Beyond the Baubles: What's Your Holiday Legacy?

Lesson Plan

Holiday Legacy

Students will reflect on the cultural and personal significance of winter holidays, moving beyond commercial aspects, and connect traditions to their own values and potential future impact.

Understanding the deeper meaning behind traditions fosters critical thinking, self-awareness, and appreciation for cultural diversity. This lesson helps students develop a more thoughtful perspective on celebrations.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

60-75 minutes

Approach

Through discussion, reflection, and creative expression, students will explore holiday traditions.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Reflecting on Holiday Legacies Slide Deck, Warm-Up: Holiday Word Association, Tradition Reflection Journal, Discussion Guide: Beyond the Baubles, and Cool-Down: My Legacy Seed

Prep

Teacher Preparation

20 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up (10 minutes)

10 minutes

Step 2

Exploring Holiday Significance (15 minutes)

15 minutes

Step 3

Personal Reflection: Tradition Journal (20 minutes)

20 minutes

  • Distribute the Tradition Reflection Journal to each student.
    - Guide students through the journal prompts, encouraging them to think critically about their own traditions, values, and how holidays shape their identity.
    - Circulate around the room to provide support and answer questions.

Step 4

Group Discussion & Sharing (15 minutes)

15 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
    - Instruct groups to discuss their reflections, focusing on common themes and unique perspectives (use prompts from the Discussion Guide: Beyond the Baubles for structured conversation).
    - Bring the class back together for a brief whole-group share-out of key insights or interesting traditions.

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Cool-Down (5-10 minutes)

5-10 minutes

  • Conclude the lesson with the Cool-Down: My Legacy Seed activity, prompting students to consider how their actions today contribute to future legacies.
    - Reiterate the importance of reflecting on the deeper meaning of traditions.
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Slide Deck

Beyond the Baubles: What's Your Holiday Legacy?

Today, we'll explore the deeper meaning of holidays and their lasting impact. Get ready to reflect!

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic. Encourage an open mind as we explore beyond the typical holiday narratives.

Holidays: More Than Just Gifts?

What are the first things that come to mind when you hear 'holidays'?

  • Is it just about presents and festive decorations?
  • What else makes a holiday special?

Lead a brief discussion about what comes to mind when students think of holidays. Guide them to consider more than just gifts and decorations.

Cultural Significance

Many holiday traditions are deeply rooted in culture.

  • They connect us to history, community, and shared values.
  • Think about the stories, foods, songs, and customs passed down through generations.

Explain the concept of cultural significance. Provide examples if needed (e.g., Diwali lights, Kwanzaa principles, Hanukkah menorah, Christmas trees).

Personal Significance

Holidays also hold personal meaning.

  • They create memories, strengthen bonds, and shape our identities.
  • What feelings, lessons, or values do holidays bring to your life?

Shift to personal significance. Encourage students to think about how holidays affect them individually and their families.

Your Holiday Legacy

A legacy is what you leave behind – an impact, a tradition, a memory.

  • How do the holidays you celebrate now shape who you are?
  • What kind of holiday legacy do you want to create for the future?

Introduce the idea of a 'holiday legacy' - the lasting impact. Explain that students will be reflecting on this further in their journals.

Time to Reflect!

You'll now have time to explore these ideas in your Tradition Reflection Journal.

  • Think deeply about the prompts.
  • Connect your experiences to broader themes.

Explain the journal activity. Emphasize thoughtful, personal reflection.

Share Your Reflections

In small groups, you'll discuss your insights.

  • What surprised you?
  • What common themes emerged?
  • Be ready to share one key takeaway with the class.

Explain the group discussion. Encourage respectful sharing and active listening.

Leaving Your Mark

We'll wrap up by thinking about the 'seeds' of your legacy.

  • How can your actions today shape the holidays of tomorrow?

Introduce the cool-down activity, linking it back to the idea of legacy.

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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Holiday Word Association

Instructions: When you hear the word "holiday," what are the first five words or phrases that come to mind? Write them down below.
















Think about: Are these words mostly about things you get, things you do, or feelings you experience? We'll discuss this as a class.

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Journal

Tradition Reflection Journal

Section 1: My Holiday Landscape

  1. Describe a favorite holiday tradition you celebrate. What happens? Who is involved?










  2. What emotions or feelings do you associate with this tradition?





  3. Where do you think this tradition came from (e.g., family history, cultural background, personal choice)?





Section 2: Beyond the Baubles

  1. Think about the meaning behind your favorite tradition. Is it about family, generosity, resilience, faith, community, or something else? Explain.











  2. How does celebrating this tradition connect you to something larger than yourself (e.g., your family history, your community, your culture)?





  3. Do you participate in any holiday traditions that you feel are mostly about commercialism or getting things? How do you feel about those?





Section 3: Crafting My Legacy

  1. A "legacy" is what you leave behind – an impact, a tradition, a memory. What kind of holiday legacy do you want to create for yourself and others in the future?











  2. What is one small thing you could do this holiday season to focus more on the deeper meaning and less on commercial aspects?





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Discussion

Discussion Guide: Beyond the Baubles

Part 1: Initial Thoughts (Whole Class / Opening)

  • Based on our warm-up, what were some common words or feelings that came up when you thought about holidays? Were there any surprises?
  • Can anyone share a quick example of a holiday tradition that has deep cultural roots for them or their family?
  • What about a tradition that holds significant personal meaning? What makes it personal?

Part 2: Small Group Reflections (After Journal Activity)

Instructions: In your small groups, discuss the following questions. Appoint one person to be the note-taker and one to be the presenter for the whole-class share-out.

  1. Looking at your Tradition Reflection Journal, what was the most interesting or surprising thing you learned about your own holiday traditions?





  2. Can you identify any common themes or values that emerged across your group members' favorite traditions (e.g., family time, giving, remembrance, gratitude)?





  3. How do the traditions you discussed contribute to your sense of identity or belonging?





  4. Based on your reflections, how might you define a "holiday legacy" in your own words?





  5. What is one way you could intentionally contribute to a positive holiday legacy this year, moving beyond commercial aspects?





Part 3: Whole Class Share-Out / Closing

  • What was one key takeaway from your group discussion?
  • How can we carry the spirit of
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Cool Down

Cool-Down: My Legacy Seed

Instructions: Imagine your holiday legacy is like a garden you are planting. What "seed" (one action, one value, one intention) will you plant this holiday season to grow a meaningful legacy?










Bonus: How might this "seed" blossom over time?

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Beyond the Baubles: What's Your Holiday Legacy? • Lenny Learning