Lesson Plan
Invent Your Own Holiday
Students will analyze existing holidays, identify common elements, and apply this understanding to create and present their own unique holiday, including its purpose, traditions, and symbols.
Understanding the creation and cultural significance of holidays helps students appreciate diversity, critically analyze societal structures, and express their creativity by building something new and meaningful.
Audience
Middle School Students
Time
2-3 sessions (45-60 minutes each)
Approach
Analyze, Design, Present
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, The Art of Celebration Design Slide Deck, Markers/pens, Paper or digital drawing tools, My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide, Holiday Design Rubric, and Holiday Pitch Presentation Activity
Prep
Teacher Preparation
30 minutes
- Review all generated materials: Invent Your Own Holiday Lesson Plan, The Art of Celebration Design Slide Deck, My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide, Holiday Design Rubric, and Holiday Pitch Presentation Activity. Adjust as needed to fit your classroom context and student needs.
- Prepare whiteboard or projector for displaying slides.
- Gather any art supplies if students will be creating physical representations of their holiday elements.
- Make copies of the My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide and Holiday Design Rubric for each student, or prepare for digital distribution.
Step 1
Introduction: What Makes a Holiday?
15 minutes
- Display the first slide of The Art of Celebration Design Slide Deck (Slide 1: "Can a Holiday Be Invented?").
- Ask students: "What is a holiday? What are some holidays you celebrate or know about?"
- Facilitate a brief class discussion, writing down key characteristics on the board (e.g., special days, traditions, food, symbols, purpose, community).
- Introduce the lesson objective: Today, we're going to explore what makes a holiday a holiday and then you'll get to invent your very own!
Step 2
Exploring Holiday Elements
20 minutes
- Present Slides 2-5 of The Art of Celebration Design Slide Deck, discussing different aspects of holidays: purpose, traditions, symbols, and community.
- For each slide, ask students to provide examples from existing holidays.
- Guide a short discussion on how these elements work together to create a meaningful celebration.
Step 3
Introducing the Holiday Design Project
10 minutes
- Introduce the main project using My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide.
- Explain that students will invent their own holiday, detailing its purpose, traditions, symbols, and how it would be celebrated.
- Distribute or share the My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide and review the expectations and due dates.
- Show and discuss the Holiday Design Rubric so students understand how their projects will be assessed.
Step 4
Brainstorming and Design (Session 1 Remainder & Session 2)
60-90 minutes
- Students begin brainstorming ideas for their holiday. Encourage them to think about:
- What is the holiday called?
- What is its purpose or meaning?
- What traditions will be involved (food, activities, songs, stories)?
- What symbols represent it?
- When will it be celebrated and by whom?
- Provide time for students to work on their My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide.
- Circulate to offer guidance, answer questions, and encourage creative thinking. Consider having students share initial ideas with a partner for feedback.
Step 5
Developing the Holiday Pitch (Session 2 Remainder & Session 3 Prep)
30 minutes
- Explain that students will be 'pitching' their holiday to the class.
- Introduce the Holiday Pitch Presentation Activity and discuss what makes a good presentation.
- Students should prepare a short presentation (2-3 minutes) to explain their holiday, convince others of its importance, and describe its key elements.
Step 6
Holiday Pitch Presentations (Session 3)
45-60 minutes
- Students present their invented holidays to the class using the guidelines in the Holiday Pitch Presentation Activity.
- Encourage active listening and respectful questions from the audience.
- After each presentation, facilitate a brief class discussion or allow peers to provide positive feedback.
- Collect My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide and use the Holiday Design Rubric for assessment.
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Slide Deck
Can a Holiday Be Invented?
Discovering the Magic Behind Our Celebrations
- What makes a special day truly special?
- Could YOU create a holiday that everyone would want to celebrate?
Welcome students and pose the central question to spark curiosity. Ask them to think about what makes a holiday, a holiday. Encourage initial thoughts and ideas before moving on.
What Makes a Holiday?
Beyond Just a Day Off!
Every holiday usually has:
- A Clear Purpose: Why does it exist?
- Unique Traditions: Special ways we celebrate.
- Meaningful Symbols: Objects or images that represent it.
- A Sense of Community: Who celebrates it, and how does it bring people together?
Guide students to define what a holiday is. Prompt them to consider the essential ingredients beyond just a day off. Encourage them to brainstorm elements like purpose, traditions, symbols, and community. This slide is a foundational brainstorming point.
1. The Purpose: Why Do We Celebrate?
Every Holiday Has a Reason!
- To Remember: Honoring history or important people.
- To Give Thanks: Showing gratitude for blessings.
- To Celebrate: Marking achievements, seasons, or new beginnings.
- To Reflect: Taking time for personal growth or contemplation.
What are some holidays you know, and what is their purpose?
Discuss the 'why' behind holidays. Ask students to share examples of holidays and their underlying purposes. For instance, Thanksgiving (gratitude), Memorial Day (remembrance), New Year's Day (new beginnings). Emphasize that a holiday needs a reason to exist.
2. The Traditions: How Do We Celebrate?
Rituals That Make It Special!
Traditions are the specific actions, customs, or rituals that people do to celebrate a holiday.
- Special Foods: Holiday meals, treats, or drinks.
- Activities: Parades, games, gift-giving, specific gatherings.
- Music & Stories: Songs, carols, or tales passed down.
- Decorations: Specific items used to adorn homes or public spaces.
What are some traditions from your favorite holidays?
Focus on traditions. Ask students about their own family or cultural traditions for different holidays. Highlight how traditions create shared experiences and strengthen bonds. Examples: special foods, activities, songs, stories, decorations.
3. The Symbols: What Represents It?
Images That Speak Volumes!
Symbols are objects, images, or colors that have a special meaning related to the holiday.
- Visual Cues: A specific animal, plant, or object.
- Colors: Certain colors associated with the holiday.
- Emblems: Flags, banners, or special insignias.
Can you think of symbols for different holidays? What do they represent?
Explore the visual and abstract representations of holidays. Discuss how symbols help convey the meaning of a holiday quickly and powerfully. Examples: Christmas tree, menorah, flag, shamrock, jack-o'-lantern. Encourage students to think about what their holiday might look like visually.
4. The Community: Who Celebrates?
Sharing the Joy!
Holidays often connect people and build a sense of community.
- Family & Friends: Gatherings with loved ones.
- Local Community: Town events, festivals, parades.
- National & Global: Celebrations across a country or even the world.
How do holidays bring people together?
Emphasize the social aspect of holidays. Discuss how holidays often bring people together and foster a sense of belonging. Who participates? How do they participate? This helps students consider the audience and impact of their invented holiday.
Your Turn: Invent a Holiday!
Unleash Your Creativity!
Now it's your chance to invent a brand new holiday!
Think about:
- What will your holiday be called?
- What is its purpose?
- What unique traditions will people follow?
- What symbols will represent it?
- Who will celebrate it, and how?
Introduce the project. Explain that students will combine all these elements to create their own holiday. Preview the project guide and rubric to set expectations.
Project Guide
My Original Holiday Blueprint
Invent Your Own Celebration!
It's time to unleash your creativity and design a brand-new holiday! Think about all the elements we've discussed: purpose, traditions, symbols, and community. Use this blueprint to plan out every detail of your unique celebration.
1. Holiday Name
What is your holiday called? Make it memorable and meaningful!
2. Purpose of Your Holiday
Why does this holiday exist? What is its central meaning or reason for being?
(e.g., to celebrate kindness, to remember a historical event, to appreciate nature)
3. Date and Duration
When is your holiday celebrated? Is it a single day, a week, or something else? Why did you choose this time?
4. Traditions and Activities
What special things do people do to celebrate your holiday? Be specific!
(e.g., special foods, games, songs, gift-giving, gatherings, specific decorations, parades, stories)
5. Symbols and Imagery
What visual elements represent your holiday? Draw or describe them! What colors are associated with it?
(e.g., a specific animal, object, plant, color scheme, emblem, flag)
6. Community and Participants
Who celebrates this holiday? Is it for families, schools, a whole town, a country, or even the world? How do people participate and come together?
7. Impact and Significance
What message or feeling does your holiday aim to spread? How will it make people feel or what will it encourage them to do?
8. My Holiday Sketch/Design (Optional)
Use this space to sketch a symbol, a scene from your celebration, or any other visual representation of your holiday. Feel free to use a separate sheet of paper if you need more space!
Rubric
Holiday Design Rubric
This rubric will be used to assess your My Original Holiday Blueprint and your Holiday Pitch Presentation.
| Criteria | 4 - Excellent | 3 - Good | 2 - Developing | 1 - Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Name | Name is highly original, creative, and clearly reflects the holiday's essence. | Name is creative and generally reflects the holiday's essence. | Name is somewhat creative but lacks strong connection to the holiday's essence. | Name is generic or does not reflect the holiday's essence. |
| Purpose & Meaning | Holiday has a clear, profound, and unique purpose; its significance is well-articulated. | Holiday has a clear purpose; its significance is mostly clear. | Holiday's purpose is somewhat vague or not fully developed. | Holiday lacks a clear purpose or its meaning is unclear. |
| Traditions & Activities | Traditions are highly creative, detailed, and directly support the holiday's purpose and community. | Traditions are creative and generally support the holiday's purpose and community. | Traditions are present but lack detail or strong connection to the holiday. | Traditions are minimal, unoriginal, or do not relate to the holiday's purpose. |
| Symbols & Imagery | Symbols are original, visually compelling, and deeply meaningful to the holiday's essence. | Symbols are appropriate and generally meaningful to the holiday. | Symbols are present but could be more creative or clearly linked to the holiday. | Symbols are generic, missing, or do not clearly relate to the holiday. |
| Community & Engagement | Clearly defines how the holiday fosters strong community, includes diverse participation, and benefits others. | Defines how the holiday fosters community and includes participation. | Somewhat defines community involvement, but lacks depth or specific examples. | Community aspect is unclear, minimal, or not considered. |
| Presentation Quality | Presentation is engaging, clear, well-organized, and confidently delivered. Communicates all elements effectively. | Presentation is clear, organized, and delivered with some confidence. | Presentation is somewhat unclear or disorganized; delivery needs improvement. | Presentation is difficult to follow, unorganized, or not delivered effectively. |
Activity
Holiday Pitch Presentation
Convince Us Your Holiday Should Exist!
Now that you've designed your incredible new holiday with your My Original Holiday Blueprint Project Guide, it's time to convince your classmates (and me!) that it's a celebration worth adopting! You will deliver a short, persuasive presentation to showcase your holiday.
Your Mission:
Create a compelling 2-3 minute presentation that introduces your invented holiday and highlights its most exciting and meaningful aspects. Think of yourself as a holiday ambassador!
What to Include in Your Pitch:
- Catchy Introduction: Start with something that grabs our attention and makes us curious about your holiday!
- Holiday Name: Clearly state the name of your new holiday.
- **The Big