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Holiday Harmony Hub

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Lesson Plan

Holiday Harmony Hub Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify common emotional challenges during the holiday season, articulate their feelings and needs, and practice coping strategies to maintain their well-being.

The holiday season, while joyful, can also bring significant stress and emotional complexity. This lesson provides students with essential social-emotional skills to navigate these challenges, fostering self-awareness, communication, and resilience during a potentially overwhelming time.

Audience

5th-8th Grade Students

Time

60-75 minutes

Approach

Through guided discussion, reflective journaling, and a practical activity.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Holiday Harmony Hub Slide Deck, Holiday Feelings Journal, Harmony Habits Activity Cards, and Holiday Discussion Prompts

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Holiday Headlines

10 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Holiday Harmony Hub Slide Deck which asks: "What's your holiday headline?"
    * Ask students to think of one word or a short phrase that describes how they feel about the upcoming holidays. It could be excited, stressed, happy, busy, etc.
    * Have students share their "holiday headline" with a partner or in a quick whip-around. Briefly discuss common themes.

Step 2

Introduction: Beyond the Merry & Bright

5 minutes

  • Use the Holiday Harmony Hub Slide Deck to introduce the lesson's objective.
    * Explain that while holidays are often seen as a time of joy, they can also bring up a lot of different feelings and challenges. Acknowledge that all feelings are valid.
    * Introduce the idea of developing a "Harmony Hub" – a set of tools and strategies for managing holiday emotions.

Step 3

Explore: Feelings & Family Dynamics

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Holiday Feelings Journal.
    * Guide students through the journal prompts, encouraging them to reflect on expectations, family traditions, and potential stressors.
    * After initial journaling, facilitate a brief whole-class or small-group discussion using the Holiday Discussion Prompts, focusing on respectful sharing and active listening. Emphasize that students only share what they are comfortable with.

Step 4

Strategize: Harmony Habits Activity

20 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups or pairs.
    * Distribute the Harmony Habits Activity Cards. Each card will present a common holiday challenge (e.g.,
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Slide Deck

What's Your Holiday Headline?

One word. One phrase. How do you feel about the holidays right now?

Welcome students and set a positive, reflective tone. Explain that we'll be discussing how holidays can bring up many different feelings.

Beyond the Merry & Bright

Objective:

Identify emotional challenges, articulate feelings, and practice coping strategies for holiday well-being.

Holidays can be wonderful, but also… complicated!

It's okay to feel all the feelings!

Introduce the objective of the lesson. Emphasize that it's okay to feel a mix of emotions during the holidays.

Your Holiday Feelings Journal

Time to reflect!

  • What are your expectations for the holidays?
  • What traditions are important to you?
  • What might be some challenging parts?

We'll discuss some of these reflections after you write.

Explain the purpose of the journal and discussion. Encourage honest, self-reflection and remind students of respectful sharing guidelines.

Harmony Habits: Your Holiday Toolkit

Let's build some strategies!

Work with your group to brainstorm solutions for common holiday challenges. How can you find harmony amidst the hustle?

Introduce the activity. Explain that students will be working with scenarios to come up with practical solutions for common holiday challenges.

Your Harmony Hub

Remember, the holidays are about finding your balance.

  • Acknowledge your feelings.
  • Communicate your needs.
  • Practice self-care.

Happy (and harmonious) Holidays!

Conclude the lesson by summarizing the importance of self-care and communication during the holidays. Encourage students to use the strategies they discussed.

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Activity

Harmony Habits Activity Cards

Instructions: In your groups, read each scenario. Discuss how the person might be feeling and brainstorm 2-3

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Journal

Holiday Feelings Journal

Instructions: Take some time to reflect on the prompts below. There are no right or wrong answers – this is for you to explore your own feelings about the holiday season.

Part 1: Expectations & Traditions

  1. What are you most looking forward to during the upcoming holidays?





  2. What traditions are important to you and your family? How do these traditions make you feel?










  3. Are there any expectations (from yourself, family, or friends) that feel overwhelming or stressful?





Part 2: Challenges & Emotions

  1. Describe a time during the holidays when you felt a strong emotion (happy, sad, frustrated, excited, anxious). What happened?











  2. Sometimes, family gatherings can be tricky. What are some potential challenges you might face when spending time with family?





  3. Gift-giving can sometimes create pressure. Have you ever felt pressure around giving or receiving gifts? How did that make you feel?





Part 3: Personal Harmony

  1. What is one thing you can do for yourself during the holidays to help manage stress or overwhelming feelings?





  2. Who is someone you can talk to if you need support or are feeling down during the holidays?





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Discussion

Holiday Discussion Prompts

Instructions: After reflecting in your journals, we will discuss some of these topics as a class or in small groups. Remember to listen respectfully to others and only share what you are comfortable with.

Opening the Discussion:

  • What was one surprising feeling or thought that came up for you while journaling?


  • Did anyone write about an expectation that feels a bit heavy? How might we manage those expectations?


Exploring Challenges:

  • When we think about family gatherings, what are some of the positive aspects? What are some things that can make them challenging? How can we prepare for those challenges?





  • The media often shows perfect holidays. How does this compare to your real-life experiences? How can we deal with those differences?





  • What are some creative ways to show appreciation for others that don't involve expensive gifts?




Building Harmony:

  • What are some specific things you can do to take care of yourself if you start to feel overwhelmed during the holidays?





  • How can you communicate your needs or feelings to family members or friends in a respectful way?





  • What does a
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Holiday Harmony Hub • Lenny Learning