Lesson Plan
Holidays & Happy Hearts
Students will identify different holidays and express feelings associated with them, understanding how celebrations connect to our social-emotional well-being.
Understanding holidays helps children recognize diverse traditions, develop empathy, and articulate their own feelings, fostering a sense of belonging and emotional literacy.
Audience
Middle-of-the-year Preschoolers
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive story and discussion
Materials
Small Holiday Objects/Pictures (e.g., small gift, menorah, kinara, festive decoration), Holiday Feelings Warm-Up, The Feelings Holiday Story Reading, Holidays & Feelings Script, and My Holiday Heart Cool-Down
Prep
Gather Materials & Review Content
10 minutes
- Gather small, diverse holiday objects or pictures that represent various celebrations (e.g., a small gift, a picture of a menorah, a kinara, a festive ornament).
* Review the Holiday Feelings Warm-Up activity.
* Familiarize yourself with The Feelings Holiday Story Reading and prepare to read it expressively.
* Read through the Holidays & Feelings Script to understand the flow and key discussion points.
* Review the My Holiday Heart Cool-Down activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Holiday Feelings Share
3 minutes
Begin with the Holiday Feelings Warm-Up. Ask students to share a feeling a holiday brings them, using facial expressions or words. Briefly show a few diverse holiday objects/pictures and ask what feelings they might bring.
Step 2
Reading: The Feelings Holiday Story
7 minutes
Read The Feelings Holiday Story Reading aloud. Pause to ask simple questions about the characters' feelings and actions, as guided by the Holidays & Feelings Script. Encourage students to share if they have similar feelings during holidays.
Step 3
Discussion: Why Holidays Feel Special
3 minutes
Facilitate a short discussion using prompts from the Holidays & Feelings Script. Ask students: "Why do holidays make us feel special?" "How do we share our feelings with others during holidays?" Emphasize that holidays are about celebrating and sharing feelings with people we care about.
Step 4
Cool-Down: My Holiday Heart
2 minutes
Conclude with the My Holiday Heart Cool-Down. Ask students to draw or verbally share one feeling they have about a holiday they love.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Warm Up
Holiday Feelings Warm-Up
- Teacher: Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to talk about special times called holidays and how they make us feel inside. Look at my face! How do you think I feel when I think about a holiday I love? (Make a happy, excited face).
- Now, I want each of you to show me with your face, or tell me with your words, one feeling you have when you think about a holiday. Do holidays make you feel happy? Excited? Cozy? Peaceful?
- (Allow each child to share a feeling or expression. Provide examples if needed:
Reading
The Feelings Holiday Story
Once upon a time, in a cozy little town, lived a group of friends: Lily, Sam, and Maya. As the days grew shorter and the air got crisp, the town started to sparkle with holiday cheer.
Lily loved the feeling of excitement when her family lit candles for their special holiday. Each flame made her feel warm and happy inside.
Script
Holidays & Feelings Script
Warm-Up: Holiday Feelings Share (3 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to talk about special times called holidays and how they make us feel inside. Look at my face! How do you think I feel when I think about a holiday I love? (Make a happy, excited face)."
Teacher: "Now, I want each of you to show me with your face, or tell me with your words, one feeling you have when you think about a holiday. Do holidays make you feel happy? Excited? Cozy? Peaceful? (Encourage all students to share. Provide simple sentence starters like 'Holidays make me feel...')"
(Hold up a few diverse holiday objects/pictures one by one.)
Teacher: "What about this? What feelings do you think this might bring to someone during their holiday?" (Allow quick responses, linking objects to feelings).
Reading: The Feelings Holiday Story (7 minutes)
Teacher: "That was wonderful! Now, I have a special story about some friends who also have feelings about holidays. Listen closely! (Begin reading The Feelings Holiday Story Reading)."
(As you read, pause at key moments for interaction as noted below):
- After Lily's part (excitement/warmth): "Lily feels excited and warm when she lights candles. Has anyone felt warm and happy during a special time?"
- After Sam's part (joy/togetherness): "Sam felt so much joy when he helped make cookies! Who loves to help their family during holidays? How does that make you feel?"
- After Maya's part (peace/gratitude): "Maya felt peaceful and thankful watching the snow fall. What makes you feel peaceful or thankful?"
Discussion: Why Holidays Feel Special (3 minutes)
Teacher: "Our story friends had many feelings about their holidays! Why do you think holidays make us feel special?" (Guide answers towards connection, family, giving, and traditions).
Teacher: "How do we share our feelings with others during holidays? What are some kind things we can do or say?" (Encourage ideas like sharing toys, giving hugs, saying 'I love you', helping family).
Teacher: "That's right! Holidays are not just about gifts or food, they are about celebrating and sharing our happy, excited, peaceful, and thankful feelings with the people we care about!"
Cool-Down: My Holiday Heart (2 minutes)
Teacher: "For our cool-down, we're going to think about one feeling we have about a holiday we love. You can draw it on your paper or tell me about it. How does that holiday make your heart feel?" (Prepare for My Holiday Heart Cool-Down).
Cool Down
My Holiday Heart Cool-Down
- Teacher: We talked about so many wonderful feelings and holidays today. Now, I want you to take a moment and think about one special holiday that you love. How does that holiday make your heart feel? Does it make your heart feel happy, warm, excited, or peaceful?
- On your paper, you can draw a picture of that feeling, or draw something from the holiday that makes you feel that way. If you like, you can also tell me about it in words.