Christmas: A Week of Learning and Celebration

Learner: Brittany

Assumed level: Early elementary; adjust the writing and discussion tasks to suit Brittany’s age.

Materials for the Week

• Paper or a notebook
• Pencils, crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• Scissors and glue
• Construction paper
• Cotton balls, yarn, stickers, or other craft materials
• A small box or bag
• Five small objects to use as story or counting props
• A calendar
• A timer

Day 1: What Is Christmas?

Goal: Brittany will describe Christmas as a holiday celebrated in different ways and identify traditions that may be part of a family celebration.

Lesson Steps

1. Hook—What do you notice? (5 minutes)

   Place a small box or bag on the table. Ask, “What might be inside? What celebrations use decorations, special food, music, or gifts?” Let Brittany share what she already knows about Christmas.

2. Show it—Christmas traditions (10 minutes)

   Explain: “Christmas is celebrated on December 25 by many Christians as a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many people also celebrate Christmas as a family or cultural holiday. Traditions can include decorating, sharing a meal, giving gifts, singing, reading stories, attending religious services, or helping others. Families celebrate in different ways, and some families do not celebrate Christmas.”

   Read these examples aloud and ask Brittany to sort them into something my family does, something I have seen, or something new to me:

   • Decorating a tree
   • Lighting candles
   • Eating a special meal
   • Giving a present
   • Listening to music
   • Reading a story
   • Helping someone
3. Do it together—Tradition web (10 minutes)

   Write Christmas in the center of a sheet of paper. Add branches labeled food, music, decorations, stories, gifts, and helping. Invite Brittany to add one idea to each branch. If a branch does not fit her family, she may write “not part of our celebration.”

4. Do it alone—My Christmas tradition (10 minutes)

   Brittany draws one Christmas tradition she enjoys or would like to learn about. She completes the sentence: “A Christmas tradition is ______.”

5. Recap (5 minutes)

   Ask, “Do all families celebrate Christmas in exactly the same way?” and “What are two different ways people might celebrate?”

Quick Check

Brittany names one Christmas tradition and explains that families may celebrate in different ways.

Day 2: A Christmas Story

Goal: Brittany will identify the characters, setting, beginning, middle, and end of a Christmas story.

Lesson Steps

1. Hook—Mystery objects (5 minutes)

   Place three objects in the bag or box: for example, a small paper star, a piece of yarn, and a pencil. Brittany feels or looks at the objects and predicts how they might fit into a Christmas story.

2. Show it—Read the story (10 minutes)

   Read this story aloud:

   “The Star on the Window”

   Maya wanted to make a Christmas decoration for her family. She cut a large star from yellow paper, but one point tore. Maya felt disappointed. Her brother Leo showed her how to use another piece of paper to repair the star. Together, they added a red ribbon and placed the star in the window. That evening, Maya looked at the shining decoration and smiled. It was not perfect, but it was made with care.

3. Do it together—Story map (10 minutes)

   Complete these questions with Brittany:

   • Who are the characters? Maya and Leo
   • Where does the story happen? At Maya’s home
   • What happens at the beginning? Maya starts making a paper star.
   • What problem happens? One point of the star tears.
   • How is the problem solved? Leo helps Maya repair it.
   • How does the story end? They place the star in the window, and Maya feels happy.
4. Do it alone—Draw the story (10 minutes)

   Brittany draws three boxes labeled Beginning, Middle, and End. She draws one scene in each box and writes one sentence below each picture.

5. Recap (5 minutes)

   Ask Brittany to retell the story using the words first, next, and finally.

Quick Check

Ask, “What was the problem in the story, and how was it solved?” Brittany should explain that the star tore and Leo helped Maya repair it.

Day 3: Christmas Patterns and Counting

Goal: Brittany will identify, continue, and create patterns using Christmas-themed shapes or objects.

Lesson Steps

1. Hook—What comes next? (5 minutes)

   Draw this pattern: star, circle, star, circle, ____. Ask Brittany what comes next and how she knows. Continue with tree, tree, bell, tree, tree, bell, ____.

2. Show it—Build patterns (10 minutes)

   Use paper shapes, stickers, or small objects to make these patterns:

   • Red, green, red, green, ______
   • Star, star, circle, star, star, circle, ______
   • Big tree, small tree, big tree, small tree, ______

   Say the pattern aloud together before choosing what comes next.

3. Do it together—Count and compare (10 minutes)

   Draw or place 12 paper ornaments. Ask Brittany to make groups of 2, 3, 4, and 6. Ask:

   • How many groups of 2 can you make?
   • How many groups of 3 can you make?
   • Which is more: 4 groups of 2 or 2 groups of 4?

   Count together to check each answer.

4. Do it alone—Design a patterned decoration (10 minutes)

   Brittany creates a border or paper chain using at least two colors or shapes. She circles the repeating part of the pattern and explains it aloud.

5. Recap (5 minutes)

   Ask Brittany to create a pattern for you to continue. Make one mistake on purpose and ask her to explain how she knows it is incorrect.

Quick Check

Show Brittany this pattern: bell, star, star, bell, star, star, ____. She should answer bell and explain that the repeating unit is bell, star, star.

Day 4: Giving, Kindness, and Gratitude

Goal: Brittany will identify thoughtful ways to show kindness and write or dictate a message of thanks.

Lesson Steps

1. Hook—A kindness challenge (5 minutes)

   Ask, “What is a gift that does not come in a box?” Accept ideas such as time, help, kind words, a drawing, or sharing.

2. Show it—Read and discuss (10 minutes)

   Read this short situation:

   “Nora noticed that her neighbor was carrying several bags. Nora held the door open and carried one light bag inside. The neighbor thanked her. Nora felt proud because she had helped.”

   Ask, “What did Nora do? How do you think the neighbor felt? How did Nora feel?” Explain that kindness should be safe, respectful, and freely given—not something someone must do to receive a gift.

3. Do it together—Kindness choices (10 minutes)

   Read each situation and ask Brittany to suggest a kind response:

   • A family member is busy preparing food.
   • A friend feels left out of a game.
   • Someone gives you a gift you do not like.
   • A younger child needs help cleaning up.

   Discuss a possible response for each one. For the third situation, model saying, “Thank you for thinking of me.”

4. Do it alone—Thank-you card (15 minutes)

   Brittany makes a card for someone who has helped her. She writes or dictates:

   Dear ______,
   Thank you for ______.
   It made me feel ______.
   From, ______

5. Recap (5 minutes)

   Brittany names one kind action she can do today without spending money.

Quick Check

Ask Brittany to describe one safe, respectful way to show kindness and one reason people say thank you.

Day 5: Christmas Celebration Project

Goal: Brittany will combine the week’s learning by creating and presenting a Christmas tradition project.

Lesson Steps

1. Hook—Plan a celebration (5 minutes)

   Say, “Today you will plan a small Christmas celebration that shows what you learned about traditions, stories, patterns, and kindness.” Ask Brittany what she would include.

2. Show it—Review the week (10 minutes)

   Review these ideas:

   • Families celebrate Christmas in different ways.
   • Stories have characters, settings, problems, and solutions.
   • Patterns repeat in an organized way.
   • Kindness and gratitude can be shown through words and actions.
3. Do it together—Choose the project parts (10 minutes)

   Help Brittany choose one item from each group:

   • Tradition: a decoration, special food, music, story, gift, or helping activity
   • Story: a character, a setting, and a small problem to solve
   • Pattern: a repeating color or shape pattern for the decoration
   • Kindness: a thank-you message or helpful action
4. Do it alone—Create and present (20 minutes)

   Brittany makes a one-page celebration plan or poster. It should include:

   • A title, such as My Christmas Celebration
   • A drawing of a patterned decoration
   • One Christmas tradition
   • A three-sentence story using beginning, middle, and end
   • One kind action or thank-you message

   When finished, Brittany presents the project to you. Ask one follow-up question, such as “Why did you choose that tradition?” or “What repeats in your pattern?”

5. Recap—Celebrate the learning (5 minutes)

   Ask Brittany to complete these sentences:

   • “One thing I learned about Christmas is ______.”
   • “One thing I learned about stories is ______.”
   • “One kind action I can take is ______.”

Quick Check

Use Brittany’s project and presentation to check that she can name a Christmas tradition, describe a story in sequence, explain a repeating pattern, and give an example of kindness or gratitude.