My Holiday Wish List Lesson Plan
Created by Meghan Montgomery, 3LPlace, December 2016
Applies to: Relationships, Self Awareness, Social Awareness.
Purpose: Help individuals deal with the stress of holiday gift-giving and gift-getting and recognize that this experience is different for everyone, based on their own friend, family, and financial systems
Objective:
- Explore the value and meaning of a wish list item
- Create holiday wish lists
- Mail wish lists to a beloved person (for example, a family or dear friend) to alert them to individuals’ holiday wish list
Materials needed:
- Paper
- Family or friends address
- Envelopes
- Pens/pencils/markers, etc.
- Stamps
- Graphic organizer
- iPad/laptop
- Copier
Activity Steps
Part 1 - Idea of Gift-Giving/Getting and Creating a Wishlist
- Discuss with members what gift-giving/getting means to them personally. For example: how do you choose a present for a person? Do you like to go Christmas/holiday shopping? What does it feel like to receive a present? How do you feel when you receive a present you don’t like? How do you feel if someone tells you that they didn’t like the present you gave them?
- Create own wishlist for the holidays of 3 desired items
Part 2 - Value and Meaning of Wishlist Item
- Ask members to read their 3 part dream holiday wish list aloud followed by isolating their prioritized item.
- Use graphic organizers to dig deeper into the meaning, practicality, value, etc., of the item selected. Fill out graphic organizers with relevant input.
- Once complete, share as a group with staff modeling and encouraging relevant questions and comments.
Part 3 - Mailing Wishlist
- Review wish list and isolate one person to mail the wish list too
- Write a short letter to the person, stapling wish list to the letter, followed by addressing envelope (“To” and “From”) and putting a stamp on the envelope
- Walk to a mailbox or the Post Office to mail letter/s
Note: Not everyone benefits from the generosity shared around the holiday season by strong family systems. Be alert to individual backgrounds and triggers in conducting this activity.