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Materials

Objectives

  • Learn about the origins and evolution of how holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) are celebrated

  • Critically analyze and discuss how and why holidays have become commercialized over time, or focused on spending money

  • Improve English speaking, listening, writing, and comprehension  skills through answering questions and playing educational games

Language Assistant

  • Use my previous knowledge, from my college degree, about social and economical structures that alter society's way of thinking and how we celebrate holidays

  • Conduct my own research about these holidays so I may provide accurate information, and learn things myself

  • Create an engaging lesson plan that students will remember and use to further their own critical analysis

Students

How the LA and teacher will complete this lesson plan

Overall, it is up to the LA to lead and present any information, play any videos, ask questions for discussion, and conduct revision games. Before the LA begins prep, they should sit down with the teacher to ensure they are on the same page. It is also important to discuss if there are some classes that the level of information may need to be lowered for their comprehension.

Role of the LA

The LA will present about the three different holidays and the commercialization of them. By doing so, the LA is expected to do background research and lead the class throughout. After presentations, it is expected of the LA to plan revision activities like the games I have provided.

Role of the Student

The students' main goal is the pay attention to what is being taught with open ears. To think critically about the more complex socio-economic themes, students should also have an open mind and open notebook to take notes. These notes will be useful during the revision games, where they could earn a prize if they win.

Role of the Teacher

While the role of the teacher is lessened in expectation when the LA is leading, it is still important for the teacher to be present and attentive. The teacher should pay attention to see if students are being vocal to questions, or not. If not, encourage them to answer or explain question further, if needed. It is also the teacher's role to evaluate the students' role and how well they did, as instructed by my teachers.

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Day 1

  • Discuss what they already know about how Halloween is celebrated (5 minutes)

  • Halloween presentation about evolution/commercialization (40 minutes)

  • Answer questions regarding what they learned in the presentation (5 minutes)

Day 2

  • Word association when students hear the word "Thanksgiving" (5 minutes)

  • Video of Native Americans doing the same word association (3 minutes)

  • Discuss differences between the words students said and the video (5 minutes)

  • Presentation about the truth behind "Thanksgiving" (32 minutes)

  • Answer questions regarding what they learned in the presentation (5 minutes)

NEXT CLASS: 

  • Discuss what we learned last class (5 minutes)

  • Thanksgiving Jeopardy game (45 minutes)

Day 3

  • Discuss what they already know about how Christmas is celebrated (5 minutes

  • Christmas presentation about traditions (30 minutes)

  • Open debate about statements regarding commercialization (10 minutes)

  • Discussion questions about commercialization of Christmas (5 minutes)

NEXT CLASS: 

  • Discuss what we learned last class (5 minutes)

  • Christmas Jeopardy game (45 minutes)

Approach

This activity centers around taking a topic that is sometimes mundane when being presented in the same way over and over again, and focusing on a certain socio-economic feature of this topic to spark interest in students. This activity's main mode of instruction is through powerpoint presentations. However, these presentations are not filled with words and being read word-for-word off the slides. Instead, the presentation is comprised of educational, thought-provoking videos, guiding discussion questions, interesting imagery, and historical retellings. Following these presentations, students are tasked to answer questions regarding what they learned; to encourage note-taking. By breaking most of the holiday lessons into two teaching days, it allows for students to revisit what they learned which leads to greater recall and knowledge. Finally, while they are given material to them about these holidays in a presentation format, they are still expected to speak for a great portion of the class. Some classes may need further explanation or rephrasing of certain concepts, for which the teacher can assist.

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This lesson plan is well-thought-out enough to be applicable to students with different learning needs. For example, this plan includes stimulants for visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing preferred learners. This is shown in the powerpoint presentations, the playing of videos and me speaking, the playing of educational games, and the review questions at the end. Also, with the help of the teacher for any clarification, this lesson plan is easily adaptable to the varying levels of English comprehension.

Evaluation

In my case, my teachers have prefaced that they are to do the evaluations and grading for this lesson plan. I believe this is so I can focus on presenting and engaging with students. It also helps because the teacher can be in the back, unnoticed, while they mark for participation. But if I did it, it would be obvious and take-up class time.

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But, it should be expected that the LA and teacher will meet prior to discuss how the students should be evaluated. With this lesson plan, students' participation and measure of success could come from: how much they speak in response to prompts by the LA or teacher, the quality of their written work in reflections or answers to questions, and their attentiveness and hard work during the revision games.

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