Holiday Decorations for Assisted Living
Created byShelby Bartilotti
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Holiday Decorations for Assisted Living

Grade 2Other1 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
Second-grade students design and create holiday decorations for a local assisted living facility, focusing on safety, joy, and cost-effectiveness. The project involves brainstorming decoration ideas, repurposing inexpensive materials, and collaborating in teams to mass-produce the decorations. Students reflect on their service's impact and write thank-you notes to the residents, fostering empathy and understanding of senior citizens' needs.
Holiday DecorationsAssisted LivingSecond GradeCollaborationReflectionEmpathy
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design and create inexpensive, safe, and joyful holiday decorations to brighten the lives of residents at the local assisted living facility?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How can we spread joy to others during the holidays?
  • What types of decorations are appropriate and safe for an assisted living facility?
  • How can we create decorations using inexpensive materials?
  • How can we work together to make a large number of decorations?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will design and create holiday decorations appropriate for an assisted living facility.
  • Students will learn about the needs and preferences of senior citizens.
  • Students will practice collaboration and teamwork skills.
  • Students will learn to create decorations using inexpensive and safe materials.
  • Students will reflect on the impact of their service on the residents of the assisted living facility.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Mystery Decorator Challenge

A local assisted living director presents a 'design emergency': their facility is utterly bare for the holidays! Students become 'emergency decorators,' tasked with creating festive cheer on a tiny budget, sparking immediate problem-solving and empathy.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Material Treasure Hunt

Students explore inexpensive and readily available materials for creating decorations. They repurpose items and find creative uses for everyday materials.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Bring in recyclable materials from home (paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, etc.)
2. Examine the materials and discuss how they could be used to create decorations.
3. Create a materials list for each decoration project.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed list of materials needed for each decoration project, focusing on inexpensive and recycled options.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goals: create decorations using inexpensive materials.
Activity 2

Decoration Design Challenge

Students individually design their chosen decoration, sketching and planning the steps for creation.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Each student chooses a decoration project from the class list.
2. Sketch the decoration and list the steps required to create it.
3. Share designs with a partner for feedback on feasibility and safety.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityIndividual design sketches with step-by-step instructions for creating the chosen decoration.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goals: design holiday decorations.
Activity 3

Production Line Party

Students work together in small groups to create the decorations. They practice teamwork and problem-solving as they mass-produce decorations for the assisted living facility.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Divide the class into small groups, each responsible for a specific decoration project.
2. Work together to create multiple decorations, following the design sketches.
3. Troubleshoot any issues that arise during the production process as a team.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of handmade holiday decorations, created collaboratively by the students.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goals: practice collaboration and teamwork skills.
Activity 4

Delivery Day Reflections

After delivering the decorations, students reflect on the impact of their service.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Discuss the experience of creating and delivering the decorations.
2. Write a thank you note to the assisted living residents.
3. Share feelings and observations about the project’s impact.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA written reflection on the impact of their service, along with a thank you note to the residents.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goals: reflect on the impact of their service on the residents.
Activity 5

'Cheer Creation Brainstorm

Students brainstorm holiday decorations that are appropriate, safe, and joyful for residents. They consider color, size, and material.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Discuss what makes a decoration 'joyful' and 'safe' for elderly residents.
2. Brainstorm decoration ideas as a class. (e.g., paper snowflakes, beaded ornaments, etc.)
3. Create a list of possible decoration projects.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA class-generated list of potential holiday decoration projects with notes on safety and appropriateness.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goals: design appropriate decorations, learn about the needs of senior citizens.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Holiday Decorations for Assisted Living Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Decoration Design & Appropriateness

Assesses the quality and appropriateness of the decoration designs for an assisted living environment.
Criterion 1

Design Creativity & Feasibility

Evaluates the originality, practicality, and feasibility of the decoration design.

Exemplary
4 Points

Design is highly original, creative, and demonstrates exceptional feasibility for the assisted living environment. The design thoughtfully considers the residents' needs and preferences.

Proficient
3 Points

Design is creative and feasible, showing a good understanding of the assisted living environment. The design considers the residents' needs and preferences.

Developing
2 Points

Design shows some creativity and feasibility, but may have limitations in terms of practicality or appropriateness for the assisted living environment. The design shows some consideration of the residents' needs and preferences.

Beginning
1 Points

Design lacks creativity and feasibility, and/or is inappropriate for the assisted living environment. The design does not adequately consider the residents' needs and preferences.

Criterion 2

Safety & Appropriateness

Evaluates the safety and appropriateness of the decorations considering the residents' needs.

Exemplary
4 Points

Decoration is exceptionally safe and appropriate for elderly residents, demonstrating a deep understanding of their physical and cognitive needs.

Proficient
3 Points

Decoration is safe and appropriate for elderly residents, showing a clear understanding of their needs.

Developing
2 Points

Decoration is mostly safe and appropriate, but may have minor issues related to the residents' needs.

Beginning
1 Points

Decoration is unsafe or inappropriate for elderly residents, showing a lack of understanding of their needs.

Category 2

Material Use & Cost-Effectiveness

Assesses the selection and effective use of materials, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and resourcefulness.
Criterion 1

Resourcefulness

Evaluates the ability to find and creatively repurpose materials.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional resourcefulness by creatively repurposing a wide variety of materials in innovative ways.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates resourcefulness by repurposing materials effectively and creatively.

Developing
2 Points

Shows some resourcefulness in repurposing materials, but with limited creativity.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows little to no resourcefulness in repurposing materials.

Criterion 2

Cost-Effectiveness

Evaluates how well the project minimizes expenses.

Exemplary
4 Points

Materials used were exceptionally inexpensive and readily available, demonstrating excellent cost-effectiveness.

Proficient
3 Points

Materials used were inexpensive and readily available, demonstrating good cost-effectiveness.

Developing
2 Points

Materials used were somewhat inexpensive, but cost-effectiveness could be improved.

Beginning
1 Points

Materials used were not inexpensive and readily available, demonstrating poor cost-effectiveness.

Category 3

Collaboration & Teamwork

Assesses students' ability to work effectively in a team to produce decorations.
Criterion 1

Teamwork & Participation

Evaluates the active participation and contribution of each student to their team.

Exemplary
4 Points

Actively and enthusiastically contributes to the team, demonstrating leadership and fostering a positive collaborative environment.

Proficient
3 Points

Contributes effectively to the team, participating actively in discussions and tasks.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in the team but may require prompting or guidance.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows limited participation in the team and requires significant support.

Criterion 2

Problem-Solving

Evaluates the ability to solve issues as a team.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional problem-solving skills, proactively identifying and resolving challenges effectively and efficiently within the team.

Proficient
3 Points

Effectively contributes to problem-solving within the team, helping to overcome challenges.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in problem-solving with some guidance from peers or the teacher.

Beginning
1 Points

Requires significant support to participate in problem-solving within the team.

Category 4

Reflection & Impact

Assesses students' ability to reflect on the impact of their service on the residents of the assisted living facility.
Criterion 1

Thoughtfulness

Evaluates the depth and sincerity of the student's reflection on their experience.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional thoughtfulness and insight in reflecting on the impact of their service, expressing a deep understanding of the residents' perspectives.

Proficient
3 Points

Reflects thoughtfully on the impact of their service, showing a good understanding of the residents' perspectives.

Developing
2 Points

Reflects on the impact of their service, but may lack depth or insight.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows limited reflection on the impact of their service.

Criterion 2

Communication

Evaluates the quality and clarity of the written thank you note to the assisted living residents.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thank you note is exceptionally well-written, expressing sincere gratitude and conveying a strong sense of empathy and care.

Proficient
3 Points

Thank you note is well-written, expressing gratitude and conveying a sense of care.

Developing
2 Points

Thank you note is adequately written, but may lack detail or emotional expression.

Beginning
1 Points

Thank you note is poorly written and lacks expression of gratitude or care.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

What was the most challenging part of creating the holiday decorations, and how did you overcome it?

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Question 2

How did working on this project change your understanding of senior citizens and their needs?

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Question 3

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being 'not at all' and 5 being 'very impactful,' how impactful do you think your decorations were on the residents of the assisted living facility?

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Question 4

What is one thing you would do differently if you were to do this project again?

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Question 5

What did you learn about teamwork and collaboration while working on this project?

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