Lesson 7 — Our Celebration

Summary

The year closes with a celebration, not a contest. Every learner’s “All About Me” page is displayed equally — no work better than another’s, no winners, no ranking. Learners walk the gallery to know each other better, share a circle of appreciation by choice, and make a shared celebration together, then look forward to Grade 2.

Objectives

• Name and show a growing set of feelings in themselves and others. (D01.S1.01.01)
• Describe themselves with several facts and tell one thing they are proud of. (D01.S2.01.01)
• Name a family story or tradition and tell what it means to them. (D01.S2.01.02)
• Name several communities they belong to. (D02.S3.01.01)
• Offer help to a classmate who is struggling, without being asked. (D02.S4.01.01)

Connection

All over the world, people gather to celebrate — a harvest, a season, a graduation, a year’s work. A celebration is something people do together, in every community, on every continent. Today is your celebration: a day to look back at who you have become and to see your class as the caring community it has become. It is not a contest. There are no winners, because no work is better than another’s. Every page gets shown, and every child belongs.

Materials

• Every learner’s “All About Me” page
• A space to hang or lay out the pages
• A shared way to celebrate (a song, a clap, a movement)

Preparation

• Set up the display space so every page is shown equally — side by side, none higher or more special than another.
• Plan a simple shared celebration (a song, a clap, a movement) the class can make together.
• Arrange a circle for the appreciation time.

Facilitator note

This lesson is written to the learner (“you”). It is the year’s capstone, and its single rule is celebration, not competition: no best-work awards, no winners, no ranking — “no work is better than another’s,” and every page is displayed equally. A learner who prefers not to share publicly may hang their page quietly or pass, and that counts as sharing. In the appreciation circle, sharing is by choice; a pass is a full share, and no one is called on. For a learner who is Deaf or hard of hearing, make the celebration visual — clapping, signing, a flag wave, a visual “bravo.” For a learner who is blind or has low vision, describe pages aloud or offer a spoken or tactile tour of the gallery. Keep the tone warm and generous: the class has grown together, and everyone belongs.

Procedure

1. Gather (5 min). Today is a celebration of all of you — all of me, all of us. There are no winners and no rankings, just everyone, together, sharing.
2. Set up the gallery (10 min). Hang or lay out every “All About Me” page where all can see it. Every page is shown equally — no one’s is higher or more special. If a learner chooses not to hang their page, that choice is honored; hanging a page and passing both count as sharing.
3. Walk and wonder (15 min). Walk the gallery slowly. Look at every page — not to judge, but to know. Find one thing on a friend’s page you did not know before, and hold it in your mind.
4. Circle of appreciation (15 min). Sit in a circle. Each learner may say one true, kind thing — about the group, about a friend’s page, or about their own year. Sharing is by choice; a learner may pass, and a pass is a full share.
5. Celebrate together (10 min). Make a shared celebration — a song, a clap, a movement — something the class creates together. You have grown all year, and you did it together.
6. Close (5 min). Look forward: next year, in Grade 2, you will keep growing — more feelings, more facts, more community, more care. You are all of you, and you are all of us.

Differentiation

• Support: Allow a learner to celebrate by pointing to their page or holding up a partner’s hand.
• Support (Deaf/hard-of-hearing): Make the celebration visual — clapping, signing, a flag wave, or a visual “bravo.”
• Support (blind/low-vision): Describe pages aloud or offer a spoken or tactile tour of the gallery.
• Extension: Co-plan one element of the celebration (a song, a display, the order of sharing) with a partner or the group.

Assessment

• Summative (portfolio + performance): The learner participates in the celebration by sharing their page (hanging it or passing) and reflects on one thing they have grown into this year (by saying, pointing, drawing, signing, or a partner voicing).
• Observation: Can the learner name one feeling, one fact, one community, and one kind act from the year?

Home connection

Bring your “All About Me” page home and share your celebration with your family — tell them one thing you grew into this year.