Dec. 6–10, 2021
Theme: Hygge (Danish for cozy happiness)
Skill Building: Safe and Secure Interior Design for Comfort and Delight
Person-Centered Thinking & Safety
Monday, December 6, 2021
Today Happens to Be
- This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week!
- Check out Henry the Hand Foundation to learn the 4 principles of hand awareness.
- Visit the CDC's website to learn when and how to wash your hands.
Check In (3-5 min)
Introduce Theme of the week and Skill Builder
Theme: Hygge — What's that?! How to pronounce Hygge.
Skill Builder: Interior Design! Making our spaces safe, comfortable and beautiful.
Show & Share (5-10 min)
Do you have some lights in your house that are safe to have on? Do you have any electric candles that look like real candles but can't start a fire? Do you have any REAL candles? What do you do to make sure you use them safely?
Covid Mitigation Moment (3-5 min)
Here are some good masks that work. What type of masks do you wear?
<Body Break>
Thematic Activity #1 (15-20 min)
- What is Hygge? Here's a short article and video
- Happiness research: What makes us truly happy?
Reader’s Option: Life Skills Story (5-10 min)
If you want to work on the life skills story, use the link and read it together.
PRESENTERS: Use the BACK arrow on your browser to return to this page when you're done.
Thematic Activity #2 (5 min)
How can we make our bedrooms hygge-ful? Here are some images of things to have in your hygge bedroom:
Do you like the ideas? What is already hygge in your bedroom?
<Body Break>
Skill Builder (5-10 min)
Happy up and cozy out your bed and bedroom. If you have any of this stuff on hand, you can do it now.
- Add throw blankets to your bed that you can snuggle in even if you're just sitting on top of your bed.
- Pillow-fy: Add 2 or 3 additional pillows to lean into.
- Get a few more thick socks and slippers and put them around your room so they are always handy.
- Get an electric safety candle to put on your nightstand or dresser.
- Add white LED lights around your dresser mirror or window.
- Get some evergreen or rosemary sprigs from outside and put them in a vase with water, just like flowers.
- Stick holiday bows on walls, bedposts, picture frames.
- Wrap some empty boxes in gift wrap and stack them in a corner to feel like Christmas.
- Put a cinnamon stick with some cloves in a cup on your night table to add holiday scent.
- Put in some books and christmas catalogs to read next to your bed.
Hygge Coloring Sheet (3-10 min)
PRESENTERS: Share screen and try to color in the sheet as a group using Zoom's annotate feature.
Safety Option (3-5 min)
- Let's read some electric outlet safety tips.
- Can you add more safety tips?
- Have you ever been involved in a dangerous situation with electrical outlets?
What did we learn/review today?
What are we doing this afternoon?
Civics Education and Community Awareness
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Today Happens to Be
Check In (3 min)
Theme of the week: Hygge
Skill Builder: Safe and Secure Interior Design
Recap yesterday’s topics: happiness and hygge-ly bedroom decor
Today we’ll focus on Hygge in the living room.
Show & Share (5-10 min)
What is your favorite hot drink. Do you like hot chocolate? Tea? Coffee? Warm milk? A special drink from your culture that is served hot? Do you like special added flavors in it?
Covid Mitigation Moment (5-10 min)
Do you remember that it's National Handwashing Awareness Week? Let's review how to wash our hands and correctly use gloves.
Thematic Activity #1 (10-15 min)
Do you play Animal Crossing? It's a video game where you can decorate your own home and even design your own island. Let's watch this YouTube video to see Cozy Gamer Gina's hygge-themed island in Animal Crossing.
Presenters: This is a longer video. Just watch the part where we expore the home and the chalet.
What did you like about Gina's hygge-themed island? Did you get any ideas for how you can make your own home more cozy this winter?
<Body Break>
Reader’s Option: Life Skills Story (10-15 min)
Finish reading the life skills story if you haven't yet already.
After you've finished reading the story, try taking this story quiz. Answers are at the bottom of this page.
PRESENTERS: This activity is optional and intended for those groups that enjoy reading and writing activities. If doing it, substitute it for the Thematic Activity #2.
Thematic Activity #2 (5-10 min)
How can we make our living rooms hygge-ful? Your living room is the common area. Make it hyggely to cheer everyone who comes in.
Look at these images and notice color, lighting, objects and decorations that make it feel nice. Discuss which looks make you feel good. Everyone has different taste so share your very favorites to see how your tastes compare.
<Body Break>
Skill Builder: Decorating your own living room (15-20 min)
You can add hygge-ly joy to your living room in a lot of easy ways. Choose one or more of these ideas to try.
Seasonal collections look great around your living room and they are inexpensive and easy to put together.
- Collections look great inside pitchers and glass jars.
- Pine Cones, fruits, and other natural objects on trays, baskets, and plates can also look great.
- Do you love wreaths? You can use a wire coat hanger to display a collection as a wreath. Ball ornaments, ribbons, scraps of fabric, even wrapping paper can be put onto a coat hanger to display a collection.
Sweaters on Cushions
- Besides adding more throw blankets all over your living room, you can make your sofa pillows look super hygge-ly by putting them inside sweaters.
- Christmas sweaters are seasonal, but you can use other kinds too. Just tie the arms around the back or front and surprise everyone with your creativity.
- If you can sew, you can even make the covers permanent.
Fire Safety Tips (5-10 min)
Let's talk about fire safety. What do you already know about fire safety?
Now, let's check out these resources and see if we can learn something new:
- Red Cross: Home Fire Safety
- YouTube: Basic House Fire Prevention
Story Quiz Answers
- C
- A
- B
- A
- B
- C
- C
- A
- A
What did we learn/practice today?
What are we doing this afternoon?
Well-Being and Social Connection
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Today Happens to Be
- Remember, this is National Handwashing Awareness Week.
- The Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Mary was born without original sin according to Catholic teaching.
- Bodhi Day: Budha reached enlightenment according to Budhist teaching.
Check In (3-5 min)
How is everyone doing today? What have you been thinking about?
Theme of the week: Hygge
Skill Builder: Interior Decorating
Recap yesterday’s topics.
Today we’ll focus on Hygge in the kitchen.
Show & Share (3-5 min)
What are your favorite socks or slippers? Do you have different ones for different seasons? What about your socks or slippers make them your favorite? If you don't have a favorite, what do you like to wear on your feet when you are indoors at home?
Covid Mitigation Moment (3 min)
Sanitizing objects: Disinfect your mobile devices.
Thematic Activity #1 (5-10 min)
Are you looking forward to any holiday parties? Have you ever planned or hosted a party?
If you're hosting a party, you might want to send out invitations. What information should go on a party invitation?
Let's look at some holiday party invitations. What can you learn from these invitations? What information is provided? Which designs do you like best and why? Which designs are the most hygge-ful?
<Body Break>
Reader’s Option: Life Skills Story (5–10 min)
Thematic Activity #2 (5-10 min)
How can we make our kitchen hygge-ful?
Fill Kitchen With Holiday Scents
- Find cinnamon (sticks or ground are both fine), vanilla, and cloves in your pantry.
- In a small jar, break up some cinnamon sticks or add a teaspoonful of ground cinnamon.
- Add a teaspoon of whole cloves or half a teaspoon of ground cloves.
- Tear a corner off an egg carton or a napkin and put a few drops of vanilla on it, then add it to the jar.
- If the scents get old, put the open jar in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Keep the lid on the jar and open it up to sniff or let the scent out into your kitchen whenever you want.
Hygge Touches
- If you have kitchen curtains, use some holiday bows to tie some evergreen sprigs to the curtains.
- Put a bowl of pine cones and apples on the kitchen table.
- Put some red and green unlit candles on the window sill and tie a bow around them.
<Body Break>
Skill Builder (10-15 min)
Choose one or two of the skill builder activities below to put some Hygge in your kitchen. You can review the treats recipes, or if some of you have the ingredients at home, you could try it and show us how it turns out.
Make a Kitchen Witch
An American tradition that comes from Northern Europe is a kitchen witch. It's a little doll that people hang somewhere in the kitchen and it's supposed to bring good luck and keep food from burning. You can make a kitchen witch out of a napkin, a paintbrush, and 2 rubber bands.
Treats
No-bake yummies and microwave deliciousness
- Peanut Butter Cookie in a Cup (microwave)
- Pretzel Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuff (microwave)
- Brownie Batter Sweet Dip
Fire & Cooking Safety
What do you know about fire and cooking safety? Let's read these safety tips. What do you think is the most helpful or important tip?
What did we learn/practice today?
What are we doing this afternoon?
Self-Advocacy and Rights
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Today happens to be Christmas Card Day!
Craftying a Simple Christmas Card
*********************************************
Check In (3-5 min)
Theme of the week and Skill Builder
Recap yesterday’s topics
******************************************
Holiday Decor:
Favorite holiday decorations at your home. Is it something in your tree? On the wall? In the front or back yard? On the roof even? If you can't show us the object directly, can you take a picture or look online for some images!
Thematic Activity 01 (5-10)
When we go to a party there are new people to interact with. If you had to plan a party, how creative can you get with some cool ways to keep people entertianed.
- What would get everyone to know each other's names?
- What would help everyone feel more comfortable with new people?
- What topics can everyone discuss easily?
- Can we play any games or do any activities together so we know each other better?
Put on those thinking hats!
Use the screen share an annotate option to coplete the crossword below!
*Christmas Crossword (optional)
<Body Break>
Life Skills Story:
PRESENTERS: If your group is doing the readers option with Life Skills Stories, substitute it for Thematic Activity 2 or just shorten that as time and interest dictates. Choose one or both of the life skills question sets to work from.
Reader’s Option-Life Skills Questions (10 min)
Thematic Activity 02 (5-10 min)
Putting hygge in my house – powder room
Article - How to use hygge style in bathrooms
Graham Cracker "Ginger Bread House"
In the stores you might see Ginger Bread House Making Kits. They come in different sizes and look cool. Did you know you can do something simillar with Graham Crackers? Check out this article, see if you are up for the task!
Skill Builder (10-15 min)
Review these ideas for hygge-lying up your bathroom. Try some of them if you have the stuff.
Making potpourri
Cheering up your towels
- How to Make a Washcloth Reindeer
- Tie holiday ribbons around guest towels for a hygge-ly feeling
- Mirrors double your lights-hang lights on the door across from your vanity. The reflection in the mirror will double the lighting. (Don't put electric lighting anywhere near your sink or water. That is a safety hazard.)
Make Washing Up Scrumptious
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil or extract into your liquid handsoap. Every time people wash their hands they'll enjoy that scent.
- Break some Bay Leaves from your spice cabinet into your bath water. They make your soak smell oh so good.
Frost on the Pipes and other cold weather weird stuff
We live in California so we don't get too much weird stuff from snow or frost, but it's still good to know what to do to prevent problems.
6 Ways to Keep Pipes from Freezing
The strange and fascinating stories behind your favorite christmas songs: Interested? Click here!
What did we learn today?
What are we doing this afternoon?
Knowledge and Fun With Friends
Friday, December 10, 2021
Today is : Human Rights Day
Check In (3-5 min)
Theme of the week: Hygge
Skill Builder: Safe and Secure Interior Design
<body break>
Thematic Activity 01 (5-15 min)
Giving presents online can be hard. Unless we have the time and money to send gifts in the mail or by delivery, we have to get creative.
One nice gift to give is a performance. This is one song you can practice together and prepare to perform for your guests at the online parties at the end of the month. Or just for the fun of it.
Practice Singing Frosty the Snowman!
*How We’re Gonna Party Planner – Step 5 - Karaoke Backup Music
Thematic Activity 02 (5-10 min)
Putting hygge in my house – all over
Hygge is a feeling that we create by focusing on things that make us comfortable, safe and cared for. Here are things that can make your whole house feel good, no matter what room you are in.
You can make it a mini competition. Choose one or two you can all do. Your presenters can say "GO!" and time it, and see who can get done the fastest.
- Do a quick clean up of all the surfaces and countertops in your home to make it tidy
- Vaccuum all the main areas
- Sweep your front porch
- Play calming or cheerful music at a volume that people can talk over
- If you have scented candles in the house, you can take the lids off of them and put them near entry doors. No need to light them. People will pick up the scent as they walk into the room.
- Go choose some fall leaves, or winter greenery from the garden and put in on the mantle or book shelves
- No fireplace? No problem. If you have netflix or youtube on your TV you can find a recorded fireplace and play a video fire on your TV.
<Body Break>
Skill Builder (10-15 min)
Let's wake up our senses by focusing our attention on just one thing at a time. Choose 2 or more items from the list and follow the steps your presenter reads to you. If you choose "sweets for the tongue," have everyone get a little bit of sugar on a plate, assuming they are allowed to eat sugar.
PRESETNERS: Take your group through the following steps, using one or more of the links to focus sensory perception.
- Sit comfortably, close your eyes if you want
- Take 3 deep breaths, in and out.
- Take one really deep breath and hold it for 3 seconds
- Let it out slowly and completely.
- Breathe naturally
- Notice your environment: sounds, lights, smells
- For step seven click on the item your group chose and focus on that really fully.
- Music listen to the bells for a full minute or two. How is it different from listening to music? Did you feel any different?
- Sweets for the tongue: put a little sugar on a plate, lick the end of your finger and pick up just a touch of sugar and put it on your tongue. Let it melt slowly. Really focus on that taste. What do you notice? Try it a second time. Is it more or less sweet?
- Sweets for the eyes: look at the image and let your eyes really take it in for at least 30 seconds or a minute. What do you start to notice? How do the colors make you feel?
- Sweets for the heart and soul: Think of someone you love very much. Imagine giving them the best gift they could ever ask for and then think of how lucky you are that you know them and they are in your life. Open your eyes and share how that made you feel if you want to.
Reindeer Games
Links to holiday themed games or provided games in the packets
Have AI guess your drawing in QuickDraw
What did we learn today?
What are we doing this afternoon?
Choosing Fun Stuff to Do
Need some help deciding on an afternoon activity?
The activities are numbered. These numbers corrospond to brief activity descriptions listen in the linked document below.
