Topic: Christmas

  • Christmas in Australia Activity Pack

    Christmas in Australia Activity Pack

    Christmas in Australia Activity Pack! This holiday season take your students on a new adventure to learn about how Christmas is celebrated in Australia. This pack includes reading passages, comprehension questions, and several hands-on activities to learn about the special traditions they take part in at Christmas time.

    What’s Inside:

    ✔ Reading passages (b/w and color)

    ✔ Comprehension questions and organizer

    ✔ Flag activity

    ✔ Map activity

    ✔ Write a postcard

    ✔ Photo poster

    ✔ A 5-page Flip Book

    For the flip book, have students complete one page of the flip book at each center or station. They can use the articles as a reference source to help them answer the questions on the organizer and flip book. Then it’s time to cut, color, and assemble the flip book. Flip books can be glued or stapled inside their interactive notebooks, a file folder, or use a 12×18 piece of colored construction paper folded in half to make a cover for the booklet.

  • Christmas Activities with Scavenger Hunt and Letter to Santa

    Christmas Activities with Scavenger Hunt and Letter to Santa

    Christmas is a holiday about the joy of giving and sharing. It is also a time to come together with family and friends. Modern Christmas includes many traditions such as decorating Christmas trees, baking cookies, exchanging gifts and cards, and the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Students will love learning all about Christmas traditions, symbols, and Saint Nicholas with this fun and creative unit.

    This unit includes many interactive activities and learning opportunities for students including several reading passages:
    ✔ Santa Claus is Coming
    ✔ Christmas Traditions
    ✔ O Christmas Tree
    ✔ Symbols of Christmas

    There are two fun character studies where students will meet:
    ✔ Saint Nicholas
    ✔ Rudolph

    This unit is packed full of activities that work well for morning work, in holiday centers, and after reading your favorite Christmas story:
    ✔ Biography Organizers for Saint Nicholas and Rudolph
    ✔ Several Writing Prompts
    ✔ A Letter to Santa (with example)
    ✔ Just the Facts Please!
    ✔ Christmas Scavenger Hunt Organizers
    ✔ Fact or Fiction Activity
    ✔ Plus a 5-page Christmas Flip Book

    This unit includes reading passages, scavenger hunt organizers, acrostic fact chart, and vocabulary posters with real-life photos to post in the classroom. Using the scavenger hunt organizer and a clipboard students act as detectives to track down the answers to the questions.

    There are three main activities:
    Vocabulary:
    Introduce the 6 vocabulary words with the real-life photo posters included. You could post these posters around the classroom and have students travel around to define the words. These posters are excellent for a bulletin board display too.

    Reading:
    Next, have students read the passages the history and traditions of Christmas. There are questions and scenes for students to color and connect to the information. After reading the passages, have students answer the scavenger hunt organizers. These work well in centers, learning stations, and as partner work.

    Activities:
    There are many activities for students to complete to show what they know:
    ✔ Scavenger Hunt Organizers
    ✔ Biography Organizers (2)
    ✔ In The Spirit of Giving
    ✔ Symbols of Christmas Summarizing Activity
    ✔ Fact or Fiction Activity
    ✔ Just the Facts about Christmas
    ✔ Writing Prompts
    ✔ Letter to Santa Template and Sample Letter
    ✔ Plus a Christmas 5-page Flip Book

    I usually have them do one page of the flip book at each center or station. They can use the articles as a reference source to help them complete the pages of the booklet. Lastly, they cut, color, and assemble the booklet. Flip up books can be glued or stapled inside their interactive notebooks, file folder, or a 12×18 piece of construction paper folded like a book cover.

    This can also be used as an activity to get the kiddos moving around the room. It could also be used as a holiday centers activity. The holiday posters with real-life photos make a beautiful bulletin board display too.

    Scavenger Hunt Steps:
    1. Place the reading passages and holiday photo posters in six spots around the classroom.
    2. Students read the passage about each holiday and travel around the room to answer the questions on the scavenger hunt organizers.
    3. For an extra challenge, copy the holiday acrostic fact charts on the backside of each organizer and have students write one fact beside each letter for that holiday.
    4. Come back together as a class to discuss their answers.
    5. You could also set it up as a learning station or center activity where students read about each holiday, respond to questions on the organizers, and then complete the flip books.

    This is a wonderful way to get students actively involved with the information literally by getting them up and out of their seats. It’s perfect for partners or group work.

    Little prep work to save you time:
    Print posters and organizers
    Copy the scavenger hunt organizers and acrostic fact charts (back-to-back)
    Post posters around the classroom (or at stations/centers)
    Assign partners or groups
    Hand out scavenger hunt organizers and clipboards
    Set timer (about 5-10)
    Have students rotate to the next spot

    Merry Christmas!

  • Let’s Learn About Kwanzaa Unit

    Let’s Learn About Kwanzaa Unit

    Kwanzaa uses ideas from an ancient African Swahili seven-day-long harvest celebration. Kwanzaa is a holiday to remember African-American culture, community, and heritage. Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. Today, some people join Kwanzaa and Christmas together to celebrate their heritage as well as their religion. Your students will love learning about this special holiday!

    This unit includes many interactive activities and learning opportunities for students including reading passages about:
    ⭐ What is Kwanzaa?
    ⭐ Kwanzaa Traditions
    ⭐ All About the United States
    ⭐ America, the Beautiful
    ⭐ Questions about the United States of America
    ⭐ Symbols & Flag
    ⭐ Vocabulary Posters
    ⭐ Vocabulary Flip Flaps
    ⭐ Kwanzaa Tradition Writing Prompt
    ⭐ Just the Facts Acrostic Charts
    ⭐ Kwanzaa Scavenger Hunt Organizer
    ⭐ Fact or Fiction Activity
    ⭐ Plus a 5-page Flip Book

    There are 3 main activities:
    Vocabulary:
    Introduce the 6 vocabulary words with the real-life photo posters included. You could post these posters around the classroom and have students travel around to define the words. These posters are excellent for a bulletin board display too.

    Reading:
    Next, have students read the passages the history and traditions of Kwanzaa and all about the United States. Since Kwanzaa first started in the United States, students will enjoy learning about America. There are questions and scenes for students to color and connect to the information. After reading the passages, have students answer the scavenger hunt organizer. These work well in centers, learning stations, and as partner work.

    Activities:
    There are many activities for students to complete to show what they know:
    ⭐ Scavenger Hunt Organizer
    ⭐ Questions about the United States
    ⭐ Fact or Fiction Activity
    ⭐ Just the Facts about Kwanzaa
    ⭐ Plus a 5-page Flip Book.

    I usually have them do one page of the flip book at each center or station. They can use the articles as a reference source to help them complete the pages of the booklet. Lastly, they cut, color, and assemble the booklet. Flip up books can be glued or stapled inside their interactive notebooks, file folder, or a 12×18 piece of construction paper folded like a book cover.