Christmas is full of amazing possibilities for homeschool. Since we are less than two weeks out, however, I imagine that you (like me) are looking for easy ideas that don’t require a lot of preparation. The good news is that the internet is full of resources to help! So, I will do my best to share a few of them here, along with a little of what our family has done in the past.
First of all, one of my favorite units to do in the week(s) leading up to Christmas is to explore what Christmas looks like in different places.
This can be as simple or elaborate as you would like it to be. There have been years that we have spent weeks on this: the older kids research the traditions and celebrations in other countries, present what they have learned (which I supplement as I am able with videos, additional information, etc.) and then we do some of the activities. We have created beautiful ornaments (seen in the pic at the right), eaten yummy food, and had a lot of fun doing this together. Unfortunately, while years ago I discovered a website that had great resources for a unit like this, it is no longer available on-line. The good news is that there are many other options easily available (both free & those with a cost). Here are a few I found with a quick search:
- Christmas Around the World Unit (among other options) : https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Stephanie-Stewart-39
- Christmas Around the World Links: https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/
- Videos: https://classroom.ricksteves.com/videos/christmas-in-france
I also recommend looking at your local library for free resources!
A variation of the above idea is to learn about how Christmas was celebrated in history or in different regions of America.
Other Ideas:
- Discover the origin of Saint Nicolas & then find a way to practice generosity to both each other & someone(s) outside your home.
- Read “A Christmas Carol” and learn about both Charles Dickens and the historical setting of both his writings and his life. (A few resources I found: https://peanutbutterfishlessons.com/charles-dickens-free-unit-study/ and https://lifebeyondthelessonplan.com/christmas-carol-unit-study/)
- Learn about George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. (Here is one resource:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-glorious-history-of-handels-messiah-148168540/)
- Learn about the animals of the North Pole, for example: the polar bear, arctic fox, ringed seals, walrus, whales, the narwhal, seabirds, and the musk ox.
There are also many coloring sheets, word finds, crossword puzzles, and more for you to discover! Even a quick search can help you to find some resources to make the week(s) before Christmas special. One other activity I love is to do a few different writing prompts for creative writing.
Writing Prompts:
- Write about your favorite Christmas time traditions
- What is the favorite gift you have ever given to someone? What is the favorite gift you have received?
- Imagine what the first Christmas would have been like. Describe it.
- Write the synopsis for a new Christmas movie.
Story Starters:
- “The elves were all hard at work in the workshop with last minute Christmas preparations, when suddenly a loud noise startled them…”
- “We were all excited when it started to snow on Christmas! But, when New Year’s came and it was still snowing…”
- “Our family was just about to sit down to Christmas dinner when our door opened and in burst a family we had never seen before. ’Hello! We’re here! Merry Christmas!’they greeted us warmly, as they took their jackets off, put down packages, and started to make themselves at home…”
- “It was a night like all others. I was out with the sheep, keeping watch. I was feeling a little sleepy, actually. Then, suddenly…”
If you’d like, you can use the following pages for Christmas themed stories. There is also one that can be used to make a Christmas acrostic poem.
There are so many more possibilities, but I hope this sparks some fun ideas for you and your kids. Christmas is a special time, so no matter what you end up doing in the days leading up to it, I hope it is filled with joy, connection, and peace!
Merry Christmas!!