Curated OER
'Twasn't the Night Before Christmas
Students describe the elements that make up particular writers' styles. Small groups then choose an author, write something in his or her style, and invite other groups to play 'literary detective' in identifying whose style they have...
Curated OER
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Students study and explore the portrayal and development of a major character in a novel from the novel, "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens. They identify words and phrases that effectively describe the main character in this novel....
Curated OER
On the First Day of Christmas, My Teacher Gave to Me...
Students listen to recording of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." They write, perform, and publish their own versions of the song.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Character in Place: Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path” for the Common Core
How do writers use the interaction between elements like characterization and setting to create meaning? Readers of "A Worn Path" create a series of comic book-style graphics of Eudora Welty's short story and reflect on how Welty uses...
Curated OER
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Fourth graders investigate the holidays by performing a song with their class. In this Christmas lesson, 4th graders recite some of their favorite Christmas songs and read the lyrics to the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Students...
Curated OER
Christmas-Tree-Shaped Poem Cards
Young scholars create holiday cards with poems in the shape of a Christmas tree. The poems tell how students spread joy this holiday season.
Curated OER
Christmas-Tree-Shaped Poems
Students create poems in the shape of a Christmas tree. They write an original poem detailing how a person can spread joy during the holiday season. The poem is formatted in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Curated OER
December Holidays:Create A Comparison Chart
How are Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, and Ramadan similar? How are they different? Learners research the different December holiday celebrations around the world and compare the dates, symbols, countries, foods, and stories...
Curated OER
Holiday Wreath Ornament
Students make a holiday wreath ornament. In this holiday wreath ornament instructional activity, students follow directions to make a holiday ornament using glue and cereal. They glue a picture of themselves in the center and add a bow.
Curated OER
Christmas Potpourri Hangers
Students create a potpourri hanger. In this Christmas craft lesson, students reuse materials to make a Christmas potpourri hangar for the tree or for a gift.
Curated OER
Why the Grinch Stole Christmas
Students write paragraphs highlighting reasons why the Grinch may have stolen Christmas.
Curated OER
12 Days of Christmas
First graders reinforce numerical order as they explore "The 12 Days of Christmas". Composition with instruments is also involved.
Curated OER
Chinese New Year
Students investigate the celebration of Chinese New Year. In this Chinese New Year lesson, students discuss their favorite holiday before listening to a read aloud about Chinese New Year. They make red envelopes that are filled with play...
Curated OER
Writing: Laying and Covering the Foundation
Your middle schoolers can become stronger writers with a lesson covering the basics. They compose effective thesis statements and introductions, discuss different ways to capture a reader's attention, and compare a poorly written...
Curated OER
Christmas Around the World
Students demonstrate an understanding of how different cultures celebrate Christmas by participating in artistic, musical, culinary and role play activities.
Curated OER
Dancing a Christmas Carol
Students explore dance. They analyze and outline the movements of the dance "Roger de Coverly" from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Students choose music and choreograph a dance similar to "Roger de Coverly." They perform the dance....
Curated OER
Christmas Wreath
Students create Christmas wreaths using Christmas material or fabric and coat hangers in this holiday instructional activity for the elementary classroom. Modifications would need to be made to accommodate older or more advanced...
Curated OER
Christmas at Mud Flat Lesson Plan
Students analyze the characters in the book Christmas at Mud Flat. In this early childhood lesson plan, students analyze characters in the book, then choose which character they personally identify with the most. Students then use...
Curated OER
The Journey of the Magi
Middle schoolers create storyboards. In this pre-Christmas special lesson, students produce a storyboard for a TV version of the poem, "The Journey of the Magi". Options to complete with or without technology are included.
Curated OER
Ho Ho Poetry
Learners read about the sights and sounds of a Las Vegas Christmas. They use words and phrases taken from articles in a recent issue of the New York Times to create a holiday-themed "found Poem."
Curated OER
Christmas Celebrations
Second graders view a video of the Nutcracker ballet and then compare and contrast holiday celebrations in Germany and the United States. They use the computer to write a paragraph exploring their observations.
Curated OER
Sounds of the Season
During Christmas time, use common carols and Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker music as the basis for writing advertisements. Learners can work in teams or individually as they listen to songs via the links provided. A "Christmas Music Comparison...
Curated OER
Writing Fiction: Using Older Characters
Out with the old and in with the new? Not so in this lesson plan, which explores the idea of writing older characters in fiction. Students learn the value of varying their characters, exploring different perspectives, and avoiding...
Curated OER
Bah Humbug
Students listen to two famous stories about people who do not like Christmas, and then create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the main characters.