Christmas Unit Study - Language Arts

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Language Arts Lesson Plans for Christmas

A Christmas Unit Study (Language Arts) ~ Christmas is such an amazing time of year to celebrate the birth of the blessed baby, Jesus. While parents and teachers who are teaching about the events of the Bible, and the events of the seasons, why not turn it into a fun unit study? Add some math, science, social studies, language arts, art, and music to your lesson plans with some of these ideas.

Christmas Literature Units

The following lenses started out on this page, but as usual I had collected way too much information, so, they now have their own pages!

Christmas Literature by Jan Brett ~ Units, lesson suggestions and plans for every subject, crafts, videos, worksheets, lapbook and notebook materials, and more for several of her Christmas books.
~ Jan Brett Resources & Materials for Author Study
~ The Night Before Christmas
~ Gingerbread Baby & Gingerbread Friends
~ The Wild Christmas Reindeer
~ The Mitten
~ The Three Snow Bears
~ Look Who's Knocking on Christmas Eve?
~ and Others!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ~ Make a unit study from the classic novel with these ideas and materials.
~ Lesson Plans for various subjects
~ Online Copy of the Book
~ Study materials
~ Videos

The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman ~ the introduction page to a huge Nutcracker Unit. This starter page has resources for the story, author, composer, and ballet in general. The final unit includes music education lesson plans for each movement of the ballet suite by Tchaikovsky.

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Language Arts Activities for Christmas

Christmas Theme Unit from ABC Teach: ABC Teach has wonderful resources - some free, some with membership - all of them enhance learning in an enjoyable way!

~ Acrostic Poem Forms: Candy Canes, Toys
~ Bookmarks
~ Book Units: The Polar Express
~ Coloring Pages: Advent Candles, Angels, Baby Jesus, Bells, Candy Canes, Christmas Stocking, Elf with Present, Gingerbread Man, Jingle Bells, Manger Scene, Ornament, Santa, Star, Tree, Wise Men, Wreath
~ Crafts: Advent Wreath, Photo Boxes
~ Dot-to-Dot: Christmas Sleigh, Santa
~ Gift Tags
~ Graphs: Christmas Carols
~ Literacy Centers
~ Mazes
~ Picture Reading
~ Reading Comprehension on French Christmas Traditions and Making Christmas Ornaments
~ Rebus Stories
~ Sewing Cards
~ Shape Books: Christmas Blessings, Gingerbread Man, Locomotive, Ornament, Winter Holiday Words
~ Spanish
~ Story Starters
~ Unscramble the Word Puzzles
~ Word Searches
~ Writing Paper: Christmas Joy, Santa
~ Writing Prompts: Christmas is ..., Christmas Traditions, I am Rudolph, Mary & Jospeh, Ornaments

Christmas Clipart
A variety of pictures to use for various projects
Christmas Worksheet Unit
This 41 page worksheet unit on Luke 2:1-20 from Kids Domain contains alphabetical order, crossword puzzles, word unscramble, word decoding, vocabulary, spelling, vowels, syllables, word search, Scripture word search, shape words, fill in the blank Scripture, and cloze activities. All pages have an answer key.
Free Printable Advent Games, Crafts and Activities
Advent Calendars, Wreaths, Board Games, Crossword Puzzles and More

*Christmas Crafts & Printables: Enchanted Learning is one of the best websites for teacher resources! The Christmas page contains mini books for letter identification, phonics, reading, and penmanship, spelling activities and worksheets of Christmas and winter words, find the missing letters, unscramble words, syllables, cloze activities, reading comprehension activities, read and follow the directions sheets, drawing pages with writing prompts, quizzes, and rebus rhymes! You will also find all sorts of crafts, cards, place holders, mini books related to several subject areas, coloring and drawing worksheets, math worksheets, foreign languages. links to winter, snow, and holiday pages.

Wonderful Christmas Literature to Read!

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Fabulous Educational Pages!

You will love this collection of units and lapbooks by Lynn of Eclectic Education!

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Find even more fantastic Christmas materials from talented Squidoo lensmasters!

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Literature Unit Studies

From Homeschool Share!

Homeschool Share is at the very top of my favorite places on the web for incredible units, lapbooks, notebooks, and information. There is a gigantic collection of fabulous units about every topic you can imagine written by countless moms who give their talents and skills for the betterment of the education community! Most units have several lapbook components and/or notebook pages, full lesson plans in multiple subject areas (language, math, science, social studies, Bible, art, music, cooking, and others), book lists, helpful links, and extra resources to make a thorough unit. I have used entire units as written, taken parts of units that fit into what we were learning, and adapted a couple for the different ages of my children when needed. The units are easy to work with no matter what you have planned for your students. I tried to find all the Christmas based units, but if I missed one, please let me know and I will add it!

*Christmas Around the World
This is actually several country unit put together as a mega cool unit! Numerous books and materials are given to make a long, thorough unit! I have this one also listed on my social studies for Christmas lens.
The Legend of the Candy Cane
This delightful story tells about the beginnings of the candy cane. Find out the red and white colors, the shape, and the true meaning of Christmas!

"A stranger arrives in town one dreary November and begins hammering and sawing away at his newly rented storefront. When a small girl offers her help, she's in for a childhood fantasy-come-true, as it turns out all the shelves and counters are being built for a candy shop. After offering young Lucy gumdrops and lollipops, Mr. Sonneman launches into the history of the candy cane. With his guidance, she discovers that the upturned candy is in the shape of a j--for Jesus. Right side up it looks like a shepherd's staff. And the red stripes? The blood of Christ from his terrible whipping. Lucy and Mr. Sonneman set out on a quest to share this story with everyone in town." - book by Lori Walburg
The Christmas Day Kitten
Read about this adorable cat on Christmas Day in England. "One of the most beloved children's books of all time. Popular Yorkshire veterinarian, James Herriot, tells the story of Buster, an irresistible kitten who finds a new home on Christmas morn."
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey
Many language arts skills are developed along with other areas.
Annika's Secret Wish
Study about Swedish culture among other topics. - book by Beverly Lewis
Chita's Christmas Tree
"A warm wintery Christmas story set in turn-of-the-century Baltimore. Chita's Christmas story celebrates the timeless joys of the season, and most of all, the delicious anticipation of a tree... a deep green pine with branches that tickle the sky." - book by Elizabeth F. Howard
Cranberry Christmas
Enjoy this Christmas in New England! "Mr. Whiskers faces a gloomy Christmas until Maggie and her grandmother help him straighten out his house and find the answer to his problems in the process." - book by Wendy and Harry Devlin
Marta and the Manger Straw
"In a Polish custom hundreds of years old, tradition has it that a bit of straw at the Christmas feast will bring good fortune in the coming year. In World War II Poland, a young girl receives straw at the Christmas Eve service to bring to her impoverished family. But on the way home, Marta meets others who are much poorer than she, and she shares her piece until there is nothing left. In spite of the lack of straw - though perhaps because of her generous heart - Marta finds riches she never expected." - book by Virginia Kroll
The Gingerbread Baby
"Impatient for the gingerbread man to bake the full eight minutes that is specified in the cookbook, Matti opens the oven door prematurely and a doughy baby jumps out instead: "I am the Gingerbread Baby,/ Fresh from the pan./ If you want me,/ Catch me if you can." The cherubic child remains at home while his parents and a smattering of animals lead a cumulative chase through the Swiss countryside, depicted in minutely detailed pictures." - book by Jan Brett

Please see the large Jan Brett Christmas Literature Unit Study link on this page!
The Wild Christmas Reindeer
"Little Teeka's attempts to train Santa's reindeer for their Christmas ride meet with disaster until she realizes that she needs to work with the animals in a new way. "Tomorrow," she says, "no yelling, no screaming, and no bossing, I promise," and with her patient teaching, on Christmas Eve the "wild reindeer rise up together and carry the sleigh off into the night." " - book by Jan Brett - please see my large unit on Jan Brett.
The Night Before Christmas
"Award Winner Robert Sabuda brings Clement Clark Moore's classic tale of The Night Before Christmas to life in this festive pop-up edition, sure to become a perennial favorite." - I have this also listed in the Jan Brett unit.
The Nutcracker
Choose any version you prefer to use with these scholastic activities.
The Nutcracker & Tchaikovsky Unit Study and Lapbook
This one is from my music blog, Joyful Songs. It is a full month music unit about this fabulous ballet and story that contains materials for every subject area.
An Orange for Frankie
"Autobiography melds with history in this poignant tale of a family tradition, set around Christmastime during the Great Depression. Polacco introduces the Stowell family, a brood of nine living on a farm just outside of Detroit. Though they don't have a lot, the family never hesitates to share its good fortune, often feeding hungry hoboes as they pass through the nearby train station. Frankie, the youngest son, even gives one of them his favorite sweater. When Frankie loses the precious Christmas orange given to each child, he tells his mother about his error and also fesses up about his missing sweater. His family is so moved by his charitable gesture, that they rally to make sure Frankie has the most special gift of all. Polacco illustrates the story in her trademark watercolor-and-pencil style, with key elements picked out in bright color against more muted backdrops. Like many of Polacco's picture books, this holiday story about gifts and giving is based on a chapter from her own family history." - book by Patricia Polacco
The Trees of the Dancing Goats
"During a scarlet-fever epidemic one winter in Michigan, a Jewish family helps make Christmas special for their sick neighbors by making their own Hanukkah miracle." - book by Patricia Polacco
Christmas Tapestry
"Jonathan has made a good adjustment to life in Michigan after his father takes over as the pastor of a rundown Baptist church. The whole family has worked hard to renovate the building and restore the congregation. The boy becomes distraught, however, when a snowstorm causes a leak and ruins the wall behind the altar just before Christmas. In a series of events that would strain belief in anything other than a holiday story, he and his father find a tapestry to cover the wall and bring about a reunion between two Holocaust survivors who had used the hand-stitched cloth as their wedding canopy." - book by Patricia Polacco
The Quiltmaker's Gift
"A generous quiltmaker finally agrees to make a quilt for a greedy king but only under certain conditions (which will change his heart)." - book by Jeff Brumbeau
Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story
" In Appalachia each Christmas, a boy named Frankie waits beside the tracks for the Christmas Train, which will bring presents to the children who live in coal towns and hollows. Year after year, Frankie hopes that one particular gift a very special gift will be tossed to him from that train. It is this enduring hope that will guide him to the true meaning of the season." - book by Cynthia Rylant
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Lapbook materials
The Long Winter
Make a lapbook about this children favorite about the Ingall family - book by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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Alphabet Skills

Reinforce ABC knowledge in a large variety of ways during your Christmas unit:
  • practice phonics and printing skills with related terms,
  • write an ABC list of Christmas words,
  • create a list of gifts to give that begin with each letter of the alphabet,
  • locate Bible verses or names for the letters,
  • alphabetize Christmas spelling words,
  • write a Christmas word or letter poem,
  • use the below resources to learn and practice the alphabet.

ABC

Candy Cane Alphabet
These large letters (4 per page) may be used for a variety of alphabet activities, games, or bulletin boards.
Advent / Christmas Alphabet
Use this chart to count down the days until Christmas, as a coloring page, or use for alphabet activities.
ABC Christmas Book
Cute mini book
Christmas Alpahbet Game
This file folder game allows students to match alphabet cards to the letters on the gameboard.
A Christmas Alphabet
Read a Bible verse for every letter of the alphabet. Bible references are included.
Christmas Alphabet Activity Book
Reinforce learning letters of the alphabet, tracing and writing them with holiday words, and complete letter matching fun activities in this packet from Donnette Davis.

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Poem
Christ
Humble
Risen
I believe
Shepherds
Trust
Mary
Angels
Star

Penmanship, Phonics, Spelling, Vocabulary

Use these colorful notebook pages to take notes, write descriptive paragraphs, summaries of events, poems, stories, or anything! It's fun to add colorful pages to notebooks!

Christmas Picture Activity Dictionary
Donnette Davis always creates colorful, fun booklets for children to learn! This 37 page dictionary contains pages with large graphics that children will love. Each page has a Christmas related word, a place to trace, and lines to practice copying the word. Great for children just learning to read and write! Grade pre-K to 1.
Christmas Phonics: Reading, Writing, Tracing Activity Book 3
Another book by Donnette which includes 61 pages of reading Christmas words, coloring, tracing and writing them, word wall cards, picture flash cards, fun pages to practice more tracing and writing of the words, write the word with the pictures, word searches, word unscrambles, alphabetical order of word list, writing sentences, cut and paste pictures to words, bookmarks, picture match, and more. Your early elementary student will know these words very well after completing the workbook!
Christmas Bible Verses
Use these to study the Scriptures and use as penmanship / copywork. Many verses are listed from Isaiah and the Gospels along with several notebook pages (primary and secondary lined) for students to practice writing.
Donnette Davis' Documents for Christmas
She has so many wonderful materials that I can not possibly list them all, so here is a collection of here Christmas booklets you will find useful!
Candy Cane Acrostic Poem Form
This colorful form from ABC Teach is ready to be filled in with your student's creativity.
Christmas Traditions
ABC Teach created this writing prompt to get your writers started.

Christmas Poetry & Reading

Christmas Tree Story
This story is a Christmas poem all will enjoy!
Christmas Alphabet
Two Christmas acrostic poems are found with practice on alphabet, and tracing penmanship activities. Blank notebook pages are included for uses of your choice.
The Christ Child
Use this beautiful poem for Bible study, poetry, reading, or copywork.
Santa's Prayer on Christmas
Beautiful poem to read, enjoy, and study!
Christmas List
Christmas List is another touching Christmas poem you will treasure.
Joyuex Noel de Christmas
Find here a one page reading selections, comprehension questions, and vocabulary with answers.
A Search for the Meaning of Christmas
Melissa from Lilliput Station suggested this site ~ It has full texts of classic Christmas literature, poetry and stories that your family will enjoy. Thanks, Melissa! :D I can't wait to dig into these with the kids!

Creative Writing for Christmas

December Daily Journal Writing Prompts


December Daily Journal Writing Prompts
: Find fun holiday topics and vocabulary lists to jump start your writers imagination in their journals every day of the month!
'Tis the Season for Writing
Find some fun easy writing lesson for Christmas!
Christmas Traditions
Try this simple writing prompt for kids from ABC Teach.
Christmas Ideas
From Homeschool Helper, find numerous notebooking pages to writing, many coloring pages, and units.

More Christmas Literature Resources

Christmas Literacy Centers
Make these fun easy center from ABC Teach.
Center 1 ~ Reading & Following Directions
Center 2 ~ Sequence of Events (Word Strips)
Center 3 ~ Compare Using a Venn Diagram (Describing)
Center 4 ~ Make Rudolph (Reading & Following Directions)
*An Integrated Literature Unit for Advent and Christmas
4RealLearning has created a 4 week unit study on the Christmas books of Tomie de Paola. It uses a large selection of his books and contains activities for each of the weeks.
The Velveteen Rabbit Unit
Make a Christmas unit with these ideas for language arts, science, social studes, and extras from Homeschool Helper.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas Unit
This unit study from Homeschool Helper also has a nice variety of lesson activities in several subjects.
Cookie Mini Unit
Use several different 'cookie' books to create a yummy unit about cookies - from Homeschool Helper.

Lovely inspirational stories for children!

The Legends of the Candy Cane, Christmas Tree, St. Nicholas, and the Christmas Stocking!
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Other Christmas Lenses of the Unit

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Word Puzzles & Games

The First Christmas Word Search
Enjoy the search with Kid Explorers!
Christmas Word Game
Pick a word starting with only the letters given. I do not know where this page originated, but if someone knows please leave a message so I can give proper credit.
Christmas Printable Worksheets
DLTK has so many wonderful activities, crafts, and worksheets for children to learn and have fun! Check here for word searches, word mining puzzles, word ladders, tracers, mazes, cryptograms, crossword puzles, and anagrams.
Christmas Mini Books
Scroll down the page to find 3 Christmas related mini books ~ The Gingerbread Man, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Christmas Riddles.

Christmas Fun Mad Libs

Practice grammar and parts of speech skills with this classic favorite word game!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Literature Unit Guide

A Guide for Using The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the Classroom

A Guide for Using The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the Classroom
: This series of literature guides from Teacher Created Materials are wonderful! They include introduction activities all the way through to evaluation quizzes and tests, information to do an author study, spelling and vocabulary suggestions, and across the curriculum materials to enhance learning to the fullest!

The Polar Express

by Chris Van Allsburg

Polar Express has been a children's favorite for over a quarter of a century! Besides reading about Santa and the young boy's adventure, this book also provides an opportunity to study polar regions of the world, animals who live there, geography, trains, music, and several other areas of your curriculum.

The Polar Express
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provides a wonderful unit for this famous story!
~ Read a summary of this classic story.
~ Find out about the author, Chris Van Allsburg, and his other books.
~Download a free 4 page teachers discussion guide on The Polar Express.
~Try the interesting activities for reading, creative writing, grammar, science, geography, art, and music.
~Play games, do some activity worksheets, follow a recipe, or check out the countdown calendar (it starts on December 1).
~ **Don't miss the free 17 page "Party Kit" which contains educational and fun stuff! It may be downloaded from the library page.) **
Ride the Polar Express
What a wonderfully entertaining unit study! You will find: skip counting train games, alphabet train games, story order manipulatives, bell stationary, word searches, train ticket, story sequencing strips, vocabulary cards, related emergent readers, reading log, craft, crossword puzzle, and many links to additional resources. This is written for early elementary level.
Polar Express Activities
Located here:
~ "Book Title Sign" which would also make a great notebook or lapbook cover,
~ Locomotive shape book with labels for beginning, middle, and end, and
~ locomotive shaped word search puzzle.
The Polar Express Train Adventure
Be the train conductor in a fast paced game!
Train Unit & Theme
Many subject areas are covered in this unit for trains in general and the Polar Express.
Polar Express Math?
Students will enjoy these mathmatical word problems to solve about events in the story.

A Guide for Using The Polar Express in the Classroom

A Guide for Using The Polar Express in the Classroom
: If you are looking for lesson plans about the author, reproducible worksheets, fun literature and vocabulary activities, and multi curricular connections, this helpful book will fill your wishes!

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What is your favorite Christmas literature?

Please add and vote for your favorite stories of Christmas!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

4 points

The 12 Days of Christmas

3 points

A Christmas Carol

3 points

The Gingerbread Man / Baby

1 point

Frosty the Snowman

1 point

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

1 point

The Legend of the Candy Cane

1 point

Polar Express

0 points

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Have a Christ-filled CHRISTmas!

What do you like to do? What kinds of learning activities or games have you used that are successful with children? Please share your ideas about adding language arts lessons into the Christmas season.



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