The holiday season is indeed the season of abundance and gifts, and while the abundance in schools may come in the forms of chaos, germs, behaviors and lost mittens; the gifts come in teachable moments that the Winter holidays provide!
From learning about how others celebrate the season, to having a true purpose for writing, discovering math concepts, and for those of us who teach in Catholic and Christian Schools, learning about the Nativity!
Learning about how others celebrate the season:
These photos were taken after kindergarten students read stories with their reading buddies about how different characters celebrate the holiday season. The buddies then compared their own holiday traditions and drew side-by-side pictures of them.
The big buddies didn’t know it at the time, but their little buddies had a surprise in store for them!
They had colored in cards for them, printed their names and drawn some pictures inside.
My students loved making cards for their big buddies. We did this fairly early, knowing how busy the season ahead would be. This added to the Christmas writing frenzy (we were already working on letters to Santa), which is why I provided the pre-made color and copy your name option.
While I believe we need to hang on to creating Christmas cards with kids for as long as possible, I also know we have to pace ourselves. I will be posting the card I made with my kindergarten students last year in the Christmas learning in kindergarten series I just started:
It requires paint on hands, and goes in stages. For anyone (all of us?) in a time vacuum, or facing students in need of multiple cards, replacement cards, or something productive to do, below are Christmas cards and letters to Santa with multiple levels of support for your earliest writers!
Save yourselves.
Math is everywhere during the holidays,
Here’s a popular post and product about counting by two’s with reindeer. The toilet paper roll figures are included (also in blackline version for students to color) in my Christmas / Nativity Craft / Dramatic Play Resource and the Big Christmas Bundle They make ideal manipulatives acting out the 10 at the Sled Song / Storybook:
Especially in patterns!
Learning about the Nativity
Reading picture books are always a great way to introduce and review content and vocabulary with kids, and there are many wonderful stories about the First Christmas. Having themed costumes, toys, puppets handy are a great way to inspire dramatic play! Check out these amazing Nativity Education Ideas for Young Students on Pinterest!
They also just can’t believe it when they realize that these are the exact same characters from their very own readers! Little minds blown! lol
Best wishes as you prepare for the holiday season,
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