+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Santa Claus Around the World

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students investigate how students in various countries celebrate their winter holiday traditions, locate various countries on a map, and draw and tell about various Santa Claus legends.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moore vs. Livingston:Who Really Wrote 'The Night Before Christmas'

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research an author and gather information that seems to support that person as author of The Night Before Christmas. They work in groups to gather the most solid evidence and they write a persuasive essay presenting their argument.
+
Handout
Jersey Heritage

A Victorian Christmas

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
In many ways, Victorian Christmas is alive and well today! Class members read an informative passage to learn more about traditional Christmas gifts, decorations, crackers, and visits from Santa Claus in nineteenth-century England—as...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poets of Christmas Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the meanings of Christmas by reading an op-ed. As a class, they then create a sequel to the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," in which "Mamma" tells a story about the history of Christmas.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Indiana Challenge

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this Indiana worksheet, students answer multiple choice questions about Indiana's famous people, places, and history. Students answer 10 questions.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NFE Christmas Quiz

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the details of Christmas. In this Christmas history lesson, 6th graders participate in a bingo quiz on Christmas. Students complete a worksheet after the quiz. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

For Teachers K - 5th
Students research and compare Santa Claus. They discuss background information and then perform the poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Moments

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Here is a lesson designed to be an ongoing task for the entire year. Each day of the week, learners must perform research to answer a simple historical question. This particular lesson covers the month of April, but the template...
+
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Create Learning Experiences with The Polar Express

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Center content-integrated lessons around the timeless holiday book, The Polar Express.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sula/Song of Solomon/Tar Baby

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students answer assigned questions as a group, write individual essays, complete a research project, and complete a writing project.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Holiday

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students create their own holidays, describing them in booklet form. They develop the holiday's name, symbol, colors, food, and historical significance.
+
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Christmas Lesson Plans

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students learn about the Christmas season through music, research, and other activities.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Christmas Trees and Traditions

For Students 4th - 6th
In this Christmas worksheet, students research the internet to find facts about Christmas trees and traditions. Students complete 9 short answer questions.
+
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How Christmas Was Celebrated in the Middle Ages

For Students 9th - 10th
Long before Santa Claus, caroling and light-strewn Christmas trees, people in medieval Europe celebrated the Christmas season with 12 full days of feasting and revelry culminating with Twelfth Night and the raucous crowning of a "King of...
+
Website
Other

American Antiquarian Society: Visions of Christmas

For Students 9th - 10th
Online exhibition that presents the history and traditions of the Christmas holiday through the years. Here you can discover the origins of Santa, the Christmas tree, and the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas".
+
Activity
Other

Turizm.net: Church of St. Nicholas and Byzantine Ruins

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this description of the Byzantine Church of St. Nicolas (yes, a.k.a. Santa Claus) and surrounding Byzantine ruins.
+
Website
Other

Why Christmas: Christmas Traditions and Customs

For Students 1st - 8th
Find out how the history of various Christmas traditions and customs started, how they are celebrated, and what they represent and mean. Included are facts about Boxing Day, Advent, holly & ivy, Christmas cards, mince pies, and lots...
+
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Christmas Day, December 25

For Students 3rd - 8th
Christmas traditions are unique to each family. But we share a common origin of this special holiday. Learn about the fundamentals of this celebration at this Library of Congress site.
+
Website
Other

The Three Kings

For Students 3rd - 5th
In Spanish. Use this site to learn the history behind the Three Kings during Spanish Christmas. In this country, Santa Claus isn't the main attraction on Christmas.