Holiday Lessons & Resources

Make the Best of the Holidays -- in the Classroom and at Home

Over the years we've been able to offer over a dozen lesson plans, activity ideas and other curriculum resources — plus some sound financial advice from NEA Member Benefits — in recognition of December's many holidays. Here, we present them in one, easy-to-find place.

Lesson Plans & Activities Ideas

NEA Today "Gif-A-Rama" (November 2005) The best — and worst! — holiday gifts from students. Plus stories from your colleagues. Read More »

1. Colorful Stained-Glass Candleholder
   Students create a colorful candleholder -- a bright gift for a family member, neighbor, or friend!
    
2. Make and Shake a Snow Globe
   In this activity for all grade levels, students make a holiday or seasonal snow globe to give as a gift.
    
3. How Many Ways Can You Say Merry Christmas?
   In this activity for all grade levels, students create a multicultural holiday bulletin board map.
    
4. Will There Be a White Christmas This Year?
   Students use historical weather data to create a color contour map.
    
5. December Concentration Game
   Build memory and attention-to-detail skills as students play this seasonal adaptation of the classic Concentration game.
    
6. Happy Holidays from A Class Full of Angels
   This "Happy Holidays from a Class Full of Angels" bulletin board is sure to generate smiles!
    
7. Counting Christmas Trees
   Students answer questions about a simple line graph that shows total Christmas tree sales from 1993 to 2000.
    
8. On the First Day of Christmas, My Teacher Gave to Me...
   "On the first day of Christmas my teacher gave to me..." plus more "Twelve Days of Christmas" activities.
    
9. Moore vs. Livingston: Who Really Wrote "The Night Before Christmas"
   Who was the real author of "The Night Before Christmas"? Students take a look at the facts and then decide.
    
10. History of Toys and Games
    Students create a timeline to illustrate when popular toys were first introduced.
     
11. Unwrapping Reading
    Guest readers rip off the holiday wrapping and read the book inside!
     
12. Deck the Halls With Literature Trees
    "Deck-orate the halls" of the school with literature trees.
     
13. A World of Special Celebrations
    Create a display of the world's religious and ethnic celebrations.
     
14. Re-Name That Tune: A Vocabulary Activity
    Build students' vocabulary skills with this variation of the "Re-Name That Tune" activity that uses Christmas song titles.
     

Resources & Teaching Tips

1. Works4Me: Christmas Holiday
   Works4Me Tips: practical classroom tips submitted by the real education experts -- your colleagues!
    
2. High Schoolers Pen Letters from Santa
   How one teacher raised holiday spirits in her classroom.
    
3. Ten Holiday Web Sites You Won't Want to Miss!
   Celebrate the holidays with ten Web sites that no elf could do without!
    

Holiday Shopping & Spending

1. Surviving the Holidays
   Financial tips to help you get ready for — and survive — the holidays.
    
2. Problems With Holiday Purchases?
   If a retailer didn't deliver as promised or if you feel you've been ripped off, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has some tips for you.
    
3. Holiday Shopping
   Don't take a holiday from savvy online shopping.
    

Other

1. A Little Inspiration for Holiday Gifts for Teachers
   What's the best way to thank teachers this holiday season? While the National Education Association (NEA) has no official policy on teacher gifts, we have some advice that might help you this holiday season.