As the countdown to the end of the school year and the Christmas holidays gets underway, here at readilearn, we ensure that learning continues when the Christmas fun begins.
Who celebrates Christmas?
Do you know which children in your class celebrate Christmas with their families? Conduct a survey to find out. While you may already know, the survey can be an interesting way to begin discussions of different cultural traditions celebrated by children in your class.
These discussions should always be respectful and inclusive. It is essential for children, and all of us, to see that what we have in common is more important than any differences.
How many school days until Christmas?
This calendar helps to count down the last fifteen days of term and provides an opportunity for children to present information about their family’s traditions. The Countdown Calendar can be used to countdown to Christmas or, for inclusivity, to the holidays.
Inclusive friendship trees
Build self-esteem and confidence as well as friendship skills with Friendship trees. They are easy to make and are a great way to ensure the children keep thinking friendly thoughts about each other.
Children make their own friendship tree and, every day, they write anonymous positive messages of friendship and affirmation to place in each other’s trees. At the end of the term, children take their trees home to read and enjoy over the holidays.
A template for the trees, examples of friendship messages, and editable message strips for distribution to the children are also available.
Another fun way to encourage the children to work together on a joint project of which they can be proud is to create a 3D classroom tree display. While children are proud of their individual contribution, they recognise the importance of everyone working together. The tree becomes a visible reminder of the importance of team work. It can be the focus of a beautiful classroom display.
Christmas Activity Book
The Christmas Activity Book has 30-pages and 22 different activities, and is perfect for use at home or in the classroom.
It includes:
- games to play alone
- games to play with others
- literacy activities
- maths activities
- word puzzles
- number puzzles
- logic puzzles
- poems to write
- and much more.
Advent Activity Calendar
The December Advent Activity Calendar 2022 suggests an activity a day for each December day in the lead up to Christmas. Twenty-four easy, fun activities for children and families.
Literacy
Continue reading: Getting ready for Christmas with Lessons and Activities for P-2 – readilearn
Norah Colvin 
You are so creative Norah. I love the friendship trees. ❤
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The friendship trees were something I always looked forward to, Debby, and the children loved them too. I was always surprised at the generosity of their comments to each other (I always checked them before they ‘mailed’ them to make sure they were readable, and it gave me a ‘buzz’ too). Not one nasty word was ever written, even to the children who weren’t particularly popular. I hope their families kept the affirmations for future reminders.
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That is so beautiful. ❤
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Thank you, Debby.
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Excellent post, Norah! Your ideas and activities are terrific.
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Thank you so much, Jennie. Your words mean a lot to me.
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I’m so glad! BTW, I’m working on that submission for the anthology. I have three different ‘avenues’, as there’s so much I can write about. I will message you.
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You do have so much to write about. You should write your own book. You’ve done it really. All you need to do is compile your post into a book, memoir of a teacher. I’ve read some inspirational teacher memoirs. I’d love to add yours to the list.
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Yes, I have done it already! Thank you, and I would be honored to be among the teacher memoirs on your list. 😀
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I’m so pleased to hear you’ve done it, Jennie. 💖
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❤️
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