This time of year brings a rich variety of holiday traditions with it. For children who observe Christmas Eve, this special night is an exciting time, full of anticipation for the morning ahead.
Let’s be ready for it!
Start by gathering up your favorite Christmas books. Honestly, there are so many to choose from, it’s almost overwhelming. Specific to Santa, we love these:
- Santa Claus, the World’s Number One Toy Expert by Marla Frazee
- Are You Grumpy, Santa? by Gregg and Evan Spiridellis
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky
- (and, obviously) The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
My now grown children will vouch for each of these. In fact, we still pull them out every year just for fun, but don’t tell them I told you that.
For something interactive, we like this Christmas Eve resource for kindergarten and first grade children, Getting Ready for Christmas Eve (pictured at the top). It includes a holiday text about a little girl and all the things she does before going to bed on Christmas Eve:
- wrapping up the last few gifts
- setting out milk and cookies for Santa
- putting carrots and water out for the reindeer
- writing a letter to Santa
- opening the last part of her Christmas calendar
- and heading to bed… though she’s too excited to sleep
There are three different versions of the book, each one inviting more opportunities for interactivity and individuality. You can check out the full resource here. It’s perfect for the week leading up to the Christmas break or for sending home to parents.
SPEAKING OF SANTA
Have you ever wondered what a bad day at work might look like for Santa? What could go wrong, right?
Apparently, plenty.
We LOVE this silly tale about Santa and his Christmas Eve mishaps. Poor Santa. It’s a crazy night!
- He got stuck in the chimney.
- His sack of toys was too heavy to pick up.
- All the cookies gave him a tummy ache.
- He somehow got buried underneath a pile of presents.
- A string of Christmas lights gave him a little shock.
- And (to top it all off), the reindeer took off without him.
It’s another great literacy activity for Christmas Eve, whether using it at school or sending it home with the children. We don’t think every single activity has to be done in the classroom. And, often, parents are looking for fun ways to support their child’s education at home… especially during long breaks from school. Sending resources to families is an all-around win.
MORE CHRISTMAS EVE FUN FOR FAMILIES
We’ve used these activities in the classroom over the years, but since parents are often asking for extra ideas, these are some of our favorites to share… they’re perfect for Christmas Eve.
- Have a Polar Express Party – Put on your favorite PJs, make hot chocolate, and watch The Polar Express movie. When you’re done, talk about the movie and make polar bear treats.
- Make Reindeer Food – Santa isn’t the only one who might be extra hungry on Christmas Eve. Reindeer food can be as simple as leaving out a few carrots or as elevated as this recipe for magic reindeer food.
- Start a New Tradition – Many families already have their own traditions, but adding a new one every now and then can be really fun. These 10 Fun Christmas Traditions are great ideas to share with families looking for something extra.
A RELATED POST
If you have an empty space in your holiday lesson plans and are looking for a way to tie in some science standards, check this out. It’s a week’s worth of hands-on Santa Science Labs.
- Which of Santa’s cookies will float the longest in milk?
- Can you make snow from a diaper?
- And what is stuck in the chimney?
Let’s find out!
Until next time, happy teaching!
