Holiday Homeschooling {Links, Lesson Ideas, and Printables}

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The holidays are pure magic. At least they are to me.

When I was a kid, my mom somehow transformed our house into a winter wonderland every year. It smelled like the forest, and there was glitter that would stick to my hands, and lights and candles I could watch for hours. I remember cinnamon, and christmas music, and freezing in a minivan in the snow.

The month of December always seemed to last longer than other months, probably because it was so jam packed with awesomeness.

These days, my family is on the other side of the world, and this is the third year in a row that I won’t be “home” for christmas. And that downright sucks. But I am determined to not let it suck, because I guess that’s what happens when you grow up and become the mom. All of a sudden, you can’t rely on your own mother to make the magic.

I have three little people waiting on ME to make the magic.

Over the last couple years, we’ve grown into our own family traditions. Some are the same as before, like the glitter covered “ting ting” that Hubby hates because he’s worried about glitter scratching his retinas. Others are different, like our Thankful Turkey and activity advent calender. But they all serve the same purpose- creating magic.

So, we’re putting away our normal studies this month so we can focus on more important things. Things like baking cookies and decorating gingerbread houses. Memorizing christmas songs, and going ice skating, and eating way too many kartoffelpoofers at the markt downtown. I have audio books on standby, and a cupboard full of baking supplies.

Homeschooling for the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated. You can keep on doing what you’re doing- or you can add in some easy activities and “holiday school” along with us.

Holiday Homeschooling Resources from Us:

Use our printable craft cookbook for ornaments {Free Printable}

Make some simple christmas decorations

Make Drip Painted Ornaments

Memory Work from the Christmas Story (Luke 2) {Free Printable}

December Calender Cards for Circle Time {Free Printable}

Lesson Ideas:

Lesson- Santa Claus

The history of Santa Claus –Who is St. Nicholas? (History)
Write a letter to Santa (Language Arts)
Find the north pole on a map (Geography) research the north pole.

Lesson- Snowflakes

Make snowflakes out of coffee filters (symmetry)
If you have snow outside- play! Look at the snowflakes falling on your jacket to see their shapes. (nature studies)
All about snowflakes (science)

Lesson- The Grinch

This link includes crafts, activities and a teacher’s guide to comparing the film and original versions of the story (crafts, language arts)

Lesson- Trim the Tree

Christmas Countdown Chain (Patterns)- Make an ABA or ABC pattern Christmas countdown chain out of construction paper. Directions: cut strips of paper in 2 or 3 colors totaling the number of days left until Christmas. Have the child assemble the chain in the order of a pattern. Use to count down the days until Christmas.
Christmas tree puppet (Craft) from Scholastic
Activities for Trimming your Tree-
Have the child sort ornaments, by size, color, type. (sorting)
Count ornaments of like colors (counting)
String Popcorn (small motor skills)
Trim a tree treasure hunt from Scholastic
Virtual Christmas Tree Farm– Learn history of Christmas trees, types of Christmas trees and how Christmas trees grow! (History and Science)

Lesson- Gingerbread

Gingerbread House (Patterns)- Make gingerbread houses using graham crackers and frosting. Use gumdrops and other candies to make ABA or ABC patterns as decoration on the houses.
Gingerbread cut out cookies (cooking and math- try dividing or doubling)

Extra Fun

Holiday Trivia from Scholastic

Christmas Coloring Pages

Holiday word find from Scholastic