I've been told there are three types of homeschoolers in December: those who stick to a regular school routine until a few days before Christmas, those who take the entire month off and completely embrace the delights of the holidays, and those who incorporate seasonally-themed learning activities to create Christmas School.
I kind of land somewhere in the middle, taking a full three weeks off during the month to sprinkle in lots of Christmas traditions and learning activities into our days. Truth be told, I've never done an open-and-go Christmas curriculum but have always preferred to piecemeal my own resources.
Annual Christmas School Traditions
A few activities have become staples in our seasonal learning--pursuits that I'm resolved to continue for as long as I'm still homeschooling. They include the following:
Read one chapter of Luke out loud each day
Since there are exactly 24 chapters in the book, Luke makes for the perfect Morning Time reading for any age. Unless I have a specific Christmas-themed devotional selected at the start of December, we always read through Luke's gospel.
Learn a new Christmas carol and its origin
Using a few vintage songbooks, I teach my children one new carol each year. Then we read about its origins and its writer from Then Sings My Soul.
Countdown with an heirloom Nativity set
At the close of our daily Morning Time, each of my kids unwraps one of our heirloom Nativity pieces and places them all in certain designated spots around the house.Countdown with a magnetic Nativity set
Each day, one of my kids puts a piece of a magnetic Nativity set on the refrigerator to create a 2-dimensional manger scene. The pieces are numbered on the back, allowing us to add one character in reverse order of importance to the story, ending with Baby Jesus on December 25. Unfortunately, our set is no longer being produced. But, here are three similar sets to consider:
Unwrap a Nativity or Christmas-themed living library book
I wrap library books in festive paper and let my children take turns opening one each day. At this point, my oldest kids have outgrown this tradition but are willing to continue participating for the sake of their youngest brother. I usually select books from the following lists and reserve them from my local library branch the week of Thanksgiving so that I can pick them up and have them wrapped before December 1st.
- 20+ Nativity Books That Tell the Real Story (free printable list)
- 12 Christmas Books for Living Literature Learning
Read one Christmas-themed chapter book aloud
Every afternoon just after lunch, I read one chapter of a favorite Christmas-themed novel out loud to the entire family.
Countdown with the names of Jesus
We end dinner each night by unwrapping one of our Christmas names of Jesus ornaments, reading the corresponding Scripture passage, and hanging the ornament on the tree.
Countdown with daily activities
Each afternoon or evening, we do one family fun activity together as dictated by our family Advent calendar. My kids have never really enjoyed doing seasonal crafts. So instead, when making my list of ideas each year, I try to include games, service projects, local events, play productions, choir concerts, and get-togethers.
Other Christmas School Ideas
Over the years, I've also rotated in a few other resources and activities to make each year slightly different from the last. They include the following:
Christmas-themed chalk pastel projects || You Are an Artist
Remarkable Advent- daily readings appropriate for middle schoolers through adult
The Adventure of Christmas- readings plus activities
Other Christmas Devotionals to Consider
The following is a list of books that I am not personally familiar with but which look to be good resources for Christmas schooling.
Devos for children
Devos for teens and adults
Christmas Schooling Curricula to Consider
The following is a list of learning resources that have been made for homeschoolers by homeschoolers. While I have not used any of these, I know all but three of the authors personally and trust that the materials are solid. For the most part, these are appropriate for preschool through elementary kids. That said, almost all of them can be adjusted for older kids. The asterisks indicate curricula that could be used for teens with little to no alterations.
A Connected Christmas || Treehouse Schoolhouse (Use coupon code UNLIKELY_HOMESCHOOL at checkout to score 10% off your entire order.)
Slow Down Christmas || A Year of Learning
The First Christmas || Gather 'Round*
Christmas Around the World || Gather 'Round*
Signs of the Savior || Little House Learning Co.
Come to the Manger || Brighter Day Press
The Advent Guide || Brighter Day Press
The Christmas Bundle || The Peaceful Press
Adoration at the Manger || Not Consumed
Uncovering Mercies at the Manger || Not Consumed*
Camp Christmas || Your Morning Basket
Advent Morning Time Plans || Your Morning Basket
Christmas Celebration Morning Time Plans || Your Morning Basket
Truth in the Tinsel || Truth in the Tinsel
An American Girl Christmas || Little Schoolhouse of Smiths
Christmas Schooling Suggestions from Others
If you know of a Christmas Schooling curriculum or resource that is not listed above, feel free to leave the title or link in the comments section below and I will add it here. That said, as you look through the following, know that I am not familiar with any of these. I can't vouch for their Biblical accuracy or lack thereof.
Christmas Around the Campfire || Campfire Curriculums
Christmas Around the Campfire || Campfire Curriculums
In the Season of Caroling Noel || Campfire Curriculums
A Final Word
Even if you are not a full-on Christmas schooler, might I encourage you to sprinkle a little bit of extra into your December school days to help make them more diverting? Connection should always be a primary goal of home education, but especially at Christmas. Don't be afraid to set the textbooks aside for a bit, slow down, and savor a new type of learning for the season. Together.
Campfire Curriculums is another one to look into. They have two Christmas units to choose from. They are both wonderful.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I'll add it here.
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