Winter Holidays Teaching Resources
Getting your classroom ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the rest of the winter holidays on the horizon? You're in luck!
Our team of teachers from around the US has created winter holiday worksheets, activities, games, and more to make the holidays bright and merry — even if the temperatures outside are bitter cold! Celebrate the major calendar events in an inclusive manner with options for engaging students in multicultural ways.
What Holidays Are Celebrated in Winter?
If you want to get technical, winter begins in December on the Winter Solstice, also know as the shortest day of the year. And yet because the thermometer drops in much of the country well before the solstice, some consider Thanksgiving to be the start of the winter holidays.
Other holidays that fall during the winter season include:
- Christmas
- Hanukkah
- Kwanzaa
- New Year's Eve
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Lunar New Year
- Valentine's Day
- Read Across America Day
Celebrating Winter Holidays in the Classroom
Looking for the best ways to celebrate any (or all!) of the winter holidays? The Teach Starter team of teachers has created printable and digital options — many of which align to the curriculum — to bring the holiday spirit into your classroom. These themed resources can also display the students’ information in new ways around the classroom. This collection contains a variety of resources for all classrooms.
- Plus Plan
Zentangle Pattern Holiday Crafts - Mini Collection
Practice Zentangle in the classroom with craft activities using holiday characters with funky glasses and other accessories.
11 Groundhog Day Activities for Kids Plus Fun Groundhog Books for Your Classroom!
Celebrate Groundhog Day in the classroom with activities for kids that are packed with learning about science, math, and more!
How to Make a Puppet Out of a Paper Bag: Fun with Christmas Puppets
Instructions to make a puppet out of a paper bag plus Christmas puppet templates, teacher ideas, and more ways to use the puppets in the classroom!
16+ Christmas Writing Prompts & Activities for Kids to Add a Jolly Twist to Your Writing Centers
Dive into the holiday spirit with our Christmas writing prompts and activities for elementary students. Kids will have plenty of opportunities to put on their thinking caps and write creatively while simultaneously designing Christmas cards, writing a kind note to a community member and much more.
20 Elf on the Shelf Classroom Ideas & Activities That Add Some Holiday Magic
Explore classroom Elf on the Shelf ideas and activities that are easy to reproduce. We've included teachers' favorite ELA and STEAM activities too!
How to Make Paper Plate Christmas Crafts for the Classroom: Trees, Reindeer and More!
Turn the frugal paper plate into something fabulous this holiday season with one of these Christmas craft ideas.
Easy Holiday Crafts and Activities for Kids: Frosty, Santa, and More for Your Classroom!
With the holidays just around the corner, we have put together some easy holiday crafts and activities for kids to do in the classroom.
30 Holiday + Christmas Classroom Door Decorations That Jingle All the Way
We have 30 creative Christmas door decorations that you and your students will love!
How to Make a DIY Mailbox + Holiday Letter-Writing Activities for Kids
Create a DIY holiday mailbox for the classroom and use these letter-writing activities to practice writing letters with your students.