Christmas School: The Complete Guide

What in the world is Christmas school? Well I’m glad you asked! This article is for all the homeschooling mama’s out there who want to complete all the Christmas tasks, spend time with your kids doing fun Christmas activities, get some rest in there somewhere, AND do some homeschooling too!

I get it, you want this year to be different. For instance, maybe last year you ended up tired and stressed before the holidays even began, and then you were mad because you didn’t get to spend the fun, restful time with your kids that you wanted.

That’s where Christmas School comes in! By the end of this article you will know what Christmas school is, why it’s amazing and saves you time, and how to actually do it!

What is Christmas School?

Christmas school is where you can still do some of your regular subjects, but you do less “schoolwork”, and incorporate Christmas into every subject you do! I will show you how, and give you tons of examples and recommendations. Last year, we were reading the Kirsten and Felicity American Girl Christmas books, so I did some googling on Christmas activities to go with the books. As a result of that, I found a new favorite website, and lots of other great resources too, all of them I am linking below!

The Advantages of Christmas School

Since you’re a homeschooling family, you have an advantage over traditional school families because:

• You have the opportunity to do some things during the day

• Because you can do some things during the day, and you aren’t stressing and rushing around after school or work trying to get in every little thing

• Your nights or weekends can be more relaxed if you want it to be because you get to do some things during the day during the week

How does Christmas School work?

Well, first you’re going to start by making a list. And checking it twice. Ok, not really, but I had to throw that in there! I’ll try to be serious now. 🙂 But no promises. So go ahead and grab a pen and paper. Yes really! Yes, right now! I will tell you why in just a sec.

So what am I making a list of you may ask? Make a list of things you already know you’re going to do, or things you are attending, like decorating, putting up the tree, Christmas parties, Christmas programs, Christmas baking, going to see The Nutcracker, gingerbread house decorating, etc. Also, make a list of every recipe you plan to make.

This is going to be your priority list of the most important things to do or get done for the holidays. This list is important because some of these things that are on your list can be part of Christmas school, so making sure you aren’t adding more work on yourself is the key. The goal is less stress, and more fun in December!

Now that you have your list, now you can… make another list! Haha, joking but not really.
This time you are asking your children or teens what they want to learn about in Christmas School, and what holiday activities they would like to do. This will help you know what to do in December, and what not to do.

Isn’t that so freeing? Depending on their age, they may prioritize curling up at night or even in the afternoon (hey, no judging here!) to watch a Christmas movie with the family, over making a gingerbread house, or going to a Christmas party, or a play, or even helping decorate the tree.
That is actually way cheaper than the other options, so you could be saving a lot of money and stress, if you just ask your kids! If you have a lot of kids, have them pick 1 special thing each, and prioritize that.

To recap so far- make a list of priorities, then make a list of your kids priorities, and ask them what they want to do and learn about in December and Christmas school.

If you have too many activities you or the kids want to do, I resemble that! And here’s the bad news- you’re probably not going to be able to do all the things you want! That is why each person needs to pick 1 special thing, and just put your energy and attention into those things, and the holidays will be more fun and special!

Ok, now let’s take action! Here’s how you can put it all together!

1. Biblical/Nativity

I’m putting this first because… Jesus IS the reason for the season! I know that’s such a cliche saying, but it is still true! We can show our kids the true meaning of Christmas by:

• Reading about the Birth of Jesus in the Bible
• Printing out a Nativity study to do with all of the kids. We loved this one last year!
• Acting out the Christmas story at home complete with props they can make (this incorporates crafts and drama/arts)

2. Service Projects and Donations

This time of the year organizations such as The Salvation Army, homeless shelters, and hospitals are in need of things to make the adults and kids in their care feel loved and cared for on the holidays. They always need blankets and homemade items to give out. Here are some ways to help your kids with the act of service and giving!

• Sewing/knitting or crocheting homemade baby blankets and hats to donate to the hospital Birth Center and NICU
• Donate gently used toys or buy new toys and donate to the children’s hospital or children’s wards in the hospital
• Sign up to make a meal and serve it at your local homeless shelter or Salvation Army
• Pick a name from The Angel Tree at your church or an organization that has one and have your children shop together for that child
• Write Christmas cards for senior citizens and deliver them
• Make a meal to a family in need or having a hard time and deliver it

3. Geography

In geography, take December to learn about:

• The North Pole
• Research how other countries celebrate Christmas. This website is amazing for researching about other countries’ holiday celebrations, what they celebrate, their customs and traditions, and how they celebrate.

4. Cultural Studies

This can tie in with geography and history, because you are studying the culture of different countries during the holidays. A really fun way to celebrate is by:

• Choose a different country each week, or just pick one for the whole month. You can do this how ever you choose!
• Celebrate Christmas how they celebrate it. Make a traditional meal from that country, pick a book or two about that country, and even decorate!

5. History

This Christmas traditions website is a great website for researching the History of Santa Clause, Christmas, any kind of Christmas tradition you can can think of! Me and my daughter enjoy reading this every year. It even has the history of the Christmas pickle!

6. Language Arts and Reading

Language arts is an important subject, so I don’t suggest skipping this one for a whole month, unless you want to. However, you can still incorporate language arts during the day through Christmas books and stories, and in addition, maybe do 1-2 regular lessons a week. Read through some of these stories when the chapter is set at Christmas. Here are some book suggestions:

• A Christmas Carol
• Felicity, An American Girl Set (Felicity’s Surprise is the Christmas book)
• Kirsten’s Surprise
• Anne of Green Gables
• Little House on the Prairie Series
• A Little Princess, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and Heidi Collection
• Little Women

7. Handwriting and Copy Work

If you still want them to work on handwriting or cursive writing during the holidays, here are a few ways they can incorporate Christmas into it:

• Christmas Carol copy work (just google Christmas Carol Copywork) and you can print off a printable) or they could just write on any lined paper
• Handmade cards- this is part arts and crafts and handwriting. Have them make a list of everyone they want to make cards for, help them get all the materials together if they want to decorate them, and make sure they have all the addresses that they need
• Card addressing- if they want to get super fancy, try having them practice a fancy font or even try their hand at calligraphy for addressing

8. Math

I know what you’re thinking. How can math be fun? Or I want a break, and don’t really want to teach much math. Well… I don’t either. 😉 You may consider doing 2-3 lessons a week of review, and saving learning new math skills for the new year.

Another way they can incorporate math in Christmas school is:

• Help you with grocery shopping,
• Budgeting for the holidays
• Practicing measuring in those yummy holiday treats you have on your list

9. Music and the arts

This incorporates so much history, language arts and even math depending on how far you want to go with it. However, if you just want to enjoy music in Christmas school, with not a lot of planning (hello me!) then these are some good ideas!

• The Nutcracker music- Get the cd here and also check out this Nutcracker CD with the music and the whole story of The Nutcracker. Disclaimer-the reviews say it is rather long!
• Get the Nutcracker Ballet dvd or find it on Amazon prime video, and watch it while having a fancy tea time, complete with Christmas snacks. Children might enjoy this version better, but I prefer the older, even more whimsical and magical 1986 motion picture version, however it says on amazon it is currently out of stock. It is on prime video though!
• Attend The Nutcracker Ballet Live if you’re able to. If not, that’s ok! Listening to the music and watching the movie is magical all by itself!
• Listen to Christmas songs and Christmas carols
• I found this gem of a website last year, and fell in love! It’s an online choir service, with music and the reading of the birth of Jesus. I can’t wait to listen to this again this year.
• Research the history behind Christmas carols and songs- we started this last year and do you know the story behind the song “Silent Night?” Well, we didn’t either, and it’s an amazing story!
• Plan a caroling night in your neighborhood or community- this is something I remember doing with a group at our church growing up, and I have very fond memories of this. I would love to do this again! Won’t you join me? Let’s do it together! 🙂

10. Memory work

Memory work can be challenging, even for typically developing children! So, if you do any kind of memory work, you can make it more fun and less stressful in December by incorporating these tips. Oh and how many times am I going to say incorporate in this blog post? The world may never know.

• Memorize Christmas songs- This is fun and can be helpful and educational especially for children or teens with ADHD who can have a hard time remembering things. Have them pick 1-3 songs to focus on, and memorize during the month of December.
• Christmas Carols- Christmas carols can be tricky, and have interesting words and phrases they may have never heard of. I mean, bobsled? 10-40 for his speed? Take this opportunity and have them look up the definition and proper usage, etc. This can tie in with language arts and vocabulary as well!
• If they love poems already, and are adept at memorizing poems already, then have them pick 2-3 poems to memorize in the month of December. If they struggle with poor working memory, you can try a short Christmas poem, or have them listen to Christmas poems while drawing, painting, sketching, sewing, etc.

11. Arts and Crafts

You can do arts crafts this holiday with minimal effort and mess thanks to crafting kits, dollar stores, and glittery foam Christmas stickers. 😉 They are magical, and they like to put them on everything. Here are some things they can do this month:

• Make peppermint play doh
• Decorating handmade cards
• Handmade ornaments
• Gingerbread house decorating totally works as a work of art
• Christmas scene painting on a canvas while sipping hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music
• Make a homemade snow globe with a small canning jar
• If all creativity fails, find pine cones! There are so many crafts you can do with pine cones

12. Science

Science can be so much fun and natural this time of the year! Here are some things or activities that are science related:

• Picking a tree
• Clipping greenery
• Decorating with greenery
• Learning about all the evergreen trees
• Learning the difference between pine, fir, spruce, and juniper trees
• Go tree hunting in the woods and try to find an evergreen tree
• If you have essential oils, have them close their eyes or blindfold them, then have them smell oils and try to guess which oil it is

13. Cooking and Baking

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always secretly wanted to make these fancy desserts or dishes that you have heard about in Christmas Carols or Christmas movies. I wonder what figgy pudding tastes like? I’m not sure, but if another type of pudding is more your fancy, then sub out the fig for something else!

Have you ever roasted chestnuts? Me either, so maybe it’s about time to give it a try! This is my favorite part of Christmas school, if you can’t tell!!! 
And pumpkin pie is mentioned several times in several different Christmas songs, so it’s not just for Thanksgiving.

So here is a list of some desserts/treats that are mentioned in Christmas songs:

• Pumpkin pie
• Pudding
• Wassail
• Roasted chestnuts
• Marshmallows (in hot chocolate)

Honorable mentions are:

• Gingerbread cookies or really anything gingerbread related
• Anything with peppermint, cranberry, or cherry
• Bundt cake
• Any recipe that is a family recipe that is a tradition

14. Other Christmas Activities

• Wrapping presents
• Making bows
• Making handmade cards
• Handmade/diy gifts
• Handmade tags
• Handmade place cards
• Knitting, sewing, crocheting, embroidery
• Christmas Unit Studies (just google and pick one)
• An American Girl Christmas unit Study I love, love, love this website!

Let’s Wrap this Up!

Like what I did there? Sorry, I just had to!

I know that seems like a lot. So in conclusion I will leave you with one last suggestion. Or maybe 2.

You don’t even have to do ALL of these subjects in December, because it IS still a lot. Have your kids (with your guidance) pick out a few subjects or activities and you can add in or take away as you go.

And similarly- real world experiences are the best teachers! Anything you are already planning to do for Christmas like shopping, baking, wrapping presents, getting a tree and decorating it, can be woven into Christmas school. So yes, above all, picking out a Christmas tree still counts as science!

If it doesn’t even feel like “school”, then you have accomplished the true goal of Christmas School!

So tell me in the comments…Do you use real trees or fake trees? We are a fake tree family 

Have a Merry Christmas School this December!

xoxo Tara