Thematic Unit

Theme: Christmas
Grade:1
Allie Gore(2), Kyleigh Jo Ward(1), Emily
Bramble(3)
 Christmas

Christmas is an important topic for first graders to learn about and understand because of

the world wide difference in celebrating it. It is also something they will usually grow up

celebrating every year. They can learn about different traditions and the importances of

Christmas to their culture. The typical Christmas we think of includes the birth of Jesus, putting

up Christmas trees and lights, and Santa. But there are so many other traditions and events to go

along with Christmas around the world.

First graders, through play, can learn about Christmas by relating vocabulary to the

games they are playing. Having knowledge about different Christmas terms will allow the

students to become familiar with different celebrations and traditions of it. There are also

different games played at Christmas that the students can become familiar with by playing them

in the classroom. Students can learn about Christmas through experience by visiting live nativity

scenes and watching videos or plays on Christmas activities and they can experience different

cultures through multicultural Christmas books and guest speakers that could talk about their

Christmas traditions.

Through art and projects students can visually see Christmas in the making. They can

look at artists artwork and can be taught about the detail in the painting or drawing. They can

also make their own art and learn about different project activities done at Christmas time. There

are so many ways students can learn about traditions and Christmas itself.
Visual art
1. Handprint Rudolph/Reindeer

➔ Supplies:

◆ Pom-pom balls (red & green)

◆ Brown paint

◆ Black marker

◆ Googly eyes

◆ Red paper strip (for collar)

➔ Read a story on reindeer or Rudolph then have them make this craft.

➔ Steps

◆ Paint both of the students hands brown

◆ Place the right hand on top and the left on the bottom slightly to the left

◆ Put his nose eyes and collars on

◆ Draw on mouth and hooves

➔ https://www.parenting.com/family-time/holidays/10-handprint-christmas-

crafts-kids

➔
 ◆ STANDARD: 9.1. V 1.E Use imagination and creativity to express self through

visual arts.

◆ Assessment: A proper assessment would be to have a checklist whenever the

students turn in their reindeers, you would check off the list if they hit the point.

The point could be if they made it look like a reindeer.

➔ Sponge Painted Shaped Tree

Supplies

➔ Sponge cut into triangle pieces

➔ White construction paper

➔ Green, brown and yellow paint (Optional more colors for lights and

ornaments)

➔ Scissors

➔ Paper plates to put paints on

STEPS

1. Start at the bottom of the tree and put the sponge in the paint. Make the bottom of

the tree, then work your way up the tree until you only have one sponge mark.

2. Paint the star on the top of the tree.

3. Paint the trunk on the bottom of the tree.

➔ This would be a good craft for Christmas because around this holiday, many people

around the world put up trees for the holiday and decorate them. It would be appropriate

to decorate a tree with paint as they would decorate a real tree in their homes.

➔ Web Address: www.buggyandbuddy.com

➔ Candy Cane Bead Craft

Supplies

➔ Pipe cleaners (green)

➔ White and red beads

➔ Scissors

Steps:

➔ Cut a pipe cleaner about 7 inches long

➔ Fold one end over so that the beads will stay on

➔ You may start with a red or a white bead but make sure they alternate

➔ Continue to alternate colors until the pipe cleaner is almost filled but leave room to fold

the end so that the beads do not slip off

➔ Bend the pipe cleaner into a “J” shape and turn upside-down

● This would be an excellent craft for the holiday season because the kids could take it

home to hang on their trees. It is fairly easy and most kids will enjoy bringing it home to

show their parents and to help decorate their Christmas trees.

● http://ideas.tpet.co.uk/candy-canes/

Music
1. 5 Little Reindeer

◆ This song could be implemented into a math lesson for counting.

● 5 little reindeer prancing on the roof

One fell off and bumped its hoof

Santa called the doctor and the doctor said

“Put that reindeer right to bed”

*4... 3... 2... 1...

➔ https://www.classroomfreebies.com/2011/12/five-little-reindeer-

song-and-song.html

2. Christmas Alphabet

➔ C is for the Candy trimmed around the Christmas tree.

➔ H is for the Happiness with all the family.

➔ R is for the Reindeer prancing by the window pane.

➔ I is for the Icing on the cake as sweet as sugar cane.

➔ T is the Toys beneath the tree so tall.

➔ M is for the Mistletoe where everyone is kissed.

➔ A is for the Angels who make up the Christmas list.

➔ S is for old Santa who makes every kid his pet.

➔ Be good and he'll bring you everything in your Christmas Alphabet.

◆ The melody is not one from another song. You would have to play the song on

your computer to have the melody.

➔ https://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/christmas-alphabet.html

3. I’m a Little Santa

➔ I’m a Little Santa would be a great song to put motions to. The tune is recognizable (I’m

a Little Teapot) and you would be able to sing it along with the kids as they participated

in the motions.

➔ https://christmas.365greetings.com/christmas-songs/christmas-songs-for-kids.html
Book
1. Junie B. Jones Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

➔ Denise Brunkus

➔ elf costumes! And singing joyful songs! Only, how can Junie B. enjoy the

festivities when Tattletale May keeps ruining her holiday glee? And here is the

worst part of all! When everyone picks names for Secret Santa, Junie B. gets

stuck with Tattletale you-know-who! It’s enough to fizzle your holiday spirit!

Hmm . . . or is it? Maybe, just maybe, a Secret Santa gift is the perfect

opportunity to give May exactly what she deserves.

➔ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/

2. The Christmas Magic

➔ By Lauren Thompson

➔ Far, far North, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to

prepare for his big night of giving. He gathers his reindeer, feeds them parsnips and

berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Then lovingly, he chooses toys for every child

in the world. For Santa loves them all, and he knows what each child at heart wants most.

Then, with the thrum of magic that makes reindeer fly, he spreads the Christmas joy and

warmth throughout the world–as he always has — and always will until the end of time.

➔ www.thechildrensbookreview.com

3. It’s Christmas, David!

➔ David lets his enthusiasm run wild, earning him reprimands from his

offstage mother. He can't resist snooping for gifts ("No peeking!") or

sneaking cookies ("No snitching!"), and a "Sorry, you were naughty," letter

from Santa suggests the worst case scenario. Worry not: Shannon's having

just as much fun as David is, and his mixed-media art and kinetic kid's-eye-

view pull readers in for a happy Christmas morning. Ages 3–7.

➔ https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-545-14311-0

Creative Movement
1. Candy Cane Twist: this would be a great activity after learning about the

history of the candy cane.

➔ The dance is a version of the Twist which can get students up and active.

➔ Lyrics: https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Dave-Rudolf/Candy-Cane-Twist

➔ Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWDtloXeNT8
2. Reindeer Pokey

➔ This is a run-off of the hokey pokey, but instead of singing body parts, you sing the

reindeer body parts which goes along with the holiday theme, because reindeer make

Santa’s sleigh fly. You play this song to the tune of the hokey pokey.

➔ You put your antlers in.

You put your antlers out.

You put your antlers in,

and you shake them all about.

You do the reindeer pokey

and you turn yourself around.

That’s what it’s all about!

➔ Additional verses: Hooves, Fluffy Tail, and Red Nose

➔ www.fantasticfunandlearning.com

3. Away in a Manger

➔ Away in a Manger

➔ No crib for a bed (cradle arms and rock imaginary baby)

➔ The little Lord Jesus (sign language for Jesus) (pointer fingers to opposite palms)
 ➔ Lay down His sweet head (fold hands together and lay head on them)

➔ The stars in the sky (point upwards)

➔ Looked down where He lay (move hands down twinkling fingers as you look

down)

➔ The Little Lord Jesus (sign language for Jesus)

➔ Asleep on the hay (fold hands together and lay head on them)

➔ https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/christmas-songs.html

➔ This song would be great to teach the kids since it is a classic Christmas song.

The motions would be fun and easy for the kids to remember.

Games
1. Christmas Bingo

◆ Have the students rip up scrap paper for their marker chips. Pass out Christmas

themed bingo boards.

◆ The boards could also have Christmas vocabulary words on it and you would tell

them the definition. They would then get vocabulary practice for a test.

◆ Awards such as:

● Candy, school supplies, cheap plastic prizes

● No web address

2. Melting Snowman Word Game

◆ What you will need:

● White board or Chalk board

the board, each with 10-16 parts, like two or three circles for the body, arms,

buttons, eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Divide the class into two teams. A player from

each team spells a winter word, defines it, reads it, or answers a question about it;

whatever you are working on is fine. If the player is correct, then he erases one

part of the other team’s snowman. Play until one snowman has disappeared, or

melted. If you start at the top, it would look more like melting, but that is not

necessary.

➔ www.culdesaccool.com

3. First to Trim the Tree

➔ In this game, you decorate another person as a tree! Split your kids up into teams

and have them choose one person to be decorated. Have them start at the same

time and whoever uses up all of their supplies first, wins!

➔ Supplies needed:

➔ Crepe Paper

➔ Self adhesive gift bows

➔ Non-breakable Christmas bulbs

➔ https://www.muminthemadhouse.com/10-fun-kids-christmas-party-games/

Drama
1. Christmas Charades
 ◆ Have the object/person prepared before class and allow students to choose from a

hat.

● Scrooge, christmas tree, santa, snowball fight, caroling, ice skating

◆ Have the students separate into two teams and act out each thing for their team.

◆ Whichever team has the highest amount of points at the end of 10 minutes wins

➔ No Web Address

2. Puppets (Santa, Rudolph, Mrs. Claus)

➔ I, being the teacher, would purchase Christmas puppets for the classroom or make them.

Then, I would bring the puppets to class and separate the class into groups of three’s then

assign each student to a puppet and then have them perform in front of the class. I would

not have a certain script, but let the students use improvisation.

➔ NO web address, I came up with this.

3. Act out a Christmas story

➔ Choose a Christmas story that has multiple characters in it. Read it aloud to the class.

After you read and discuss, separate kids into teams and have them come up in front of

the class to act out the story. Have them assign roles between one another or you can

choose to do it yourself. You can narrate the story as they go along.

➔ No web address