Homeschool Christmas lessons

Are you ready for the next homeschool holiday?  I might be this year.  Or at least partially ready.  Okay, I’m probably fooling myself that I’m ready for a homeschool Christmas, but I can pretend right?

Homeschool Christmas books

Last year I wrote about our Christmas books, and I don’t think I’ve really added too many books to that list.  I’ll add most of the crafts below go with one of the books on this list somehow or other.

But, looking over that list I did not include any chapter books, so here you go:

• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever– I love this book so much, read it for yourself, if not to have your kids read it
• Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent– I’ll be honest, my family has never particularly loved this book, but everyone else I talk to raves about this.  So check it out at your local bookstore.
• Calendar Mysteries #12: December Dog– Again this is part of Superman’s absolute favorite book series.
• Amy’s Very Merry Christmas (The Critter Club)– And this would be one of Princess’ favorite book series.
• A Christmas Carol Dear America: Christmas After All– I completely forgot I had this book, until I was looking for Christmas chapter books, this is set during the Great Depression in the United States (1930s)
• Magic Tree House #44: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time– Confession, my kids never cared for Magic Tree House fiction books, but love the nonfiction ones.
• The Christmas Party from the Black Lagoon– When I taught these were wildly popular with my students.

Christmas Crafts

I’ll tell you most of our homeschool Christmas lessons are crafts, there’s bit of geography, but I love Christmas crafts.

• Applesauce Ornaments– We did this once, and only once because I didn’t label them and Jeff ate one.  They don’t taste good, but they do smell good.
• Easy Christmas Tree card– The kids and I made dozens of these one year, and then I forgot to send them.  I’m such a horrible person to never mail them.
• Chalk Pastel Christmas Cards-Look at the bird, I’m sure there’s a bird or something to distract you from my lack of mailing anything.
• Pine Cone Christmas Tree– To go along with Froggy’s First Christmas, such a cute book.
• Gingerbread pirates– This craft was universally popular.

Christmas Around the World

I love Christmas Around the World units, ever since I was a student teacher and my mentor teacher let me have fun.  They’re a great way to see not everyone celebrates Christmas how we do, AND where many “American Christmas traditions” come from.

• Christmas in Germany– This really turned into a gingerbread man unit, but it was still lots of fun.
• Christmas in Iceland– I find their traditions interesting because it is similar to Sweden in some ways.
• Christmas in Sweden– It’s interesting how my style of unit study changes over the years.  This unit study has a lapbook and a recipe, and that’s it.
• Christmas in Sweden 2– Now this one has a craft, a recipe, and some history in it.  It’s amazing the difference of what you can cover with 4-year-olds versus 9-year-olds.

Christmas History

All right, these are coming up, at some point in the future.

• Saint Nicholas- Who is he really?
• Saint Boniface– or why do we have a Christmas tree?

Other Homeschool Christmas lessons

• Christmas math game– I wrote this lesson way back when my kids were concentrating on counting, but I’ve included suggestions to modify it up through beginning algebra.
• When Santa Lost His Ho Ho Ho– A wonderful writing lesson for Christmas
• Learning with Christmas Carols-I love Christmas Carols, so any excuse to play them is welcome.