Less than $5 Middle School Christmas, Chanukah, & Kwanzaa Lesson

This is a free social skills lesson focused on gift exchange. My Easy Social Skills Holiday lessons to explore and discuss each area to the best of your student’s ability. Students in your class will gain  a basic understanding of each other's likes and dislikes, as well as practicality in helping them learn how to thoughtfully choose gifts that reflect consideration, kindness and practicality. This Social Skills lesson is also perfect for Theory of mind and/ or Social problem solving.

Bring the holiday spirit into your science classroom with this engaging and educational “Christmas Candy Science” lesson pack! Perfect for middle school students, these hands-on experiments use festive candies to explore key scientific concepts aligned with NGSS and Tennessee state standards.

Students will love the festive twist on classic science experiments. This is the perfect activity to do the weird days right before Winter break when students are often absent! Each experiment is designed to reinforce important scientific principles and includes clear instructions to make it easy to implement these activities in your classroom.

Included Experiments:

• Candy Cane Dissolution Experiment
• Skittles Color Diffusion
• Chocolate Melting Point
• Gummy Bear Osmosis
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Inflation

Includes:

• Teacher tips and directions for each lab
• Materials list
• Student lab worksheets and data recording sheets
• Beautiful Winter themed slides to keep yourself and student on task

NGSS Middle School:

• MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred
• MS-PS1-4: Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed
• MS-LS1-2: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

Tennessee State Science Standards:

• MS.PS1.4: Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed
• MS.LS1.2: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

13 color-coded, figurative language Santa-themed activities that include definitions, examples, and writings. Fun for learning and using figurative language! Includes: Alliteration Hyperbole Idioms Imagery Internal Rhyme Metaphor Onomatopoeia Personification Simile Symbolism Writing Activity Word Search Activity Mix and Match Activity Answer Keys to Activities Use individually, small/whole group, as competitive activities and for Common Core Standards review or assessment of figurative language. Colorful Santa images to spark creativity!

You may be in full swing with your holiday or Christmas celebrations, but do your students need practice to identify the elements of story? This Gingerbread-themed worksheet with an original reading passage titled**, "Gingerbread Adventure** is designed to give your students an opportunity to practice identifying story elements, sequencing, and reading comprehension.

After reading the story, students will first identify the characters, setting, problem (conflict), and lesson (theme). Then they will sequence the events in the story, and finally, they will answer 5 reading comprehension questions. (Answer key for questions are provided.)

These no-prep worksheets are ready to go for you. Just print and proceed! This packet is ideal for teachers who want their students to get additional practice with important skills during the holiday season.

Simply print and go! There is truly no preparation needed, which is why this set is perfect to leave for sub plans, bell ringers, homework, test prep, review or assessment!

INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:

• 3 Printable Worksheets

***Save now by buying the Ultimate Christmas Bundle that includes this resource and tons of others making it everything you need for a seamless holiday!

You might be interested in Money-Saving Reading Comprehension Bundle! It includes 15 worksheets with reading passages that are designed to give your students an opportunity to practice identifying sequencing main events and details, as well as story elements, using the same stories. Excellent for a spiral review of skills!

**For personal and single classroom use only. If using with multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses at the discounted rate.**

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This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• struggling writers
• struggling readers
• ESL/ENL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction

This product was created for students to complete during or at the end of holiday break. Students can also complete this packet once they return to school. In this packet, students can answer the given comprehension questions regarding what they did during the break. Students are given opportunities to draw, answer short answer questions, circle pictures, and circle the best answer. The following holidays are asked about in this product: Christmas, New Year's, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. This product has been adapted from traditional writing/journal assignments where students write without receiving topic ideas, support, etc. Throughout the product, there are also vocabulary lists to help students answer comprehension questions if they are working on it independently.

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Home Alone Movie Comprehension Questions

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas Movie Reading Comprehension Questions

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Hanukkah Reading Comprehension Adapted

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Hanukkah-Reading-Comprehension-Adapted-8889830

Kwanzaa Reading Comprehension Adapted

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Kwanzaa-Reading-Comprehension-Adapted-8909333

Use this Spanish Christmas ornament writing activity to decorate your classroom tree and to get your Spanish students in the holiday spirit! Students will choose 1 of the 8 mandala ornaments to decorate or create their own with the blank version provided. Then they will practice their Spanish writing skills while writing about their greatest gift and responding to the prompt, "Mi mejor regalo es." Afterward, they can cut and glue that to their ornament and hang them on your class Christmas tree or bulletin board!

What's Included:

• A PDF Document with 8 Mandala Ornaments for students to choose from
• Ornaments for responding to "Mi mejor regalo es..."
• One blank ornament for students to create their own mandalas

Directions:

• Students will choose a mandala ornament to decorate or use the blank one provided to make their own.
• After decorating their ornaments, students will respond to the prompt, "Mi mejor regalo es..." using the writing-lined ornament.
• Next, students will cut out their mandala and writing ornament and glue the lined writing ornament to the back of their mandala ornament.
• Last, laminate and cut them out, hole punch the top, and add a string! Hang them on your classroom tree or bulletin board display.

Check out other Spanish resources HERE!

Right in time for your Christmas instrumentalists, we present to you Brenda Lee's hit Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree re-imagined as a HIP HOP TRAP MIX for BUCKET DRUMMING!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are grouped 2 or 4 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

The mp3 track is included in this one, so no need to YouTube it. Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!

Terms of Use:

All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.

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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

This product features 3 engaging, differentiated activities that focus on the rich sensory details of Hans Christian Andersen's devastatingly beautiful fairytale, "The Little Match Girl." The activities span before, during, and after reading the story with the intent to not only identify the sensory details, but to analyze their importance and how they add to the reader's experience with the tale and the little match girl herself. The activities support multiple learning styles so that all students walk away from the story with an appreciation for this heartbreaking tale and empathy for those less fortunate during the holiday season.

Product Includes:

- Anticipation Guide - "Creative Quick-Write and Story Time"

- Sensory Detail Chart

- Sensory Detail Drawing Activity

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Anticipation Guide (Before Reading)

- Suggested Lesson Plan for Sensory Detail Study (During Reading)

- Sensory Detail Analysis Open Response (After Reading)

- Answer Key

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Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}}

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

⭐We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity

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Recalling a Christmas Memory Project

Students will be able to use brain mapping worksheets to recall and answer the questions who, what, when where and why in reference to a Christmas memory. The project is a four-paragraph writing project.

Materials Included:

· Goals and Teacher Instructions

· Student Introduction Page

· Student Planning Page

· Grading Rubric

· Optional Writing Page

Christmas Social Skills Bundle:
This social skills lesson is the perfect holiday season bundle of activities for social skills groups.

What's Inside:

1. Christmas Social Story:

This social story uses real pictures to remind students of the different experiences during the Christmas season, such as Christmas parties, concerts, andschool decorations. It pairs these experiences with adaptive coping strategies.

2. Social Scenario Task Cards: "Festive Encounters" Dive into the world of interactive learning with our Social Scenario Task Cards. These engaging cards present a variety of Christmas-themed situations, encouraging thoughtful discussion and problem-solving. Whether it's a gift exchange dilemma or a holiday party interaction, these cards provide a fun and interactive way to practice social skills in a supportive setting.

3. Expected or Unexpected Behavior Task Cards: "Christmas Edition" Unwrap the secrets of social appropriateness with our Expected or Unexpected Behavior Task Cards. Featuring scenarios specific to the holiday season, these cards challenge individuals to differentiate between behaviors that align with social expectations and those that may need a second thought. A valuable tool for promoting self-awareness and refining social conduct during festive gatherings.

4. Christmas Coping Strategies Coloring Pages: "Colorful Calmness" Embrace the therapeutic power of creativity with the Christmas Coping Strategies Coloring Pages. This set of festive designs not only allows individuals to express themselves artistically but also introduces effective coping strategies for managing holiday-related stress and sensory overload. Each page is a canvas for relaxation, providing a mindful escape during the hustle and bustle of the season.

If you're looking for a lesson about the "Holidays Around the World," this resource is perfect for reading comprehension stories your class will enjoy. It includes topics for interesting class discussions, and also some fun activities! Find out more about the celebrations of Kwanzaa, Diwali, Hanukkah, and Epiphany. You will also learn how to play the Dreidel game, and how to make some delicious holiday desserts!

Included in this resource are:

*A list of suggested ways to use this lesson in the classroom

*A page that explains the importance of learning how people all over the world celebrate the holidays.

* Understanding Kwanzaa and the Seven Principles

* Interesting Stories, Comprehension Questions, and Answer Keys for:

"The Magical Reindeer of Santa Claus"

"Befana: Italy's Epiphany Witch"

"Three Kings Day in France" (including a recipe for how to make

"Galette des Rois" a pastry with a surprise inside!)

"The Miracle of Hanukkah" (including how to play the Dreidel Game

and a recipe for "Sufganiyot" Jelly Doughnuts!)

"The Festival of Diwali in India"

This lesson is ideal for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and can be used as:

• Reading Center Stations
• Small Group Instruction
• Whole Class Discussions
• Individual seatwork
• Substitute Lesson Plans
• Early Finishers

Where did Rudolph get his red nose? How did it come about? When did it happen? Why is it red? Become a reporter and uncover the facts! Students get the opportunity to create facts and/or interview others about Rudolph's red nose. Then, students compile a report using proper dialogue. The 7 page lesson can be used with early learners as well as middle school learners. Packet includes: Directions with optional activities Media/Video Links Working with Dialogue and Facts sheet Rudolph's Red Nose: The Facts (handout for higher level learners) Lined, themed paper for writing Reindeer handout for lower level writers Introduces use of dialogue and quotations for future fact-based assessment writing. Meets Common Core Standards.

This product was created for students when learning about Kwanzaa. Students can read the passage about Kwanzaa included in this packet independently or with support. Students will answer short answer questions and true/false questions pertaining to the passage. Students will label pictures that are presented in the product as well.

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Holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa) Vocabulary and Sentence Review

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Holiday Journal Writing Project

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Hanukkah Comprehension Passage and Questions

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Home Alone Movie Comprehension Questions:

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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Comprehension Questions

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Flat Stanley: Stanley's Christmas Adventure Reading Comprehension Questions

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AVID Winter Activity - Build a Costa Snowman Digital Resource: This digital lesson and activity is the perfect Winter or Christmas resource for building critical thinking skills in your AVID classroom! Use it as an inquiry icebreaker activity, a supplemental lesson for Costa's Level of Thinking, an inquiry lesson, a Fun Friday activity, or even for your Christmas/Winter party!

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Directions:

• This 18 interactive Google Slides presentation first goes over Costa's level of thinking with details and examples for all 3 levels.
• Then students will follow directions on drawing or creating their own Costa snowman while answering leveled questions on the way!
• After students create their snowmans and answer the Costa questions about them, they will write their own questions based on a winter scene!

What's Included:

• Essential questions slide
• 7 Costa's Level of Thinking teach slides
• 7 direction slides with step-by-step directions on how to create a Costa snowman and leveled questions for students to answer about their snowmen
• 1 slide with a winter scene where students will write their own leveled questions!

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out other winter resources HERE!

Check out other Christmas resources HERE!

Check out more AVID Inquiry resources HERE!

By popular request, here's an arrangement of the holiday hit that'll sure to get your bucket drumming kids fired up, Winter Palace by the Trans Siberian Orchestra!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2, 4, or 8 times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

Here's the track so you can play along (the arrangement begins at the downbeat of :51

https://youtu.be/Tjrhq9CVl\_c?si=U8GOae8znZp2L\_8w

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*** Looking for more BUCKET DRUMMING resources? *** Find them here!

This may be the most meaningful and memorable lesson you teach in December!

This product features an engaging "Christmas Talk" activity that will have your students thinking, writing, collaborating, speaking, and moving around in one class period! In this activity, they must choose between 5 different quotes from famous figures about Christmas and articulate why the quote aligns with their own perspective about the holiday. I use this lesson every year during the week leading up to Christmas vacation to make sure that my students take some time out of their hectic lives to consider what Christmas truly means not to society, not to others, but to them.

Product includes:

• Comprehensive lesson plan
• "Christmas Talk" Sheet for students to fill out
• 5 Corresponding "Christmas Quote" signs to hang up around your room

I hope that this lesson is as meaningful and successful in your class as it is in mine!

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Also, check out more great holiday products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language {{BUNDLE}}

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs - 32 Task Cards

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

⭐We Didn’t Start the Fire Activity

___________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This product was created for students to complete during or at the end of holiday break. Students can also complete this packet once they return to school. In this packet, students can answer the given comprehension questions regarding what they did during the break. Students are given opportunities to draw, answer short answer questions, circle pictures, and circle the best answer. Throughout the product, there are also vocabulary lists to help students answer comprehension questions if they are working on it independently. The following holidays are asked about in this product: Christmas, New Year's, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

You may also be interested in these products:

Holiday (Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa) Vocabulary and Sentence Review

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Holiday-Christmas-Hanukkah-and-Kwanzaa-Vocabulary-and-Sentence-Review-12417021

Hanukkah Comprehension Passage and Questions

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Hanukkah-Comprehension-Passage-and-Questions-8889830#show-price-update

Home Alone Movie Comprehension Questions:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Home-Alone-Movie-Comprehension-Questions-8785934

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Movie Comprehension Questions:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/How-the-Grinch-Stole-Christmas-Comprehension-Questions-8866582

Kwanzaa Comprehension Passage and Questions

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Kwanzaa-Comprehension-Passage-and-Questions-8909333#show-price-update

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Comprehension Questions

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/The-Best-Christmas-Pageant-Ever-Comprehension-Questions-12427135

Flat Stanley: Stanley's Christmas Adventure Reading Comprehension Questions

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Use this Christmas-themed AVID speed philosophical chairs icebreaker team-building activity to promote debate through dialogue and public speaking in your classroom as well as get students in the Christmas spirit! Students will not only learn what speed philosophical chairs is but they will enjoy some exciting dialogue through 20 fun debate topics.

For example, students will choose to agree or disagree with the statement, "It is acceptable to play Christmas music after Halloween."

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⭐Save 30% with this Public Speaking Bundle!⭐

⭐Save 30% with this Speed Philosophical Chairs Bundle!⭐

Directions:

1. A central statement will be announced to the class and you will define the two sides of the debate (Agree/Disagree).
2. Students move to the side of the room that they intend to defend.
3. An embedded timer will be set for 5 minutes, and the debate will start between the two groups.
4. Students attempt to keep contributions to less than 30 seconds each.
5. A new prompt is displayed and we start another round of quick debates.

What's Included:

• A teaching slide for "the why" of speed philosophical chairs
• A slide that includes the rules of engagement for students
• A slide for the steps of this speed philosophical chairs activity
• 20-speed philosophical chairs Christmas-themed debate statements
• A 5-minute silent timer embedded in each slide

*These resources are available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID Christmas Resources HERE!

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check out more Speed Philosophical Chairs resources HERE!

Check out more Public Speaking resources HERE!

Check out more Collaboration resources HERE!

By popular request, here's an arrangement of the holiday hit that'll sure to get your bucket drumming kids fired up, here's an advanced arrangement of Christmas Jam, by the Trans Siberian Orchestra!

There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2,3, or 7times). Then, apply it to drums!

All regular notation is to be played on the buckets (or drums, or ground, however you wish), and the X notation (with a down stem) are played as stick clicks above their head (or you could apply it to a tambourine or other auxiliary instrument)

This version differs from the standard version with the implementation of sixteenth note patterns (which is great to work on with your kids for alternating hands!)

Here's the track so you can play along...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1mHMZkR9Ss

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This resource features lesson plans and materials to conduct a formal set of Socratic Seminars for Charles Dicken's beloved classic, A Christmas Carol. Socratic Seminars (or "Fish Bowl" Conversations as referred to in this resource) are higher order ways of assessing whether your students are able to understand and react to your class texts. These seminars rely on the power of inquiry and allow students to take the lead in their learning and discussion. The only problem? They require a great deal of preparation. Fortunately, this student-tested resource includes everything you need to conduct a structured and formal set of Socratic Seminars in your classroom surrounding A Christmas Carol... and no preparation is required by you at all. It is the perfect administration-approved lesson for one of the days leading up to Christmas vacation.

Product Includes:

• Assignment Directions with step-by-step instructions on how to conduct fishbowls in your classroom
• Engaging Introductory Activity for Conversation Building
• 5 Discussion Questions for each “Fishbowl” conversation
• “Fishbowl” Preparation Sheet
• Conversation Builder Prompts
• Observation Sheet
• Rubric

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⭐‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Figurative Language Lesson Plan

⭐ The Little Match Girl Sensory Details Lesson Plan

⭐"Christmas Talk" Lesson Plan

⭐The Gift of the Magi & The Necklace Compare/Contrast Essay

⭐Christmas Song Figurative Language Powerpoint Presentation

⭐Figurative Language in Christmas Songs

⭐Letter to a Member of the Military

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence