December in the classroom has a special kind of energy. Your students are excited, your schedule is full of interruptions, and you are doing your best to keep learning on track while also embracing the fun of the season. It is a lot, and if you have ever tried to teach a regular math lesson the week before break, you already know the struggle is real.
That is why I love lessons that feel magical for kids but still let you hit your standards and keep your routine steady. Holidays Around the World checks every box. It gives your students something new to look forward to, keeps them focused, builds cultural understanding, and fills your lesson plans with meaningful reading, writing, and social studies activities that fit beautifully into your already busy days.
If you want your December plans to feel joyful instead of stressful, this is a wonderful place to start.
Why Holidays Around the World Works So Well in December
December comes with a big mix of challenges. Students are excited. Routines shift. Class time gets squeezed. You want to keep learning meaningful without piling extra work on yourself.
That is exactly why Holidays Around the World is such a perfect fit.
Your students get a chance to learn about real celebrations from around the world in a way that feels exciting and meaningful. As they explore traditions from each country, they naturally build empathy and cultural awareness, which is such an important part of this season.
Every Holidays Around the World unit gives them engaging reading and writing practice through flip books, postcards, and symbol pages that support comprehension and help them connect what they are learning. The visuals and symbols make each celebration easier to understand, and the differentiated flip book options give every student a way to participate confidently. The hands-on crafts tie everything together and give your students valuable fine motor practice while bringing each tradition to life.
You get print and go activities that save your sanity during the busiest month of the year. Each set blends social studies, reading, writing, and fine motor development so you can cover multiple skills at once without extra planning. The structure is flexible enough to work for centers, morning work, whole group lessons, or even a last minute sub plan. Best of all, it creates a steady routine that helps keep your class focused and engaged during one of the most distracting times of the school year.
It is the perfect blend of festive and academic, and your students will be hooked.
What Makes This Holidays Around the World Bundle So Classroom Friendly
Every packet in this Holidays Around the World Bundle includes the same core pieces, which makes planning incredibly easy. You can expect:
- A teacher planner with information, links, and quick reference notes
- A printable postcard with country or holiday facts
- A symbols page to help students identify important traditions
- An interactive flip book with differentiated options
- A themed craft that ties into the cultural celebration
- Activities that fit beautifully into literacy, social studies, and fine motor practice
If you want to see how simple these units are to put together, the Las Posadas example video is a great peek inside. It gives you a clear look at how the writing booklet works and how the pieces come together without adding extra steps for you.
Classroom Tested Ways to Use Holidays Around the World
I designed this entire unit to be fun and flexible! You can weave these studies into your week in so many easy and meaningful ways. You can choose one country each day and turn it into two weeks of lessons that explore the cultures and holidays of the season. Make sure to use the suitcase, passport, and travel stamps that come with the bundle to embrace the travel theme as you explore the globe. If you don’t have two weeks for this topic, choose 5 countries and explore cultures and holidays for one week. And. . . don’t forget that you can hold on to the unit about Chinese New Year and use it in January or February!
Don’t have a long enough block of time to complete all the activities in one day? Add some of the activities to your reading and writing centers. Your students will love the connected learning opportunities, and you will be able to dive deeper while also working on key skills.
Connect the different pieces of the unit to the subjects, standards, and skills you must teach. The postcards pair beautifully with geography lessons as students locate each country on a map or globe, and comparing celebrations on a simple class chart or anchor chart helps your students make deeper connections.
And. . . one of my favorite ways taps into all this amazing holiday and cultural learning while making this easier for you to prep. Make it a team activity for your whole grade level. Each teacher chooses one or two countries to prep, and students rotate through classrooms over several days. Your prep is much smaller, and the kids absolutely love traveling from class to class to learn about new celebrations. It takes “traveling” around the world to a whole new level!
However you choose to use the activities, you can do so knowing that you are creating lessons that touch on many standards and skills. This keeps those lesson plans intact while weaving in the engaging power of the holidays. That’s a win-win for sure!
Let’s Take a Peek Inside the Holidays Around the World Bundle
The Holidays Around the World bundle includes everything you need to teach your students about 12 winter holiday celebrations from countries around the world. Each packet follows the same easy to use structure, but every country brings its own traditions, writing opportunities, and craft fun. Here is a quick look at what your students will experience.
Germany
Students read about Christmas in Germany and discover the excitement children feel on St. Nicholas Day when they leave out their shoes. They work through simple reading and writing tasks that help make the tradition more meaningful. The craft gives students a fun way to bring the learning to life.
Sweden
Students explore Christmas in Sweden and learn about St. Lucia’s Day, a celebration filled with light and special traditions. The reading and writing activities give them a chance to reflect on what they learn in a kid friendly way without overwhelming them. The craft adds a creative, hands-on moment that ties everything together.
The Netherlands
Your students explore the traditions of Sinterklaas and learn how children leave wooden clogs filled with carrots for Sinterklaas’s horse. They find out why December 5th is such an exciting day for Dutch families and how Christmas Day itself is usually quieter and celebrated with family time. The activities give students plenty of chances to practice vocabulary, sort symbols, and write about the traditions in a kid friendly way.
United States and Canada
Students explore familiar Christmas traditions from North America and see how families celebrate the season in ways that feel warm and recognizable. They learn about classic symbols and customs, with a simple peek into the fun of Christmas Eve when Santa and his reindeer arrive. The activities give students an easy way to connect reading and writing practice to traditions they already know.
France
Your students learn how families in France prepare for Christmas and get a peek into the tradition of placing shoes by the fireplace for Père Noël. The activities help them build vocabulary and practice writing as they connect to new cultural ideas. The themed craft adds a sweet fine motor element that your students will enjoy.
England
Students learn about familiar English traditions like hanging stockings for Father Christmas and enjoying classic treats. They explore how families celebrate together on December 25th and discover the special royal tradition of the King’s Christmas Message. The writing booklet gives your students a chance to reflect on these customs while practicing vocabulary and building cultural understanding.
Australia
Kids love learning about Australia’s summertime Christmas and how families might celebrate with outdoor fun. They read and write about warm-weather traditions and compare them to their own holiday experiences. The craft adds a cheerful, hands-on project that fits perfectly with the theme.
Las Posadas
Students learn about Las Posadas and get a peek at the nine-night celebration that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s journey. The reading and writing pages help them process new vocabulary and symbols in a way that feels approachable. The craft offers a bright, festive hands-on option your students will love.
Kwanzaa
Your students learn the meaning behind the candles in the kinara and explore how families celebrate this meaningful holiday. The activities guide them through vocabulary and writing practice that deepens their understanding. The craft option gives them a simple way to make the celebration more personal.
Hanukkah
Students explore the Festival of Lights and learn about the menorah and why it holds such an important place in the celebration. The writing and vocabulary activities help them reflect on the meaning behind the symbols. The hands-on craft gives them a joyful way to connect to the holiday.
Chinese New Year
Your class learns about Lunar New Year traditions and gets a quick introduction to the special red envelopes families often share. Students build understanding through reading, vocabulary, and writing activities that help them explore this exciting celebration. The craft brings color and fun to the lesson.
Italy
Your class gets a peek into Christmas traditions in Italy, including the beloved story of La Befana. Students enjoy reading about how Italian families celebrate and have a natural connection point for writing and vocabulary work. The hands-on craft brings this tradition to life in a simple and meaningful way.
Want to see a unit before jumping into the bundle? I’ve got you covered! You can grab the entire Italy packet, for free, by filling out the form below. This way, you can look through all the activities and even try them out with your class. I know you will quickly see just how easy the whole series is to use.
Ready to Make December Feel a Little Lighter?
Teaching in December can feel like juggling glitter, wrapping paper, and curriculum all at once, but it can also be a month full of joy, connection, and meaningful learning. If you want to try one of these celebrations with your class, start with the free Italy packet. It gives you everything you need for an engaging Holidays Around the World lesson you can use this week.
And. . . if you are ready for the easiest December lesson plan ever, explore the full Holidays Around the World Bundle so you can pick and choose the celebrations that fit your students and your schedule. Your students deserve learning experiences that feel magical and meaningful all at the same time. This series gives you both. Click here to explore the bundle on TPT!
Save These Holiday Around the World Activities
Make sure to pin this to your favorite classroom holidays Pinterest board so you don’t lose these teacher and student-approved Holidays Around the World activities.
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