Classroom tips: 12 days of Christmas

Iram Ahmed
Young children stood in a row clapping and celebrating with a christmas tree in the background

With the holiday season approaching, it’s good to add some fun into teaching to keep your students engaged and motivated. We’ve created 12 simple classroom activities and tips that you can carry out with your primary class to encourage them to be good.

Classroom tips for the lead up to the holidays
播放
隐私和颁辞辞办颈别蝉

观看此视频表示你同意培生可於一年内使用你观看的数据以作分析及营销之用。你可以通过清除肠辞辞办颈别蝉撤销设定。

Day 1

Santa’s watching

Fact: Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas – whatever we call him, many countries around the world have a tradition that naughty children will only receive coal, twigs or even onions. But do children always know how to be good?

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Catch students being good

Watch out for good behavior and praise it when you see it - much more effective than dealing with problems as they arise.

?

Day 2

Christmas countdown

Fact: Advent calendars count down the days to Christmas, and for children that usually means gifts! But is the festive period all about presents?

Classroom application?

Classroom tip: Kindness calendar

Challenge students to carry out one act of kindness every day in December. They can plan this on a blank calendar and tick the kind acts as they complete them.

?

Day 3

Season’s greetings

Fact: Did you know that greeting students individually at the door improves learning and engagement?

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Holiday password

Have a holiday-themed password for children to give as they enter the classroom. Students choose a new password every lesson.

?

Day 4

Frosty the Snowman

Fact: The largest snowman in the world was actually a snowwoman. and had trees for arms.

Classroom application? ? ? ? ?

Classroom tip: Concrete poems

A concrete poem written in a shape that reflects the topic of the poem, for example a poem about a snowman written in the shape of a snowman. Challenge your students to write their own concrete poems about Christmas (or a current holiday for them).

?

Day 5

DIY decorations

Fact: Chinese New Year is the most important winter festival in China. Like Christmas, one of the main activities is putting up paper decorations.

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Collaborative tree

Each child draws around their hand, cuts it out and either draws a picture or writes a sentence about themselves. The whole class makes a display out of the handprints.

?

Day 6

Star students

Fact:?Stars feature in many Christmas traditions. For example, in Poland, the Christmas eve feast only starts when the first star appears in the night sky.

Classroom application

Classroom tip: 2 stars and a wish

Give focused feedback on written tasks by identifying two positive aspects of work and one area to work on. Works great for peer assessment too.

?

Day 7

Perfect presents

Fact: Everyone loves getting presents. In Liberia, instead of Santa bringing toys, you’ll find Old Man Bayka, who walks the streets asking for gifts!

Classroom application

Classroom tip: My gift to the world

Brainstorm things students can do to help make the world a better place, such as volunteering at a local charity or planting a tree. Challenge them to do one thing as a holiday gift to the world.

?

Day 8

Festive feasts

Fact: Famous fried chicken in Japan, caterpillars in South Africa, hot tamales in Venezuela and oysters in France. Christmas dinners vary greatly as you move around the world.

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Recipe for success

Students can make their own Recipe for Success by thinking about what they need to be successful in the new year.

Example (to be designed to look like a child wrote it):

  • 1 cup of doing my best
  • ? cup of ideas
  • ? cup of smiles
  • 2 tablespoons of teamwork
  • 3 teaspoons of listening to the teacher

?

Day 9

Holiday traditions around the world

Fact: Festive saunas in Finland, roller skating in Venezuela and Christmas cobwebs in Ukraine, no two countries celebrate Christmas in exactly the same way.

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Venn Diagrams

Students choose 2 countries and research how they celebrate during wintertime. They record their findings as Venn Diagrams. They record the different traditions of the two countries in the sections on the left and right. Anything they have in common goes in the middle.

?

Day 10

The excitement of Christmas

Fact: Anticipation plays a big part in the excitement of Christmas. Will Santa come? What presents I get? Who will win the annual family game of charades?

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Big questions

Start lessons by posing big questions to engage students’ natural curiosity and motivate them to find answers. Open questions work great, such as How do animals communicate? or What makes someone a hero?

?

Day 11

Holiday cheer

Fact: Forget the Grinch, the festive season is a time for feeling good and spreading happiness.

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Compliment corner

Allocate a space in the classroom as the compliment corner – a notice board or a big piece of paper. Students can write compliments to each other on sticky notes and put them on the board. Such as ‘I love the pictures you drew of your favorite hobby’, or ‘You’re so good at singing’.

?

Day 12

New Year’s resolutions

Fact: The start of a new year is a great time to focus on self-improvement, but only 8% of people are successful in sticking to their resolutions.

Classroom application

Classroom tip: Self and peer reflection

At the end of each lesson, ask students to reflect on their learning. Support students by providing sentence stems such as I learnt…I enjoyed …I’m good at…To improve I will…I didn’t understand…

?

Make these activities your own and adapt them to your class. They should help you turn the lead-up to the holidays in the classroom into an exciting one for your students and almost make them forget they're learning at the same time.

For more inspiration and general activities for your primary learners, try reading?5 quick and easy ESL games for teaching young learners.?If you're looking for inspiring and engaging English courses for young learners check out our range:

More blogs from 蜜桃app

  • A teacher stoof over computers that students are sat at

    Boosting your learners' English language speaking skills

    提交者 蜜桃app Languages
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Teaching a language goes beyond imparting the rules of grammar and vocabulary. It's about unlocking the confidence in students to use that language in real-life conversations. Confidence in speaking is the bridge that connects classroom learning with the world outside.

    In the era where digital solutions can complement traditional teaching methods, Mondly by 蜜桃app can play a pivotal role in boosting learners' speaking confidence.

    Why is it important to build students confidence?

    Before we explore Mondly by 蜜桃app's strengths, it's crucial to understand why speaking confidence matters. Communication is the heart of language, and confident speakers are more likely to use their language skills actively. They're more open to participating in conversations, which reinforces their learning and fosters better retention of the new language used.

    Research has shown that 52% of English Learners leave their formal education without confidence in their speaking skills. Mondly by 蜜桃app is your ultimate solution in tackling this challenge head-on, with 500+ minutes of English-speaking practice to build your learners' skills and confidence.

    What causes a lack of confidence in speaking English?

    There are a multitude of factors that contribute to a lack of confidence in speaking the English language well or any language for that matter. Some English learners feel self-conscious when their accent doesn't match what they perceive as the standard or desired accent.

    Additionally, a lack of practice opportunities or speaking practice, especially in a supportive and constructive environment, can hinder students from becoming comfortable and fluent speakers. Understanding these challenges is the first step in overcoming them, allowing educators to tailor their teaching strategies to address these specific concerns and build a more inclusive and encouraging learning atmosphere.

    What is Mondly by 蜜桃app?

    Mondly by 蜜桃app is an English language learning application aligned to the Global Scale of English. With 蜜桃app pedagogy at its core, Mondly by 蜜桃app offers over 500 minutes of speaking practice. Immersive AI-powered conversations, advanced speech recognition and engaging role plays, accelerate learning and build confidence.

  • A group of students celebrating and high fiving eachother

    Ace the listening section: Tips for English test prep

    提交者 蜜桃app Languages
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Passing an English proficiency test is a milestone for many non-fluent speakers. Among the different sections in such tests, the listening part can often present unique challenges. In most standardized English tests, your ability to comprehend and respond to spoken English will be put under scrutiny.

    This blog post is dedicated to helping you, the ambitious test-taker, sharpen your listening skills and equip you with strategies to excel in the listening section of your English test.

  • Image of a woman with a headset looking at her laptop

    Picking the right PTE test: PTE Core vs PTE Academic

    提交者 蜜桃app Languages

    Reading time: 3 minutes

    When preparing to prove your English proficiency—be it for studying abroad, immigration, or professional goals—selecting the right test is extremely important. PTE, renowned worldwide for its English language assessments, offers various tests catering to different needs, including PTE Core and PTE Academic.

    This blog post aims to clarify the differences between these two tests, helping you pick the test that aligns more with your aspirations.

    Understanding PTE Core and PTE Academic

    PTE is a world-leading provider of English language tests, trusted by universities, colleges, governments and professional bodies across the globe. Test scores are accepted in many countries, but which test you choose depends on where you want to go and your reasons why.

    What is PTE Core?

    PTE Core is the test you need to achieve your Canadian dream, approved for economic visa categories.?But if you are looking to study in Canada, that is where PTE Academic comes in, approved for both SDS and non-SDS routes.

    PTE Core invites you to experience a test structure designed to assess your general English skills, as opposed to your Academic English, in a short, computer-based format. PTE Core evaluates all language skills—reading, writing, listening and speaking—in one seamless test.

    What is PTE Academic?

    PTE Academic is often the pathway to enrolment for students wanting to study at top universities. Specifically tailored for the academic environment, PTE Academic scores are widely recognized by institutions and are also accepted for visa purposes by the Australian, New Zealand, and UK Visas and Immigration Service. If your destination is higher education or a professional license abroad, PTE Academic is your way in.

    It's also praised for its ability to accurately reflect the speaking abilities of introverts, making it a considerate option for different personality types.

    Test features and acceptance

    When choosing the PTE test you need, consider the following features:

    Test format

    Both PTE Core and PTE Academic offer a computer-based test, which is excellent news for those who prefer not to have the extra stress of speaking to an examiner. Both tests are split up into three parts: Part 1: Speaking & Writing, Part 2: Reading, and Part 3: Listening.

    Speed of results

    With both tests, the results arrive rapidly—typically in just two business days—due to PTE's unique combination of AI scoring and human expertise that also strives to reduce bias.

    Global recognition

    An impressive list of institutions worldwide recognizes PTE Academic. Its scores are specifically sought after in the academic arena and by Australian, New Zealand, and UK visa authorities. Accepted by over 300 universities across the world, PTE Academic is the English test you need if you are looking to study overseas.

    It is also accepted by the Australian and New Zealand governments for migration visas, so it is the test of choice if that is your dream destination.

    PTE Core is recognized by the Canadian government (IRCC) for all economic visas and permanent residency applications.

    Preparation and support

    For those looking to prepare ahead of the test, be it PTE Academic or PTE Core, 蜜桃app offers a range of supporting resources so you can put your best foot forward on test day.

    For PTE Academic, this includes five unique scored practice tests to give you a feel for the full test experience, what to expect, the type of questions that will be asked, and other .

    For PTE Core, there is a taster test you can try out your skills on, , a handbook, and much more.

    Finding your best fit

    The choice between PTE Core and PTE Academic ultimately hinges on your future plans and destination country.

    To make an informed decision, check out PTE's useful links, which clarify and requirements.

    How do I start studying for PTE?

    Embarking on the journey to master PTE begins with understanding your current level and building a solid study plan tailored to your needs. Arm yourself with our, including practice tests and, to familiarize yourself with the question types and formats you'll encounter.