Get Ready; Get Set; Let's Go Around The World For Christmas!

Happy TBT (Throw Back Thursday).  Since I'm buried in over 12 inches of snow, as schools and activities continue to be cancelled for the last two days, I decided it was time to do some Christmas activities. 

I realize there's still 10 days left in November, but with winter beating on my window, I can no longer cling to fall.  It's time to move on. 

I'm throwing things way back today, with one of the first big units I ever designed.  I'm reposting it, because my Christmas Around The World packet, continues to be one of my most downloaded items. 

I hope you enjoy this blast from the past.  Keep in mind that it was designed before I had all the cute fonts, clip art and design programs that I now use, but it's never the less filled with lots of goodies that I think you'll enjoy. My personal favorite, is the cereal box suitcase that you store everything in.

So hop on board the Global Holiday Express and enjoy a reindeer ride to Mexico, Canada, England and other parts of the globe.The internet has brought our world closer and put it virtually at our fingertips. 

We are truly just a click away from the Far East where we can grab some spices for our gingerbread creations. So if you're ready for a little adventure, then come celebrate Christmas Around The World  by clicking on the link for 124 pages of fun.  Pick and choose whatever you feel is age appropriate for your kiddos.

Because of special requests from upper elementary teachers, I've up-dated this packet to include some templates for older students, including an interesting writing prompt: If you REALLY could go to any country in the world for Christmas break, where would you go; who would you go with; how would you get there? etc. 

First stop, we need to make a cereal box suitcase. It comes complete with travel stickers and a luggage tag, which helps students practice writing their first and last name as well as their address. 

Two file folders become a briefcase that holds a passport that children help create.  I used real passports to help me design one.

This activity reinforces name and address writing and is a math extension where students measure each other to determine their height and weight.

 The Christmas Around The World suitcase is the perfect place to put souvenirs that represent the countries they visit! (Completed art projects, maps and papers.)  

There’s also a pocket that holds airline tickets. 

Children have a ticket for the country that they’re researching, one for the USA and one for their favorite country, to be determined after the unit.

 Besides traveling to foreign countries, students also learn about their own state.

Children write a page about their family’s Christmas traditions or winter festivities if they don’t celebrate Christmas.

Their “State” pages and these two personal pages become part of their suitcase; and copies are made into a class book.

There are many graphing opportunities in this study: Do you hang a stocking? Do you have a fireplace? Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

 Each student chooses a country and armed with a list of websites to check out, must find 4-5 facts about how Christmas is celebrated there. 

They are given a map and flag of their country; this is cut and glued on their Christmas Around the World page, along with how people say “Merry Christmas” in that country.  

When students finish their research/writing assignment, they share it with their classmates; and a copy is made for another class book.

 All students keep a Christmas Around The World travel journal, of all the countries visited.  For some super-interesting background information, click on the Christmas Around the World link.This site lists 32 countries.  Click on the country you want to learn about, and you'll find out super-interesting details of how they celbrate Christmas.

As students share their country, everyone's passport is stamped and they put a sticker dot on their world map, locating that country.

The Christmas Around The World crafts I’ve chosen to share, are ones that you could plug in for quite a few countries.

Putting up a tree and lighting candles seem to be universal practices for many.

The poinsettia is perfect to represent Mexico, but also the USA.  Did you know that an average of 65 million are sold nationwide, grown commercially in every state, and that California is the leading producer? 

Besides America, gingerbread also fits several countries, especially Germany where Nuremberg is known as the gingerbread capital of the world.  However, England and France are famous for their gingerbread “fairs”, and several places in Canada have Christmas cookie exchange parties.

 December wouldn’t be complete without climbing aboard The Polar Express, and  reading stories like Mem Fox’s Australian animal tale Wombat Divine, Australia) and Robert Barry’s tale from England, Mr. Willoby’s Christmas Tree, as well as several different gingerbread stories that can be compared and contrasted; they all make great additions to your Christmas Around The World traveling adventures.

 While celebrating Christmas Around The World we also sang songs like, We’ve Got The Whole World In Our Hands, adapted for this unit. (Students trace and cut out their hands and wrap them around the world for an awesome 3D craftivity.) 

Come embark on a most extraordinary adventure, discovering unique cultures and traditions, that although different,  bring you a little bit closer, as your students celebrate Christmas Around the World.

Whatever you’re doing this season as you study geography, I hope you hear the jingling of those sleigh bells, that help transport you on a magical journey.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away!

"God bless us everyone!" -Tiny Tim