Ugly Sweater Activities for Kids in Upper Elementary

December in the classroom is always an exciting time, making it the perfect time to mix in some fun and creative lessons. One trend I love to bring into the classroom during December is the ugly sweater trend! It is a great way to keep things festive without focusing on just one holiday - the kids are always engaged and highly motivated with this topic, too!

Not sure how to get started? I can help! These four easy and fun ways to bring ugly sweaters into your classroom will have your students engaged and learning in no time. Plus, since these activities focus on reading, writing, and math standards that you must teach anyway, they are a great way to enjoy learning! The best part? These activities are not holiday-specific, so they can be used with all your students in your classroom!

So, dive into these ideas and make it an Ugly Sweater Week in your upper elementary classroom this December! 

1. Learn the History of this Trend

I found that kids LOVE to know how and when something started, especially a trend that they know about, and ugly sweaters are no different! Read about the history of this fun trend and bring in comprehension activities. This makes the perfect whole-group or small-group reading activity during December! You'll definitely learn a thing or two, too!

2. Sell that Sweater! An Ugly Sweater Persuasive Project

Kids LOVE to color and design their own ugly sweater, so put that creativity to work! Have your students brainstorm, plan, and design a sweater that they can sell. Don't stop there! Have your students use persuasive writing techniques to craft a pitch to sell the ugly sweater they designed. I encourage students to create a sweater with a theme so that when they write their persuasive piece, they have a focus and a target audience.

3. Get Crafty

Real ugly sweaters have all the bells and whistles, literally! Offer your students some fun craft supplies and bows to add to their ugly sweaters. Not only does this give students more opportunities to be creative and create unique sweaters, but it also gives them more to write about in their persuasive pieces! Keep it simple by using whatever supplies you have in one of your many teacher closets!

Grab some free ugly sweater templates below.

4. Bring in Some Math

Get your kids up and moving with a quick game of scoot using ugly sweater-themed word problem task cards. "Scoot" is a fun and active learning game that’s great for reviewing skills or practicing new concepts. 

To play Scoot, place task cards with questions or problems on each student’s desk or around the room. Give each student an answer sheet with numbered spaces that match the cards. Students start at one station, read the task card, and write their answer in the correct spot. After enough time has been given for students to solve each problem, call out “Scoot!” and everyone moves to the next station to repeat the process. 

Keep going until all the stations have been visited. At the end, review the answers as a class or collect the sheets to check their work. To make it smoother, practice how students will move between stations before starting, and use a timer or music to keep everyone on track. 

These ugly sweater-themed task cards are differentiated. If you are using the different level task cards in your classroom, you might try using them within centers so that each student is completing the level that is just right for them!

Rather get creative during math? Bring in art with this design a sweater project. It is easy to use! After students complete each math word problem, they match their solution to a direction for decorating their sweater. Once all problems are solved, students will have a completed ugly sweater!

Bonus Idea: Have an Ugly Sweater Day!

Yes, wear an ugly sweater during the week of ugly sweater learning! Encourage your students to wear one, too.

December is such a magical time to be in the classroom, and adding an ugly sweater theme is a fun way to keep students engaged while still meeting learning goals. These activities bring creativity, critical thinking, and standards-based skills together in a way that’s festive but inclusive for everyone. From reading about the history of ugly sweaters to designing, crafting, and solving math problems, there are so many ways to incorporate this trend into your lessons. Your students will love the chance to be creative, active, and collaborative during these projects. So, grab some supplies, plan your activities, and maybe even wear your own ugly sweater for a little extra classroom cheer!

Happy Holidays!

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              Check out my favorite Holiday activities HERE.

Like these Dear Santa Persuasive Letters.

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