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!

                 You will love these related posts:

Winter Descriptive Writing Project Kids LOVE

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Must Try December Activities for Upper Elementary

              Check out my favorite Holiday activities HERE.

Like these Dear Santa Persuasive Letters.

Tap the picture below for more Ugly Sweater Fun!

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7 Gingerbread Man Activities and Ideas Upper Elementary

Looking for activities that are fun, engaging, and not tied to a specific holiday? Try a gingerbread man-themed week in your upper elementary classroom this December!

If you know me, you know that while I love celebrating the holidays at home with family and friends, I love to stay away from the December religious holidays in the classroom. Instead, I love to use fun themes that ALL of my students can participate in and feel connected with. That is why when it comes to December themes, my favorite is the gingerbread man!

Gingerbread Man activities are a great way to engage your students; even our big kids love to read and create gingerbread houses and gingerbread people!

These activities will be your go-to for every December! From a fun game idea to reading, writing, and math-based tasks, your kids will be highly engaged and learning! #teacherwin

 

1. Gingerbread Man Character Analysis

Reading gingerbread man books and short stories is a great way to dive deep into understanding characters, as well as character traits and emotions. We also love to look at how the characters change from beginning to end, and so many gingerbread stories help us do that! Using short stories specifically designed to dive into character analysis is a great way to kick off any gingerbread man week! 

Here is how you can get started...

✔ Discuss character traits, charting different traits that characters have on the inside and those they have on the outside. This list will help you get started.

✔ Read these short stories about gingerbread men that were designed to help students focus on inferring character traits.

✔ Have students pull evidence from the reading to show and support a character trait by collecting what the character says, does, and the character's actions.

✔ Go one step further and have the students create a scrapbook page as the gingerbread character in the story.

2. Compare and Contrast Gingerbread Man Books

There are so many ways to use gingerbread books! There are so many twists on this fun story. Grab a stack of gingerbread man-themed picture books and get reading. Pick three or four and read them over a few days. Use each book for a different reading focus like character understanding, problem and solution, and sequencing events.

The magic happens after you read all three or four! Get your students really thinking by comparing and contrasting all of the stories. Have them focus on character traits, problems, setting, and theme! 

Here are a few unique gingerbread man books to get you started:

✔ The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School

✔ The Gingerbread Pirates

✔ Tough Cookie

Grab the FREE organizers to use with ANY book!

3. Design Your Own Gingerbread Man 

Grab a gingerbread man template and send your students off to create their own unique gingerbread person!

For this project, students will create a gingerbread character with or without a theme, and color and decorate it. Then students will write a descriptive paragraph about their gingerbread character. Hang the gingerbread man on a bulletin board with the included letters: “Can you find me?” and have your students read aloud their pieces. After they read, the class has to find their gingerbread man based on their descriptive writing. 

💡Teacher tip: When you get down to the last few that are on the bulletin board that have not been identified, have several students read theirs without having the class find them so that the last one is not as obvious.

 

4. Gingerbread Themed Text Structure

Bring reading strategies that you have to teach into the holiday season by using gingerbread-themed passages. One big focus for our upper elementary students is understanding text structure. Combine the objectives students have to learn and understand with gingerbread-themed passages.

Use the included five gingerbread-themed passages written in different text structures - compare and contrast, cause and effect, problem and solution, sequence of events, and descriptive writing - so that your students can dive into informational texts, sharpen their reading skills, and enjoy the December season...all at the same time!

These comprehension foldables include everything you need on one page: passages, graphic organizers, strategy practice, and reflection. Plus, the included anchor charts make differentiating text structures easy to understand for students. Whether you are working with the whole class, small groups, or literacy centers, this resource fits seamlessly into your routine. It is a must-added item for your gingerbread-themed week!

5. Gingerbread House Math Project

This is my favorite math project of the year! For this project, students work in groups designing a gingerbread house, but they must stay within the budget they were given! The kids love this grown up, real world math project! Bonus for you, it is differentiated on three levels, so you know that your students are practicing the skills that they have mastered!

6. Gingerbread Man Fun

Bring on the fun! I love to have fun activities for kids to complete during a gingerbread-themed week. Activities like word searches, coloring pages, and designing your own gingerbread man are perfect for fast finishers, centers, morning work, or any time you want to have a little fun in your classroom! These can be added to your routine, or you can create a fun packet of activities to keep the students engaged with critical thinking tasks during downtime throughout the day. 

7. Gingerbread Man Hot or Cold

Super simple and so much fun! This game is easy and fun to play. Grab the free gingerbread man download (it is included in the free graphic organizer pack) and cut it out. I like to laminate it so it stands the test of time! Select one student to be the seeker and go outside your classroom, close their eyes, and count to 25. Select another student to hide the gingerbread man. After the student who was outside returns, the students in the room have to help them find the hidden gingerbread man. The catch?  They can not talk or point. They can only use their arm to help guide the student to the gingerbread man. How? Students sitting at their desk use their right arm. Have them keep it straight. If the seeker is "cold" or far away from the gingerbread man, they keep their arm straight and flat on the table. As the seeker gets closer they start raising their arm. If the seeker is "hot" they raise their arm straight up into the air. 

This game is so much fun and bonus...it stays quiet, which is a welcome feeling of peace during a hectic month!

8. Easy Gingerbread Houses

I love the idea of making gingerbread houses as much as the next teacher (and mom), but honestly, they are so much work and messy! Plus, they never come out right, and the kids end up frustrated and disappointed! Skip all the mess and try these fun alternatives instead:

Here are a few unique gingerbread man books to get you started:

✔  Gingerbread House Scene Sticker Set

✔  Gingerbread House Design a Frame

✔  Gingerbread House Ornament

Grab these and leave them on the back table for the kids to work on during downtime or indoor recess in December! The kids LOVE to work on these with any free moment!

✔  Gingerbread Collaborative Coloring Poster

✔ Gingerbread House 500 Piece Puzzle

These gingerbread man activities and ideas for upper elementary are just what you need to engage your students this holiday season without focusing on the holidays!  So jump into a gingerbread man-themed week! From character trait activities to designing gingerbread people and houses, these lessons spark creativity and keep kids learning. Plus, they allow every student to feel included and connected, no matter their background. Give it a try - this will definitely be your new favorite December tradition!

You will also love reading:

December Activities for Upper Elementary

Winter Descriptive Writing Project Kids LOVE

12 December Read Alouds for Upper Elementary

4 Christmas Alternative Activities for the Classroom

6 Winter Picture Books for Upper Elementary

4 Groundhog Activities for Upper Elementary

Check out my favorite Gingerbread Man activities HERE.

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

December Holiday Read Alouds for Upper Elementary Classrooms

December in the classroom is a magical time! The air is filled with excitement, the children are all smiles, and as the weather gets a bit cooler, it is the perfect time to gather together in the reading area for a good book!

But how do you pick the perfect December read-aloud that all of the students in your class can connect with? It is definitely tricky! That is why I love to make sure that my December picture book stack is well balanced to represent different holidays and traditions, especially some that my students may not have heard of before!

This list of suggested December picture books for upper elementary classrooms is a great place to get started when it comes to going beyond just the Christmas read-aloud. These books have all been read in my classroom and enjoyed by all students, no matter what holiday they celebrate, or don't celebrate.

Don't forget to grab the free printable activities that go alongside some of these picture books, just perfect to add to your December lesson plans.

New 2024! A City Full of Santas written by Joanna Ho

“A City Full of Santas” by Joanna Ho is a heartwarming story that beautifully intertwines the themes of traditions, family, and diversity during the holiday season. With its soft illustrations and thoughtful message, it’s a perfect read-aloud to spark discussions about traditions, making memories, and celebrating differences. You will love to add this to your holiday lessons, encouraging students to think about how they can spread kindness in their own communities.

Grab the free printables to use with these favorite read alouds!

1. The Little Owl and the Big Tree written by Jonah Winter

This sweet tale tells the story of Rockefeller, the small owl that stayed in his large evergreen tree even after it was cut down to be the main Christmas tree attraction in Rockefeller Center in New York City. This tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl stayed buried in his hole, afraid to come out even after the tree he lived in traveled for hours to get to NYC. This book tells how this little owl was found, nursed back to health, and released back into the wild. I love this one for December because it is not Christmas focused and is a real story that the kids love! I love to read this book and then dive deep into a nonfiction article about this book as a paired passage reading activity.

2.  How Santa Got His Job written by Stephen Krensky

This fun read follows Santa as he takes and leaves different jobs, until finding the right fit! Each job he takes has a problem that leads him to quit or get fired and take a new job. But each job he leaves provides him with an important skill that will help him do his job as the Santa Claus that we all know! The kids will love seeing Santa in different jobs and roles. A fun follow-up activity would be to write persuasive letters to Santa, telling him to take the year off after working all these jobs!

3.  Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree written by Robert Barry

I have read this book for years, and it is always one of my holiday favorites to read aloud each December! Written in prose and chock full of good word choice and vocabulary, this story follows the small pieces of one big Christmas tree as it is passed on to others. I love that this book can be used to illustrate how one action can have many different effects, which lends itself to lessons on kindness and the power of one kind deed.  

4. The Polar Express written by Chris Van Allsburg

No December read-aloud list is complete without The Polar Express! A truly classic tale, this story follows the adventures of a young boy on the way to the North Pole on the polar express. The adventure comes at the perfect time as the young boy is beginning to wonder about Santa's existence. As with all of Chris Van Allsburg's books, this one is cleverly written, includes beautiful illustrations, and will have the students at the end of their seats as they predict, infer, and connect as each page is read!

5. The Broken Ornament written by Tony DiTerlizzi

The Broken Ornament tells the story of a young boy named Jack who gets caught up in the Christmas rush and breaks his mom's special ornament. Throughout the story, he finds out why the ornament was so special to her and learns the real meaning of Christmas...the value of kindness and giving. After being visited by a Christmas fairy, Jack decides on a special way to try to make it up to his mom.  This book is a perfect read-aloud to springboard into discussions about the students' family holiday traditions.

6.  The Nutcracker written by Valeria Docampo

This beautifully illustrated version of the classic Nutcracker is one your students will love, especially if they have not heard this story.  Not familiar with this story? It is about a young girl who is gifted with a nutcracker on Christmas Eve. She falls asleep and dreams of a magical land with candy and sweets and is protected by her Nutcracker who has come to life! I love to read this book before diving deep into a nonfiction article about this ballet as a paired passage reading activity.

7.  Night of Las Posadas written by Tomie DePaolo

This book is a religious story that tells about the tradition of Las Posadas. The tradition of Las Posadas is one that takes place in Mexico and lasts for nine days. It is a procession that re-enacts the story of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to rest and have Jesus. This story is definitely one for classrooms and families that celebrate Christmas and offers a twist at the end that will have students critically thinking!

Learning about different winter holidays around the world? You will love these activities.

8.  The Legend of the Red Poinsettia written by Tomie DePaolo

Have you ever wondered why Poinsettias are commonly called the Christmas flower? This story, retold and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, tells about the legend that explains why Poinsettias are associated with Christmas. A young girl has nothing to bring to church to celebrate Baby Jesus so she brings weeds. Once inside the church, the weeds blossom into beautiful and shining red and green flowers. I love the legend and the special author's note at the end, too!

9.  All of a Kind Family written by Emily Jenkins and Paul O.  Zelinsky

This is a must-add to your December collection! This book takes place in New York City in 1912. It follows one family who celebrates the first night of Hanukkah by making latkes. I love how each page is filled with traditions this family celebrates and holds close to their hearts. No matter what holiday you and your students celebrate, everyone will instantly want to share one of their own family holiday traditions following a read-aloud of this story!

10.  Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins written by Eric A. Kimmel

I love this story! It is so engaging and always has students at the edge of their seats, cheering Hershel on as he attempts to save Hanukkah from the goblins. This original story, complete with unique and beautiful illustrations tells the story of one man as he tries to save Hanukkah from pesky goblins who try to stop the holiday from taking place. The author's note offers insight into how this story was created and why it was written. Definitely a must-add to your collection!

11.  Oskar and the Eight Blessings written by Tanya Simon

This is my favorite Hanukkah story to share. This one focuses on kindness and blessings and helps students to appreciate the small things in life. This story takes place in Manhattan on Christmas Eve and the 7th day of Hanukkah. The year is 1938 and Oskar, a young refugee from Nazi Germany is in NYC looking for his aunt whom he has never met. As he travels the city and streets of Manhattan he meets 8 strangers, each offering one small act of kindness. I love the discussions that take place around a reading of this book!

12.  Together for Kwanzaa written by Juwanda G. Ford

This story focuses on one family who celebrates Kwanzaa. Filled with traditions and practices of this winter holiday, your students will learn just how important this holiday is! The youngest of the family is worried that her brother will not make it home in time for Kwanzaa celebrations. As they prepare for the holiday the family all comes together, making this year's celebration extra special.

13.  Seven Spools of Thread - Kwanzaa Angela Shelf Medearis

This book is perfect to introduce students to the holiday of Kwanzaa during the month of December, but its message is perfect for any time of the year! This story has so many positive messages and follows the theme of family, community, and working together. In this story, seven brothers most put their differences aside and work together to complete a mission their father set out for them. The powerful tale perfectly illustrates the value kindness and teamwork. The introduction to the story is a must-read as it explains the history of Kwanzaa and goes over each of the guiding 7 principles. I love reading this one each year!

Grab these free coordinating book activities:

When it comes to sharing favorite read-alouds in December, remember to share books with a wide range of holidays, traditions, and cultures. The kids love learning about different holidays, their origins, and the traditions associated with them. This list is a great way to get started, they are all student approved! Happy Holidays!

Looking for more meaningful holiday activities like these? See more here. 

You will love reading these related articles:

Winter Descriptive Writing Project Kids LOVE

4 Christmas Alternative Activities for the Classroom

6 Winter Picture Books for Upper Elementary

4 Groundhog Activities for Upper Elementary

Love these ideas? Pin to save them!

*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

Christmas Holiday December Activities for 3rd 4th 5th Graders

When it comes to December, some schools and classrooms celebrate Christmas, and some do not. 

I have worked in three schools and the holiday focus in December varied in each. I have found that the celebration of different December holidays is usually based on the population of the school. One school celebrated Christmas complete with decorated trees in the halls and Christmas sing-alongs each Friday afternoon during the month. However, another school I worked in only celebrated the season of winter because there were so many different holidays celebrated by the population. I have also worked in a school that did a bit of everything in December: winter, Christmas, and other seasonal holidays.

No matter what the philosophy of your school and district is when it comes to celebrating winter holidays in your classroom, I have some high-engagement activities that your students will love! Some with a Christmas theme, some with a winter theme, all easy to use and perfect for December.

What I especially love about these activities is that they will keep your students engaged throughout the day. You can add them to your lesson plans as formal lessons, use them as fast finisher work, and even turn some of the ideas into your holiday party craft!

Christmas Activities for Upper Elementary

These activities are high interest, yet easy to implement! They will help you practice important skills while weaving in a Christmas theme that excites and truly motivates kids. These activities are perfect as standalone lessons, centers, party activities, or any way you want!

✅ Christmas Holiday Close Reading Traditions These reading passages are of high interest and include topics like Ugly Sweaters and the Nutcracker. 

✅ Christmas Opinion Writing These this or that type opinion writing activities will have students writing all month long as they share their traditions and opinions with their peers.

✅ Santa Letters Persuasive Writing This one is always a hit! These persuasive letters to Santa are a fun twist on the traditional letter writing to the big guy! You will be wowed by the work your students complete!

✅ 12 Days of Christmas Math These are so much fun as a countdown to break by completing one a day for twelve days, or create a mini-book and have students work on them days before break. Either way, your students will be critically thinking!

• 12 Days of Christmas Math Grade 3
• 12 Days of Christmas Math Grade 4
• 12 Days of Christmas Math Grade 5

✅ Reindeer Games These are so much fun for any time, centers, or holiday parties! All you need is a pencil and paper clip to make the spinners and some manipulatives to use as game pieces. Students can play with a partner or independently.

✅ Tic Tac Jingle These differentiated math games are also good any time and fun for parties! Just print and go!

✅ Christmas Kindness Challenge Bulletin Board Decorate for Christmas with these Christmas kindness posters designed to be festive and spread some kindness cheer! The kindness challenge is a fun way to spend December in the classroom.

✅ Christmas Color by Code Because big kids love coloring too! Use as morning work to start the day with some calm or add these to your lessons and party plans!

December Holiday Activities for Upper Elementary

These activities are inclusive of a wide range of holidays that are celebrated in December. These Christmas alternative activities are a great way to engage and include all of your students will no additional prep work. I love using activities like these that build and strengthen our classroom community.

✅ December Holidays Your students will learn about all the December holidays with this pack that is sure to have your students feel represented: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, St. Lucia Day, and more!

✅ 12 Days of Winter Countdown the days until break with this winter twist on the 12 Days of Christmas.

✅ Holiday Cinquain Poetry This non-holiday specific poetry writing activity allows students to write about the holiday and tradition of their choice!

✅ Gingerbread House Performance Task Can your students create and design a gingerbread house that will make the biggest profit? They will love trying to figure this task out!

✅  How to Make Hot Cocoa Procedural Project You can still have a hot cocoa-themed party, but it just does not have to be Christmas themed! This project is so much fun as kids try to write the perfect recipe for hot cocoa!

✅ North Pole Reading and Writing Bust out the maps and learn about the North Pole with this close reading pack that combines geography and nonfiction reading, perfect for December.

✅ Holiday Thank You Cards These are great for teachers to give students, but also for students to write out, too! We love writing thank you cards in the classroom...here are some ideas.

✅ Welcoming the New Year Print, copy, and leave on your desk to make the January return to school much simpler!

Bring on the Winter Activities for Upper Elementary

Winter activities in the classroom are favorite to use, because not only do they include all students they can be completed all winter season long! This means that there is no rush to get them done before the holiday break! Yay! Another positive is that when you have winter work prepped and ready to go, it makes the return to school after the break that much more simpler and enjoyable!

✅ Winter Kindness Challenge Bulletin Board Decorate for the season of winter with these winter kindness posters designed to be festive and spread some kindness cheer! The kindness challenge is a fun way to use all season.

✅ Tic Tac Snow Math Games These differentiated math games are also good as centers, any time, and fun for parties! Just print and go!

✅ Winter Solstice We love reading nonfiction in the classroom, and this set is perfect for the winter solstice and all season long.

✅ Snowman Job Designer for Hire This fun persuasive writing unit will have your students applying for the job of snow designer. Complete with a job application, students must persuade you to hire them for the job!

✅ Winter Sports Close Reading  Another high-interest nonfiction close reading pack with creative tasks that kids love to read!

✅Winter Wonderland Writing Project This is always my favorite activity of the year and is perfect for December or January. Find out how I teach descriptive writing with this project HERE.

No matter how you choose to celebrate the month of December with your students remember to have fun and soak in every moment of that December magic! Happy holidays!

Be sure to grab these free holiday activities!

You will love reading these related articles:

Winter Descriptive Writing Project Kids LOVE

4 Christmas Alternative Activities for the Classroom

6 Winter Picture Books for Upper Elementary

4 Groundhog Activities for Upper Elementary

Looking for more meaningful winter activities like these New Year's Activities? Take a look here. 

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)