Christmas Around the World Unit Study
There are 10 units in this resource that explore Christmas in 10 different countries. Your students can learn about Christmas in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the Philippines, Ethiopia, South Africa, Germany, and Ireland. Each unit is completely self-contained, so you can study whichever ones your students are interested in.
Each lesson has short, informative text followed by comprehension questions based on what was read.
The student can read the lesson text (or a parent/teacher can read it aloud) and use the notebooking page that is included for written narration, using the questions as writing prompts. This often works better for students who struggle with reading comprehension questions. Alternatively, you can ask the questions orally if that suits your student’s learning style best.
Suggested vocabulary words are bolded. You can have your student look up the definitions and use them to create a notebook. Students can also find suggested definitions for the words in the glossary at the end of the unit.
In addition to reading comprehension questions, each lesson is followed by prompts for additional research and a notebooking page to record what is found. A final bonus research project and optional activities are included at the end of the unit.
You will find answer keys for all reading comprehension questions at the end of the resource. Answer keys for the additional research are not included as many of these answers will vary based on the sources used for research.
Abigail Mooney –
This unit is a great way to learn about how Christmas is celebrated in different countries. Whether or not you celebrate the holiday, it’s an interesting peek into how it’s celebrated in different countries and cultures that do. We love it!
Tamara Lowrey –
I was excited to get started on this unit study and learn alongside my kids and after reviewing the material I expected to start at the beginning and do the research project last. But my husband just happens to be in Sweden this week (for work) and the Frommer’s guide to Sweden was B-O-R-I-N-G! So I thought about this study and was inspired to do the research project on Sweden to try to give my kids a warmer feel for the people there (by studying their Christmas traditions). Mary D. Lankford’s Christmas Around the Wold book was perfect for this and my daughter actually learned something (as did I). Now I just have to decide where we’ll go next…Germany? Mexico? We have family in one and friends in the other. Or I might just start at the beginning like I originally planned. Either way, I can see this being a useful resource for helping us to connect to other cultures and to learn about what is important to them and what we have in common.
Amber Holdwick –
This unit study provides another way for students to learn more about our surrounding world and the different Christmas traditions of at least ten other countries. I love that this study is open and go and requires no additional material to be purchased, yet also encourages students to dig deeper and seek out other resources to gain more knowledge of each respective country and its Christmas celebrations. The text highlighting each country’s traditions is easy to read and understand, and the accompanying reading comprehension questions help to reinforce the main points from each reading. The additional bonus activities and research project at the end of this study allow students to personalize their learning. Also, the length of this study is perfect for a typically busy season. Each lesson could feasibly be completed in a day, although more time could be spent digging deeper into each country’s means of celebrating Christmas.
I would recommend this study for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. My younger preschooler enjoys listening to the readings and my early elementary-aged children are fascinated to learn about other countries and their respective Christmas traditions. This has been such a great addition to our homeschool learning during the holidays!
Melanie Zorr –
I am really excited to include this in our Morning Time rotation this year. This covers 10 different countries all around the world. There is a 1 page reading followed by a short page of reflection questions. Each reading tells something exciting about a tradition and history of how Christmas is celebrated in that country. There are opportunities to dive deeper if you should enjoy. The readings are so short, that even my hyperactive preschooler can sit still and read about it. I love that there is a glossary at the end of the pdf that includes definitions of many words that I don’t know. My kids and I spend all of the Christmas season baking, crafting, and playing. I plan on using this as a springboard for things we can bake or craft that is inspired by other countries. This will be such a fun reading to include in our Morning Time. I can’t wait!
Katherine Tanyu –
You do not need to purchase another book to do this. Do you have a kid who likes reading nonfiction (encyclopedias and fact books)? I think a printed and bound version of this makes a nice gift for him/her. Add some pens and markers, and it makes a wonderful present.
The stories are very interesting. Read them together or the child reads it by himself/herself–it is all good! There is an answer key and glossary in the end–really helpful and convenient! You can also do mapwork with your child with the blank map provided. There is a research project at the end which older kids can do, or you can do with your young one.
The work has been done for us parents, so the price is affordable! I recommend this for K-elementary-aged students.
Denise Rodriguez –
Great for the busy season! Every year we accomplish half of our holiday homeschool list because everything is so busy and gets pushed off to the side. This unit study is nicely put together so you can easily finish it throughout the season. There are 10 unit studies on 10 countries. Each unit study starts with a short reading about how that country celebrates Christmas, followed by comprehension questions, then additional prompts to research more. This is something my child could do on their own, but we plan to do as a family. Would make a great add on to any studies focused on travel or geography around the world.
T Murphy –
This is a great and informative activity to do during the holiday. My son enjoyed learning about the different country’s traditions. Even I have learned a lot. It’s an easy way to get some homeschool activities done during this crazy time of year.