Every year I plan out a bunch of stuff for us to do from Dec. 1^st to Dec. 25^th.  I call it our 25 Days of Christmas.  Here is our list of planned activities for this year.

Lessons/Learning Activities

How the Grinch Stole Christmas unit study

The kids really enjoy doing puzzle type activities so I’m going to print a few from here for them.

We’ll do these reading comprehension activity pages.

 They are going to use this shape book to write about what Christmas is to them.

They’ll make their own book on the birth of Jesus

We’ll also do our annual Thankful for ornaments.  Then we’ll read them on Christmas morning.  I think this year we will make them in the shape of a large snowflake.

Annual trip to the library to load up on Christmas themed books and have a day of read alouds and hot cocoa.

Read the Gift of the Magi

Christmas Math

Identifying Christmas Trees

Crafts and Gifts

Make a countdown to Christmas paper chain. 

Puzzle piece ornaments

Make Christmas cards

Shooting star ornament

Spiced tea mix

Craft stick ornaments

Christmas Choir

Make Hot Chocolate Mix

Bean Bag Wise men

Handprint Santa

Merry Christmouse

Makes California cornbread mix in a jar

Flying Bird Ornament

Rice hot packs. 

Sand Art Brownies

Dangling snowmen

Pine cone Christmas tree

Foamy Frame

Layered dog cookie jar mix

Sock Snowfolk

Greeting card box

Personalized Magnets

Brown paper bag stockings

Make a candy sleigh

Decoupage puzzle sets

Today we are going to make grocery bag gingerbread garland to hang around the house.

Today we’ll make festive paper pines

Make chicken noodle soup in a jar for gift baskets.

Make spiral soup mix for gift baskets.

Make cut-out cookies.

Make Christmas pretzel trees.

We’re going to make gift baskets for each family as usual.  We have 14 to put together.  This year we are going to put them in a large mixing bowl instead of a basket.  I’ll pick ones that match the different families’ kitchens.  In each bowl I’m going to put one of the soup mixes, sand art brownies, spiced tea, hot chocolate mix, crackers, cornbread mix, oven mitt, dish towel, wooden spoons, and a rice pack.  For the people who have puppies we are going to put in the dog biscuit mix and the ones with kids are going to get a stocking filled with cookies, pretzel trees, and Santa sleighs.  We are also going to put framed photos of the kids and some of the crafts they made in there.  I think it would be nice to get a complete meal for Christmas.  I’m hoping they’ll feel the same way.  I also have a few things that I’ve collected through the year to add to make it personal for each family. 

General Activities

Christmas movie marathon.

Decorate our tree for the birds

Go see Christmas lights at zoo.  Make hot cocoa to take along.

Christmas with dh’s family

Field trip to a historical village decorated for Christmas.

Field trip to a Christmas tree farm.

Go to a local church’s Christmas pageant.

Bless some families with packages.