5 Ways To Ensure A Successful Holiday Season In Your History Classroom
Can you effectively keep focused on your curriculum while still incorporating the holiday season?
It can certainly be challenging at times. But the answer is most definitely...
It can certainly be challenging at times. But the answer is most definitely...
Yes. You CAN celebrate the season while learning about the past!
In this post, we will consider the challenges we face as teachers along with a few solutions to how to properly manage the holiday season in our classrooms.
The Problem
If you are like me, then you probably cringe every time you see a holiday or event pop up on the school calendar. You may even remember me stating this before, it seems like a constant battle – having to fight to keep instruction time.
There is always an event lurking around trying to snag away time or students. Or both. Concerts, performances, assemblies, picture day, student clubs, projects from other classes... the list could go on and on.
I am a firm believer in using every minute I have with my students. They know that when they walk into my classroom, it’s time to work.
Please don’t misunderstand, we have plenty of fun in my room. In fact, many students love my class. It’s all about covering curriculum in an engaging way, that helps students develop their skill sets.
With holidays, comes special challenges. There is no official ruling on celebrating holidays in the classroom. So first, you must consider what is expected of you by your school district. Next, you must consider what is expected by your school.
The last thing you want, is to be the only teacher not acknowledging a holiday – or vice versa.
Depending on the plans of your colleagues and school staff, you may find yourself dealing with a whole day (or more) of festivities. No doubt, your students will be amped up and full of energy. Harnessing that energy and helping students focus may seem like an impossible feat.
Often times, it seems teachers are just trying to survive the holiday festivities and maybe try to have a little fun too, if possible.
While some teachers have no issue with loud noise, high energy, wound up kids, others seriously struggle.
So what do we do, when we want to continue with our task of educating students, but we don’t want to come off as a Scrooge?
There is always an event lurking around trying to snag away time or students. Or both. Concerts, performances, assemblies, picture day, student clubs, projects from other classes... the list could go on and on.
I am a firm believer in using every minute I have with my students. They know that when they walk into my classroom, it’s time to work.
Please don’t misunderstand, we have plenty of fun in my room. In fact, many students love my class. It’s all about covering curriculum in an engaging way, that helps students develop their skill sets.
With holidays, comes special challenges. There is no official ruling on celebrating holidays in the classroom. So first, you must consider what is expected of you by your school district. Next, you must consider what is expected by your school.
The last thing you want, is to be the only teacher not acknowledging a holiday – or vice versa.
Depending on the plans of your colleagues and school staff, you may find yourself dealing with a whole day (or more) of festivities. No doubt, your students will be amped up and full of energy. Harnessing that energy and helping students focus may seem like an impossible feat.
Often times, it seems teachers are just trying to survive the holiday festivities and maybe try to have a little fun too, if possible.
While some teachers have no issue with loud noise, high energy, wound up kids, others seriously struggle.
So what do we do, when we want to continue with our task of educating students, but we don’t want to come off as a Scrooge?
The Solution
Let us explore a few options for how to manage the holiday season in our classrooms.
First, know what is expected of you and what you are comfortable with.
If you want to go all in on holiday fun, then go for it. That’s all you. But if you’re not comfortable giving up your instruction time, then don’t. Know your comfort level. And stand up for yourself with your administrator if necessary. Remember, you can still be reasonable yet festive.
Second, be strategic with your planning.
Know your students. Know what they are really into, and will get excited about.
Do your students love games? Then plan a Review Game on a day you know they will have a lot of energy (like the day of your holiday assembly).
Many students LOVE a good mystery. During the end of October, we are usually learning about ancient Egypt. And so I always save Pharaoh Tutankhamen for the day when students wear costumes to school (a VERY high energy day). We spend our time together exploring the evidence of Tutankhamen’s mysterious death. Students find evidence to support their opinion about if he was murdered, and who they think may have done it. I am not straying from my curriculum. There is no mention of Halloween at all - and yet it’s still festive, and students love it!
First, know what is expected of you and what you are comfortable with.
If you want to go all in on holiday fun, then go for it. That’s all you. But if you’re not comfortable giving up your instruction time, then don’t. Know your comfort level. And stand up for yourself with your administrator if necessary. Remember, you can still be reasonable yet festive.
Second, be strategic with your planning.
Know your students. Know what they are really into, and will get excited about.
Do your students love games? Then plan a Review Game on a day you know they will have a lot of energy (like the day of your holiday assembly).
Many students LOVE a good mystery. During the end of October, we are usually learning about ancient Egypt. And so I always save Pharaoh Tutankhamen for the day when students wear costumes to school (a VERY high energy day). We spend our time together exploring the evidence of Tutankhamen’s mysterious death. Students find evidence to support their opinion about if he was murdered, and who they think may have done it. I am not straying from my curriculum. There is no mention of Halloween at all - and yet it’s still festive, and students love it!
The Death of Pharaoh Tutankhamen Available in my TpT Store
In many school districts, there is no school on the day of Thanksgiving along with the following Friday. Which leaves a three day week prior to the holiday. Generally, we have our unit test on ancient Egypt that Tuesday, and then students get to watch a movie about Egypt on Wednesday – while others complete their make-up test if needed. I don’t show a lot of movies in class, so this is a fun activity for students.
Now, you could take a different approach, if you wanted to incorporate the holiday. At its foundation, Thanksgiving is a celebration of a good harvest. The truth is, harvest celebrations have been around for thousands of years. This can easily be adapted to ancient civilizations. These types of lessons allow us to be curriculum focused, while still being festive.
Harvest Celebrations in the Ancient World Lesson Available in my TpT Store
The same approach can be used in December. Gift giving is a part of many present-day holiday celebrations. Christmas, Hanukah, and even birthdays incorporate gift giving in their traditions. In fact, gift giving has been a tradition of mankind since prehistoric times. Exploring the purpose behind gift giving in different civilizations can easily become a festive lesson that is still curriculum focused.
Gift Giving in the Ancient World Lesson Available in my TpT Store
Ready to Roll Materials
Now that you have some ideas about how you can still keep hold of your instruction time but also engage students, you are ready to tackle the holiday season.
And if you need some resources to help make things that much easier, then you’ve come to the right place!
Check out the activities mentioned in this post:
PowerPoint Review Games
The Mysterious Death of Tutankhamen
Harvest Celebrations in Ancient Civilizations
Gift Giving in the Ancient World
And if you need some resources to help make things that much easier, then you’ve come to the right place!
Check out the activities mentioned in this post:
PowerPoint Review Games
The Mysterious Death of Tutankhamen
Harvest Celebrations in Ancient Civilizations
Gift Giving in the Ancient World
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Welcome! I'm Hillary Midgley, a veteran 6th grade teacher.
I create educational materials and develop curriculum for other teachers. I specialize in teaching students how to learn through my Study Skills Curriculum. I have established fundamental classroom systems and structures for teachers to help them streamline their classroom. And my passion is teaching ancient history through engaging activities with foundations in academic skills. Here you will find resources on all of these topics and more. Learn more about me here.
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