December in the classroom is exciting, a little chaotic, and full of energy. Students are distracted by upcoming holidays, routines feel a bit shaky, and it can be hard to keep everyone focused on learning. That’s why holiday read alouds are one of my favorite tools during this season. They naturally pull students in, create shared moments of calm, and open the door for meaningful conversations about character, kindness, and traditions. When you pair a strong story with a simple hands-on activity, learning still happens even during the busiest weeks of the year. Here are five holiday read alouds I use every year, along with easy classroom activities that help bring each story to life.
1. The Gingerbread Man by Karen Schmidt
This might be my all-time favorite on this holiday read alouds list! This classic story is always a classroom favorite. The Gingerbread Man runs away from everyone who tries to catch him, proudly calling out, “Run, run, as fast as you can!” Students love predicting what will happen next as each new character joins the chase, and it’s a great way to practice sequencing and retelling.
As you read, pause often to let students join in on the repeated phrase and talk about what they think will happen next. After the story, you can move into a hands-on gingerbread unit that makes the learning stick. Here are some of my favorite activities from our gingerbread unit!
Gingerbread Lapbook Activity
One of the best follow-ups to this story is a gingerbread lapbook like this one. Give each student a file folder or a few sheets of construction paper stapled together. Students cut, color, and glue different pieces that help them retell and think more deeply about the story.
Inside the lapbook, students might complete a story map, sequence how the gingerbread man ran away, describe the character, and respond to prompts like “Why does the gingerbread man run?” or “If I were the gingerbread man, I would…” You can spread this over a few days or use it during literacy centers, so it never feels rushed.
It becomes a keepsake that students are proud to take home, and it reinforces comprehension skills in a meaningful, hands-on way.
Gingerbread House Classroom Project
Another favorite extension is building real gingerbread houses in the classroom. This activity is simple to set up but feels incredibly special for students.
Give each student a base, such as a paper plate or sturdy cardstock. Provide graham crackers, icing to act as glue, and a variety of small candies for decorating. I like to pre-portion supplies into small trays or bags to keep things organized and manageable. Oh, and if you have a parent helper, schedule them for this day!
Start by modeling how to build the house using icing and graham crackers for the walls and roof. Remind students that the goal is a sturdy house, not a perfect one. Once the structure is built, students decorate with candies, pretzels, or sprinkles.
While they work, encourage them to talk about their choices using simple prompts like, “I used candy canes because…” or “My house has gumdrop shingles.” When finished, let the houses dry and host a simple gallery walk so students can admire each other’s creations. It’s a great way to build community and celebrate effort.
2. Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene
This book is a fun and silly holiday story that students absolutely love. Santa eats too many cookies while delivering presents and gets stuck in a chimney! As neighbors try to help him out without waking anyone up, students get to follow along with the chain of helpers and problem-solve alongside the characters.
The repetition in the story makes it easy for young learners to follow, and it naturally leads to great discussions about helping others.
Writing Prompt Follow-Up
After reading, ask students, “What would you do if you found Santa stuck in your chimney?” Give them a simple writing page where they can draw and write their idea. Model one example first so students understand what to do, then let them get creative. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes and makes a great holiday writing lesson.
If you want to really level up, you can have the kids glue these writing pages to paper stockings cut out of construction paper. Then, build a simple fireplace mantle on a bulletin board and add all of the stockings. This makes an adorable display for the holidays and ties in plenty of ELA and fine motor skills along the way.
3. My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
This is a simple and child-friendly introduction to Kwanzaa, perfect for a holidays around the world unit. The book explains traditions, symbols, and celebrations in a way that young learners can easily understand.
As you read, pause to highlight important ideas like family, community, and traditions. This is also a great time to connect to students’ own family celebrations and experiences. Prompt them to consider how their family traditions are similar or different from those described in the book. One similarity I like to point out is the lighting of the Menorah and the lighting of Christmas trees.
Kwanzaa Placemat Activity
After reading, consider having students create a Kwanzaa weaving mat. This is a super simple project that is always a big hit in the classroom! To get started, give each student a piece of black construction paper with horizontal slits cut across it. You can do this easily by folding the paper in half and cutting it at the fold, but not all the way to the edges. Then provide the students with strips of red and green paper for weaving. I use a paper cutter to prep these really quickly.
Students will carefully weave the strips over and under to create a patterned mat. Make sure to model this a few times first and encourage the kids to be gentle, or the paper will tear. I like to run this activity in small groups if possible, or circround the room and help those who need it.
This hands-on activity supports fine motor skills, patterning, and cultural understanding, all in one simple project. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun!
4. The Great Reindeer Rebellion by Lisa Trumbauer
I bet you haven’t seen this holiday read aloud before!
This is a playful story about what happens when Santa’s reindeer go on strike. Santa holds auditions for new animals to pull his sleigh, and students get to imagine which other animals might be up for the job. Kangaroos, elephants, and flamingos are just a few of the animals that want the job.
Another reason I love this one so much is that it’s written in the same style as the classic poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. It’s a fun twist on a holiday classic! Not to mention, once you’re finished reading, it’s a great starting point for practicing some opinion writing.
Opinion Writing Activity
After reading, ask students to choose which animal should help Santa and explain why.
Model how to turn ideas into a simple sentence like, “I think the…. should help Santa because….” Then let students write and draw their response.
To extend the activity, students can make a simple reindeer craft using handprints.
I cut out simple triangles for the face and allowed the kids to trace and cut out their hands. They can add eyes and a nose to finish it off. This adds a festive art component and makes a great classroom display alongside their writing.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Is it really a holiday read aloud list without this classic?! This is a story that most students recognize, but many have never actually heard the original book version. The Grinch tries to steal Christmas from the Whos in Whoville, only to discover that Christmas is about more than gifts and decorations.
As you read, pause to talk about how the Grinch changes throughout the story. This is a great opportunity to introduce or reinforce character traits like “grumpy,” “lonely,” and “kind.”
I love making an anchor chart with these ideas and drawing simple pictures to go along with each word. This helps cement understanding and allows you to extend your reading into a simple writing project.
Holiday Smiles Activity
After reading, ask students, “What would you do to make the Grinch grin?” Depending on skill level, they can write a sentence or just a word or two with a picture. This activity usually only takes about 15-20 minutes and leads to some of the most creative and thoughtful responses of the season! Make sure to hang these on a bulletin board; your kids will love admiring their work.
Holiday Read Alouds Make Learning Stick
These stories do more than fill time during December. They help students build comprehension skills, practice empathy, and connect learning to real-life situations in a way that feels fun and memorable.
When you pair a strong holiday read alouds with a simple, hands-on activity, you get meaningful learning without adding stress to your planning during an already busy season!
Ready for More Holiday Ideas?
If you’re planning for December and need simple, engaging activities, check out the holiday activities category in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. You’ll find hands-on resources designed to make your holiday lessons easier to plan and more fun for your students!
Keep Reading for More Holiday Learning
Check out these posts next to fill your lesson plan with more holiday read alouds and activities!
- 4 Holiday Lapbook Flippy Flap Activities
- 5 Tips for Planning December Activities for the Primary Classroom
- Gingerbread Activities for Kindergarten
Save These Holiday Read Alouds
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