BUT, that doesn't mean we can be too busy for a little holiday magic! I don't think that all of the festive fun should be kept in the lower grades. I like to have my high school students complete holiday activities and they ALWAYS appreciate and love it. Next week is our last week before Christmas break so I'm combining holiday cheer with literary analysis. What could be better? ;)
Here's what's included in my TPT Christmas Bundle!
1. Reindeer Resume: This is one of my favorites! Students have to fill out a resume to be Santa's newest reindeer. Then, they must write a persuasive letter to Ms. Claus using at least two rhetorical devices. At the end, they re-write, "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer" to create a song about their reindeer self. The students always get REALLY into this.
2. "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" Poetry Analysis: This activity combines the poem, "The Snow Man" by Wallace Stevens with an activity where students have to build a snowman using analytical skills. This poem is NOT EASY...my group of honors children struggled with this. It's a great poem to use when teaching perspective, figurative language, and point of view.
3. "Decorate and Celerate the Story" Short Story Analysis: This comes with two options, an EOC prep version, OR a read, analyze, create version where students make a Christmas Tree decorated with literary elements from the story!
4. The Grinch film + book analysis: Students read the original story + watch the film and compare/contrast the two. They also have to consider symbolism, theme, motifs, and more!
5. Short Film Analysis: Students are provided a link to a short film that depicts the Christmas spirit! They must think critically and focus on elements such as foreshadowing, irony, mood, tone, etc. This would also be a great activity to use as an intro to, "The Gift of the Magi".
6. Poetry Task: Students read + annotate a sonnet called, "Snowflake". Then, they move on to a graphic organizer that requires them to combine what they've learned about poetry with a little creativity!
7. Two Extra Credit Options: I always give my students a small extra credit project to take home over winter break. It's also a nice way to make sure they aren't slacking, but still preparing for that big scary exam they'll "enjoy" whenever they return to school. It's a good way to trick them into reviewing! One of the projects even requires that they watch Netflix...who doesn't love that!?
8. Trim the Tree with Terminology: Students are required to look back at the stories, poems, or novels they've read over the semester. They choose a symbol, motif, or object that is central to the theme of the work as a whole. Then, they create an ornament + a writing task about their ornament.
9. Winter Writing Prompts! Students are asked to pick one task from each column - Poetry, Nonfiction, and Creative Writing. An outline for article analysis is also included to help students make the process a little easier.
This weekend, you can get the bundle for 10% off! :) Click HERE
Merry Christmas, Ya'll!
