Over the last few years, we have used a few different Christmas curriculum, and here are our favorites to use with 4 through 12 year old students.
When I first started homeschooling, I didn’t look for a way to teach about Christmas. We just took a short break from regularly scheduled lessons and celebrated the birth of Jesus in a simple way. You definitely don’t need a Christmas curriculum to make Christmas merry.
As time passed, creators of curriculum I loved started putting out really lovely Christmas curricula that looked so special that I had to try. Not all are worth the hype, but I’ll detail a couple that were as special as advertised.
If you’d like to have some guidance towards some ideas Christmas books and activities, read on!
This post is all about our favorite Christmas curricula.
Unearthing Wonder
Unearthing Wonder is created by The Peaceful Press (use code “peacefulyear” for a 10% discount!), and uses the book All Creation Awaits by Gayle Boss. Each chapter follows the journey of one creature preparing for winter. The language can be a bit complicated for younger children. This is where Unearthing Wonder helps bridge the gap, and explains the chapter some, and connects it to the anticipation of the birth of Jesus. It also includes an animal ornament that I printed on cardstock for the children to color and hang on a tree.
Simple and sweet, without much prep or fuss. I would recommend this guide for families looking for something meaningful and Christmas themed, but do not want too much extras on their plate.
Morning Time Advent Guide
The Morning Time Advent Guide is created by Whitney from Brighter Day Press. The guide is recommended for ages 5 to 10 years old. It includes 4 weeks of Charlotte Mason inspired learning. Each week includes:
- Scripture Reading
- Hymn
- Prayer
- Memory Verse
- Composer Study
- Devotional
- Copywork
- Artist Study
- Poetry
- Community Service Idea
- Craft
- Recipe
- Preschool Craft Idea
- Multiple Christmas Picture Book Ideas
We lightened our normal school work load for the month of December in order to make space for this guide. It was so rich, yet also so nice to slow down a bit with this family time. Families who homeschool or not would easily enjoy this guide.
[RELATED: Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids]
Jotham’s Journey
The book Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide is a very exciting story to read for Advent. We follow 10 year old Jotham across Israel as he searches for his family. He has many obstacles along the way such as thieves and kidnappers, but also meets the wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers. His journey is difficult, but he eventually makes his way to Bethlehem for the birth of the Savior.
It is full of adventure and action, my kids were on the edge of their seats. I would caution that there is definitely violence that may be difficult for a sensitive child. The story is gripping and was one we looked forward to each day. In addition to Jotham’s Journey, there are 3 other books in this series that have the same action packed stories!
Uncovering Mercies at the Manger
Our first year in a study by Not Consumed was Mercies at the Manger. The appeal to me was they had study guides for different levels – I picked up the Parent Guide, 1 Youth Guide, and 2 Junior Study Guides.
We did this everyday for 20 days together as a family. The leveled guides have slight variations to accommodate different comprehension levels, while we all study the same Scripture. There are discussion questions that remind me of an adult Bible study, and it was so special to do it together with my children.
Signs of the Savior at Christmas
I used this new study with my 2 younger kids! It is a 15 day study, designed to be used in the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas. We plan to use this starting the last week of November to give us some breathing room. December is known to have missed days or time off in our homeschool, so having that cushion is a gift!
Signs of the Savior is ideally for children ages 4-14, and includes notebooking, a timeline, a book list, and some really adorable activities. It is meant to be done alongside a regular homeschool day, so it is not intended to take up too much time.
Adoration at the Manger: A Christmas Hymn Study
Since we enjoyed Mercies at the Manger so much last year, we used this beautiful hymn study in morning time. I have found so much value in studying hymns over the years, and this did not disappoint! Devoting this season to going deeper with seeking the meaning behind the songs we sing with Adoration at the Manger is a great option.
Holiday Book Flood: A 25 Day Picture Book Advent
If you want to keep things simple and add Christmas picture books to your normal rhythm, you’ll want to check out this Holiday Book Flood. It is designed for ages 3-10, and includes a guide for a 25 day simple study on Christmas using picture books and activities. There is minimal prep work, but maximum time for connection and joy. Use code “peacefulyear” to save 10% off any order.
Christmas Advent Blocks
If you want to start a special tradition at Christmas time, these Advent Blocks are so precious. This set comes with a correlating storybook. You read the story for the day, and turn the block that has a symbol, which matches the key part of the story. It is a easy to implement tradition to take on in December, and little ones love to turn the blocks for a visual reminder of the countdown.
Christmas 2024
Here is a rundown of what we’ll be using this year:
- Christmas Around the World: A 4-week seasonal guide for families
- Tabitha’s Travels, A Family Story for Advent
- Read aloud: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Let me know what your favorite Christmas curriculum has been or if you have used any of these before. It’s such a great time of year to slow down from the regular rhythm, and focus in on the incredibly humbling Christmas story!
This post is all about favorite Christmas curriculum. I will continue to update this list as we continue to find rich studies to celebrate!
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Colleen Marsh says
We use Truth in the Tinsel. We love it!
juiceboxhomeschool says
I’ll have to look that up!