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🎄 What We’re Using This Christmas (Amazon Favorites)
Here are a few things we’re loving and actually using this Christmas season:
🎄Kids’ Christmas Activity Book (Amazon)🎄Christmas Playdough Kit (Amazon)🎄Christmas Book Set (Amazon)🎄Easy Gingerbread House Kit (Amazon)🎄Washable Christmas Stampers (Amazon)🎄Christmas Fun Game (Amazon)🎄Kids’ Christmas Craft Set (Amazon) If you’re anything like me, December sneaks up faster than expected… every single year. One minute we’re settling into our homeschool rhythm, and then suddenly the tree is up, your kids are buzzing with excitement, and your carefully planned lessons? Gone. Or at least buried under wrapping paper, holiday events, and a to-do list that won’t stop growing.
And you know what?
That’s okay.
December doesn’t have to be the month where learning disappears or where you feel guilty because everything suddenly feels chaotic. Instead, with just a few low-prep, last-minute ideas, you can turn this season into a month filled with meaningful learning — without printing dozens of pages, prepping for hours, or trying to force a “normal homeschool day” that just isn’t happening.
Today, I’m sharing 30 Last-Minute Christmas Learning Ideas You Can Do Today — activities that take minutes to set up, feel festive, and still check your “we learned something today” box (in the gentlest way possible).
These are real, practical ideas you can use with multiple ages, even if your energy is low, your house is loud, and your holiday schedule is packed.
Let’s make December joyful again… and still educational.
1. Christmas Read-Aloud + Oral Narration
Grab ANY holiday book and read aloud for 10 minutes. Then ask simple narration questions:
No worksheets needed — this is real language arts.
2. Hot Cocoa Poetry Time
Make cocoa, light a candle, and read a winter poem (just one!). Have your kids illustrate it or act it out. This builds vocabulary, fluency, and interpretation skills… without feeling like “school.”
3. Christmas Scavenger Hunt (Math + Literacy)
Write 6–10 clues on sticky notes and hide them around the house.
Clues can be:
This builds comprehension and problem-solving — and your kids burn energy!
4. Ornament Counting or Sorting (Early Math)
Give your child a bowl of ornaments and have them:
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Sort by size
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Sort by color
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Count how many of each
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Create simple patterns
A festive math lesson in seconds.
5. Christmas Movie Retelling (Language Arts)
After watching a holiday movie, ask your child to give:
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A summary
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Main characters
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Problem & solution
This is the exact skill needed for reading comprehension.
6. Gingerbread House STEM Challenge
Use graham crackers, frosting, or even Legos.
Challenge: Build a house that stays standing for 5 minutes.
Kids learn:
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Engineering
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Building
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Stability
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Problem-solving
And yes… it's fun.
7. Countdown Chain (Writing + Math)
Create a simple paper chain to count down to Christmas.
On each strip, let your child write:
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A number
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A word
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A math fact
Super fast and naturally reinforcing writing skills.
8. Christmas Estimation Jar
Fill a jar with:
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Candy canes
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Jingle bells
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Pom poms
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Buttons
Kids guess the amount, then count to check.
Sneaky math at its best.
9. Nativity Story Sequencing
Tell the Christmas story or read a picture book version.
Kids draw 4–6 key events in order.
This supports sequencing — an essential reading skill.
10. Winter Nature Walk (Science)
Go outside and look for:
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Seasonal plants
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Birds
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Weather changes
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Winter colors
Optional: Bring home a small collection to sketch.
11. Christmas Card Writing (Real Life Writing Skills)
Have your children write:
This builds handwriting, spelling, and meaningful communication.
12. Holiday Fractions With Cookies
Bake or buy cookies and practice:
It’s delicious… and memorable.
13. Christmas Around the World Mini Lesson
Pick a country and learn:
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One tradition
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One holiday food
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One new word
If you want it even easier, check out my printable:
Discover Christmas Around the World: A Fun and Educational Mini-Lesson.
It’s low-prep, simple, and perfect for last-minute December learning.
14. Christmas Word Building
Give kids letters (magnetic tiles, paper scraps, Scrabble tiles) and build words like:
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snow
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Santa
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tree
-
gifts
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lights
Great for phonics and spelling.
15. Gift Budgeting Lesson (Math + Life Skills)
Give your kids an imaginary or real $10 budget and let them “shop” online or in a store.
Budgeting in December? SO valuable.
16. Christmas Music Study
Listen to one classic Christmas song and ask:
That’s music appreciation in the easiest possible format.
17. Paper Snowflakes Geometry
Cut snowflakes and talk about:
Simple, beautiful math.
18. Candy Cane STEM Challenge
Give kids a box of candy canes and challenge them to build:
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A bridge
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A tower
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A sculpture
It’s instant engineering.
19. Christmas Story Starters (Creative Writing)
Offer one of these prompts:
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“The gingerbread man came alive, and…”
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“I found a present with my name, but…”
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“Santa needed my help because…”
Kids love this and it boosts creative thinking.
20. Wrapping Station Math
Let your kids wrap gifts and practice:
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Measuring paper
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Estimating size
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Spatial reasoning
It’s one of the most natural math lessons of the season.
21. Christmas Cookbook Reading
Have your child read a recipe aloud while helping you bake.
This supports:
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Following directions
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Reading fluency
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Math skills (measuring)
BONUS: Hand them the grocery list and let them read items at the store.
22. Nativity or Winter Lego Build Challenge
Give a challenge:
“Build something Christmas-y in 20 minutes!”
This builds creativity + engineering skills.
23. Santa Letter Writing (or Winter Letters)
Your child can write:
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Letters to Santa
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Letters to grandparents
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Letters to friends
Writing for a real audience increases motivation.
24. Christmas Book Basket
Fill a basket with holiday books.
Tell your child, “Read for 15 minutes from anything in here.”
Zero prep, but highly effective.
25. Holiday “Would You Rather?” Questions
Ask things like:
This builds:
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Oral language
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Expressive thinking
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Social skills
26. Famous Holiday Art Study
Pick a piece like Norman Rockwell’s Christmas paintings.
Look at it for 60 seconds and ask:
Short, simple art appreciation.
27. Christmas Pattern Blocks
Use real blocks or printable ones and create:
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Trees
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Wreaths
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Stockings
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Snowflakes
This builds shape recognition + spatial reasoning.
28. Holiday Memory Game
Place Christmas items on a tray (bell, pencil, ornament, bow).
Let your child look for 20 seconds, then cover it and ask them to recall what they saw.
Boosts memory and attention skills.
29. December Book Report… But Tiny
Instead of a full report, ask:
“Tell me 3 things you learned from this book.”
It’s quick and kids actually do it.
30. Simple Christmas Copywork
Pick a short Bible verse, poem line, or winter quote.
Kids copy it neatly.
This reinforces handwriting, spelling, and attention to detail.
The Heart Behind These Ideas
December isn’t about “keeping up.”
It’s about connection.
Kids remember:
These little activities allow learning to continue gently, naturally, and joyfully — without adding stress to your already full month.
And the best part?
You can start ANY of these today.
You don’t need perfect plans.
You just need small moments that make your kids feel loved and engaged.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a Perfect December — Just a Meaningful One
If December has felt overwhelming, or you were worried you “lost” learning time, I hope this gave you a little breath of relief. You are doing enough. Your kids are learning. And this season can be merry, calm, and educational — even at the very last minute.
If you want even more simple Christmas activities, homeschool printables, or learning ideas to make the season magical, make sure to explore my other posts.
Your support helps me keep creating helpful content for your home and homeschool.
You’ve got this. ❤️
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What Christmas learning activity are you trying first? Share below — I’d love to hear from you!
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Thank you for reading my blog! Stay tuned for more tips, resources, and printable materials to help make your homeschooling experience enjoyable and effective. Check out my store for a variety of educational products and printables to assist you on your homeschooling journey.
Nancy at Cleverly Kindred ❤️
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