Christmas School 2024
Oh, Christmas School, I hardly knew thee. No, really, I’ve never fully done a Christmas School in our homeschool before. Every year I think about doing Christmas school, I look at the instagram pictures, I buy a unit or write one, and then every year without fail, I get swept up in our current curriculum and dread falling behind.
“But Beth,” you might wonder, “Won’t you have that same issue this year?”
Yes and no. Yes, our normal curriculum will persist but no, I’m not worried about falling behind for one big reason.
This kid.
She’s turned 11 this week and I’ve realized that we probably don’t have much longer for Christmas schooling. There may come a time when she isn’t interested in a themed unit study and map drills about all the places Santa could have visited and how fast he might have traveled to get to each house at night. ('I’m just kidding, we won’t do that.) But still, her childhood is so fleeting and if I’m being entirely honest, I regret the years I didn’t throw it all to the wind and just enjoy different seasons.
But alas, I’m treading very carefully into a discussion we should only have over coffee or wine.
Christmas School. This year I’m committed to putting our curriculum on hold and just enjoying everything December has to offer us. So here are our plans so far.
Morning Time:
Jessie Tree Bible Study: We’ve been using a Jessie Tree study from Pip&J Papery for 6 years now. They were one of the first “homeschool things” I bought way back when my daughter was in kindergarten. I love having the cards and ornaments and it has made for a special tradition.
Book a Day Christmas Book: Every day my kids unwrap 1 christmas picture book that we read together. This year I bought a cute paper bag instead of wrapping 25 books. Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner.
Composer Study: We’ll be listening to Handel’s Messiah and following along with Cindy Rollins book.
Christmas Is Coming: An Advent Book: I found this book at the thrift store for $2 and it is so cute. Each day offers an easy to manage activity that I think we’ll be able to keep up with.
Hymns and Folk Songs: We’ll be using a christmas hymn and folksong book and alternating every day
Artist Study: We’ll be doing one artist a week from the Mother’s Education Advent program. Since I’ll already be studying these works of art, doing them with my children makes it more manageable.
Art and Handicrafts:
Watercolor Lessons: For art we’ll be working through several of Lily and Thistle Winter Watercolor (affiliate link) classes. This year my kids have done Art Makes Me Smart Around the World and Math as well as several of the fall tutorials. We’ve loved everything we’ve done from Lily and Thistle and I’m excited to carve out time to do the winter watercolors as well.
Handicrafts for the Little Years: For my 5 year old son, we’ll choose several crafts from the winter section.
Big Kid: She’ll be working on a handful of gifts for family and friends.
Dried Orange Garland: Every year we make a dried orange garland and listen to The Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington. This tradition started when my daughter was 4.
Literature & History:
A Christmas Carol: This year we’ll be reading Dickens’ A Christmas Carol again and doing the Christmas Carol unit study by Little World Wanderers. We’ve worked our way through most of it two years ago when I first wrote it but I’m excited to do it in its entirety. This unit also has history, handicrafts and recipes to do.
Read Aloud:
A Family Under the Bridge: My dear friend, Jessica from Life Giving Pages wrote a beautiful, gospel centered guide called Advent with Armand. Jessica puts so much care and attention in her guides and I’m excited to explore this book with my children.
Science and Nature:
Last year we read through All Creation Waits in our Morning time. It was such a wonderful, intentional read aloud and I’m excited to bring it back this year.
We’re also doing a Countdown to Christmas with science. Every week I’ve been creating a new science activity for my kids and sharing it with my email list. This week we made closed circuits with Christmas lights.
Mother Culture:
This year I’ll be working through A Mother’s Education Advent 2024. Even though I wrote it, the book list is wonderfully intentional and I’ve been able to meet in community through zoom with other women working on the program. It has been such an encouragement and blessing so far.
Field Trips:
We’ll be attending the Nutcracker at the Denver Ballet as well as seeing The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I’m so excited both of these trips with the kids!
And that’s a wrap! I’m excited for a gentle December and to see all the magic Christmas School holds for our family.
