Thanksgiving Christmas Holiday Mega Bundle - Middle School ELA

Are your middle school students checked out during the Holidays? Keep them engaged, entertained, AND learning with this FUN Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Mega Bundle! You'll receive NINE RESOURCES covering a wide variety of ELA standards! Reading literature and informational texts with activities, holiday-themed writing assignments, FUN creative projects, and more are included in this special collection of lesson plans!

The Thanksgiving Christmas Holiday Mega Bundle Includes:

Thanksgiving Activity Bundle:

• The History of Thanksgiving - Informational Text and Activities
• Thanksgiving Gratitude Writing Project - Personal Narrative
• Thanksgiving "How-to" Texts - Writing Assignment & FUN Activities
• How to Write a Thank You Note - Writing Assignment and Project

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"My students absolutely went crazy over this. They loved the Thanksgiving activities in this bundle." (Rating from Seriously Successful Students)

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"My kids loved learning things from this assignment that were "new" to them - It was informative but caught their attention the entire time. Did this activity for a half day right before Thanksgiving break and my kids enjoyed it a lot!" (Rating from Brittany Woods)

Christmas & December Holiday Activity Bundle:

• A Christmas Carol Unit Plan - Background Information & Reading Activities
• Celebrating Diversity - Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa Informational Texts
• How to Write a Business Letter (to Santa) - Writing Activity
• "Who Was St. Nicholas" - Informational Text Reading & Activities
• "Twas the Night Before Christmas" - Poetry Analysis Activities

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"This unit is comprised of engaging, standards-based activities! The activities helped my students understand and appreciate the story, 'A Christmas Carol'." (Rating from Solutions)

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"I love that this is a diverse resource to use during the holidays! My kids enjoyed learning about different traditions and cultures! Thank you!" (Rating from Cassandra)

**See Detailed Product Descriptions Below!**

Thanksgiving Activity Bundle:

Searching for Thanksgiving Activities for Middle School Students? These Thanksgiving-themed resources are standards-based and are the perfect activities and assignments to engage students in learning during the holiday season!

Through the included activities and printable worksheets, students will practice multiple ELA skills, including reading multiple informational texts, writing narrative and procedural texts, class presentations, following directions, and more!

The best part? Minimal Teacher Preparation is Required! Most activities are Print & Go activities!

Choose the bundle and SAVE 20% on these Thanksgiving Resources!

What Resources are Included in the Thanksgiving Bundle?

1. The History of Thanksgiving - An informational article (based on primary resources) about the history and origins of the holiday is included, along with comprehension questions and a crossword puzzle.
2. Gratitude Personal Essay - Students will practice their narrative writing skills as they engage in the writing process and reflect upon an individual for whom they are grateful.
3. Thanksgiving Procedural Texts - Students will learn the elements and features of procedural texts and will read and write many examples! Many FUN Thanksgiving-themed activities are included!
4. How to Write a Thank You Note - After reading an informational article on the positive benefits of a daily gratitude practice, students will learn the lost art of writing thank-you notes!

(Full product descriptions are below.)

1. The History of Thanksgiving

Searching for Thanksgiving Activities for Middle School ELA? This History of Thanksgiving PDF is the perfect reading to help your Language Arts students understand the facts of the complicated history of the Thanksgiving Holiday. The best part? There is NO-PREP required for teachers! Simply Print & Go! Save yourself time and stress the week of Thanksgiving!

Included in this resource is a four-page informational article, "A Brief History of Thanksgiving," that is based on facts from primary sources. Students will learn the full picture of historical events surrounding the famous feast of 1621.

Multiple students assignments are included with answer keys! Comprehension questions as well as a crossword puzzle that can be completed with details from the article.

What's Included in "A History of Thanksgiving" Activities?

• Four-page Informational Article "A Brief History of Thanksgiving"
• Comprehension Questions based on Article
• Crossword Puzzle
• Answer Keys!
• Lesson Outline for Teacher
• Teacher Guidelines and Instructions

2. Gratitude Personal Essay Writing

Looking for Thanksgiving Activities to use with your Middle School Students? These printable worksheets include a Thanksgiving writing prompt that will help your students engage in ELA curriculum while expressing their gratitude for someone in their lives!

This No-Prep, Print & Go Thanksgiving Writing Activity includes a Gratitude Essay Assignment Sheet, Pre-Writing Assignment, Gratitude Writing Paper, a Sample Essay for students to model, and a Grading Rubric!

What's Included in Thanksgiving Writing Activity?

• Teacher Guidelines and Instructions
• Basic Lesson Outline
• Gratitude Essay Writing Assignment Sheet
• Gratitude Essay Pre-Writing Assignment Sheet
• Gratitude Essay Writing Paper
• Gratitude Essay Model
• Gratitude Essay Grading Rubric

3. Thanksgiving Procedural Text Writing

Looking for Thanksgiving Activities to use with your Middle School Students? These printable resources include FUN Thanksgiving Activities and Assignments that will teach your students how to read and write Procedural Texts! These worksheets are an easy, low-prep way to keep your students engaged in learning in the days leading up to Thanksgiving!

This resource included a fun introductory/hook origami assignment, over 30 Instructional Slides that teach students the features and characteristics of Procedural Texts, a Thanksgiving Procedural Text Writing Assignment, and a fun Procedural Text Extension Activity.

Students are provided with examples and definitions of procedural texts and instructions on how to compose their own "how to" writing. A graphic organizer is included to help students plan their writing!

What's Included in Thanksgiving Writing Activity?

• Teacher Guidelines and Instructions
• Basic Lesson Outlines for Each Activity (4)
• Introductory/Hook Activity for Procedural Texts
• 30+ Instructional Slides Teaching Elements of Procedural Texts
• Procedural Text Writing Assignment Sheet
• Procedural Text Pre-Writing Sheet
• Procedural Text Writing Paper
• Procedural Text Assignment Grading Rubric
• Extention Activity: Reading Procedural Texts

4. How to Write a Thank You Note

Teaching your students the lost art and courtesy of writing thank you notes the week before Thanksgiving is the perfect activity to keep your students engaged during those few days before Fall Break!

Included in this product is an informational article that discusses how and why we should continue to write thank you cards. The article also discusses the health benefits of incorporating a daily gratitude practice into our lives--there are a lot!

Examples of thank you notes are included to model for your students what is expected. Also included are premade templates for thank you cards that you can print for your students to write their own thank you cards. A Grading Rubric is included! Bonus points if they actually deliver them! :)

Students could possibly write notes to local healthcare workers or other frontline essential workers (including teachers!) to thank them for their service during these difficult times!

Christmas & December Holiday Activity Bundle:

Searching for Holiday Activities to use with Middle School Students prior to leaving for Winter Break? This Christmas Activity Bundle will keep your ELA classes engaged all through December! These resources include Holiday Writing Assignments, Informational Text Readings, Slides Presentations, Fun Activities, and more!

FIVE Great Holiday Resources Included: (Find detailed descriptions of each below!)

1. A Christmas Carol Guided Reading Activities
2. How to Write a Business Letter (to Santa)
3. Celebrating Diversity: Christmas, Hanukah & Kwanzaa
4. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" Poetry Analysis Activity***
5. "Who Was St. Nicholas?" Informational Text and Activities***

***NEWLY ADDED!

1. A Christmas Carol Guided Reading Activities

This A Christmas Carol Unit Plan is a great way to keep your middle school students engaged in learning activities during the Holiday Season. This product is complete with before, during, and after reading activities for the classic holiday novel of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I have used this same unit for the novel and various play versions! It works well for both!

**UPDATE** Print AND Digital options are now available for traditional classroom settings AND for virtual distance learning!

Best of all, very little preparation is required! Simply print and Go! Keep your students learning AND make your own life a little easier during this busy season.

As a bonus, a highly visual Slides presentation is included to help students build their understanding of life in London in the 1800s and the events that inspired Charles Dickens to write the story. An excellent study of literature, aligned with Common Core, that will help maintain rigor and students' interest in the few weeks leading to the winter break.

What's Included:

• General Teacher Guidelines and Instructions
• Unit Overview
• Six Individual Lesson Outlines with step-by-step instructions.
• Guided Reading Packet with Before, During, and After Reading Activities.
• Text v. Film Analysis Handout
• Answer Keys!
• Link to Slides Presentation "Building Background for A Christmas Carol"
• Instructions for Accessing Presentation
• Instructions for Saving Slides Presentation as PowerPoint Presentation

Topics / Skills Practice or Reviewed:

• Building Background Knowledge
• Making Connections
• Comprehension Check Questions for each Stave of the novel,
• Reading Strategy: Visualizing
• Adjective Review
• Compare / Contrast
• Setting
• Mood
• Allusions
• Suspense
• Flashback
• Making Inferences
• Drawing Conclusions
• Theme Analysis
• Reflection Questions

2. How to Write a Business Letter (to Santa)

Wondering what to teach your students prior to Winter Break? Want a holiday activity that ties into the Language Arts curriculum? This Christmas writing activity is perfect for those last few days before the break!

Teach your students how to write a formal business letter with this product! A Slides Presentation contains detailed instruction on writing a business letter, as well as examples of the assignment they will be asked to complete. This is a fun Christmas activity that engages even the antsiest students during those long days just before the break!

What's Included:

• General Teacher Guidelines and Instructions
• Lesson Outline with step-by-step instructions.
• Slides Presentation with detailed lesson on how to compose a business letter.
• Student Handout with Instructions
• Multiple Examples of Properly Formatted Business Letter
• Grading Rubric
• Instructions for Accessing Presentation
• Instructions for Saving Slides Presentation as PowerPoint Presentation

3. Celebrating Diversity: Christmas, Hanukah & Kwanzaa

This No-Prep, Print & Go Holiday Resource is the perfect way to engage your Middle School Students during the month of December! Students will learn about three cultures' winter celebrations--Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa--while practicing important ELA skills!

After reading three informational texts, students will compare and contrast the holidays and practice writing excellent paragraphs!

Included in this .pdf file are three informational articles discussing the history of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. Also included is a student graphic organizer on which students will keep track of differences and similarities among the three holidays. Students are also given the opportunity to practice their writing skills as they write two well-written paragraphs exploring the similarities and differences of the three holidays and reflecting upon respecting and appreciating various cultures.

What's Included:

• General Teacher Guidelines and Instructions
• Step-by-step Lesson Outline
• Three Informational Articles: Christmas, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa
• Student Compare / Contrast Graphic Organizer
• Paragraph Writing Assignment
• Grading Rubric

ELA Skills Practice or Reviewed:

• Reading Informational Text
• Writing Well-written Paragraphs
• Compare / Contrast
• Reading for Detail
• Summarizing Key Points
• Critical Thinking
• Reflection Questions

4. Who Was St. Nicholas - Informational Article and Activities

Connect the Holidays with History with this Christmas Reading Activity for Middle School Students! Students will practice reading informational texts and making connections as they learn about the historical figure of Saint Nicholas! After students learn about St. Nicholas, they can complete a comprehension crossword puzzle and a fun word search! This resource is the perfect No-Prep way to keep students engaged leading up to Winter Break!

What's Included?

• Two-page Informational Article about Saint Nicholas
• Comprehension Crossword Puzzle
• Saint Nicholas Christmas Word Search
• Answer Keys!
• Holiday Bonus: 10 Free Holiday Journal Writing Prompts

5. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" Poetry Analysis

Searching for a Fun Christmas Activity for your Middle School ELA Students? Ask your students to analyze Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and complete these fun activities.

“A Visit from St. Nicholas” (the original title) is the perfect piece of poetry to review figurative language and poetic devices with students (including metaphor, simile, alliteration, imagery, personification, and more!).

An Informational Article on the historical figure of St. Nicholas is included as well as over 20 Slides to help introduce students to the poem! In addition, multiple NO PREP student assignments are included to help keep your students engaged this holiday season!

What’s Included?

• Two-page Information Article about the historical figure of St. Nicholas
• Introduction to “A Visit from St. Nicholas” Slides (over 20 Slides to build students' background information!)
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clark Moore PDF
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” Poetry Analysis Student Assignment
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” Imagery Analysis Creative Art Student Assignment
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” The Remix – The Poem in Modern-day Student Assignment
• Answer Keys
• Teacher Guidelines and Instructions
• Additional Holiday Activity Previews!

ELA Topics Taught/Reviewed:

• Informational Text Reading (Text Features)
• Poetry Reading
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Imagery
• Personification
• Alliteration
• Rhyme Scheme
• Theme
• Setting
• Creative Writing