There really is just something about December in the classroom – it’s more special, unique, heart-warming, and exciting. As teachers, we know that the goal isn’t just to fill the time with extra cute crafts. We want to teach our students about the different winter holidays and not just focus on Christmas. These Holidays Around The World crafts are a huge win. They introduce your students to the different important symbols of each winter holiday. They are hands-on, meaningful, celebrate diversity, and are more than just another “cute December craft”.
Here are 12 different Holidays Around The World crafts to add to your December! Each craft has a half-page for students to write about why this item is an important symbol for the holiday to double as a writing activity. Hang these up around the classroom throughout December, on a hallway bulletin board to display to others, or create books for each student to store their craft in so that they can take them home before winter break to teach their families about the different holidays.
1. Sweden – St. Lucia’s Day Crowns
Students create this paper crown with candles to honor St. Lucia’s Day, a celebration of light and kindness.
2. France – Yule Log
Students create a yule log out of brown, red, and green construction paper.
3. Christmas in Australia – Kangaroo
This one is probably my favorite. Just look at that kangaroo! Students create the kangaroo to represent the six kangaroos that lead the sleigh while Santa’s reindeer rest.
4. Hanukkah – Menorah
Students create a menorah out of a paper plate and paper candles to celebrate Hanukkah’s eight nights.
5. Kwanzaa – Kinara
Students create colorful paper kinaras (candle holders) to represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
6. Italy – La Befana’s Broomstick
Students make paper broomsticks to represent La Befana, Italy’s kind witch who delivers gifts on Epiphany.
7. Christmas In Germany – Advent Calendar
Students design mini advent calendars with numbered flaps.
8. Christmas In The United States of America
Students decorate paper sweaters with markers, glitter, and pom poms.
9. Ramadan – Lantern
Students create colorful paper lanterns to represent the decorations used during Ramadan.
10. Chinese New Year – Lantern
Students make these paper lanterns to symbolize good fortune and celebration.
11. Las Posadas – Piñata
Students make mini paper piñatas to represent the joyful community celebrations of Las Posadas.
12. Diwali – Diya
To create the diya for Diwali, students will need a coffee filter. They will fold the coffee filter in half, and draw on it with markers. Students can either glue it on construction paper, as shown in the picture, or tape it to a window so that the sun’s rays shine through.
Add These Crafts To Your December Lesson Plans
When students create something meaningful like these crafts, they are not just crafting; they are connecting to different cultures. These crafts remind children while traditions look different everywhere, kindness, celebration, and community are universal. What better lesson to close out the year before winter break?
Ready to add these Holidays Around The World crafts to your lesson plans this month? Our Holidays Around The World Unit includes everything that you need to teach your students about different global winter holidays! Each holiday includes:
- nonfiction brochures to teach your students about the different holidays’ traditions, foods, decorations, and symbols.
- postcards to write to someone explaining a tradition they learned about the holiday.
- travel journal to write about each holiday, what they’ve learned, and practice new vocabulary.
- writing crafts for each holiday to display around the classroom for a fun visual.
- passports with stamps to show where they have “traveled”.
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