The provided source materials document a variety of free resources available to educators for use during December holiday periods. These resources, often referred to as "freebies" by the content creators, range from printable classroom decorations and activity packets to digital prompt guides and craft ideas. The sources indicate that these materials are intended to assist teachers in managing the high-energy period leading up to winter break, providing academic and festive activities without cost. Access to these resources typically requires subscribing to the creator's email newsletter or visiting specific blog posts where download links are hosted. The materials cover a broad range of grade levels, from primary classrooms to upper-elementary and secondary education, and address various holiday themes including Christmas, Hanukkah, and general winter celebrations.
Holiday Music and Academic Activities
For elementary music teachers, specific free resources are available to maintain student engagement during December. Source [1] highlights a collection of "Holiday Music Freebies" accessible through the Sing Play Create Free Resource Library. Subscription to the newsletter provides the password required for entry. The specific freebies mentioned include:
- Holiday Music Awards: An editable certificate designed to celebrate student achievements related to Hanukkah, Christmas, and The Nutcracker.
- Holiday Beat and Rhythm Cards: Manipulatives intended for music stations, suitable for teachers who travel or work from a cart.
- Holiday Songs and Chords: A packet for singing and playing holiday songs.
- Holiday Songwriting Activity: A "12 Days of Christmas" lyric writing activity intended to keep students writing during the final week of school.
In the context of general classroom management during the final week before winter break, Source [2] describes the challenges of maintaining academic focus. The author plans to utilize a "Holiday Classroom Idea FREEBIE" associated with the movie The Happy Elf, requiring students to complete a story element chart while watching. Another activity described involves creating "Root Beer Drinking Reindeer," for which a booklet and black line masters are available as a free download. Additionally, the source mentions a "Minute to Win It Morning" as a way to bring cheer, though specific free resources for these games are not detailed in the text provided.
Classroom Decorations and Visual Aids
Visual decoration is a significant component of the free resources identified. Source [3] offers "free holiday classroom posters" intended to decorate bulletin boards or doors. These posters are designed for quick printing and display, requiring less than five minutes to prepare. The free download consists of 16 bonus posters, which serve as a supplement to a larger paid bundle available on Teachers Pay Teachers. To access these free posters, educators must subscribe to the creator's email list, which also provides access to a weekly newsletter and other classroom decor tips.
Digital Resources and AI Prompts
Modern digital tools are also represented in the free offerings. Source [5] details a "FREE Fall & Winter Activities Cheat Sheet" focused on AI prompts. This resource is described as a quick-start guide containing 18 prompts for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and winter holiday activities. The prompts are categorized into Thanksgiving/Fall-Themed Activities, Christmas-Themed Activities, and Winter-Themed Activities. Examples provided include prompts for creating daily gratitude journals leading up to Thanksgiving and prompts for winter-themed poetry or storytelling. This freebie is presented as a "tasting" of a larger, members-only bundle. A separate "Fall Activities Cheat Sheet" is also mentioned as a members-only resource containing additional prompts.
Crafts, Printables, and Seasonal Bundles
For upper-elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, Source [4] compiles a list of digital and printable Christmas crafts, winter projects, and holiday activities. The author acknowledges the "wild" nature of December classrooms and offers these resources to help teachers "thrive instead of simply surviving." A "JAM-PACKED winter freebie pack" is mentioned as being sent to subscribers' inboxes. Furthermore, a "Winter Mega Bundle" is available for purchase at a steep discount. This is described as a "GROWING Bundle," meaning new products are added over time, increasing the value. The bundle includes a free bonus of "December Morning Meeting Slides."
Source [6] offers a different set of holiday printables, described as a "fun new freebie" package. This includes a holiday tree dot game, Santa’s flight path geography activity, holiday word work, and letter writing paper. The source also mentions "editable coupons" designed for students, such as coupons for sitting in the teacher's chair or bringing a stuffed animal to class. These are suggested as zero-cost gift options for students. Additionally, the source discusses using a specific read-aloud book as a mentor text for a quickwrite activity and suggests creating "RACK Sacks" (Random Acts of Classroom Kindness) for students to exchange compliments.
Post-Holiday and New Year Activities
Transitioning back to school after the holiday break is the focus of Source [7]. The source suggests avoiding immediate academic rigor and instead using fun activities to ease back into routine. Two specific free activity ideas are provided:
- Create a Holiday Memory Book: Students draw or bring in a picture of a favorite holiday moment and write sentences about it. These pages can be shared with the class or bound into a class book.
- Make New Year’s Resolutions: This activity encourages students to reflect on the past year and make positive, realistic promises for the new year. The source suggests brainstorming resolutions together as a class.
Conclusion
The provided source materials confirm that a wide array of free resources exists for educators to utilize during the December holiday season. These materials, ranging from music activities and classroom decorations to digital prompt guides and post-break transition tools, are generally distributed via email newsletters or direct blog downloads. While many sources mention paid bundles or memberships, the specific freebies described offer tangible, no-cost options for teachers seeking to manage the unique challenges of the holiday classroom environment.