The Christmas holidays abound with opportunities to expose your children to some unique learning situations and environments. With already crowded schedules, how do you make time for one more thing? Planning is the key. Also, you may want to re-schedule some of your textbook work for after the holidays. You are not neglecting it—just rearranging your schedule to make the most of the unique opportunities presented by the holidays.

  Literature

For suggestions on literature selections, see  Make Your Holidays Classic.   

Plays

Community theaters often offer a plethora of plays during the Christmas season. A traveling troupe visits our city each year with its own version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. To find out what plays are offered in your community, check with your local cultural council, peruse the Sunday newspaper, or, again, check with your local reference librarian. A great study in literature is to read the book first and then go see the play. That way you can ask your children to compare and contrast the book with the play, noting the differences and comparisons. This comparative analysis also makes a great assignment for literature and composition. As always, be sure to write up these activities and assignments in your lesson-plan book.

  Some plays can be rather expensive, especially for large families. Be creative. If the play is being performed at a local community theater, you may have several options.