Christmas is a magical time, and what better way to capture students’ imaginations than by exploring the many traditions of Santa around the world?
This exciting project-based learning activity pack is designed to do just that!
Tailored for second and third-grade students, this resource allows young learners to explore and compare Santa traditions across 15 different countries through exploratory fact sheets, worksheets, and a Santa travel journal—complete with a matching PowerPoint to guide the journey.
Why Teach Santa Traditions Around the World?
Santa symbolises joy and generosity, and how he’s celebrated in different countries opens the door to discussions about global cultures, geography, and holiday traditions. Students can develop a broader understanding of the world by learning about how Santa is viewed from Germany to Kenya while engaging in an exciting and meaningful activity.
This activity makes a perfect holiday project for social studies, history, and geography, all while tapping into the season's festive spirit!
What’s Inside This Activity Pack?
This resource pack is designed to make it easy for teachers to introduce their students to Santa’s many global personas, offering a wealth of materials that will spark curiosity and creative thinking.
Who is Santa? Fact Sheet: Introduce students to the origins of Santa Claus with an engaging fact sheet that sets the stage for the entire activity.
15 Santa Fact Sheets: Each fact sheet covers a different country, including Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Russia, Australia, Canada, Egypt, England, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States. Every country has its unique take on Santa, and these sheets detail the traditions associated with each one.
Recording Sheet & Venn Diagram: Students can compare and contrast the various Santa traditions with this interactive tool, helping them build critical thinking and organisational skills.
Mapping Sheet: Brainstorm notes from each fact sheet or their research online.
Letter Writing Sheet: Encourage creativity and empathy by having students write letters to Santa from children's perspectives in different countries based on what they’ve learned.
Instructions & Lesson Ideas: This pack includes comprehensive lesson ideas to help you get the most out of these materials, making planning stress-free.
Santa’s Travel Journal: As students explore each country’s Santa traditions, they can document their findings in Santa’s Travel Journal. This fun activity allows students to practice writing skills while reinforcing their learning.
Country Fact Pyramid: This hands-on worksheet helps students break down information from each fact sheet and present it in a fun pyramid format, further solidifying their understanding.
Full-Colour Copies of the Fact Sheets: These beautifully designed fact sheets are available in full colour, making it easy to display them on a bulletin board or share them with your students digitally.
20-Page PowerPoint Presentation: A ready-made PowerPoint guides your class through Santa traditions around the world. Perfect for whole-class discussions or group work, it includes images and information that bring each country's traditions to life.
How to Use This Pack in Your Classroom
This activity pack offers endless flexibility. You can use it as part of a holiday-themed unit, tie it into social studies lessons about global cultures, or even assign it as an independent project. Some ideas include:
Group Project: Assign each group a different country’s Santa tradition to explore. Have them use the fact sheets and additional materials to create a presentation for the class, showcasing their findings.
Santa Travel Journal: As students work through each fact sheet, they can fill in the Santa Travel Journal, documenting their learning in a creative and personal way.
Letter Writing Activity: After learning about Santa traditions in different countries, have students write letters to “Santa” from a child's perspective in a chosen country. This activity allows students to engage in cross-cultural understanding while practising their letter-writing skills.
Why Your Students Will Love It
Students love learning about holidays, and this activity brings that excitement into the classroom in a structured yet imaginative way. Combining fact sheets, interactive worksheets, and creative writing tasks ensures students stay engaged while learning about diverse cultures and traditions. They’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for how people around the world celebrate Christmas—and, of course, Santa!
Make the Holidays Educational and Fun
Bring the magic of Christmas into your classroom with this comprehensive Santa Traditions activity pack. Not only will your students enjoy exploring different holiday customs, but they’ll also develop essential skills in reading, writing, critical thinking, and geography. With everything you need in one easy-to-use packet, you’ll find it simple to guide your students through this joyful project.
Make this Christmas season memorable and meaningful with this unique learning experience!
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