Teach Mom Learn

Holiday break is quickly approaching, and right now, teachers everywhere are wondering the same thing -how do I get my students to work when all they want to do is have fun? The answer is simple -lean into the holiday cheer and make your favorite festive movies educational!

These fun, easy, family friendly lessons work at home too! So the next time you and your family settle in to watch a holiday movie together, make it a learning experience for everyone!

1. Expected vs. Unexpected Behavior

Distinguishing between expected and unexpected behavior is one of the most common social skills we teach in special education. It’s also a great skill for young children to learn and model. Last year, while watching Elf, I made a simple “Expected vs. Unexpected Behavior” t-chart in a Google Doc for my students. As they watched, they recorded anything they saw that fit into either of those categories.

My students chose to focus mostly on the unexpected behavior, and when we went over the lists at the end of the movie, we ended up laughing so much more!

Lessons like this are a great jumping off point. You can watch the movie in chunks or all at once. One option is to pause after particularly funny and unexpected scenes and let your kids act out what actually happened vs. what should’ve happened.

Another option is to have them journal from a character’s perspective in response to the unexpected behavior. How would you feel if you were Walter and Buddy came to your office to sing?

2. Theme Trees

This one is definitely much more for school than home, but it’s a great way to incorporate literary analysis skills into whichever movie you choose to watch. A simple theme diagram shaped like a Christmas tree works perfectly.

Students can write their theme into the star at the top of the tree and then fill in the ornaments with story elements that develop this theme. If the ideas don’t fit into the ornaments, they can always draw lines to write in the white space.

Holiday movies have pretty universal themes. Family, character growth, love, and the meaning of the holidays are in pretty much any movie you could possibly show. Since many of these movies are familiar to students, you can brainstorm themes before you watch so students can complete and color the diagram as the movie plays.

Here’s a copy of the diagram for you to use! I hope you enjoy it!

3. Executive Functioning

This activity works great for holiday movies because there are always both super organized and walking tornado-level chaos characters. It is also perfect for The Great British Baking Show, Nailed It, or other holiday themed competitions.

Have your students analyze the executive functioning skills of the characters or contestants. Pathway 2 Success has a quick and easy explanation of each of the major domains of executive functioning.

After a quick review of each skill area with your students, give them the chart below. They can fill in examples of each domain as they watch.

4. Cause and Effect Charts

This one would work well for any holiday movie, but especially It’s a Wonderful Life. Every action George Bailey takes has a significant impact on his life and the lives of those he loves.

Having students (or your own kids) track George’s actions and their consequences could lead to a meaningful discussion about one person’s impact on so many. The inspirational message behind this film is sure to inspire your students!

To help them connect George’s life to their own, have them make a list of 10 important choices they’ve made so far and the effects of each one. They’ll clearly see the positive effects they’ve already had on the ones they love.

There are tons of other ways to make holiday movies educational. Daily Teaching Tools has fantastic free graphic organizers that are designed for text, but most of them could easily used for movies instead. There are graphic organizers for story maps, characterization, and making predictions.

And check out Learning with Frozen for some ideas you can easily apply for any winter-themed film!