The holiday season is a special time for connection, reflection, and celebration. To support meaningful learning in your classroom, Alabama Public Television has curated a collection of PBS, PBS KIDS, and PBS LearningMedia resources that highlight the traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
These materials highlight community, culture, and kindness, helping students recognize that every family’s way of celebrating is valuable and unique.
Resources for Grades: PreK - K
- The holiday season is a wonderful time to help young children recognize that families celebrate in many different ways. In Heritage & Holidays | Together We Can, children explore joyful traditions from a range of cultures. This resource gently encourages curiosity, respect, and belonging as students learn that every family’s celebration is special.
- In Friends Make the Best Presents from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, children learn that the true spirit of the holidays is showing care and kindness to others. This message is a wonderful foundation for simple classroom activities, such as inviting children to create a “kindness gift” they can offer to a friend or family member.
- Join Peg + Cat as they count through the Eight Days of Hanukkah. This playful math adventure introduces the meaning of Hanukkah while encouraging number sense and early sequencing skills. Extend the lesson by inviting children to count and add “candles” on a felt or paper menorah.
- In Sid’s Holiday Adventure, Sid shares that his family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. As Sid prepares for a snowy winter trip, he explores simple science concepts about weather and temperature. Reinforce Sid’s learning by inviting students to observe and describe winter weather in their own community.
Resources for Grades: 3 - 5
- While Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday, its message of hope and perseverance resonates with people of all backgrounds. Explore these Hanukkah Resources with your students. Discover Hanukkah-related vocabulary words in this word search activity and foster curiosity with these discussion questions.
- Explore resources from the Christmas Collection to highlight the diverse traditions and customs associated with Christmas around the world. Spark critical thinking skills in your students with these Christmas Discussion Questions and solidify newly learned vocabulary words with this Christmas Day word search activity.
- Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American culture and heritage. Discover its rich history and unique traditions with this collection of Kwanzaa resources. Expand the lesson by completing the vocabulary word search activity and answering these Kwanzaa Discussion Questions.
Explore the entire collection at All About the Holidays with PBS LearningMedia.
Resources for Grades: 6 - 12
- As students watch Is Santa Real? (A Scientific Analysis), encourage them to take notes on the scientific arguments presented in the video. Guide students in a step-by-step scientific analysis, prompting them to consider and discuss evidence, formulate hypotheses, and draw conclusions.
- Watch and discuss What to Know about Kwanzaa from PBS NewsHour. Explore What Kwanzaa Means for Black Americans by Frank Dobson to learn more about the history and present of Kwanzaa.
- Jesus’ name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua. So how did we get the name “Jesus”? Watch What Was Jesus' Real Name? to find out. Ask your students to share their thoughts after watching the video.
- Delve into the rich history of the Jewish people with Simon Schama's The Story of the Jews. Explore how this historical series connects to the modern-day celebration of Hanukkah. To expand on the series, visit The Story of the Jews website.
- Share the video, Why Does Santa Wear Red? | Origin of Everything with your students. After watching, encourage a class discussion about the ways companies, advertisements, and popular media shape the traditions we think are “old” or “authentic”.
This holiday season, as you share these Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa resources to nurture cultural understanding and unity among your students, may the joy, magic, and wonder of the holiday season fill your classroom and community.
From all of us at Alabama Public Television Education to all of you, happy holidays!
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