The last thing students want to do over the holiday break is schoolwork! But, holiday learning doesn’t have to mean hitting the books and doing homework. Just because school is closes does not mean that learning has to stop!
In fact, when students maintain holiday learning momentum over the break, it makes returning to school in January much easier.
These holiday learning ideas are both festive and fun and help students keep school skills strong!
Math-Focused Holiday Learning Activities
- Counting Groceries
Turn a regular trip to the grocery story into a skill-building opportunity. Have kids practice rounding , addition, and mental math skills. They can estimate how much the final bill will be, keeping track of the total as items are added to the cart. - Baking Better Fraction Skills
Combine culinary creations with creative math skills in the kitchen. Measuring cups are the best way to lean fractions in action. Have kids measure out amounts and calculate quantities if recipes were halved or doubled.
Try these recipes:
Peppermint Bark
Gingerbread Cookies
Cheesecake Bars
Holiday Learning: Writing Skills
- Draft a Letter to Santa
This fun tradition improves handwriting, spelling, fine motor skills, and creativity while keeping the season’s magic alive. - Write Holiday Cards
Writing thoughtful messages fosters communication, time management, and writing skills. Plus, it’s a rewarding experience to create something meaningful for loved ones.
Seasonal Science Activities
- At-Home Science Experiments
Bring the wonder of science into your home with simple experiments. From building a baking soda volcano to constructing paper towers, these activities make science fun and engaging. You can even turn it into a family competition—whoever builds the tallest tower wins the right to choose the next experiment! - Winter Wonderland
Exploring nature is a wonderful way to foster curiosity and observation skills. Visit a park or green space, and ask your child questions like, “How do you think this landscape was formed?” or “What animals might we see here?” You can make it even more interactive by setting up a scavenger hunt and encouraging your child to classify items by color, shape, or size.
Holiday Activities That Develop Reading Skills
- Special Story time
Create new family traditions by reading classic Christmas stories together. Check out these suggested holiday stories perfect for reading together. For younger children, nightly storytime is a great way to practice reading. Guide them through the text, point to pictures, and read aloud together. Older children can enjoy a novel over the break—set a goal to finish the book before school resumes for an added challenge. - Books as Gifts
Nothing communicates the value of reading more than giving books as gifts. Kids can become more excited about reading when they are gifted the latest book that kids their age are reading. Local bookstores and libraries will know the hottest reads for every age group.
Arts & Crafts & Games
- Create Holiday Gift Tags
Put crafting and drawing skills to work this holiday season and create holiday gift labels and gift tags. Homemade is always the best and crafting builds focus and determination. - Learn a New Game
Pick up a new board game for the family to enjoy. Have your child read the instructions aloud to practice reading comprehension and public speaking. Helping them with tricky words will build confidence while making family game night even more fun. Here are some great games:
- Monopoly teaches money management, decision-making, and basic math skills.
- Scrabble helps build vocabulary, spelling skills, and critical thinking.
- The Game of Life introduces real-world decision-making, financial literacy, and planning for the future.
Start The New Year Ahead with GradePower Learning
No matter what activities students do over the holiday season, GradePower Learning’s programs can help them start the new year ready to learn. Our personalized learning programs meet students at their level and give them school skills that they can use in every subject.
Find a location near you and enrol today.
