Holiday Hook Warm-Up

Think about Christmas. What is ONE word that comes to your mind when you think of Christmas?

Write it down or be ready to share!

The Little Elf Who Lost His Jingle

Elfie was a small elf with a very big job. He was in charge of checking the jingles on all the reindeer bells before Christmas Eve! Every year, Elfie would carefully tap each bell, listening for the perfect, happy jingle. If a bell didn't jingle just right, Elfie would shine it, polish it, and sometimes even hum a little tune to it until it sparkled and sang.

This year, however, Elfie had a problem. A very, very quiet problem. While polishing Comet's lead bell, Elfie sneezed a giant, unexpected sneeze! "ACHOO!" he went, and the jingle... poof! It flew right out of the bell and disappeared into the frosty air.

Elfie looked left. He looked right. He looked under Comet's hoof. No jingle. "Oh dear," he whispered. "How will Comet fly if his bell won't jingle? Christmas is just around the corner!" He felt a shiver of worry, colder than any snowflake, dance down his tiny elf spine. What was he to do?

Ho-Ho-Holiday Story: Teacher Script

Part 1: Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, my wonderful writers! Who's ready for some holiday magic today? We're going to dive into the wonderful world of Christmas stories!"

Teacher: "To get our creative juices flowing, let's start with a quick 'Holiday Hook' Warm-Up. When you think of Christmas, what is ONE word that pops into your head? Think about it for a moment. You can write it down on your Festive Feelings Worksheet or just hold it in your mind. I'll give you about 30 seconds."

(Pause for students to think/write)

Teacher: "Alright, who would like to share their one word? Let's hear some festive words!"

(Call on a few students to share. Affirm their responses.)

Teacher: "Wonderful words! 'Joy,' 'presents,' 'family,' 'snow'! All these words are like sparks that can start a fantastic story, and that's exactly what we're going to do today: create our very own Christmas stories!"

Part 2: Introduction to Story Elements (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 2) "Every amazing story has special parts, like ingredients in a recipe. We call these 'story elements.' Can anyone name a part of a story?"

(Call on students, guide them to characters, setting, problem, solution. Refer to the slide.)

Teacher: "That's right! We have characters – the people or animals in our story. We have a setting – where and when the story happens. And stories always have a beginning, a middle where something exciting or a problem happens, and an end where the problem is solved."

Teacher: "Today, our mission is to become Christmas storytellers! We're going to use these ingredients to cook up some delightful holiday tales."

Part 3: Reading & Discussion: Sparking Ideas (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 3) "To help us get some ideas, I have a special Christmas story starter for us. I want you to listen carefully and imagine what might happen next. This is our Christmas Story Starter Reading."

(Read 'The Little Elf Who Lost His Jingle' aloud with expression.)

Teacher: "Wow! What a pickle Elfie is in! Now, let's have a quick Discussion: Story Spark."

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 4) "

• Who were the main characters we met in that story?
• Where did the story take place?
• What was the problem Elfie faced?
• How do you think Elfie might solve his problem? What could happen next?
• What festive details did you notice in the story?"

(Facilitate a short discussion, encouraging multiple students to share their thoughts and predictions.)

Part 4: Activity: Festive Feelings & Story Planning (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 5) "Great ideas, everyone! Now, to make our own stories extra special, we're going to add 'Festive Feelings' using our five senses! Good writers use words that help us see, hear, smell, taste, and feel what's happening. It makes the reader feel like they are right there in the story!"

Teacher: "I'm handing out a Festive Feelings Worksheet. We're going to brainstorm some Christmas words for each of our senses. For example, what do you see at Christmas?"

(Guide students through brainstorming a few ideas for each sense, writing some on the board as examples. Encourage them to fill out their worksheet.)

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 6) "Now that we have some amazing festive feelings, it's time to plan our own Christmas story using our Christmas Story Writing Template! This template is like a map for your story. It will help you think about your characters, setting, a problem, and how it's solved."

Teacher: "Take a few minutes to fill out your template. Think about:

• Who are your main characters?
• What is your setting? (Is it a snowy village? Santa's workshop? Your own home?)
• What kind of problem will your character face? (Like Elfie losing his jingle!)
• How will they solve it?
• And don't forget to think about which of your 'Festive Feelings' you want to include!"

(Circulate and assist students as they plan their stories.)

Part 5: Writing Time: Crafting Christmas Tales (10 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 7) "You've got your plans, you've got your festive feelings, now it's time for the most exciting part: writing your amazing Christmas story! Let your imagination sparkle on the page."

Teacher: "Remember to focus on a clear beginning, a middle with your problem and some action, and a happy (or even funny!) end where your problem is solved. Use those descriptive words we brainstormed!"

(Students begin writing. Circulate, offering encouragement, answering questions, and providing individual support.)

Part 6: Wrap-Up: Share & Cool Down (5 minutes)

Teacher: (Display Ho-Ho-Holiday Story Slide Deck - Slide 8) "Alright, amazing authors! Time is almost up for writing today, but I am so impressed with what I've seen. Who would like to share just one super sentence or a favorite line from their story so far?"

(Call on 2-3 volunteers to share a sentence. Affirm their efforts.)

Teacher: "Fantastic! To finish up, let's do our Story Star Cool Down. On your worksheet or a scrap piece of paper, write down or just think about: What is one new thing you learned about writing today? Or, what is one word you would use to describe your Christmas story so far?"

(Give students a moment to think and respond.)

Teacher: "Excellent job today, everyone! You are all incredible Christmas storytellers! I can't wait to read the rest of your finished projects."

Discussion: Story Spark

After reading "The Little Elf Who Lost His Jingle," let's chat about what makes a good story and what might happen next!

Discuss with your classmates:

1. Who are the main characters we met in the story?
   
   
   
2. Where and when does the story take place? What is the setting?
   
   
   
3. What is the problem Elfie is facing?
   
   
   
4. How do you think Elfie might try to solve his problem? What crazy or clever ideas could he have?
   
   
   
5. What kind of ending do you imagine for Elfie and his lost jingle? Will it be happy, funny, or surprising?
   
   
   
6. What festive details (sights, sounds, smells of Christmas) did you notice in the story that made it feel like Christmas?

Festive Feelings: Sensory Brainstorm

Good writers use their five senses to make their stories come alive! Let's brainstorm some Christmas words for each sense to make your story sparkle!

What do you SEE at Christmas?

(Colors, lights, decorations, objects, clothes, etc.)

What do you HEAR at Christmas?

(Music, sounds, voices, laughter, etc.)

What do you SMELL at Christmas?

(Food, trees, candles, etc.)

What do you TASTE at Christmas?

(Cookies, candy, drinks, special meals, etc.)

What do you FEEL at Christmas?

(Textures, temperatures, emotions, etc.)

My Christmas Story Plan

Use your awesome festive feelings and the story elements we discussed to plan your story here!

My Characters:

My Setting (Where and When):

The Problem in My Story:

How the Problem is Solved:

Festive Feelings I will use:

My Amazing Christmas Story!

By: _________________________________

My Story Idea:

(Briefly write down your main idea or what your story will be about)

The Beginning:

*(Introduce your characters and setting. What happens first to start your story?)

The Middle:

*(What is the problem your character faces? What exciting or interesting things happen? Use your festive feelings and sensory words!)

The End:

*(How is the problem solved? How does your story finish? What happens to your characters?)

Story Scramble Game Cards

(Cut out each card below. Students can work in small groups to draw a 'Character,' 'Setting,' and 'Problem' card to create a quick story starter.)

Characters

• A Grumpy Snowman
• A Lost Reindeer Fawn
• A Tiny Toy Soldier
• A Curious Christmas Mouse
• Santa's Newest Elf
• A Talking Candy Cane

Settings

• Inside a Giant Gingerbread House
• On Top of a Snowy Mountain
• In Santa's Sleigh (before takeoff)
• Under a Sparkling Christmas Tree
• At the North Pole Mailroom
• Inside a Child's Winter Dream

Problems

• Lost its Voice (can't jingle/sing)
• Can't find its Way Home
• Accidentally Broke a Toy
• Woke up Too Early/Late for Christmas
• Has a Super Silly Sickness
• Forgot the Secret Christmas Recipe

My Christmas Story Project: Become a Holiday Author!

Project Goal:

Create and illustrate your very own original Christmas story!

What you need to do:

1. Brainstorm Ideas: Use your Festive Feelings Worksheet and Christmas Story Writing Template to plan your story. Think about:

   • Characters: Who are the interesting characters in your story?
   • Setting: Where and when does your story take place?
   • Plot: What happens at the beginning, middle, and end? What problem do your characters face, and how do they solve it?
   • Sensory Details: How can you use words to help your reader see, hear, smell, taste, and feel Christmas in your story?

2. Write Your Story: Write your story on separate paper or in a notebook. Make sure it has:

   • A clear beginning that introduces your characters and setting.
   • An exciting middle where a problem or adventure happens.
   • A satisfying end where the problem is solved.
   • At least 5-7 sentences in total (or more!).

3. Illustrate Your Story: Draw at least three colorful pictures to go along with your story. One picture for the beginning, one for the middle, and one for the end. Your illustrations should match what happens in your story.

4. Create a Title Page: Design a festive title page for your story. Include:

   • The title of your story.
   • Your name as the author.
   • A creative drawing!

5. Share Your Story: You will have a chance to share your completed Christmas story with the class or a small group.

Materials You Will Use:

• Your Festive Feelings Worksheet (for ideas)
• Your Christmas Story Writing Template (for planning)
• Writing paper or a small notebook
• Pencils, erasers
• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers for illustrations

Due Date: [Insert Due Date Here]

Get ready to amaze us with your holiday tales!

Christmas Story Rubric

Student Name: ________________________

Teacher Comments:

Total Score: ______ / 20

Story Star Cool Down

Take a moment to think about our lesson today.

1. What is one new thing you learned about writing a story today?
   
   
   
   

2. What is one word you would use to describe the Christmas story you started writing?