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Santa’s Big Job Adventure

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Lesson Plan

Santa’s Big Job Adventure

Use the story How Santa Got His Job to introduce community helpers and the job application process, engaging Pre-K students in identifying roles, sequencing steps, and creating a pretend job application.

Early exposure to community helpers builds social awareness, vocabulary, and sequencing skills. Pretend play with job applications fosters imagination and confidence as students connect story steps to real-world roles.

Audience

Pre-Kindergarten Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive read-aloud, discussion, and hands-on pretend play.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Welcome and Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
  • Ask: “Who helps us in our community?” and invite a few responses.
  • Show Community Helpers Picture Cards and briefly name each helper.

Step 2

Read-Aloud Story

10 minutes

  • Read How Santa Got His Job Storybook with expression.
  • Pause to ask predictive questions: “What job will Santa try next?”
  • Highlight the steps Santa takes: submitting an application, practicing skills, and teamwork.

Step 3

Discussion and Matching Activity

5 minutes

  • Lay out Community Helpers Picture Cards on a low table.
  • Invite students to match each card to a part of Santa’s journey (e.g., elf helper, gift wrapper).
  • Discuss how each helper’s job supports Santa.

Step 4

Job Application Craft

8 minutes

Step 5

Share and Reflect

2 minutes

  • Invite a few volunteers to share their decorated application sheets.
  • Recap: “What steps did Santa take to get his job?” and reinforce sequencing (apply, practice, teamwork).
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Slide Deck

Santa’s Big Job Adventure

A 30-minute Pre-K lesson exploring community helpers, teamwork, and job steps through the story How Santa Got His Job.

Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce yourself and explain that today they’ll explore different jobs through Santa’s story.

Lesson Objectives

  • Identify community helpers
  • Sequence the steps Santa took to get his job
  • Create a pretend job application

Briefly explain each objective so students know what they will learn.

Meet Our Helpers

Use Community Helpers Picture Cards to introduce roles like elf helper, gift wrapper, and more.

Gather students in a circle. Show each card and ask: “Who is this? What do they do?”

Read-Aloud: How Santa Got His Job

  • Read with expression
  • Ask: “What job will Santa try next?”
  • Point out steps: submitting an application, practicing skills, teamwork

Hold up the storybook and read with enthusiasm. Pause at key moments.

Matching Helpers to Santa’s Journey

  • Place Community Helpers Picture Cards on the table
  • Match each helper to Santa’s job steps (e.g., elf helps build toys)
  • Discuss how each role supports Santa

Lay cards on the table. Invite students to come up one at a time to match cards with story parts.

Job Application Craft

Hand out materials and circulate to assist with coloring or writing.

Share & Reflect

  • Volunteers show their applications
  • Ask: “What steps did Santa take to get his job?”
  • Reinforce: apply → practice → teamwork

Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their applications. Highlight sequencing language.

Thank You!

Great job exploring jobs with Santa! Keep noticing all the helpers in your community.

Congratulate students on their work and encourage them to spot helpers around them.

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Worksheet

Community Helpers Cards

Cut along the dashed lines to create each helper card. Each card has a space for a picture and the helper’s name. Use these cards during the Matching Helpers to Santa’s Journey activity.

Elf Helper

Picture:







Name: Elf Helper

Toy Maker

Picture:







Name: Toy Maker

Gift Wrapper

Picture:







Name: Gift Wrapper

Reindeer Caretaker

Picture:







Name: Reindeer Caretaker

Sleigh Mechanic

Picture:







Name: Sleigh Mechanic

Workshop Manager

Picture:







Name: Workshop Manager

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Worksheet

Santa Career Application Sheet

Help Santa apply for a job in his workshop! Fill in each part with your best ideas, then color and decorate your application.

1. Name of Applicant
(Santa’s name)







2. Position Applying For
(What job will Santa do?)







3. Why I Would Be a Great Helper
(Tell us why Santa is perfect for this role.)












4. Skills I Have
(List Santa’s best skills: gift wrapping, sleigh driving, reindeer care, etc.)












5. Draw a Picture of Santa at Work
(Show Santa doing his job in the workshop!)












Use crayons, markers, or stickers to decorate your application.

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Worksheet

Career Coloring Pages

Color the helpers below who worked with Santa in his workshop.

Elf Helper

(Color the busy elf making toys!)













Toy Maker

(Color the helper building a toy!)













Gift Wrapper

(Color the helper wrapping a gift!)













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Warm Up

Helper Brainstorm

Time: 5 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle on the carpet.
  • Ask: “Who helps us at home?” and invite a few students to share examples.
  • Ask: “Who helps us at school?” and listen to responses (teacher, janitor, librarian, etc.).
  • Ask: “Who helps us in our neighborhood?” and show a few Community Helpers Picture Cards to prompt ideas.
  • Encourage students to name any other helpers they know (doctor, firefighter, chef, etc.).
  • Transition: “Today we’ll read a story about how Santa found helpers for his big job adventure!”
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Cool Down

Helper Reflection (Exit Ticket)

Time: 5 minutes

1. Draw Santa’s Steps

Draw a picture for each step Santa took to get his job:

First: Santa applies for the job.










Next: Santa practices his skills.










Last: Santa works with helpers as a team.










2. Who Helped Santa?

Draw or write one helper from Santa’s workshop that you remember.










When everyone is finished, share one drawing or helper you picked!

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