winter break homework design

5 Must-Give Winter Break Homework Assignments

Jen Schneider Blog , Reading 0

This post contains some affiliate links. Purchasing from these links helps me keep this blog running to share education ideas with this community. Thank you for supporting teachers! It’s almost winter break and your students are going to be at home with family, eating, possibly playing video games, and maybe even enjoying some snow! You want to make sure they are learning, right? Winter break homework is essential! Send home these 5 assignments to give over winter break to make sure your students come back to school ready to learn!

1. Be kind.

Kindness doesn’t cost a thing. First, encourage your students to choose kindness every time they can. Hold the door open for a stranger, bite their tongue when they really want to snap at a sibling or a parent, and do a needed chore without being asked. #Bekind may seem like a trendy mantra for schools, but it’s really a way of life that spreads the holiday spirit. Winter break homework should be all about kindness!

#BeKind can't just be a hashtag. We have to live and model it to our Ss every day. In your words online and in person, show those around you at even though it can be tough to #choosekindness , you never know what someone is going through. Learn their story and #bekind . pic.twitter.com/ACymQgmuVz — Jen Schneider (@jenmschneider) August 7, 2018

2. Sleep in.

Teachers, students, parents all deserve some rest! When we get time off, we should use it to let our bodies relax. School starts so early for most kids, so give them an assignment to sleep in a bit (with parental permission and without sleeping the whole day away, of course)!

3. Spend some time with people you care about.

No matter what holiday (if any) your students celebrate over the break, hopefully they will be surrounded by people who they love and care about. Keep in mind, this isn’t the case for every student in your school.

For some, school is their happy place, and home is not the best place to be. For these (and really all) students, make sure they know how much you care before they leave for the break. I don’t send my 100+ middle schoolers home with gifts (I have to watch my wallet too), but I try to let them know every day (through words and actions) that I really do care about them. If you’re worried about a student being safe over break, you should let a counselor know. If it’s more than just a worry, make sure to go through the proper channels to report suspected abuse.

4. Take a nap.

Even if your students slept in, they could take a nap (provided they wake up before nap time). I promise, I will be taking a mid-day snooze on December 26 after my sugar cookie coma and Lego overload (holy cow my daughter has some Legos under the tree. . .shh. . .) subsides!

5. Read. . .anything.

OK, this sounds like a true homework assignment, but I am simply recommending for my students to read ANYTHING over break. Turn on the closed captioning on YouTube videos and Netflix shows. Read a blog post or a web article about Minecraft. Take a trip to the library and check out the latest Neal Shusterman Scythe book or an inclusive LGBTQ YA title . Anything goes over winter break. JUST READ!

Here are a few favorite titles I recommend!

Elementary Readers:

• Pax by Sarah Pennypacker

Middle School Readers:

(My middle schoolers recommend these titles!)

• The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

High School Readers:

• I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Check out some places to find FREE ebooks online !

These 5 homework assignments to give over winter break will have your students back to school refreshed and ready to learn in January! Of course, sending students home with bundles of worksheets, packets, and work is not recommended. “Homework” should be about enjoying time with family and a well-deserved break for teachers and students!

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Teaching with Jennifer Findley

Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

Winter Break Packet Ideas for Upper Elementary {Freebie Included}

Each year, I seem to go back and forth about whether or not to send a winter break packet with my students over winter break. Ultimately, I always decide to send something for a few reasons: 1.) I always have a handful of students who specifically ask for a packet and  2.) The majority of my students do not go on vacation and most don’t have things to occupy their time. Keeping these reasons in mind, I do a “no obligation” winter break packet each year and many of my students complete it.

Winter Break Packet: “Fun” (and FREE!) Printables

To keep the packet engaging, I always like to mix some “fun activities” in with the academic based activities. These activities are still skill based but on a lower academic level that is less threatening for the students.  This “fun” winter break packet includes a variety of printables such as a word search, a making words printable, and a color by number multiplication practice page.

This choice board printable is one of my favorites. Honestly, you could just send this one choice board home with your students. This would be perfect for teachers who are limited on copies or really don’t want to fuss with a complete packet. It has a variety of different tasks for the students to choose from so they are bound to find something engaging to work on during break. I kept the directions generic and left a blank so you could write a minimum choice requirement if you wanted to do so.

If you are interested in sending the FREE Winter Break “Fun” Packet from the first home with your students over break, click HERE to download it.

Winter Break Packet: Academic Printables

In addition to the above activities, I sometimes (depending on my students) like to include a few academic activities in the students’ winter break packet. I pull resources from my Winter-themed resources for reading and math.

I always send home at least one reading passage because the majority of my students don’t have a library of books at home and many enjoy reading the passages I send home.  The passages included in my Winter Reading  Comprehension Resource that I send home over winter break have engaging winter themed topics and a variety of genres. I also include a few text dependent printables with the passages.

If you are interested in the academic resources featured in this pack, click here or on the specific links shared above.

Do you send home a winter break packet with your students? If so, is it mostly academic or is it fun printables? Let me know in the comments. I always love hearing what other teachers do in their classroom.

Share the Knowledge!

Reader interactions.

December 14, 2015 at 12:20 am

This is great! Thank you for another wonderful life saver!

December 14, 2015 at 5:58 pm

You are very welcome!

December 17, 2018 at 10:26 pm

Wonderful activities. LOVE the choice board. Thank you!

December 13, 2016 at 12:01 pm

TTTTHHHHHAAANNNK YOU!!!!!!!!! This was RIGHT IN TIME!!!

December 17, 2018 at 3:45 pm

Thank you! I usually send home a Winter optional Packet, but mine has become stale and outdated. I was so happy to get some fresh ideas! Happy Holidays!

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Free Winter Break Bucket List

• printable , Christmas , Winter , Family Involvement

Check out this FREE Ultimate Winter Break Bucket List for Kindergarten students filled with fun and engaging tasks to continue learning at home over break. Parents and kids will love the activities! It’s also editable so teachers can personalize to their class needs!

Keep reading to download your free copy OR if you’re a member of SImply Kinder +, you can download it instantly here !

Winter Break is just around the corner, and you may be thinking should I give my students Winter Break Homework ?

Well, this is a loaded question because you want them to not lose what they learned in your class, but you know they also need a break.

This resource works well with

This question comes up a lot around big breaks at school and so we decided to help you out a little with this free Ultimate Kindergarten Winter Break Bucket List.  OK, it’s more like a teachers bucket list for students but it get’s the job done! 

Each item on this list will help build vocabulary, speaking skills, counting, numbers, following multi-step directions, and help build bonds with people they love.

We also made this list editable so you can change the title (maybe yours will say Winter Break Homework) or maybe you want to change the directions (and ask students to check off at least 10 and return after break ).  The list is also editable, so if you want to move or change them you can.  (The bullets are an uppercase O FYI).

Enter your information below and the Simply Kinder Freebie Fairy will send that right over to your inbox. Already a subscriber? No worries! Just unlock it here too. Or if you’re a member of Simply Kinder +, you can download it instantly here .

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Collections – Winter Themed Activities and Resources

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Samantha in Secondary

12 Winter-Themed Activities for Your Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

January 14, 2022 by Samantha H.

Finding engaging winter-themed reading and writing activities can seem difficult, especially if the cold isn’t your favorite season. The lull after the holidays can be challenging in any classroom, especially when students are cranky and checked out. That’s why 12 English Language Arts teachers have come together in this collaborative blog post to bring you creative ideas to warm up and create a winter wonderland even if it takes you an extra cup of coffee to get there. Read on to find something that inspires you to infuse a little winter magic into your own ELA classroom.

#1: Use Hygge to Transform Your Teaching Space

Samantha from Samantha in Secondary just isn’t a fan of the winter, but she found a mindset shift as soon as she discovered hygge. Hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is the Danish concept of cozy contentment. Picture it: a warm beverage in your hands surrounded by cozy blankets, an excellent book in your lap, and a fire crackling in the room. Now, you aren’t going to start a fire in your classroom, obviously, but what other elements could you use to create cozy contentment in your own class in the same spirit?

Here are some ideas:

• Project a virtual fireplace on your board to display during reading time.
• Break out those colored pencils and get your students coloring with Doodle Notes . (Tip: This set works with any story!)
• Hang a few strings of lights to create mood lighting.
• Allow students to bring in a cozy beverage (or get fancy and start the Keurig yourself).
• If your school allows it, consider bringing blankets in on a reading day.

Students love these little touches to help make the winter season more comfortable. For more ways to use hygge in the classroom, check out Samantha’s full blog post here . Nothing helps beat the winter blues like a little cozy contentment.

#2: Explore Winter-Themed Poetry Using The Big Six

If you know Amanda from Mud and Ink Teaching , then you probably know about her love affair with all things poetry.  And when it comes to a winter-themed activity for the ELA classroom, she’s got three quick wins that pair poetry with winter.  Here are three poetry lessons to embrace the winter chill:

Reset Classroom Culture with “How to Be a Person”

• Every year, Amanda says that this poem delivers.  “How to Be a Person” by Shane Koyczan creates a sense of calm and purpose in the classroom.   Students listen to his numbered-list poem thinking about all the ways there are to be a decent human.  Then, they write their own.
• Here’s the slide deck that Amanda uses to structure the lesson.

Talk about New Year Resolutions with Prince EA

• This poem challenges students to step outside of their comfort zones and step into a life that challenges them.
• The poem also offers a wonderful teaching opportunity for allegory and allusion.
• A full lesson plan is available from Amanda here !
• Prince EA has a long list of fabulous pieces to be studied all year, so be sure to go back to his channel and check out more!

Tackle Winter Poetry with The Big Six

If you haven’t yet gotten started analyzing poetry with The Big Six, you can get a free copy of the analysis tool right here .  Then, once you’re feeling confident, here is a quick list of winter-themed poetry to use when practicing analysis:

• “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
• Sonnet 97: How like a winter hath my absence been
• “Winter’s Light” by Roqué Marcelo
• “Return to Winter” by Elaine Terranova
• “Winter to Spring” by Irvin W. Underhill

#3: Imagine Walking in Someone Else’s Boots

“Get your snow boots on and let’s go!” Mom would shout as the snow continued to fall from the winter sky. For Krista from @whimsyandrigor, this formed the basis of many memories growing up in the Midwest. As she and her family trudged through the snow, dragging sleds and carrying a thermos of extra hot, extra chocolate-y cocoa to Valley View Park, sometimes she would stop and notice all the boot prints in the snow.

Reflecting back, Krista realizes maybe she was also imagining what it felt like to walk in those boots. By stepping in the literal prints of another person, her vivid imagination would run wild-Were their toes as cold as hers? Were they holding someone’s hand? Would they rather be in front of the fireplace with a good book as her mother probably would?

As a middle school English teacher today, Krista harnesses the power of playing with perspective in an activity called “ Walk with Me .” This lesson focuses on helping students see new perspectives of either real people or fictional characters. It goes like this:

Students choose two characters that have different opinions or points of a view on a single topic. For example, Aven and Conner from the phenomenal middle grade book Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling or Will and Shawn from the inimitable Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down .

Students choose a boot print handout for the first character they will write about. Help students to think analytically about the print they choose. What do the shoes say about the character? 

Using the prompts on the handout (Where is this person going? What do they see? What are they remembering?), students will write from that character’s point of view. (This could be in first- or third-person and will create an opportunity to demonstrate how switching perspectives impacts the reader’s experience.)

Students then choose another boot print handout and write from the other character’s point of view. Students should stay focused on the same topic or event explored in the first piece of writing. Push writers to dive deeply into what makes the characters different from one another in order to further refine their understanding. 

For both perspectives, students will make inferences about each character and dive into the thoughts, feelings, worries, and hopes embodied within.  

If you have time to extend the activity , students could have the two sets of prints meet and engage in a dialogue about the topic each was thinking about. If you teach how to write dialogue , this is an excellent way to have students practice those skills in a creative writing activity. 

Krista loves a hallway display and these boot prints will make for a powerful visual. She suggests hanging prints in groups of two so other students and teachers can see the contrasting views side-by-side. 

Getting students to metaphorically walk in the shoes of another person is a cornerstone to creating a collaborative and caring community. This classroom activity, rooted in close reading and detailed writing, encourages students to always consider other perspectives, both in literature and in life.

#4: Play a Snowball Fight Review Game

Molly at The Littlest Teacher loves review games for any time of year! 

Try this fun winter-themed snowball fight game to review after a novel study, refresh ELA terms and definitions (check out this huge glossary !), review grammar, and more.

What you’ll need: 

• Approximately 20-30 review questions, numbered, and printed on paper, 2 to a page; make enough copies so that each student in class will have to answer several questions 
• Answer key for questions
• Tape safe to put on the floor (like painter’s tape)
• Cut the pages with your review questions in half, so that each question has its own sheet of paper.
• Tape 2 parallel lines down the middle of your classroom, 3-4 feet apart from each other.
• Divide students into 2 teams.
• Crumple each review question loosely into a “snowball.”
• Divide the “snowballs” so that each team gets half of them.

Game play: 

• The two teams stand on either side of the tape lines, with the 3-4-foot space separating them.
• Set a timer for 1-2 minutes. From the time you say “go” until the timer goes off, students can throw as many “snowballs” back and forth as they want. The object is to throw as many “snowballs” (review questions) as possible over to the other team, so that they have more questions to answer. 
• After the timer goes off, the teams must evenly divide all of the review questions so that each student is answering a few questions. 
• Students must write down their answers to the questions. 
• The first team that correctly answers all of their review questions wins!

For more details, and more winter and holiday review games, check out this post .

#5: Write to Warm Up with Winter-Themed Prompts

When it’s cold outside and winter feels sooooo long, Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 likes to infuse a bit of warm weather escapism through writing prompts. Keeping academic rigor in mind, consider how this activity might dovetail with current lessons you have planned with your English class. 

Reading a novel? What does character X do on vacation? Create a dialogue between these two characters in this setting. What’s character X’s favorite ice cream flavor? Light, but impactful prompts that require analysis and understanding of the novel, but without predictable reading comprehension questions.

Want to incorporate grammar? Make this an add-on to implement the grammar lesson – focus on commas or correctly using their/they’re/there. 

Writing essays? Add this as part of a mini-lesson on paragraph structure, argumentation, or even the use of literary present. 

To help you and your students escape the winter blahs, check out this freebie with 10 images and prompts to use with your ELA classes.

#6: Create Character Snow Globes

A great way to beat the winter blahs after returning to class is for students to demonstrate their learning through visual art. Katie from Mochas and Markbooks loves to use a Character Snow Globe activity when analyzing a text for important elements such as symbolism, theme, and characterization. The end result not only enables students to create a visual depiction of their text analysis, but also creates beautiful art that will invigorate your bulletin boards!

• After reading a text, ask students to individually brainstorm an important element of the story, whether this be an item that contains symbolism, an important aspect of the setting, an item or symbol to represent a character, or a visual that could represent a theme.
• Using a snow globe template, students fill the globe with imagery that depicts the elements they brainstormed. There are various ways this activity can be completed – students can draw by hand, cut and paste from magazines, or complete digitally by copying and pasting from the Internet onto a slide. If your students are completing the activity by hand, you can provide additional craft supplies like cotton balls, glitter, felt, yarn, etc. to create something even more compelling.
• You can draw a snow globe template for your students, have them draw one, or use this freebie to get you going!
• As an extension you can choose to have students write a descriptive paragraph about their snowglobe, explaining the item they chose to highlight, and how it relates to the text.

#7: Create a Cozy Atmosphere for Choice Reading

You know that feeling when you take down the holiday decorations and your home feels blah and empty?  It can sometimes feel that way in your classroom after the fun, festive activities of December are over and the long stretch from January to Spring Break has begun. In many classrooms, it feels like there’s a switch from fun holiday activities before winter break to full press academics and test prep after break.  

Wanting to keep the festivities of December alive all winter long, Carolyn from Middle School Café likes to use a variety of scenic videos from YouTube to set the mood for choice reading time.   Reading is such an important life skill and Carolyn wants her students to see reading as something people do for enjoyment.

Carolyn creates a cozy atmosphere for reading by allowing students to read a choice book, sit anywhere they want around the room, dim the lights and run a video of snow falling on the screen.  There are several videos to choose from, but here is a cozy scene I’ve recently used.  If you are in a snowy climate, this may not have the same effect, but you could also choose a video of a tropical beach.  

When students are reading books in a nook around the room, with a video of snow falling on the screen, it helps students see reading as something fun and entertaining.  It takes the academics out of reading for just a little bit and allows students to simply enjoy a good story!

#8: Stay Warm with Picture Books

During the colder months, doesn’t everyone just want to be snuggled next to a warm, cozy fire reading a book!? Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher loves to take any opportunity to read picture books to students while reviewing key literary techniques or writing skills! Here are five winter themed picture books Staci recommends reading with your middle or high school classes.

• Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper and illustrated by Kenard Park : Lina is on her way to visit Sitti, her grandmother who is losing her eyesight. On the way, she counts all the ways she can hear the snow. -Skills to review: onomatopoeia, imagery,  and character traits -Sample activity: Work with students to list different sounds of winter in your community and ask students to mimic the style of writing, while students create imagery and onomatopoeia. You might even write a collaborative book as a class!
• The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Chris Turnham : Neither his brother nor sister thought Charles would be able to find a wish tree, so he sets out with Boggan and discovers some unexpected ways wishes can come true. -Skills to review: writing summaries, making inferences, and uncovering the theme -Sample activities: Turn it into a group activity by having students create a Six Word Summary , make movie posters, or design DVD covers .
• A Thing Called Snow written and illustrated by Yuval Zommer : Wanting to know what snow is, Fox and Hare go around asking other animals to describe what snow is. The animals use similes to help Fox and Hare try to discover snow during their first winter. -Skills to review: similes -Sample activity: Students can create their own similes about snow and work together to create a giant 3D snowflake (if you’re up for the challenge!)
• My Footprints by Bao Phi and illustrated by Basia Tran : After being bullied by kids at school, Thuy starts making footprints in the snow with her moms. They imagine becoming different animals and becoming like them–a spotted leopard that can blend into its surroundings or a grizzly bear that is strong and brave. -Skills to review: similes and symbolism -Sample activity: Provide students with a comic strip template and have them add more animals Thuy could imagine while focusing on the skills above.
• Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell : This unique, mostly wordless picture book tells the story of a young child who helps a wolf cub find its way home, not knowing they would need the help of the wolf pack to return the favor.  -Skills to review: plot structure, point of view, direct characterization, dialogue, internal thought, or author’s craft -Sample activity: Have students work on being different narrators by uploading recordings of themselves reading/retelling the story. This would work great as a FlipGrid assignment!

Whether you make it a weekly routine or a week-long routine, invite students to bring a cozy blanket or snuggly friend (you’d be surprised how many stuffed animals still make their way through Staci’s 8th grade classes). This helps to make these reading days extra special! If you’re interested, Staci has a blog post with a list of 9 picture book recommendations for any ELA class if you want to keep the fun going throughout any season!

#9: Practice Inferencing with Winter-Themed Images

While Santa and his reindeer are back at the North Pole getting ready for next year, the snow is here to stay for a few more months.  After returning from a long break, Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher suggests having your students take on the role of a detective to make inferences using wintry images. These photos can include images of sledding, skiing, fishing, drinking hot cocoa, camping, a snowman, and more. All you have to do is follow these steps:

• Find ten images and place them in a PowerPoint 
• Show your students the images.
• Then have them follow these steps to make an inference: 

Step 1: What do you know about what is happening in the image?

Step 2: What do you see in the image? (Students will just list what they see such as one ball of snow, a house, a man, a boy, a girl, and a woman.)

Step 3: Have students put their responses from Step 1 and Step 2 together to make an inference. (I can infer that the man, boy, girl, and woman are building a snowman because I know that when it snows families enjoy building snowmen together.)

If you want to try this resource with your class for free, grab it here . 

#10: Try Philosophical Chairs with a Wintery Twist

Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room loves to engage students in philosophical chairs, especially when they have returned from winter break. Philosophical chairs is an AVID strategy which gets students engaged and practicing how to have disagreements with their peers in a civil academic discussion, a skill that will help them as they move through life. Philosophical chairs after a break can be awesome at getting students academically re-engaged and prepped for the rest of the quarter. 

Teachers can try winter themed polarizing topics like “Winter break should be from November to January” or “Schools should be banned from displaying Christmas decorations.” If it’s your first time trying out philosophical chairs you can check out this blog post here where you can find tips, tricks, and ideas on how to make your first activity go as smoothly as possible.  

#11: Plan a 4D Walk-Through Poetry Event

Olivia from Distinguished English teaches in sunny Florida, where some of her students have never even seen real snow! Wintery literature didn’t really resonate with them until Olivia helped her students plan a 4D walk-through poetry event using “The Snowman,” by Wallace Stevens.

First, Olivia read the poem aloud to her class and gave them time to look for examples of imagery in small groups.

When everyone felt confident with their examples of imagery, they began to brainstorm ways to bring these examples of the five senses to life. Some students suggested bringing fans to recreate the cold winds, some thought the class could spray artificial Christmas trees with pine-scented room freshener, and others began working on plans for snow cones and sound effects.

Olivia made a list of the students’ ideas and had students sign up to bring the necessary props. Students also volunteered to be prop managers, poem readers, and tour guides!

The class invited students from the younger grades to come tour their 4D poem, and it was a huge success. The younger kids visited a station devoted to each line of the poem as they smelled the pine trees, felt artificial snow, walked through sparkling white cloth, listened to the sound of the wind, tasted snow cones, and finished with an artificial snowball fight.

This project definitely takes some preparation, but it’s one your students won’t soon forget! Read about Olivia’s experience in more detail in this post .

#12: Winter-Themed Holiday Choice Board

Exposure and student choice are two necessities in every classroom, and Simply Ana P believes in providing them whenever possible, even in mini-form. Some of her favorite times to provide quick spaces for them are as icebreakers, journals/bellringers, and enrichment activities for early finishers. 

There are countless holidays celebrated year round, but the winter season is especially filled. As a way to expose students to more than just the popularly commercialized holidays, Ana enjoys assigning this choice board . This activity only takes 10 – 15 minutes, but the intrigue and discussions can be extended far beyond.

When students open the activity, the instructions direct them to:

• Look through the choice board options and select a holiday that they are unfamiliar with and/or that they do not celebrate  
• Read through the information in the provided link for that holiday
• Pair/share with their table partners about the information they read
• Complete a 3-2-1 reflection piece on their overall investigation

This activity is completely editable, as far as instructions and choices for the board options go. The writing reflection afterward can also be extended if you’re in need of a paragraph writing workshop prompt, or you want to add some grammar piece(s) to assess. Our activities don’t always have to be grandiose to make an impact, and simplicity along with letting students take the wheel can often go a long way. 

Hopefully this activities have inspired you to infuse a little winter wonder into your own English Language Arts classroom. Fun winter-themed reading and writing activities can strengthen classroom culture and build on the important reading and writing skills you are already working on in your own classroom without sacrificing rigor.

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Kelly McCown

Teacher-Author that loves learning and growing with my students

Sunday, November 26, 2017

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Winter break countdown ideas.

Does winter break seem too far away and you need a little boost to get you through to the last day? Winter Break Countdown is the perfect way to keep your sanity and have some wintery fun with your class!

WHAT IS WINTER BREAK COUNTDOWN?

Winter Break Countdown is 10 winter themed activities that are LITTLE TO NO PREP for you! Each day leading up to winter break, choose a “door” from the digital countdown and complete the linked activity. The activities are a fun way to engage students, without the chaos.

The activities include…

• 4 Minute to Win it Games
• 11 Roll the Dice Questions
• 15 Would You Rathers – winter themed
• 4 Directed Drawings
• 5 Guess the Picture
• The ABC’s of Winter
• Word Scramble – 10 words
• Make a Snowman Glyph
• 5 Memory Picture Games
• 10 Guess the Songs

The Winter Break Countdown Activities are a fun, easy addition to your lesson plans this time of the year. You can use the winter activities as a reward at the end of the day to help encourage students to make positive choices throughout the day. Or, add an activity in your class meetings as a fun seasonal activity that builds classroom community. However you decide to use it, your class will have so much fun completing these activities! 

The best part…there is MINIMAL prep needed. Save the countdown slides to your Google Drive for easy access each day. A few activities need pages printed (they are included) and others need a few items that are usually found in the classroom. Just click on the simple display and see everything you need for the activity. These activities should be low stress for you but high impact on your students during this winter season!

GETTING TO WINTER BREAK CAN BE FUN!

Using the Winter Break Countdown can help your entire classroom run a little more smoothly in a usually chaotic time. Giving students something to look forward to can help curb those unwanted behaviors and channel their energy into something fun. Since there are 10 winter themed activities, students have lots of opportunities to enjoy a fun time together and get into the holiday spirit.

One of the best parts of the countdown is the collaboration and team building for students. Energy is high and keeping students engaged is not always easy. Directing their energy to something fun, purposeful, and planned can make the days leading up to winter break so much more relaxing. 

Not only will your students enjoy the activities, but you will too!

I hope the activities in the Winter Break Countdown help you and your students enjoy each other's company and make it to your much-needed winter break! 

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Free Printable Winter Break Bingo

December 10, 2017

Winter break is coming up quickly so I created a fun Free Printable Winter Break Bingo to give to the kids.

Winter Break Bingo

With winter break quickly approaching, I created this bingo to send home with the kiddos.  Instead of homework over break, I wanted to encourage the students to read, play, and spend quality time with the families. I’ve included fun things like draw a winter picture, have soup for dinner, read in front of the fireplace, have an indoor snowball fight. Lots of different options for the students to choose from.

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You can make suggestions too, such as if a student doesn’t have a fireplace, they have fire videos on Netflix or Youtube. Maybe you live in Arizona like us and don’t get snow, but you can still build a snowman out of play doh. Encourage the students to think outside the box and be creative. Winter break is a great time for us all to regenerate and take a break to get ready for the second half of the school year.

If the students bring back the bingo card after winter break with a, “bingo’, they get to take a trip to the treasure box. I’ve made the printable in both a color option and a black and white option so you can print what best fits your needs. You can download the free bingo below from my TeachersPayTeachers store. 

If you’re looking for more ideas like this to send home, we also have a free math bingo here , a free screen free bingo here , a free summer reading bingo here and a free reading bingo here. 

Wishing you a fantastic, relaxing winter break!

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Please Don’t Assign Homework Over Winter Break

It sends the wrong message, period.

“Seven more school days til break!” Teachers and students alike have been counting down the minutes until holiday break. We are all ready for a rest from the stress and daily 5:30 am wake-up calls. Students are all looking forward to sleeping in, seeing friends, watching TikTok, and generally resting from the pressures of one thing: homework. Yes. Homework. Schools across the country still give homework over winter break, but here’s my take: Students need a complete break from all school work, and teachers do as well. Why?

Breaks increase productivity and creativity

Teachers need to take a break over the holidays. This has been one of the most stressful years, and we are all suffering from burnout or considering leaving the profession . A true break will hopefully replenish you while also leading to more creative ideas. Once you detach from the daily grind, you can spend time finding inspiration from the world again: through things you read and see for fun, cultural traditions and events, and conversations with family and friends. In addition, b reaks increase productivity in the long run for students and teachers.

It creates space for pleasure reading

Ask high school students when they last read a book for fun, and many will name something they read in junior high or even late elementary school. This isn’t necessarily because the student doesn’t like reading or prefers to play video games. Often it’s because books have become another thing to study in English class and not something to pursue on their own time. English teachers around the country have a great opportunity to “assign” reading for pleasure, without the obligation to take notes, annotate, track pages, and do other school-like tasks. When they return, converse with any students who  read over break, and you may be surprised by the authentic conversations that came with the opportunity to read for fun.

The final product isn’t worth it

Homework, in general, has come under fire in the past few years as not only unnecessary, but possibly harmful. Harris Cooper writes in The Battle over Homework : “Too much homework may diminish its effectiveness or even become counterproductive.” If this is the norm during the school year, we can infer that homework over winter break is going to be even less productive than normal, as students and their families are pursuing rest, relationship-building activities, and preparing for the holidays. Let’s think ahead a few weeks to what type of essay, worksheet, or project quality you will receive in those early weeks of January.

Start fresh for renewed motivation

Some schools use the holiday break as a natural space between the two semesters, as finals have just ended for many high schools and quarter three begins in January. Students are well aware that this break between quarters means you are not in the middle of a teaching unit, so assigned work can come off as extra or unnecessary busywork. They are called finals, after all, and students need a clean break between the successes or failures of the first semester and the beginning of the second. Work assigned between the two may be given without much context (are you really going to be able to present a fresh unit on their way out for break to contextualize homework you are giving?).

It sends the wrong message about work-life balance

Assigning work over break tells students and families that you don’t value their time together, learning outside of the classroom, or cultural traditions. Most teachers don’t feel that way, so don’t let your potential zeal to make it through the curriculum map create that perception. Model balance yourself by talking to your students about your plans over break and asking about theirs. Discussing the power of sleep, exercise, breaks, and quality time with loved ones both in this season and throughout the year might be the most important thing you teach them.

We’d love to hear—will you assign homework over winter break? Why or why not? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, why we shouldn’t assign work on snow days, either..

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Moscow’s New Supertall Skyscraper Approved for Construction

• Written by Eric Baldwin
• Published on August 29, 2018

Moscow officials have approved a new supertall building that will become the city's tallest skyscraper . Rising 404 meters (1,325 feet) in height as part of the Moscow City commercial district, the tower is designed by Sergey Skuratov Architects. The unnamed structure will be a multifunctional residential complex with 109 floors. The new skyscraper will break Moscow's current tall building record set by Federation Tower at 373-meter-tall (1,226 feet) tall. Construction is scheduled to begin next year.

The new skyscraper joins a host of other superlative buildings in Moscow City, including five of the ten tallest buildings in Europe, all supertall structures.The district's Federation Tower currently holds the title of Europe's tallest completed skyscraper. Soon, it will be surpassed by St. Petersburg's Lakhta Center , which will rise 462 meters when complete in 2019. When complete, Skuratov's skyscraper in Moscow will become Europe's second tallest building.

Designed with two main volumes, the new supertall design includes a 12 story base structure with offices, a shopping center and a range of commercial facilities. Above, residences will rise to the 104th floor. Capped with a helipad, the project includes an observation at 399 meters (1,309 feet) above ground. The project's facade will feature a gradient of white glass between windows that disappears by the 80th floor. As Skuratov explains, "The plan of the building is an isosceles (trapezoid) 30 meters wide, truncated on one side, facing the Moskva River. The sloping edge on the west side of the tower follows the direction of one of the nearby streets. The other edge is vertical and points toward the center of Moscow."

Moscow's supertall is set to open in 2024. Read more about Sergey Skuratov and his work through our recent interview .

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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