We know that schools want their pupils to enjoy the festive season – but also to keep learning going right through to the end of the autumn term. Which is why our range of cross-curricular, School Christmas workshops always proves so popular! Once again, we’ve got workshops with a seasonal take on numeracy, literacy, science and history – with something for EYFS, KS1 and KS2!

Christmas Workshops

 

Numeracy: The Santa Challenge (EYFS, KS1, KS2)

With the clock ticking away to Christmas Eve, Santa’s lost the combination to the key that unlocks his sleigh! So he’s going to arrive at your school in a muddle – and needing your children’s help if Christmas is to be saved. Working through a series of seasonal mathematical challenges, they’ll reveal the letters and numbers he needs, one by one – until, if all goes well, the precious vehicle is freed.

Exploring (according to age): additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning, number patterns, 2D & 3D shapes, positional language.

Cross-Curricular Links: Literacy, Science, History, Geography, RE, Music

Duration: 1 – 2 hours, depending on how many classes.

 

CSI: Christmas Bake Off! (Years 3 – 6)

The seasonal Bake Off organised by Celebrity Chef Noel Joy ended in tears, not happiness – because he was nearly poisoned by his own Christmas Pudding! But this was no accident: one of the finalists had deliberately set out to get revenge … After being introduced to the crime, Noel himself and the suspects, pupils will need to use their understanding of fractions, percentages and measurements to help him catch the criminal. So who was it? Holly Sprig, the gardener? Jack Frost, the teenage prodigy? Miss L. Tow, the Queen of the Bakers? Chris Tingle, the dancer? Carol Singer, the soprano? Or Father Chris Mass, the chaplain?

Exploring (according to age): fractions, ratios, proportions, percentages, measurements, additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning, multi-stage problem solving.

Cross-Curricular Links: Science, History, RE

Duration: 1½ – 2 hours, depending on how many classes.

 

CSI: Christmas Storyland (EYFS, KS1)

There’s chaos in Christmas Storyland – because someone has stolen the Magic Ointment that makes Rudolph’s nose shine so brightly! Which of his neighbours could have taken it? After using storytelling techniques to introduce pupils to the crime and the suspects, we’ll share with them a range of clues left at the scene. They’ll then use their sorting and numeracy skills to reveal the identity of the miscreant!

Was it Goldilocks, the Billy Goats Gruff, Little Miss Muffet, the Little Pigs or Red Riding Hood? It’s up to you to find out!

Exploring (according to age): data handling, additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning, fractions, sequencing.

Cross-Curricular Links: Literacy, History, RE

Duration: 45 minutes – 1 hour, depending on how many classes.

“Using a story as a stimulus to base a maths lesson on was a fantastic idea. The children were engaged and excited throughout – including the ones who usually struggle with the subject!” (Class Teacher, Arnot St Mary’s)

 

Literacy: The Sound of Christmas (KS2)

This seasonal variation on our popular and successful SoundScape Poetry programme starts with a simple question: what does Christmas sound like? After creating two contrasting soundscapes, one showing how Christmas sounds to most of us, the other exploring how it might sound to a homeless person, children will draw on the outcomes to craft sensitive and moving pieces of poetry.

Exploring (according to age and time): adjectives, adverbs, similes, metaphors, personification, contrasts, rhythm, pace, tone and performance skills.

Cross-Curricular Links: Geography, History, Music, Numeracy, RE, Science

Duration: 1 - 2 hours, depending on how many classes we work with.

“The children got some really great ideas to help them scaffold their own poetry – I loved the use of the senses and soundscapes to help them discover their ideas!” (Class Teacher, Crumpsall Lane Primary)

 

Saving Christmas - with Science! (KS1, KS2)

The lights are going out at the North Pole. And that presents a problem - especially as it's permanently night up there at this time of year. So how are Santa and his helpers going to make, wrap and sort presents for the millions of waiting children all around the world? By utilising science, of course! This enchanting workshops starts by using a range of drama techniques to explore and explain what electricity is, how it works and why the earth's poles spend six months of the year in darkness. And it then goes on to challenge the children to plan, prepare, perform and peer review short dramas showing how Santa and the elves could use science to save Christmas!

Suitable for: up to 30 KS1/2 pupils at a time

Exploring: electricity, energy, orbits

Duration: 1 1/2 hours to half a day

 

History: A Victorian Christmas (EYFS, KS1, KS2)

The roots of Christmas as we know it today stretch less than 200 years into the past – because Christmas cards, Christmas trees, Christmas crackers and the traditional Christmas dinner only came about through the inventiveness of the Victorians! Guided through all this by none other than the author of “A Christmas Carol”, Mr Charles Dickens himself, children will explore the history of the season – and make some startling discoveries!

Exploring (according to age and time): Christmas timelines, contrasting experiences of rich and poor people, Victorian impacts on the 21st century.

Cross-Curricular Links: Art, DT, Geography, History, Literacy, Music, Numeracy, RE, Science

Duration: 1 - 2 hours, depending on how many classes we work with.

“The writing tasks were challenging – but the children were enthused by the approaches used!” (Assistant Headteacher, Holy Family Primary)

Get in touch

To find out more about our School Christmas Workshops or to book please contact us on 0151 708 8886, or email info@as-creatives.com. 

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