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Merry Christmas
Name:
Christmas crossword Class:
Look at the Pictures.
Write the words.
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present
Father Christmas
stocking
Christmas tree
star
card
cracker
Christmas cake
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Christmas play
Christmas morning. Baby is asleep. Father Christmas is crying
in the corner of a room and wakes Baby.
Baby: Hello! What s your name? Lucy (taking Father Christmas by the hand): Come
and look at the Christmas tree.
Father Christmas: Father Christmas.
Baby: Father Christmas!
The children take Father Christmas to the
sitting room.
Enter Stevie, Danny, Lucy, and Annie.
Annie: Look at the star!
Stevie, Danny, Lucy and Annie: Shh!
Danny: Look at the decorations!
Baby: Look!
Baby: Look at the presents!
Stevie, Danny, Lucy and Annie:
Father Christmas: Oh.
Father Christmas!
Father Christmas (still crying): Yes.
Enter Mummy and Daddy.
Danny: Why are you sad?
Mummy and Daddy: Children. Shh!
Father Christmas: It s Christmas.
All children: Look!
Stevie: I like Christmas!
Mummy and Daddy: Father Christmas!
Baby: I like presents!
Stevie: Father Christmas is sad.
Lucy: I like crackers!
He doesn t like Christmas
Annie: I like Christmas dinner!
Danny: He works at Christmas.
Father Christmas: I like presents
Baby: He hasn t got any presents.
and crackers and Christmas dinner.
Lucy: Or crackers.
Lucy: Why don t you like Christmas?
Stevie: Or Christmas dinner!
Father Christmas: I work at Christmas.
Mummy and Daddy:
No presents, or crackers,
That s terrible!
or Christmas dinner for me.
Daddy: Have Christmas dinner here.
All children: That s terrible!
Mummy: Yes! Christmas dinner and crackers!
Stevie: Have you got a Christmas tree?
All children: Hooray!
Father Christmas: No.
Baby (holding out a present): Happy Christmas,
Danny: Have you got Christmas decorations?
Father Christmas.
Father Christmas: No.
Father Christmas: A present! For me?
Annie: Have you got a Christmas cake?
Oh thank you!
Father Christmas: No.
All children: That s terrible!
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Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul, Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
With a corncob pipe and a button nose,
had a very shiny nose.
And two eyes made out of coal.
And if you ever saw him,
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
you would even say it glows.
He was made of snow but the children
All of the other reindeer
know how he came to life one day.
used to laugh and call him names.
There must have been some magic in that
They never let poor Rudolph
Old silk hat they found.
join in any reindeer games.
For when they placed it on his head,
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
He began to dance around.
Santa came to say:
O, Frosty the snowman
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Was alive as he could be,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
And the children say he could laugh
Then all the reindeer loved him
And play just the same as you and me.
as they shouted out with glee,
Thumpetty thump thump,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
Thumpety thump thump,
you'll go down in history!
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.
Christmas Oxford Bookworms Library  A Christmas Carol
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O The origins of Christmas
The principal religion in most English-speaking countries is Christianity. Christmas is one of the most
important festivals in the Christian calendar. The celebration marks the birth of Jesus Christ and many
of the traditions at Christmas relate to this event. Lots of schools give a nativity play at Christmas.
This tells of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Betlehem, the birth of Jesus in a stable, and the visits
he received from three kings (or wise men) and the shepherds. Christmas is seen as a time of giving and,
as the kings and the shepherds gave gifts to Jesus, people give each other gifts and cards at Christmas.
The symbol of the star, so often seen in decorations at Christmas, represents the star the kings followed
to find their way to Jesus.
Christmas Day
O
Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. On this day, families and friends exchange presents and
share a Christmas dinner. Traditionally, the Christmas dinner is turkey with stuffing and vegetables
followed by Christmas pudding (a steamed pudding with dried fruit). On the dinner table there are
crackers beside every place setting. These are colorful packages that are pulled open between two
people, to make a cracking noise. They contain a paper hat, a joke and a little present. A Christmas
cake is eaten during the Christmas period. This is a fruit cake with icing and marzipan.
Christmas trees
O
Christmas trees were a German tradition brought to Britain in 1841 when Prince Albert had a Christmas
tree put up for his wife, Queen Victoria, in Windsor Castle. Now most people in Britain have a decorated
Christmas tree in their houses at Christmas.
Father Christmas
O
Children believe that Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, brings them presents. On Christmas
Eve, 24th December, children hang stockings at the end of their beds or at the fireplace. Then while they
are asleep, Father Christmas comes and puts presents in their stockings Traditionally, he comes down the
chimney.
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Twas the Night before Christmas Poem
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
And mamma in her  kerchief, and I in my cap, A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter s nap. And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, His eyes  how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Away to the window I flew like a flash, His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, He had a broad face and a little round belly,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! And laying his finger aside of his nose,
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, But I heard him exclaim,  ere he drove out of sight,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
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Christmas teaching notes
Write the words in a different order in a column on the
Christmas vocabulary cards (page 2)
left. Ask the children what they think the words say and
Point to the picture dictionary images. Say the words
then ask them to match the words and the pictures with
and ask the children to copy you. For more fun,
a line on the board.
vary the way you say the words. Gradually,
Vocabulary: Christmas, Father Christmas, Christmas
stop saying the words and ask the children
tree, present, turkey, card, decorations, stocking,
to say them without your help.
cracker, cake, star, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.
Divide the class into two teams. Ask one child from
each team to the front. Name something on the
poster and ask the children to point to it. Christmas play (page 3)
The first to do so wins a point for his/her team.
When the children are familiar with the Christmas
Divide the class into two teams. Ask one child from vocabulary, introduce them to the play. The structures
each team to the front. Point to something on the within the play are few, simple, and repetitive.
poster and ask the children to name it.
Familiarize the children with the play and practice
The first to do so wins a point for his/her team.
as a whole class before dividing children into groups.
Allocate characters before they separate into groups.
It may be easier for the children to work from enlarged
Flashcards (page 2)
photocopies if you want them to read their parts  you
If you have time to make flashcards, enlarge the
could cut up the script and give the children just their
playing card images on the photocopier if you can to
own character s lines. The different groups can perform
avoid having to draw. Most Oxford University Press
the play to each other. Give a performance to parents
primary books will contain a number of flashcard game
at the end of the term. Children without a part in the
ideas you can play to practice the vocabulary.
play could sing the songs or could read out a letter
to Father Christmas (see below).
Christmas playing cards (page 2)
In another lesson you could make a large decorated
Merry Christmas: in pairs the children shuffle the cards
Christmas tree with a star on top and presents
and deal them out evenly. They take it in turns to turn
underneath to use in a performance to the parents.
a card over and layit beside their partner s card to
One group of children paints the tree, another group
make two piles. If the same two cards appear
could make a Father Christmas mask
side by side, the first child to call Merry Christmas!
to use in the play.
Collects all the cards from the two piles.
Pairs: in pairs the children shuffle the cards and lay
them all out face down. They take it in turns to turn
two cards face up and name them. If the two cards are
the same and can be named, the child keeps the cards.
If not, the child turns them over again.
Invent a game: In pairs children invent a game using
the cards and then explain the rules to another pair.
Christmas picture crossword (page 1)
Use this after the poster
Christmas songs (page 4)
activities when the children
There are two Christmas songs written out to
are starting to become
be photocopied. Students can decorate them
familiar with the words.
for a display o to take home.
In preparation for the
As you explain the meaning of the words, ask the
crossword, draw pictures
children to invent simple actions to the song  many
of the words from
children will have experience of song actions and will
the crossword in a column
enjoy inventing their own. As they sing, tell them to do
on the right of the board
their actions and join in with the words when they can.
of use flashcards
You can also download the songs from our website
(see above).
www.oxfordresource.pl (source: Mary Charrington,
Point to the pictures
Christmas Fun, Oxford University Press).
and ask what they are.
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Oxford Bookworms Library reading Christmas culture notes
activity ((for gymnasium and (for gymnasium and post-gymnasium
post-gymnasium students  page 4) students  page 5)
 How can I get my students reading when they Read the notes aloud. Explain the vocabulary the students
don t read in their own language? might not know. Divide the class into four groups, each
group prepares and explain to the other students their
But they do watch television, films, and DVD s, don t
knowledge about how Christmas is celebrated in
they? Stories are all around us, every day, and every-
English-speaking countries.
body likes a good story. So the secret is & to begin with
the story. Use the story as a hook to catch your fish.
Twas night before Christmas poem
Preparation
(for post-gymnasium students
Go to www.oup.com/bookworms and click on the
 Teachers only link. Or use material from page 4  page 6)
of this booklet.
Read out the poem. One student reads aloud one verse.
If using material from the webpage, download the After they finish, explain unknown vocabulary. Read
free story and the Audio Hook for the story. (Check aloud the notes to the poem (below).
that your classroom audio equipment can play
Discuss on the following topics:
MP3 files.)
" Comercialization of Christmas holiday
Make copies of the free chapter for your students.
" Santa Claus  tradition or a big lie
" Origins of various Christmas and New Year traditions
Activity
Then read aloud the poem once again (other students
1. Set aside 10 minutes of class time.
read one verse each if there are more in the class).
2. Play the Audio Hook* for the story you have
downloaded, or read the sample aloud.
3. Ask students to guess what happens next in the story.
"A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The
4. Don t tell them if their guesses are right! Tell them
Night Before Christmas" and "Twas the Night
they will have to read the story to find out.
Before Christmas" from its first line) is a poem first
5. Give out copies of the story and ask students to read
published anonymously in 1823. Authorship was later
the story at home to see if they were right.
attributed to Clement Clarke Moore and the poem was
6. If you need to check students have read the story,
included in an 1844 anthology of his Works.
ask them to write one sentence to describe:
The poem is largely responsible for the conception
 An important moment for you in the story.
of Santa Claus from the midnineteenth century to today,
 A character you liked, or didn t like, and why.
including his physical appearance, the night of his visit,
his mode of transportation, the number and names of
Variation
his reindeer, and that he brings toys to children. Prior to
If you would prefer not to use our free resources,
the poem, American ideas about St. Nicholas and other
you can try this idea to help create a reading culture
Christmastide visitors varied considerably.
in your classroom:
The poem has influenced ideas about St. Nicholas
1. Set up a story time in class, perhaps 10 or 15
and Santa Claus beyond the United States to the rest
minutes once a week.
of the Anglosphere and the world. It is now the tradition
2. Simply read the first pages of a story or play
in many American families to read the poem every
an audio recording.
Christmas Eve. There has long been opposition
3. Stop at an interesting or exciting point.
to teaching children to believe in Santa Claus.
4. Ask students to make one guess about what comes
Some Christians say the Santa tradition detracts from
next in the story.
the religious origins and purpose of Christmas.
5. Tell them they will have to wait until next week s story
Other critics feel that Santa Claus is an elaborate lie,
time to find out if they are right.
and that it is unethical for parents to teach their children
6. Next week, continue the story & or start
to believe in his existence. Still others oppose Santa Claus
a different one!
as a symbol of the commercialization of the Christmas
7. After a few weeks, bring in the Oxford Bookworms
holiday, or as an intrusion upon their own national
& (source: Oxford Bookworms Library;
traditions. (source: Wikipedia)
www.oup-bookworms.com).
* Audio Hooks are audio extracts from selected Bookworms that always
y.
end at an interesting point in the stor
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