Hi Reader,

This week, we’re “traveling” to London, England, and it is one of my favorite places to bring into the classroom during December. The history, traditions, and festive feeling make it such a rich learning experience for students.

One fun connection is nutcrackers. While many people associate them with Germany because of the ballet, nutcrackers became popular across Europe, including in England, as decorative Christmas figures. They open the door to conversations about European holiday traditions and storytelling through ballet and performance.

England is also credited with starting the tradition of Christmas cards. The very first commercial Christmas card was created in London in 1843. Today, sending Christmas cards is a tradition that has spread all over the world, and it’s a great way to connect literacy, writing, and history in the classroom.

Another favorite British tradition is Christmas crackers. These are paper tubes pulled open at the Christmas table that make a popping sound and contain a small toy, a paper crown, and a joke. They are such a fun way to talk about how families celebrate the holidays differently across cultures.

If you’d like to bring London into your classroom, I’m doing a giveaway of my London lesson this week. Just reply to this email and tell me what you’re most looking forward to during Christmas break, and I’ll send the lesson to you as a thank-you.

The Birth and Ministry of Jesus:

Also, don’t forget to download my free lesson: The Birth and Ministry of Jesus if you haven’t already. It’s perfect to use during this season and fits beautifully into December learning. This can be used in classrooms, Sunday school, or for families at home.

As always, thank you for letting me travel the world with your classroom. I hope these London traditions spark curiosity, conversation, and a little Christmas magic for your students this week. ❤️

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