Created for Book Week 2026
Celebrate The Thing About Christmas by Jo Dabrowski and Briony Stewart with this cross-curricular activity pack, designed to inspire reflection, gratitude and family connection in early years and primary classrooms.
This resource is packed with craft, literacy and maths activities inspired by the many different ways families celebrate Christmas. Perfect for planning a whole-day Symphony of Stories experience or weaving into your Book Week celebrations!
What's included:
Book Craft
Bauble Craft - students colour and fold a 3D bauble reflecting on how they and a friend celebrate Christmas
Differentiated Literacy Activities
Open-ended writing prompts - respond to prompts inspired by themes of love, belonging and different celebrations, with matching lined writing templates
Rhyme time - match rhyming words from the book, then think of more rhyming words and write original rhymes
Christmas is love - pick an image from one of the baubles on the final page, draw it, and write a sentence or story based on the picture
Adjectives - brainstorm adjectives to describe a Christmas tree, then use adjectives from the story in sentences
The Thing About Christmas - write about how your family celebrates Christmas, or another special holiday or celebration
Celebrations around the world - research and write about a celebration from around the world, covering who celebrates it, when, traditions, food and symbols
Differentiated Mathematics Activities
Symmetry - complete the other half of symmetrical Christmas designs, then decorate with symmetrical patterns
Skip counting & numbers - count by 1s, 2s and 5s, and find numbers before/after or 10 more/10 less
Colour by code: addition - addition to 20, 30, 50 and 100, with answers included
Sharing gifts - share gifts into sacks to solve division word problems, with an optional cut-and-paste extra
Patterns - finish and create Christmas-themed patterns
Colour by code: subtraction - subtraction within 20, 30, 50 and 100, with answers included
Design Activities
Design an ornament - design a Christmas ornament that shows something you love or that matters to you
Meaningful gift - plan a small, meaningful gift for someone special
A Christmas scene - draw a scene showing your perfect Christmas or holiday celebration
Paper crown - design a paper crown to wear at the Christmas table
Paper chains - design and colour paper chain links as a decoration
Want it all?
Grab the matching The Thing About Christmas slide deck to bring the story to life. Includes writing prompts and maths tasks (linked to the worksheets), as well as additional design prompts.
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Enjoy exclusive artwork and themed slide backgrounds to level-up your Book Week experience!
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