5 Homeschool Unit Studies for December: Ages 7-12
I’ve collected 31 resources (paid and free) to help you build out your unit studies for December. These are great for any kid, but especially your 7-11 year olds!
Most of these products are from homeschool moms/business owners!
Unit studies in December DON’T have to be all about Santa and elves.
Here are my 5 top picks for engaging unit studies for older homeschooled kids that will SHAKE UP the expected red-and-green themes.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from some of these links, I may receive a small commission.
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My 5 Unit Study Picks: Ages 7-12
❄️ Gingerbread Unit Studies ❄️
Celebrate the season with gingerbread cookies, holiday markets, and hot cocoa with these unit study picks.
❄️ Gingerbread Math Worksheets (Math, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Winter, Christmas) by ARTventurous Animals
❄️ Gingerbread Winter Weather Activities (STEM, Weather, Art) by ARTventurous Animals
❄️ Gingerbread Craft Pack (STEM, Art, Craft) by ARTventurous Animals
❄️ Gingerbread Craft Templates Freebie (Art, Decor, Craft) by ARTventurous Animals
❄️ Easy Gingerbread Man Soap Blog Tutorial (Craft, Life Skills) by Blessed Homeschool
❄️ Teach Math with a Cookie Recipe (Math, Life Skills) by Tampa Bay Test Prep
❄️ Gingerbread Man Adventure Writing Activity (Writing, Winter, Christmas, STEAM) by Curio
FULL UNIT STUDY
❄️ Gingerbread STEAM Unit (Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, Math) by ARTventurous Animals
BOOK RECS
❄️ The Gingerbread Book: 50 Spiced Bakes, Houses, Cookies, Desserts and More by Helena Garcia
“Gingerbread is beloved the world over, its very smell and taste signaling that the holidays are here.
The Book Of Gingerbread conjures up inspiring recipes for cakes and bakes, cookies, desserts, drinks, and gingerbread houses.” -Amazon description
❄️ The Plan for the Gingerbread House: A STEM Engineering Story by Darcy Pattison and John Joven
“GREAT CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS OR WINTER HOLIDAYS!
The gingerbread man and woman need a new home! A team of kids struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. The project guidelines are clear: the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside.
Sounds easy?” -Amazon description
❄️ A Gingerbread House by Julie Lavender
“A little girl and her grandfather make sweet memories creating and decorating a gingerbread house.
But wait – something’s missing!
Will the pair of bakers figure out what’s missing from their masterpiece?
Written in rhyme, the rollicking story takes the creation from dough to completion in a tale that tantalizes all five senses and brings joy to the two bakers, as well as the readers!” -Amazon description
💨 Winter Weather Unit Studies 💨
Survive winter weather with engineering and problem-solving skills through these unit studies!
💨 Winter Weather Activities - Science Lessons (STEM, Weather, Art) by ARTventurous Animals
💨 Snowstorm Craft (STEM, Art, Weather) by ARTventurous Animals
💨 Winter Weather ELA Packet (ELA, Weather, Science) by Beth Mellott
💨 Winter Weather STEM Escape Room (STEM, Weather, Problem-solving) by K’s Digital Store
FULL UNIT STUDY
💨 Winter Weather Mini Nature Study Pack (Nature, Science, Writing, Poetry, Anatomy) by Raising Up Wild Things
BOOK RECS
💨 The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino and Jon Nelson
“How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included for aspiring young snow scientists!” -Amazon description
💨 Curious About Snow (Smithsonian) by Gina Shaw
“Snowflakes are falling—and this cool new 8 x 8 in the Smithsonian nonfiction line tells young readers why!
When does it snow? Why is snow white? How do we know no two snowflakes are alike? (Hint: the proof is in the photographs, first made in the 1890s!) With full-color photographs and the Smithsonian’s famous Wilson Bentley snowflake photos, this new Curious About title looks at the science behind snow, and the history of record-setting blizzards and snowstorms—plus how people have fun in the snow!” -Amazon description
💨 The Brainiac's Book of the Climate and Weather by Rosie Cooper and Harriet Russell
“A fresh approach to science for young brainiacs, this book on climate and weather includes incredible but true stories, interactive activities, and quirky infographics.
What’s the difference between climate and weather? How do we know the climate is changing? The need-to-know answers to these and many other pressing questions are explained in this volume through incredible stories, infographics―including how many farts animals add to the atmosphere each year―and fun activities like engineering a solar oven from a pizza box. Budding brainiacs will love reading “Need- to- Know” stories, diving into interactive “Try This” activities, and building a trove of fascinating facts from a series of infographic “Data Dumps.” -Amazon description
🌟 Nativity Unit Studies 🌟
Settle in around the manger and enjoy the sweetness of Nativity with these unit studies.
🌟 Nativity Directed Drawings Freebie (Art, Nativity, Bible) by ARTventurous Animals
🌟 Nativity Story Lesson and Craftivity (Art, Craft, Story, Nativity, Bible) by ARTventurous Animals
🌟 “When Jesus Was Born” Poetic Story About Jesus Birth - FREE
(ELA, Reading, Nativity, Bible) by Diane Robertson
🌟 Nativity Escape Room (Nativity, Problem-solving, Bible) by Teach Sunday School
🌟 The Story of Christmas - Literacy and Sequencing (ELA, Reading, Nativity, Bible) by The Wolfe Pack
Free Directed Drawing Worksheets for Nativity!
🌟 FULL UNIT STUDY 🌟
🌟 Advent Activity Pack (ELA, Music, Art, Recipes, Bible) by On the Blossom Trail
BOOK RECS
🌟 Nativity by Cynthia Rylant
“In the spirit of her acclaimed Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven, Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant illustrates the nativity story in her powerful folk art style.
Cynthia Rylant takes the beloved text of the nativity story, as told in the King James Bible, and lovingly illustrates it in her simple but bold style that has been called “stunning” by School Library Journal. As she did with the creation story, Rylant has created a sublime take on a classic story that will appeal to readers of all ages.”-Amazon description
🌟 The Advent Storybook: 25 Bible Stories Showing Why Jesus Came by Laura Richie and Ian Dale
“Beginning with Creation, The Advent Storybook invites your family on a beautiful, chronological journey through ancient stories, tracing God’s faithful promise to send a Rescuer—Jesus. Each of the 25 Bible stories begins with a key verse and ends with a thoughtful question, helping you and your children think and talk about the reason we celebrate Jesus’ birth.
This year, begin a new Christmas tradition. Create memories your family will cherish. Sit down together and remember how much we need a Rescuer—and how amazing it is that He came!”-Amazon description
🌟 The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Activity Book by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago Silver
“This is your guide to a complete and creative celebration of the holiday season, filled with crafts, games, recipes, songs, and activities for every day of Advent. The Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Activity Book highlights the significance of the Nativity and meaning of God’s most precious gift.” -Amazon description
🎄 Christmas Around the World Unit Studies 🎄
Explore our amazing world through Christmases from different cultures inside these unit studies.
BUILD YOUR OWN UNIT STUDY
🎄12 Days of Christmas (Sewing, Craft, Storytelling) by Gramma’s Little Shop
🎄 Logic Puzzles - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Themed (Logic, Problem-solving, Christmas) by Everyday Learning
🎄Christmas Around the World Research Guide (Social Studies, Christmas, Research) by Blessed Homeschool
🎄 FREE Christmas and Holidays Around the World Passport (STEM, Social Studies, Research, Art) by Carly and Adam STEM
🎄Christmas Around the World Research and Informative Writing (Christmas, Social Studies, Research, ELA, Writing) by Eat Pray Travel Teach
FULL UNIT STUDY
🎄 Christmas and Holidays Around the World STEM Activities and Challenges (STEM, Art, Social Studies) by Carly and Adam STEM
BOOK RECS
🎄 The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World by Alex Palmer
“Discover the fascinating (and sometimes downright odd!) ways that people and nations celebrate the holiday season and share this festive compendium's unique traditions together with family and friends.” -Amazon description
🎄 It's Christmas Everywhere: Celebrations from Around the World by Hannah Barnaby and João Fazenda
“A global celebration of Christmas, this unique tree-shaped carousel-format novelty board book can be opened and folded back to create a free-standing Christmas tree using its integrated magnetic closure. A sturdy and gorgeous gift, featuring frame-worthy art.” -Amazon description
🎄 What Do You Celebrate?: Holidays and Festivals Around the World by Whitney Stewart and Christiane Engel
“Holidays are FUN—and this entertaining nonfiction picture book introduces kids to 14 celebrations from around the world!” -Amazon description
🌞 Winter Solstice Unit Studies 🌞
Look to the skies and enjoy the darkening days as December 21st approaches with these unit studies.
🌞 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar (Math, Calendar, Winter) by Toadstool Learning
🌞 Winter Solstice Virtual Field Trip (Winter, Science) by Teach With Bri
🌞 Teach Math by Making Snowflakes (Math, Science, Winter) by Tampa Bay Test Prep
🌞 Winter Solstice Differentiated Reading Passages (ELA, Winter, Science) by Kim Miller
🌞 Winter Solstice Color-by-Code (Problem-solving, Logic, Winter) by Truscott Teaches
FULL UNIT STUDY
🌞 Winter Solstice Celebration Pack Bundle- Culture Diversity Holiday Traditions by The Manateecher
BOOK RECS
🌞 We Celebrate the Light by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
“A celebration of seven different winter holidays observed in the US and the traditions that unite them all.
Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year are visually depicted in turn, accompanying a stunning, read-aloud text that speaks of the traditions that link them all together.” -Amazon description
🌞 The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Carolyn McVickar Edwards
“A collection of twelve traditional tales from around the world that honor the "return of the light" that takes place on the winter solstice.” -Amazon description
🌞 COLOR, CUT, & CREATE WINTER: SCISSOR ACTIVITY BOOK FOR KIDS by A and J Books
“After a day of sledding, get cozy inside with hot cocoa and this winter activity book! This craft activity book is packed with pages of hand-drawn winter-themed fun, from coloring in animals that frolic in the snowy mountains, creating a winter train to carry your toys, to putting together a giant gingerbread cookie. Your kids can even draw a picture of themselves making a snow angel or design their very own snow globe..” -Amazon description
So which unit study are you trying? Comment below!
❄️ Gingerbread Unit Study
💨 Winter Weather Unit Study
🌟 Nativity Unit Study
🎄 Christmas Around the World Unit Study
🌞 Winter Solstice Unit Study
Got your own educational resources that would fit into these unit studies? Email me at artventurousanimals@gmail.com and let me know your suggestions!
Thanks for being a part of this adventure!
