December Writing Prompts

Creative Writing Ideas and Journal Topics For:
Winter, Christmas, and December

Winter and December Writing Prompts: Are you looking for a creative list of writing prompts and journal ideas to use during the month of December?

Below, you will find a list of general December writing topics and a list of specific calendar dates for December which contain creative writing ideas related to that particular date in December.

I have created this list of Christmas and December writing prompts and ideas for elementary school teachers and students, but many of these creative writing ideas and topics would also be appropriate for other grade levels.

You will find some Christmas and December writing prompts below that contain underlined links. If you click on an underlined link:

• You will be directed to another page on Unique Teaching Resources that contains detailed lesson plan ideas and printable worksheets for those December writing prompts.
• You will be directed to another website that contains useful information related to those particular December writing prompts.

General Christmas and December Writing Prompts:

• Write directions for how to make a snowman
• These snowman shaped creative writing templates can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these snowman templates can be found:
  Snowman Creative Writing Templates
• Does falling snow have a sound?
• My magical snowman
• The snowman that never melted
• Read your students How The Grinch Stole Christmas and have them write about the story. You could also show your students the movie that is based on this book starring Jim Carrey.
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of Dr. Seuss teaching resources can be found: How the Grinch Stole Christmas Lesson Plans
• Describe how the Grinch changed from the beginning of the story to the end of the story.
• How would you help the Grinch if you were a Who in Who-ville?
• Prior to the winter vacation, read your students A Christmas Carol (or show them the movie).
• Click on the following link to view the page where this set of teaching resources can be found: Christmas Carol Lesson Plans
• Describe how Ebenezer Scrooge changed from the beginning of the story to the end of the story.
• Design a new sleigh for Santa that includes modern technology such as a GPS and computerized devices. Draw this high tech sleigh and write a paragraph describing it.
• Taking a ride in Santa's sleigh
• Baking cookies with Mrs. Claus
• Write a S.N.O.W. acrostic poem
• Click on the link below to view the page where these snow globe poetry can be found:
  Snow Globe Poetry Templates
• The first snowfall
• My favorite winter sport
• A wonderful Christmas memory
• If I owned a toy store
• The great caroling catastrophe
• Off in the distance, I heard the sound of sleigh bells. ...

• Write a letter to Santa describing someone that you know who has been very good and kind this year.
• Write about one of your family's holiday traditions. Describe it in detail, tell how you feel about it, and what this tradition means to you.
• These wreath shaped creative writing templates can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these wreath templates can be found:
  Winter Wreath Creative Writing Templates
• Pretend that you have just given Santa a mobile phone, laptop, or Ipad. Explain to Santa how this new technology will help him and save him a lot of time.
• Decorating the Christmas tree
• These tree shaped creative writing templates can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these tree templates can be found:
  Winter Tree Creative Writing Templates
• If you were a Christmas tree, how would you want to be decorated?
• What do you enjoying doing during your winter holiday?
• We should have the Christmas spirit all year round.
• You go to the mailbox and find that Santa has written you a letter. Write a letter from Santa to yourself.
• Rudolph's nose was green!
• My vacation at the North Pole
• These winter wonderland creative writing worksheets can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these winter printable worksheets can be found:
  Winter Wonderland Printable Worksheets
• Draw a map from the North Pole to your house. Then, write the directions in a paragraph.
• Describe your new job as an elf at the North Pole.
• Write a paragraph describing what this holiday phrase means to you: "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men."
• What are your wishes for the world this holiday season?
• Write an unselfish letter to Santa, asking him to bring a needed item to a friend or family member.
• "The best gifts are gifts from the heart." What does this phrase mean to you?
• These 3D Box creative writing templates can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these gift box templates can be found:
  3 Dimensional Present Project: "A Gift From the Heart"
• If I could give a Christmas gift to the world, it would be ...
• How to wrap a Christmas present.
• The best present that I ever gave to someone ...
• Presents should not be important on Christmas Day.
• It is better to give than to receive. Describe a time when you did something thoughtful for someone or gave a person a thoughtful gift.
• This holiday season I plan to do something helpful to others. My plan is ...
• Pretend that you are a penguin who loves to "tweet." Write 5 tweets describing what it is like to live Antarctica.
• These penguin creative writing worksheets can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these winter printable worksheets can be found:
  Penguin Printable Worksheets
• The adventures of having a penguin as our family pet
• The day Frosty the Snowman met Rudolph
• These snowman creative writing worksheets can be used for many of the December writing prompts that are found on this page.
• Click on the link below to view the page where these winter printable worksheets can be found:
  Snowman Printable Worksheets
• The Abominable Snowman is an ape-like creature said to inhabit the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet. Write a story about seeing the Abominable Snowman.
• School has been cancelled for the day because of a snow storm. What would you like to do during this unexpected day off from school?
• The gingerbread man jumped out of the oven and...
• Pick three New Year's Resolutions. Describe why you picked them and how you will accomplish them.
• Design your own Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Years card.

Specific December Writing Prompts:

Celebrations, Events, Holidays, and Dates in History:

Scroll through this page, or click on the links below, to read
about each of these December writing prompts and holidays.

• Late November to Late December - Hanukkah
• December 1 - Rosa Parks
• December 5 - Mozart's Birthday
• December 5 - Walt Disney's Birthday
• December 7 - Letter Writing Day
• December 10 - Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony
• December 21 or 22 - Winter Solstice/First Day of Winter
• December 25 - Christmas
• December 26 - January 1 - Kwanzaa

Late November to Late December - Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. The first day of Hanukkah falls on a different day each year because the Jewish calendar is lunar based. This holiday usually occurs between the end of November and the end of December.

The Menorah, or candle holder, is an important part of the tradition of Hanukkah and it is why this holiday is often referred to as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, spinning the dreidel, and eating traditional foods such as latkes (potato pancakes).

• Research Hanukkah and write about why it is often referred to as "The Festival of the Lights."
• Have the students create a poster about Hanukkah and how the holiday is celebrated.
• Create a venn diagram highlighting the differences and similarities between Hanukkah and Christmas. What are the rituals surrounding each holiday?
• Visit Wikipedia's Hanukkah Page to learn more information about this holiday.
• On Holidays.net Chanukah you will find information about the history of Hanakkah, the menorah, recipes, and craft ideas for this holiday.

December 1 - Rosa Parks

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to obey a bus driver's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger.

Rosa Park's quiet and courageous act of defiance became an important symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and the resistance to racial segregation. She has been nationally recognized as the "mother of the modern day civil rights movement" in America.

• How did Rosa Parks show that she was courageous?
• Have your students respond to this quote from Rosa Parks: "I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear."
• What is the bravest thing you have ever done? Include details about the event and why you think you were brave.
• Visit Wikipedia's Rosa Parks Page to learn more information about her.
• Students can read a biography and watch a video of Rosa Parks on the Rosa Parks Biography Page.
• Students can complete an individual or group project about Rosa Parks using my Character Body Book Report Templates or my Biography Book Report Newspaper Templates.
• My School Bus Book Report Templates could easily be adapted to write a report about Rosa Parks. Your students will enjoy designing a project about Rosa Parks using these unique templates.

• Show your students The Rosa Parks Story starring Angela Bassett. Below is a trailor for this movie.

• Below is a short video about the life of Rosa Parks from the Biography Channel.

December 5 - Mozart's Birthday

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on December 5, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. He began composing his own music at the age of five and toured Europe as a concert pianist at age six.

• What would it be like to be famous at an early age?
• If you could be proficient at playing any one instrument, what instrument would you choose? Explain why.
• What is the most beautiful piece of music that you have ever listened to?
• Show your students the movie Amadeus.
• Reality shows such as American Idol, America's Got Talent, and The X Factor have inspired many people to audition for these music shows. Write a story in which you go to audition for one of these shows.
• Visit Wikipedia's Mozart Page to learn more information about this famous composer.
• Play a piece of Mozart's music for your students and have them write about how it makes them feel and the images this piece of music creates in their minds.
• Below is a You Tube video where students can listen to Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21.

December 5 - Walt Disney's Birthday

Walter Elias Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. Walt Disney is a famous American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, and theme park creator.

Walt Disney is best known as the creator of Mickey Mouse and the founder of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

In the late 1940s, Disney first drew sketches of his ideas for an amusement park where he envisioned his employees spending time with their children. His original idea expanded in concept and eventually became Disneyland, which first opened in 1955.

• Share these quotes by Walt Disney with your students and have them choose one to respond to in writing:
  
  
  • All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
  • If you can dream it, you can do it.
  • It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
  • The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.
  • The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
  • There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.
  • When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.
  • I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it.
• What would it be like if Walt Disney was your father or grandfather?
• When the Disneyland first opened, it consisted of five themed areas:
  
  
  1. Main Street, U.S.A. (an early 20th century Midwest town based on Walt Disney's childhood)
  2. Adventureland (featuring jungle themed adventures)
  3. Frontierland (illustrating the western frontier)
  4. Fantasyland (bringing fantasy into a reality)
  5. Tomorrowland (looking into the future)
• Pretend that you worked for Walt Disney in 1955 and write an idea for a 6th themed area for Disneyland. Describe the theme for this area and the rides and buildings that would be included in this new area of Disneyland.
• Visit Wikipedia's Walt Disney Page to learn more information about this famous man.
• On Just Disney students can read a biography and view photographs of Walt Disney.

December 7 - Letter Writing Day

December 7 is Letter Writing Day. Letter writing is fast becoming an almost lost skill. Most letters that are written today are e-mails and now even shorter messages (called instant messages) have become a very popular form of communication.

• Do you think that handwriting should still be taught in school now that most correspondence is done on a computer? Write an essay supporting your opinion.
• Hand-write a letter that you will actually mail to a friend or relative. Bring this letter home tonight and mail your letter to this person.
• Thanks to innovation (from the Pony Express to auto-trucks to airmail to email) the speed with which the mail is delivered has improved year after year for the past two and a half centuries. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of these improvements?
• Interview a parent or grandparent and ask them how the practice of writing handwritten letters has changed from when they were a child to now.

December 10 - Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony

The Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony takes place on December 10 in Oslo, Norway each year.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each year on this day to people who have made the most valuable contributions to the good of humanity.

The Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize in the presence of the King of Norway on December 10 each year, which is the anniversary of Nobel's death.

• You have been selected to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Why have you been selected as this year's recipient?
• If you could award this prize to someone that you know, who would you select and why?
• Research a past winner of The Nobel Peace Prize and write a short summary about this person and his or her achievements.
• Visit Wikipedia's Nobel Peace Prize Page to learn more information about the history of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• More information about the Nobel Peace Prize can be found on this page: Nobel Prize.org
• Visit Video Lectures from Nobel Peace Prize Laureates to watch videos of past winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.

December 21 or 22 - Winter Solstice/First Day of Winter

The winter solstice usually occurs on December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern Hemisphere and on June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere.

The winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and the longest night of the year. This is when the sun's daily maximum elevation in the sky is the lowest.

• What is your favorite winter activity that involves snow and why?
• What would it be like if it was winter all year long?
• On Understanding the Winter Solstice For Kids you can learn more information about the first day of winter.

December 25 - Christmas

Christmas is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on December 25 by people around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass."

This holiday is now celebrated by an increasing amount of non-Christians and Christmas symbols now include Santa Claus, reindeer, and stockings.

• Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in many countries around the world. On Christmas Celebrations Around The World or North Pole Christmas Around The World research how another country celebrates Christmas and write a short report about what you learned.
• Visit Wikipedia's Christmas Page to learn more information about the history of this holiday.
• You can find a large list of Christmas and December writing prompts at the top of this page.
• I've created a variety of templates and lesson plans for Christmas and winter. You can view them here: Winter Teaching Resources

December 26 - January 1 - Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration which honors African-American heritage and culture. This holiday was started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at the California State University and it is observed from December 26 to January 1.

The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning first fruits of the harvest. Kwanzaa features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and ends with a feast and gift giving.

There are seven principles of Kwanzaa, one for each of the 7 days of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

• Research the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa and design a card or poster that features one of the principles.
• A mkeka is a special place mat used during Kwanzaa ceremonies and it has three colors: black, red, and green. The stripes represent tradition, history, and the future. Have your students design a mkeka and write about what each stripe symbolizes to them.
• On Holidays.net Kwanzaa you will find information about the 7 Principles and Symbols of Kwanzaa, as well as recipes and craft ideas for this holiday.
• Visit Wikipedia's Kwanzaa Page to learn more information about this holiday.

End of December Writing Prompts

Free Download #1:

December Calendar Set (Christmas Theme)

My free December calendar set is designed to fit inside monthly calendar pocket charts that many teachers use. The calendar pieces can also be displayed on a classroom bulletin board.

This December calendar set contains the following printable worksheets:

Above: The large December calendar title is a 2 page banner.

Above: This printable calendar set for December includes large days of the week templates for the 7 days of the week.

Above: This free December calendar set includes smaller pieces for the 7 days of the week that will fit inside your calendar pocket chart.

There are 31 square calendar number dates in this teaching resources set.

There are squares for you to print and write your students' names and birthdays on.

There are 11 printable worksheets in this free teaching resources set.

Click Here ===> 12 Free Printable Classroom Calendars

Free Download #2:

December Calendar Set (Winter Tree Theme)

Click Here ===> 12 Free Printable Classroom Calendars

Below are some ideas and examples of teaching resources
that can be used for some of the Christmas and December
writing prompts that are found on this page:

Reading Sticker Charts - Winter Themes

Sticker Charts - Christmas Themes

Fun Powerpoint Presentations:

Multiplication Incentive Charts and Classroom Displays

More December, January,
Christmas, and Winter Resources:

Click on the graphics below to view each resource.

Click on one of the calendars
below to go to a specific page
of monthly writing prompts: