Brief Description
Students learn about the history of Santa Claus in different countries and dramatize Clement C. Moore's famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas."
Objectives
Students
- learn background information about the history of Santa Claus in different countries
- learn about Clement Moore
- discuss and dramatize the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas."
Keywords
December, holidays, Christmas, St. Nicholas, poem, Santa Claus, Clement Moore
Materials Needed
Teacher-selected Santa Claus resources or printouts from the sites listed in the lesson, student-created props and/or costumes
Lesson Plan
Suggestion: This lesson might be covered over several days.
Day One
Ask students to share what they know about Santa Claus. Read and discuss with students background information about Santa Claus from teacher-selected resources or from one or more of these Web sites:
Day Two
For younger students, read the poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" to the class. For elementary students, have students read the poem aloud from teacher-selected resources or from a printout of The Night Before Christmas. Explain that a man named Clement Moore wrote the poem. Read background information about Moore to students from A Visit from St. Nicholas: About the Author.
Day Three and Beyond
Tell students they are going to dramatize the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Let students work together to develop characters, a narrator, props, and costumes. Have students rehearse and perform the poem.
Assessment
Evaluate students' participation, performance, and cooperative-learning skills.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Lois Lewis
National Standards
Language Arts:
NL-ENG.K-12.1
NL-ENG.K-12.4
NL-ENG.K-12.6
NL-ENG.K-12.9
Theatre:
NA-T.K-4.2
NA-T.K-4.3
NA-T.K-4.4
NA-T.5-8.2
NA-T.5-8.3
NA-T.5-8.4
