Oh What Fun! Christmas Around the World Research Project and Reading Passages Unit for Upper Elementary

If you want a meaningful and engaging way to explore global traditions during December, this Christmas Around the World research project gives your students a rich cultural learning experience while keeping your prep manageable. It blends reading comprehension, geography, writing, and hands-on creativity into one complete unit designed specifically for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.

December can feel like a whirlwind in the classroom, but this delightful Christmas around the world research project helps you create purposeful lessons that feel festive without sacrificing rigor. It gives your students the chance to learn about real traditions, foods, decorations, and celebrations from around the world while keeping them actively involved in every step. You also have both print and digital options, which makes it easy to fit into your routines whether you use interactive notebooks, small groups, or whole-class instruction. And if you teach in a bilingual setting or simply want more flexibility, this also comes in Spanish.

Ready to check it out? Click here to shop the Christmas Around the World Research Project on TPT.

What Makes This Christmas Around the World Research Project So Effective

This unit begins with 23 high-interest reading passages that take your students on a tour of Christmas traditions across the globe. These passages were written to spark curiosity and build cultural literacy for upper elementary learners. Each passage features vivid photography, clear explanations of cultural practices, and five comprehension questions that help your students think critically about what they read.

You can introduce one country per day, assign passages in small groups, or use them as reading centers throughout the month. Because the passages come in both printable PDFs and Google Slides versions, you can use them in a variety of formats. You can project them for whole-class discussions, assign them digitally for independent practice, or include them in guided reading groups.

Your students will read about everything from traditional foods in Italy to festive decorations in Sweden and unique celebrations in places like the Philippines, Argentina, South Africa, and Iceland. Each passage gives them a window into holiday traditions that may be new and exciting to them. If you have students who celebrate Christmas differently, this is also a wonderful way to honor and validate those experiences by showing that celebrations vary all over the world.

Once your students have explored these global traditions, they bring everything together in a hands-on research project that transforms their learning into a colorful display. This part of the resource is where the excitement really grows in your classroom. Students use 12 themed tasks to gather information, create visuals, and design a 3D research ball that showcases their country. The final projects look impressive on classroom walls, bulletin boards, doors, and hallway displays, and they give students a real sense of pride.

Why Upper Elementary Students Love This Christmas Around the World Research Project

The structure of this unit is intentionally designed to help your students feel successful from start to finish. The reading passages build foundational knowledge, and the 3D research project lets them use that knowledge in creative and meaningful ways. Students get to choose a country, dive deeper into its traditions, and build a physical product that feels special.

The 12 research tasks guide them step by step as they learn about important traditions, foods, clothing, decorations, symbols, and celebrations. These tasks keep students focused while still allowing for creativity and personal expression. The templates make the process smooth, and the assembly photos help you walk your students through each step without guesswork.

Your students stay engaged because the project feels hands-on and purposeful. They are not just reading about cultural traditions. They are organizing information, making choices, and creating something they can share with classmates and families.

What’s Included in the Complete Unit

When you download this Christmas Around the World research project and reading bundle, you get everything you need to run the entire unit from start to finish.

Reading Passages

23 reading passages about Christmas traditions around the world
4 multiple choice questions and 1 written response per passage
Answer keys for quick and easy grading
Google Slides versions of all passages and questions (uneditable)

Research Project

Student checklist with all 12 themed tasks
Template pages for the 3D research ball
Step-by-step teacher directions with assembly photos
Rubric for easy grading

Pssst…. Do you want just the research project without the passages? You can grab that here.

This unit saves you time and gives your students a structured, meaningful way to explore global celebrations throughout December. Whether you want to fill a week or build a month-long cultural study, everything you need is ready for you. It brings literacy, culture, and creativity together in a way your students will remember long after winter break.

If you want to make your December lessons more meaningful and more manageable, you can grab the Christmas Around the World Reading Passages and the 3D Research Project here. It also comes in Spanish, which makes it easy to use in bilingual classrooms or dual-language programs. Use the links below to grab yours from TPT!