Holiday & Seasonal ELA Activities | Light Up Literature™

ELA Holiday & Seasonal Activities Hub

Meaningful reading, grammar, and writing resources aligned with seasons, holidays, and awareness months—ADHD-friendly and homeschool/classroom ready.

Seasonal Traditional Holidays School Year Milestones Meaningful Months

Seasonal

Fall

FREEBIE: Fall Reading & Writing

Quick seasonal practice that works across Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—perfect for subs or last-minute plans.

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Fall Figurative Language

Explore metaphors, similes, and imagery with autumn-themed texts.

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Back-to-School Grammar Review

Start the year strong with this no-prep grammar warm-up pack.

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Fall Reading Comprehension

High-interest fall-themed nonfiction passages and questions.

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Winter

Winter Writing Prompts

Creative and persuasive prompts to inspire seasonal storytelling.

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Winter Grammar Practice

Practice commas, clauses, and sentence structure with a winter twist.

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Snowy Poetry Pack

Use nature to explore haiku, free verse, and imagery in poetry.

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Spring

Spring Poetry & Imagery

Use nature imagery and figurative language to level up descriptive writing.

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Earth Day Reading & Writing

Nonfiction texts + writing prompts that connect literacy and sustainability.

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Spring Grammar Stations

Low-prep practice with clauses, commas, and sentence variety.

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Summer

Summer Reading Boost

Short, high-interest passages to prevent skill slide over break.

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Summer Writing Prompts

Creative and reflective prompts perfect for journals or choice boards.

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Pre-Fall Skill Refreshers

Light grammar & reading review to ease into August/September.

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Traditional Holidays

ELA lessons that align with U.S. holidays and observances throughout the school year. Use them to boost seasonal engagement while teaching grammar, reading, and writing.

January – New Year’s Day & MLK Jr. Day

New Year Reflection Writing

Kick off January with meaningful goal-setting and grammar review.

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MLK Jr. Rhetorical Devices

Analyze persuasive techniques in MLK’s most famous speeches.

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February – Valentine's Day

Valentine Figurative Language

Explore poetry and figurative language in February fun.

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Literary Love Letters

Write in character from famous literary couples.

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March – St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day Symbolism

Explore symbolism and cultural traditions in Irish folklore.

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April – Easter

Easter Poetry Prompts

Celebrate renewal with nature-themed poetic forms.

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May – Memorial Day

Memorial Day Writing

Reflect on service and sacrifice with informative writing.

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July – Independence Day

Patriotic Writing Prompts

Celebrate American freedom with creative and persuasive writing.

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September – Labor Day

Labor Day Career Connections

Connect jobs and writing with real-world career-based ELA practice.

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October – Halloween

Halloween Complex Sentence Worksheets & Activities (6–8)

Halloween Complex Sentences (6–8)

Build clause control and reading fluency with spooky-season practice.

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Halloween Compound Sentence Worksheet or Interactive (6–8)

Halloween Compound Sentences (6–8)

FANBOYS practice with print or interactive options.

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Halloween Simple, Compound, & Complex Sentence Activity (5–8)

Simple • Compound • Complex (5–8)

Differentiated sentence-type practice that kids actually enjoy.

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Halloween Sensory Language Writing Stations — Show, Don’t Tell

Halloween Sensory Language Stations

Show-don’t-tell prompts that level up descriptive writing.

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Halloween Revise & Edit Stations (No-Prep)

Revise & Edit Stations (Halloween)

Active stations targeting common grammar and usage trouble spots.

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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow — Halloween Mini-Unit (6–8)

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Mini-Unit

Seasonal classic with comprehension, vocabulary, and writing tasks.

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Dead Words Halloween — Revise Writing Activity (6–8)

Dead Words Halloween (6–8)

Upgrade bland words to precise, powerful vocabulary while revising.

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FREE: ADHD Parent’s Halloween Checklist

Prep for fun without overwhelm—great for home/classroom transitions.

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November – Veterans Day & Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Complex Sentence Cut and Paste Activity (Grades 6–8) cover

Thanksgiving Complex Sentence Cut & Paste (6–8)

Hands-on clause control practice that keeps attention and builds fluency.

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Thanksgiving Compound Sentence Activity FANBOYS Grammar Craft (Grades 6–8) cover

Thanksgiving Compound Sentences (6–8)

FANBOYS craft/activity for quick wins with sentence variety.

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Thanksgiving Compound Sentence Worksheets Middle School ELA (Grades 6–8) cover

Thanksgiving Compound Worksheets (6–8)

No-prep lesson plan to solidify coordinating conjunctions and fluency.

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The Pilgrims and the Mayflower Thanksgiving Nonfiction Middle School ELA cover

Pilgrims & the Mayflower (Nonfiction)

Thanksgiving background knowledge with standards-aligned comprehension.

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Thanksgiving Parts of Speech Worksheets Bundle cover

Thanksgiving Parts of Speech Bundle

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions—ADHD-friendly routines.

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Fall Middle School ELA Reading Writing Freebie cover

FREEBIE: Fall ELA Reading & Writing

Quick printable activities that fit Halloween → Thanksgiving → Christmas.

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December – Winter Holidays

Christmas Sentence Types Worksheet Middle School ELA cover

Christmas Sentence Types (6–8)

Declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, imperative with seasonal hooks.

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Christmas Simple Compound Complex Sentence Creation cover

Christmas Simple • Compound • Complex (6–8)

Mini-lesson + practice for solid sentence variety before break.

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Christmas Traditions Reading Comprehension Bundle cover

Christmas Traditions Reading Bundle (6–8)

Nonfiction passages + questions to keep rigor high and prep light.

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Compound Sentences Reading Comprehension Christmas Hot Cocoa cover

Compound Sentences Reading: Hot Cocoa

Festive comprehension + grammar with ADHD-friendly cut-and-paste.

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A Christmas Carol — Stave 1 Close Notes

Structured notes to support accessible Dickens reading in ELA 6–8.

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A Christmas Carol Cloze Notes Stave 2 cover

A Christmas Carol — Stave 2 Cloze Notes

40 pages • 189 answers—ready for differentiation and close reading.

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FREEBIE: Fall ELA Reading & Writing

Quick seasonal activities that also work in December pinch-hit slots.

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Meaningful Months

Month-by-month ELA lessons that connect with awareness themes, celebrations, and historical events to build relevance and curiosity.

January

New Year Writing Prompts

Inspire goal setting and narrative writing with a fresh start.

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MLK Speech Analysis

Practice rhetorical analysis with a civil rights focus.

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Winter Reading Passages

Engage reluctant readers with seasonal nonfiction texts.

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February

Valentine Figurative Language

Use Valentine’s Day to explore metaphor, simile, and more.

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Black History Biographies

Practice reading comprehension with inspirational leaders.

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Kindness Writing Activities

Connect SEL with ELA through thoughtful response writing.

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March

St. Patrick’s Day Grammar

Shamrock-themed grammar practice that builds mastery.

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Women's History Nonfiction

Explore influential women through informative texts.

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March Writing Prompts

Encourage creativity with spring and awareness-themed topics.

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April

National Poetry Month

Dive into figurative language, rhyme, and symbolism.

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Easter Story Starters

Use springtime themes for creative and narrative writing.

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Earth Day Reading & Writing

Incorporate science and sustainability in literacy practice.

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May

Mother’s Day Letters

Practice persuasive writing with heartfelt letters.

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SEL Writing Prompts

Support student voice and mental health awareness in ELA.

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Memorial Day Reflections

Engage students with meaningful writing around service.

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June

Identity & Voice Prompts

Use poetry and reflection to explore personal identity.

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Juneteenth Nonfiction Reading

Build historical context and reading skills together.

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Year-End Writing Projects

Wrap up the year with reflective writing that matters.

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July

Patriotic Writing Prompts

Encourage gratitude and reflection on freedom and voice.

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Summer Reading Boost

Prevent skill slide with quick, printable comprehension tasks.

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ELA Skill Refreshers

Prepare for fall with engaging grammar and reading warm-ups.

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August

Back-to-School Icebreakers

Welcome students with low-pressure ELA community builders.

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ELA Diagnostic Toolkit

Pinpoint skill gaps with back-to-school assessments.

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Organize & Reflect Pages

Support time management and writing through schedules.

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September

Labor Day Writing Activity

Explore the value of hard work through personal narratives.

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Cultural Heritage Biographies

Highlight Hispanic voices through engaging nonfiction texts.

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September Reading Pack

Use early fall themes to build engagement and stamina.

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October

Halloween Complex Sentence Worksheets cover

Halloween Complex Sentences (6–8)

Build clause control and reading fluency with spooky-season practice.

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Halloween Compound Sentence Activity cover

Halloween Compound Sentences (6–8)

FANBOYS practice with print or interactive options.

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Simple, Compound, Complex Halloween Activity cover

Simple • Compound • Complex (5–8)

Differentiate quickly with scaffolded sentence-type practice.

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Halloween Sensory Language Writing Stations cover

Halloween Sensory Language Stations

Show-don’t-tell writing that reluctant writers actually enjoy.

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Revise & Edit Stations (Halloween)

Active stations target common grammar and usage trouble spots.

View Resource

Legend of Sleepy Hollow Mini-Unit

Seasonal classic with comprehension, vocabulary, and writing tasks.

View Resource

Dead Words Halloween Revise Writing cover

Dead Words Halloween (6–8)

Upgrade bland words to precise, powerful vocabulary while revising.

View Resource

FREE: ADHD Parent’s Halloween Checklist

Prep for fun without overwhelm—great for home/classroom transitions.

Get Freebie

November

Thanksgiving Complex Sentence Cut & Paste (6–8)

Hands-on clause control practice that keeps attention and builds fluency.

View Resource

Thanksgiving Compound Sentences (6–8)

FANBOYS craft/activity for quick wins with sentence variety.

View Resource

Thanksgiving Compound Worksheets (6–8)

No-prep lesson plan to solidify coordinating conjunctions and fluency.

View Resource

Pilgrims & the Mayflower (Nonfiction)

Thanksgiving background knowledge with standards-aligned comprehension.

View Resource

Thanksgiving Parts of Speech Bundle

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions—ADHD-friendly routines.

View Resource

FREEBIE: Fall ELA Reading & Writing

Quick printable activities that fit Halloween → Thanksgiving → Christmas.

View Resource

December – Winter Holidays

Christmas Sentence Types (6–8)

Declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, imperative with seasonal hooks.

View Resource

Christmas Simple • Compound • Complex (6–8)

Mini-lesson + practice for solid sentence variety before break.

View Resource

Christmas Traditions Reading Bundle (6–8)

Nonfiction passages + questions to keep rigor high and prep light.

View Resource

Compound Sentences Reading: Hot Cocoa

Festive comprehension + grammar with ADHD-friendly cut-and-paste.

View Resource

A Christmas Carol — Stave 1 Close Notes

Structured notes to support accessible Dickens reading in ELA 6–8.

View Resource

A Christmas Carol — Stave 2 Cloze Notes

40 pages • 189 answers—ready for differentiation and close reading.

View Resource

FREEBIE: Fall ELA Reading & Writing

Quick seasonal activities that also work in December pinch-hit slots.

View Resource

School Year Milestones

Celebrate major moments in the school year with engaging ELA resources designed to spark reflection, reinforce learning, and reignite motivation.

Back to School

Back-to-School Grammar Review

Start the year with fun grammar practice tied to real-life topics.

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Reading & Writing Diagnostic

Assess student skill levels with fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

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Student Goal Setting Activities

Support student reflection and growth with engaging prompts.

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Mid-Year Reset

New Year Writing Prompts

Encourage personal reflection and narrative skills after break.

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Mid-Year Grammar Check

Revisit key grammar rules before diving into second semester.

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Reading Habits Reflection

Have students evaluate their progress and plan for growth.

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End of Year

End-of-Year Skill Pack

Review the year’s top reading and grammar skills with ease.

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Student Memory Book

Let students reflect and write creatively to close out the year.

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ELA Superlative Awards

Celebrate growth with fun, confidence-building award options.

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