Advent Calendar 2020

It's the most wonderful time of the year again and here in Greece, as in most European countries, we are spending it at home in quarantine. However this is no reason not to be festive; in fact we should try to keep our spirits up as much as possible so as to be able to support our students as well. So why not share an online Advent Calendar with our students as a treat?

photo by JillWellington

An Advent Calendar is a special calendar used for counting the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas.  Advent calendars are usually a large rectangular card with "windows", one for each day of December leading up to and including Christmas Eve (December 24). Consecutive doors are opened every day beginning on December 1. The calendar windows open to reveal an image, a poem, a portion of a story, or a small gift, such as a toy or a chocolate item.

The advent calendar that follows is a digital one. There is a new fun activity behind each door, from Kahoot quizes and filling in Christmas songs lyrics for the weekdays, to making easy Christmas crafts for the weekends.

I have been making online advent calendars since 2016 and every year I change some of the activities. This year's Advent Calendar includes mostly online activities that can be done during distance classes or can be assigned as homework. 

The doors open only on the relevant day so they can be a real surprise, but you can find a list of all the activities below. If you are not sure how these calendars work visit my page with my older calendars here to get an idea.  

Day 1: Make easy candy cane sleighs to give as Christmas presents 

Day 2: Print and solve a Christmas crossword puzzle 

Day 3:  Let's go Christmas shopping in London! (video with online activities from the British Council)

Day 4: Read and listen to the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry (abridged version with audio, reading comprehension questions and an online crossword puzzle in learningapps)

Day 5: Make some easy Christmas Angels to hang on your tree (youtube video with easy instructions)

Day 6: Write an email to Santa (online activity for early teens and younger learners)

Day 7: Play a Christmas Kahoot quiz with your class

Day 8: Fill in the missing lyrics of White Christmas (online activity in lyricstraining)

Day 9: Find the Christmas rhymes! (in liveworksheets)

Day 10: Read and listen to the story "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (abridged version with audio and an online crossword puzzle)

Day 11: Play another Christmas Kahoot quiz with your class

Day 12: Make a sock snowman (from the British Council's Learn English kids)

Day 13: Do you know the names of the Christmas decorations? Matching game in learningapps

Day 14: Print and solve a Christmas cloze 

Day 15: Can you fill the lyrics for "Rockin' around the Christmas tree? Listen to the song and fill in the blanks in learningapps

Day 16: Read the story "The Christmas the Lights Went Out" by Chris Rose (a story from the British Council with online activities) 

Day 17: Write some Christmas cards to send to your loved ones 

Day 18: Can you fill in the lyrics of All I want for Christmas? (in liveworksheets)

Day 19: Make a pop-up Christmas card to give to your loved ones (youtube video with easy instructions)

Day 20: How to have a British Christmas. Watch the video and do the multiple choice questions in learningapps (for older teens)

Day 21: Watch Mr Bean's Christmas and do the activities (youtube video and separate worksheets)

Day 22: How do people around the world celebrate Christmas? Play an online millionaire game and do some research on Christmas customs

Day 23: New Year's Resolutions Activity (from Pearson-Italy)

Day 24: Merry Christmas

You can share it using this link: https://adventmyfriend.com/122093/ffa4831b0e/. Open a door everyday in the classroom and do the activity with your students! The activities are suitable for young teens from A2+ to B1+ level of English. 

You can always make your own calendar in adventmyfriend.com, myadvent.net or in tuerchen.com for free without registration.

Enjoy

...and don't forget to leave me your comments.