This bundle of 12 Readers Theater scripts is a vibrant way to immerse Grades 3–5 students in the rich traditions of winter holidays and seasonal celebrations! Each script brings to life the cultural and historical essence of holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more, transforming students into storytellers who explore global traditions through dynamic dialogue, teamwork, and engaging historical flashbacks. Build social studies skills like cultural awareness, historical context, and global connections while enhancing reading fluency and comprehension. These scripts seamlessly blend literacy and social studies for engaging cross-curricular learning.
Perfect for:
Emergency sub plans that captivate students while teaching about diverse winter traditions
Social studies units to dive into global holiday customs with built-in discussion prompts
Small group reading centers for collaborative storytelling and comprehension practice
Winter season cultural exploration to ignite curiosity about seasonal celebrations
Cross-curricular lessons integrating social studies, reading, and writing
Included Scripts:
Hanukkah Heroes Readers Theater: Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates the Second Temple’s rededication with eight nights of menorah lighting, dreidel games, and latkes, typically in December.
Las Posadas Journey Readers Theater: Las Posadas, from December 16–24, is a Mexican and Central American tradition reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, featuring candlelit processions and piñatas.
Christmas in the Philippines Readers Theater: The Philippines’ Christmas, starting as early as September and peaking December 24–25, is the world’s longest, with Catholic traditions like parol lanterns and Simbang Gabi masses.
Three Kings Day Readers Theater: Celebrated on January 6 in Hispanic cultures, Three Kings Day honors the Wise Men’s visit to Jesus with gifts and rosca de reyes, extending the Christmas season.
Kwanzaa Kinara Readers Theater: Kwanzaa, from December 26 to January 1, is an African-American cultural holiday celebrating heritage and seven principles through kinara candles, not tied to religion.
New Year’s Eve/Day Readers Theater: December 31–January 1 celebrations, often linked to Christmas, mark a global festive period with parties, resolutions, and cultural traditions.
Advent Readers Theater: Advent, starting four Sundays before Christmas (late November–December), is a Christian season of preparation with wreaths and calendars, building anticipation for Christmas.
Saint Nicholas Day Readers Theater: On December 6, parts of Europe like Germany and the Netherlands celebrate Saint Nicholas Day, where children receive small gifts from the saint.
Saint Lucia’s Day Readers Theater: December 13’s Luciafest in Sweden and Scandinavia honors light with processions and singing during the darkest time of year.
Winter Solstice / Yule Readers Theater: Celebrated December 21–22, Yule marks the shortest day with pagan, Wiccan, and Druid traditions focusing on nature and the return of longer days.
Boxing Day Readers Theater: On December 26, Boxing Day in the UK, Canada, and Australia historically involved giving to the less fortunate; now it’s a day for rest and shopping.
Christmas Readers Theater: This script explores Christmas’ origins, blending ancient pagan festivals like Saturnalia and Yule with early Christian celebrations of Jesus’ birth on December 25, tracing how traditions of love, kindness, and hope spread globally.
