The holidays can be very special for people. Many fond memories have been built around Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa. Have your students create a traditional storyboard to tell the story of a favorite memory about the holidays. Because many people celebrate holidays differently, this activity gives students a chance to think and write about their own family traditions, and learn about the traditions of their classmates. If any students don’t celebrate winter holidays, have them create a storyboard about a fond memory they have of winter break or some other time off from school.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Adjust the activity for varying student abilities by offering multiple options for storyboard complexity. For example, allow some students to use more description boxes, provide sentence starters, or let them dictate their stories. This ensures every student can participate successfully, regardless of writing level.
Encourage an open, respectful classroom dialogue about different traditions. Remind students that not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and that all memories—holiday-related or not—are valuable. Model inclusive language and celebrate diversity to foster a welcoming environment.
Offer sample images, templates, or anchor charts to help students brainstorm and structure their stories. Visual aids can spark ideas and give students a framework for organizing their memories, making the activity more accessible for visual learners.
Organize a gallery walk or small group presentations where students share their storyboards with classmates. Encourage positive feedback and questions to build community and help students appreciate the range of experiences in the classroom.
A holiday memory storyboard activity encourages students to illustrate and write about their favorite holiday memories, using storyboards to visually share personal or family traditions. It's a creative way to celebrate diversity and build classroom community.
Invite students who don’t celebrate winter holidays to create a storyboard about a special winter break memory or any memorable time off from school, ensuring everyone feels included and valued.
Students should: 1) Click "Start Assignment"; 2) Summarize their favorite holiday memory in description boxes; 3) Add illustrations with scenes, characters, items, and dialogue; 4) Save and exit to complete the activity.
Sharing different holiday traditions helps students appreciate diversity, fosters empathy, and builds a sense of belonging by letting classmates learn about each other's unique backgrounds and celebrations.
Encourage students to use colorful illustrations, include dialogue, and share unique family traditions. Offering examples and allowing creative freedom can make holiday memory storyboards more engaging and meaningful for all learners.