Teach your students about winter weather changes during December. Ask younger students to describe how the weather changes from season to season, and to give examples of the ways they stay warm during cold weather. Encourage older students how to read weather maps to determine when a cold front or snow is on the way.
Animals use many different methods to survive the harsh winter months. Teach your students about hibernation and migration. Encourage younger students to learn how animals such as bears hibernate all winter. Ask advanced students to plot the migration of geese or determine the changes in diet of local birds or other animals. Discuss how animals that live in cold habitats survive by adapting to their environment.
Encourage students to learn about different holidays that are celebrated around the world during December. Place students in groups and assign each group a December holiday to research, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Winter Solstice. Ask students to research the origins of the holiday. In addition, encourage students to learn about any foods, events or gifts given during the holiday, and to prepare a short presentation of the holiday to share with the class. Encourage students to include foods, dancing, music and decorations in their presentations.
December is a time of celebration and gift-giving. Show your students ways that they can help others less fortunate. Collect food to give to local charities. Plan a field trip to a local homeless shelter so that students can volunteer. Hold a bake sale to raise funds for holiday gifts for children in need, or ask students to collect jackets, hats and gloves to give to others.