Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – Christmas ELA Lesson Plan & Worksheet (Grades 1–5)

Bring festive fun into your ELA classroom with this Christmas-themed lesson plan and student worksheet based on the classic song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Students will practice vocabulary, grammar (present continuous + modal verbs), and listening comprehension while exploring ideas about behavior, fairness, and rewards — all wrapped in a joyful holiday lesson!

What’s Included

• 90-minute, step-by-step lesson plan
• Printable student worksheet with answer key
• Vocabulary, grammar, and listening activities
• Critical thinking and cultural comparison tasks
• Creative writing prompts (“Santa’s Nice List Rules,” letters to Santa, etc.)
• Easy-to-follow teacher instructions and materials list**

How It Works in the Classroom

• Perfect for ESL, EFL, or general ELA classes
• Ideal for whole-group, pair, or individual activities
• Use as a holiday lesson, sub plan, or listening comprehension practice
• Flexible for print or digital classroom use
• Encourages discussion, creativity, and student engagement

Standards & Learning Goals

• Vocabulary development (behavior, emotions, Christmas-related words)
• Present Continuous tense: describing ongoing actions
• Modal verbs should/shouldn’t for giving advice
• Listening comprehension and sequencing
• Expressing opinions and supporting ideas with reasons

Why Teachers Love It

• Saves prep time — ready-to-teach 90-minute plan
• Engages students with music and culture
• Encourages empathy and self-reflection
• Builds language confidence through multiple skills
• Perfect blend of fun + academic learning

Make your December lessons meaningful, musical, and memorable with this ready-to-use holiday ELA activity!