Christmas Symbols Lapbook for Elementary to Middle School

At Christmas time, we decorate with candy canes, stars, trees, gingerbread men, and wreaths. But most of us don’t know what these symbols mean or why we associate them with the Christmas holidays.

history of christmas symbols for elementary and middle school. free lapbook

This free Christmas symbols lapbook with printables and resources will help you and your students discover the origins & history of these traditional Christmas symbols.

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Here are the resources used in the Christmas Symbols Lapbook

Library List

If you can’t find some of these books, use the online resources that cover the same material instead.

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne

The Gingerbread Boy by Richard Egielski

Hansel and Gretel by Susan Jeffers

Stars, Stockings, and Shepherds: Discover the Meaning of Christmas Symbols by Shersta Chabot ** very helpful!

Teach The Children the True Meaning of Christmas: A Beloved Christmas Legend by Jeanne W. Anderson

A Bible or The New Testament

Printables for the Christmas Symbols Lapbook (see box below)

Online Resources

Explanation of the Christmas Tree Symbolism from Christmas Day.

Kids Gen has explanations of several different symbols

The Spruce explains the legends behind many Christmas Symbols

Symbols of Christmas: Light of the World by Kids Fun TV (video for early elementary)

Christian meanings behind Christmas symbols (video for readers)

Symbols of Christmas by Time of Grace Ministry (video for middle schoolers)

A thorough explanation of The Roots of Christmas Symbols (for high school and adults) from Gerald Culley

History of Wreaths with Love to Know

Read this children’s story about the Real Meanings of Christmas at Disciple blog

Christmas Symbols explained

More Christmas symbols and their meanings

Peppermint, candy canes, and gingerbread houses are popular symbols of Christmas. Try making this Peppermint House instead of the traditional Gingerbread house for some hands-on fun!

If this is your first time completing a lapbook, read this first to learn how to fold your folders to create the lapbook base.

Christmas Symbols Lapbook Activities:

Candy Cane activity sheet – Read The Real Story of the Candy Cane

Christmas Tree activity sheet – Read The Legend of the Christmas Tree.

Gingerbread activity sheet – Learn about the history of the gingerbread. Read The Gingerbread Boy and Hansel and Gretel.

Stars activity sheet – Read about the significance of the star in the books of Matthew and Luke in the Bible.

Wreath activity sheet – Research the Christmas wreath (see online resources above)

Angels activity sheet – Read about the role of the angels in the first Christmas in the books of Matthew and Luke in the Bible.

Nativity Scene activity sheet – In 1224, St. Francis of Assisi had the first living nativity created.

Ornaments activity sheet – Learn about the first Christmas ornaments.

Holly activity sheet – Learn about the history of the holly leaf.

Download your copy of The Christmas Symbols Lapbook from the Free Resource Library. Look under “Lapbooks”

Download your copy from the Free Resource Library

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Other Printable Christmas Activities & Resources:

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