“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Unit Study for Elementary & Middle School

This How the Grinch Stole Christmas Unit Study is based on the classic Christmas book by Dr. Seuss and includes all subjects areas for students in 2nd to 6th grades.

This comprehensive Grinch Christmas unit study is designed to be completed by researching and writing about the multi-subject topics through notebooking pages and activities .

That means you can glue all of the completed mini-books, worksheets, and notebooking pages into a 3-prong folder or notebook for safe-keeping.

Then your kids can pull the folder out anytime they want to review or revisit what they’ve learned in this Literature and STEM How the Grinch Stole Christmas unit study.

If your students complete all of the lessons and activities in this unit, it will take most of the month of December.

In the Grinch Christmas unit study, your elementary students will not only complete many different Language Arts activities, but they will also complete STEM activities and learn about caves, the human heart, reindeer, the history of many symbols, music, and traditions of the Christmas season.

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Grinch Christmas Unit Study Lessons & Activities

Language Arts

Grammar & Copywork

Print out the Grinch Copywork pages which use quotes from the book for Charlotte Mason style grammar: narration and copywork (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop). These can also be found in the Free Resource Library under the Grinch Unit Study.

Metaphors & Similes:

The Grinch book along with the original cartoon’s song, You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch, compare the fuzzy mean green one to a lot of unsavory things. Learn the difference between a metaphor and a simile to include comparisons in your own writings. Use these videos to help you: Metaphors and Similes

Then have your students complete the Mean Green One Metaphors and Similes worksheet (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop).

Literary Analysis

Use this video from Miss Dexter Online Teaching (for younger kids) or this one from Samantha Clair (for older kids) to learn how to identify the elements of a plot.

Then, have your kids complete the Plot Summary Worksheet using the Grinch story. These can also be found in the Free Resource Library. Look under Individual Worksheets > Language Arts

Next, you and your kids should watch both movies, A Christmas Carol and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. My family (even the teens) prefer the Muppet Christmas Carol and the cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas versions of the movies.

Then, after your kids have watched both A Christmas Carol and How the Grinch Stole Christmas movies, let your students compare and contrast the main character (The Grinch) in the story with the main character (Scrooge) of the story A Christmas Carol using this Character Comparison worksheet (also included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop). These can also be found in the Free Resource Library. Look under Individual Worksheets > Language Arts

Phonics

Let your younger kids work on rhyming words (rhyming is an essential part of learning to read). Use these Grinch Rhyming Word Cards to play a memory game while working on phonics and vocabulary.

Reading Comprehension

Use the Grinch Reading Comprehension Worksheet to see how many details you kids remember from the book (also included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop).

Real-life Writing

Write a “Thank You” letter to the Grinch to thank him for returning the Christmas decorations and gifts. Use the printable Friendly Letter to the Grinch found in the Free Resource Library. (also included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop)

Fun Art Activities

Learn how to draw the Grinch with this easy tutorial from Art Projects for Kids.

Create a Grinch hand-print craft with these instructions from Simple Everyday Mom.

Make some salt-dough Grinch-inspired ornaments with Kitchen Counter Chronicles.

Make Grinch Trees with pipe cleaners following instructions from Mommy Made That.

Coloring Pages for the Grinch story at Coloring Only.

Social Studies

Christmas Symbols

Using the Christmas symbols books, look up the history of:

Christmas carols

bells, stockings

Christmas trees

Advent candles

mistletoe.

Have your students use the Christmas Symbols notebooking paper to record what they’ve learned (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop).

Next, let your kids find out when the exchanging of gifts at Christmas first began. Have them use the Gift Giving Notebooking Page (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop) to answer these questions:

• “What is the main reason we give gifts?”
• “When did the tradition of exchanging gifts begin?”
• “Can you think of other reasons we give gifts to each other?”

Christmas Customs

The Grinch story gives an overview of how Americans celebrate Christmas (and the commercialism of Christmas).

But how do other countries celebrate Christmas? What traditions do they have that are different from the United States?

Use the notebooking pages for Germany, Italy, and France, or another country you’d like to study to write the answers to these questions (Printables for 7 countries, in 3 levels included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop)

Alternatively, you could use the Christmas Customs Around the World Lapbook instead of the notebooking pages. Find more resources for your research in the Christmas Around the World notebooking post.

Science

Caves

Print out the mini cave books and use them to answer the following questions (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop).

You can use World Atlas online or Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons OR Limestone Caves by Roy Gallant OR check out the many resources listed for the Caves Notebooking Pages

1. How Are Caves Formed?
2. What kinds of creatures live in caves?
3. What kinds of rock formations are found in caves?
4. What kind of climate does a cave have?
5. Who has become famous for exploring caves?
6. What kind of tools do people use to explore caves?

Complete one or all of the following activities about caves.

• Create your own stalactites and stalagmites with one of these methods: baking soda; washing soda; or epson salts
• Watch how caves are formed with Free School
• Learn about the biology of caves in the Ozarks
• Discover 10 of the most amazing caves on Earth with Earth Titan
• Visit a sporting goods store that carries spelunking tools.
• Find a cave in your area to explore.
• You and your older kids can learn about the time debate of cave formations between Young Earth and Old Earth scientists at Answers in Genesis
• Follow along with Brave Wilderness as they go spelunking through a cave in West Virginia to find an elusive salamander.
• Write down what you’ve learned about caves on a notebooking page

The Heart

Watch Operation Ouch to learn some amazing facts about the human heart.

Watch this video from Wise Wonders to learn how to construct your own working model of the human heart and then make your own model.

Complete these worksheets to record what you’ve learned. Use the recommended resources listed on the Human Heart pages. (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop)

• Human Heart Notebooking Pages
• Label the Human Heart Worksheet

Your kids may also want to craft a Scandinavian woven felt heart with these easy Felt Valentine Hearts instructions.

Reindeer

Use the Reindeer Facts and Notebooking Pages to write down information you’ve learned about reindeer (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop). There are resources listed on the Reindeer post.

Your younger kids will probably want to make a pair of antlers like the Grinch’s dog wears. Use these printable reindeer antlers.

Dogs

If you’d like to go down a rabbit trail and learn more about Dogs (and their care, anatomy, history, and training), complete this Dog Lapbook.

Or just use the resources and Dog notebooking printables from this Dogs & Their Stories Notebooking post to share what you’ve learned about pet dogs (included in the Grinch products in the HHO Shop).

Grinch STEM

Make your own Grinch Glitter Slime with these easy-to-follow directions at My Joy-Filled Life

Grow the Grinch’s Heart with Creative Family Fun

Pile gifts on the Grinch’s sleigh with Lemon Lime Adventures

Early learners can work on estimating with this activity at A Little Pinch of Perfect

Practical Arts

Bake some green Grinch cookies with XOXO Bella Or try these super cute Grinch cookies with hidden kisses (and non food coloring alternatives) from Spaceships and Laserbeams

Try Who Pudding with this recipe from Seussville or a non-dairy version here. If you are feeling adventuresome, try a gingerbread, sugar cookie, or peppermint mocha infused Who-pudding at InLiterature.

Or perhaps you’d like a (mostly) healthier option? Try the Grinch Fruit Kabobs from Heavenly Recipes

Make a few Grinch ornaments with Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Create a Grinch heart with just a paper plate and yarn at Non-Toy Gifts

Music

Listen to Faith Hill sing Where Are You Christmas? (from the live-action movie version of the book)

Sing-along to the Grinch song

Listen to the original Grinch song sung by Thuri Ravenscroft

Enjoy some of the music of How the Grinch Stole Christmas from the musical, or the original 1966 cartoon.

Bells are used in the soundtrack of the cartoon. So next we’ll check out some examples of bell choirs and their distinct sounds.

• A fun version of Jingle Bells with the Enchantment Bell Choir
• Simple Sounds Christmas Concert High School Bell Choir

Add Even More Fun to Your Grinch Christmas Unit Study

Magna-Tiles The Grinch Toys

How The Grinch Stole Christmas Plush Grinch and Book Gift Set

Dr. Seuss The Grinch 9″ Soft Plush Toy

CLUE Game: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Funko Pop! Dr. Seuss – Grinch Grow Your Heart Card Game

Watch The Man Who Invented Christmas about Charles Dickens’ life as he wrote the famous novella.

Stay in the “real” Grinch’s cave in Utah.

Have you ever wondered if Dr. Seuss had a particular reason for writing the Grinch story? If so, you’d be correct. Learn why he wrote it here.

Download your copy of the How the Grinch Stole Christmas Unit Study from HHO Shop. There are 2 different versions available: “Just the Printables” and the Complete Bundle that includes ALL RESOURCE LINKS, BOOK RECS, FULL INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PRINTABLES.

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