Holiday & Seasonal ELA Activities | Light Up Literature™

ELA Holiday & Seasonal Activities Hub

Meaningful reading, grammar, and writing resources aligned with seasons, holidays, and awareness months—ADHD-friendly and homeschool/classroom ready.

Seasonal Traditional Holidays School Year Milestones Meaningful Months

Seasonal

Fall

Fall Figurative Language

Explore metaphors, similes, and imagery with autumn-themed texts.

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Back-to-School Grammar Review

Start the year strong with this no-prep grammar warm-up pack.

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Fall Reading Comprehension

High-interest fall-themed nonfiction passages and questions.

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Winter

Winter Writing Prompts

Creative and persuasive prompts to inspire seasonal storytelling.

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Winter Grammar Practice

Practice commas, clauses, and sentence structure with a winter twist.

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Snowy Poetry Pack

Use nature to explore haiku, free verse, and imagery in poetry.

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Spring

Spring Poetry & Imagery

Use nature imagery and figurative language to level up descriptive writing.

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Earth Day Reading & Writing

Nonfiction texts + writing prompts that connect literacy and sustainability.

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Spring Grammar Stations

Low-prep practice with clauses, commas, and sentence variety.

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Summer

Summer Reading Boost

Short, high-interest passages to prevent skill slide over break.

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Summer Writing Prompts

Creative and reflective prompts perfect for journals or choice boards.

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Pre-Fall Skill Refreshers

Light grammar & reading review to ease into August/September.

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Traditional Holidays

ELA lessons that align with U.S. holidays and observances throughout the school year. Use them to boost seasonal engagement while teaching grammar, reading, and writing.

January – New Year’s Day & MLK Jr. Day

New Year Reflection Writing

Kick off January with meaningful goal-setting and grammar review.

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MLK Jr. Rhetorical Devices

Analyze persuasive techniques in MLK’s most famous speeches.

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February – Valentine's Day

Valentine Figurative Language

Explore poetry and figurative language in February fun.

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Literary Love Letters

Write in character from famous literary couples.

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March – St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day Symbolism

Explore symbolism and cultural traditions in Irish folklore.

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April – Easter

Easter Poetry Prompts

Celebrate renewal with nature-themed poetic forms.

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May – Memorial Day

Memorial Day Writing

Reflect on service and sacrifice with informative writing.

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July – Independence Day

Patriotic Writing Prompts

Celebrate American freedom with creative and persuasive writing.

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September – Labor Day

Labor Day Career Connections

Connect jobs and writing with real-world career-based ELA practice.

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October – Halloween

Dead Words Halloween Revise Writing Activity cover

Dead Words Halloween: Revise Writing (6–8)

Replace weak “dead words” with vivid vocabulary. ADHD-friendly, no-prep revision practice.

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Halloween Compound Sentence Activity cover

Halloween Compound Sentences (6–8)

Worksheet or interactive station work to master FANBOYS and sentence fluency.

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Halloween Complex Sentence Worksheets cover

Halloween Complex Sentences (6–8)

ADHD-friendly mini-lessons + practice to build clause control and varied syntax.

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Legend of Sleepy Hollow Mini-Unit (6–8)

Spooky classic with standards-aligned comprehension and writing tasks.

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Halloween Revise & Edit Stations (6–8)

No-prep stations for targeted grammar, usage, and clarity—great for movement.

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Halloween Sensory Language Writing Stations cover

Halloween Sensory Language Stations

Show-don’t-tell practice using vivid, spooky imagery to strengthen description.

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Simple, Compound, Complex Halloween Activity cover

Simple • Compound • Complex (5–8)

Pumpkin-themed practice building sentence variety and confidence.

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FREE: ADHD Parent’s Halloween Checklist

Plan the fun—avoid overwhelm. Family-friendly checklist for a smoother night.

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November – Veterans Day & Thanksgiving

Veterans Day Writing

Honor service with meaningful personal narratives or thank-you letters.

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Thanksgiving Sentence Building

Practice grammar and sentence fluency with themed prompts.

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December – Winter Holidays

A Christmas Carol Activities

Explore themes and vocabulary from Dickens’ classic.

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Holiday Traditions Writing

Encourage students to explore and share cultural celebrations.

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Meaningful Months

Month-by-month ELA lessons that connect with awareness themes, celebrations, and historical events to build relevance and curiosity.

January

New Year Writing Prompts

Inspire goal setting and narrative writing with a fresh start.

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MLK Speech Analysis

Practice rhetorical analysis with a civil rights focus.

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Winter Reading Passages

Engage reluctant readers with seasonal nonfiction texts.

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February

Valentine Figurative Language

Use Valentine’s Day to explore metaphor, simile, and more.

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Black History Biographies

Practice reading comprehension with inspirational leaders.

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Kindness Writing Activities

Connect SEL with ELA through thoughtful response writing.

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March

St. Patrick’s Day Grammar

Shamrock-themed grammar practice that builds mastery.

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Women's History Nonfiction

Explore influential women through informative texts.

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March Writing Prompts

Encourage creativity with spring and awareness-themed topics.

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April

National Poetry Month

Dive into figurative language, rhyme, and symbolism.

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Easter Story Starters

Use springtime themes for creative and narrative writing.

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Earth Day Reading & Writing

Incorporate science and sustainability in literacy practice.

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May

Mother’s Day Letters

Practice persuasive writing with heartfelt letters.

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SEL Writing Prompts

Support student voice and mental health awareness in ELA.

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Memorial Day Reflections

Engage students with meaningful writing around service.

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June

Identity & Voice Prompts

Use poetry and reflection to explore personal identity.

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Juneteenth Nonfiction Reading

Build historical context and reading skills together.

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Year-End Writing Projects

Wrap up the year with reflective writing that matters.

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July

Patriotic Writing Prompts

Encourage gratitude and reflection on freedom and voice.

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Summer Reading Boost

Prevent skill slide with quick, printable comprehension tasks.

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ELA Skill Refreshers

Prepare for fall with engaging grammar and reading warm-ups.

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August

Back-to-School Icebreakers

Welcome students with low-pressure ELA community builders.

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ELA Diagnostic Toolkit

Pinpoint skill gaps with back-to-school assessments.

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Organize & Reflect Pages

Support time management and writing through schedules.

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September

Labor Day Writing Activity

Explore the value of hard work through personal narratives.

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Cultural Heritage Biographies

Highlight Hispanic voices through engaging nonfiction texts.

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September Reading Pack

Use early fall themes to build engagement and stamina.

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October

Halloween Complex Sentences (6–8)

Build clause control and reading fluency with spooky-season practice.

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Halloween Compound Sentences (6–8)

FANBOYS practice with print or interactive options.

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Simple • Compound • Complex (5–8)

Differentiate quickly with scaffolded sentence-type practice.

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Halloween Sensory Language Stations

Show-don’t-tell writing that reluctant writers actually enjoy.

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Revise & Edit Stations (Halloween)

Active stations target common grammar and usage trouble spots.

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Legend of Sleepy Hollow Mini-Unit

Seasonal classic with comprehension, vocabulary, and writing tasks.

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Dead Words Halloween Revise Writing cover

Dead Words Halloween (6–8)

Upgrade bland words to precise, powerful vocabulary while revising.

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FREE: ADHD Parent’s Halloween Checklist

Prep for fun without overwhelm—great for home/classroom transitions.

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November

Thanksgiving Sentence Practice

Mix gratitude and grammar in seasonal sentence building.

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Veterans Day Letters

Reflect on service and practice letter-writing skills.

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November Nature Poetry

Connect fall themes with poetic forms and devices.

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December

Christmas Around the World

Compare and contrast holiday traditions across cultures.

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December Writing Prompts

Reflect on the year with engaging seasonal prompts.

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Holiday Grammar Challenge

Spice up grammar practice with December fun.

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School Year Milestones

Celebrate major moments in the school year with engaging ELA resources designed to spark reflection, reinforce learning, and reignite motivation.

Back to School

Back-to-School Grammar Review

Start the year with fun grammar practice tied to real-life topics.

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Reading & Writing Diagnostic

Assess student skill levels with fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

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Student Goal Setting Activities

Support student reflection and growth with engaging prompts.

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Mid-Year Reset

New Year Writing Prompts

Encourage personal reflection and narrative skills after break.

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Mid-Year Grammar Check

Revisit key grammar rules before diving into second semester.

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Reading Habits Reflection

Have students evaluate their progress and plan for growth.

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End of Year

End-of-Year Skill Pack

Review the year’s top reading and grammar skills with ease.

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Student Memory Book

Let students reflect and write creatively to close out the year.

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ELA Superlative Awards

Celebrate growth with fun, confidence-building award options.

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