Christmas Wordsearch

This is a 45 minute lesson, suitable for 5^th-6^th grade elementary students. It can also be adapted for use in junior and senior high schools.

Preparation

Print pictures for new words.
Print and laminate these cards for the card exchange game. (Print the pattern on the back of the cards to avoid students seeing through the cards.)
Print and laminate Christmas word search sheets. This file prints out in A3 size, and will be too small if you print on A4.
Print worksheets for each student.

Introduce new words:
Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, a sleigh, a reindeer, a present, a snowman, a stocking, a roast turkey, Christmas lights, a bell, mistletoe, holly.
What are you?
I'm a ____.
Card exchange game.
Each student is given one card and keeps it secret. Make pairs and both kids use target sentence. If the cards are different, the students exchange cards, say goodbye, then make a new pair. If the cards are the same, both students get 1 point and say goodbye. Students remember their score in their heads.
Word search
Students get in groups of 4 and janken to order themselves. Each group gets 1 word search sheet and each student gets 1 worksheet. As a group the students search for hidden words.
1. When students locate a word, student #1 brings the sheet to the JTE and points out where the word is. The JTE confirms it's ok, and crosses out the word at the bottom of the sheet with a white board marker.
2. Next the student comes to the ALT (who has one full set of exchange card game upside down) and chooses a card. The student looks at it (e.g; a snowman), puts it back and returns to his group.
3. All members of the group now trace over the letters "a snowman" on their worksheet. Then they search for another hidden word, and continue.
4. The winner group has the most amount of words on their worksheet traced over when time runs out.

In the Word search file there are many hidden words. Choose which words you want to teach and erase the others before printing.
If you laminate the word search sheet you can reuse it. Make sure to use white boards markers so you can erase the markings easily.
Students janken to order themselves before the word search activity begins. They should take turns bringing the sheet to JTE and ALT.
Play some Christmas music during the lesson to add to the atmosphere.