Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten

If you’re looking for fun, hands on ways to build early reading skills during December, these Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten are the perfect addition to your literacy block. Each activity is designed to support essential phonics, vocabulary, writing, and reading foundations while keeping students excited and focused. Whether you are teaching in a classroom or at home, these Christmas themed centers make learning festive and meaningful.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post contains sample pages from my Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten packet. You can download FREE SAMPLE PAGES by clicking on the PHOTOS. To purchase the complete 117-page Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten packet, scroll to the end of this post for links to my online stores.

Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten: 11 Engaging Activities for December

Christmas Write and Wipe Alphabet

This activity gives children plenty of practice with letter formation using dry erase markers. Once laminated, the cards become a reusable resource you can pop into a morning tub or small group rotation. Students simply trace, erase, and repeat, giving them the consistent practice they need to build handwriting fluency.

Missing Letters Christmas Ornaments

This alphabet activity invites children to identify missing letters in simple sequences. Each ornament card includes one missing letter, and students fill in the correct one. This is a great center for reinforcing letter order and supporting children who are still strengthening their alphabet knowledge.

Christmas Clip the Beginning Sound

Beginning sounds practice is an important pre-reading skill. In this center, children look at each Christmas picture and choose the correct initial sound. They can clip the answer with a clothespin or circle it with a dry erase marker. It’s simple to run and perfect for early learners who need focused letter-sound practice.

Christmas Clip the Syllables

Syllable counting helps children hear the parts of a word. This center encourages learners to clap, tap, or gently say the word aloud before selecting the correct number of syllables. It’s a great way to build early phonological awareness during December.

Christmas Tree Word Family Sort

Word families help students notice patterns in spelling and reading. In this activity, children sort picture or word cards onto Christmas tree mats labeled with different word endings. As they sort, they begin to see how words belong together based on their endings, which supports decoding growth.

Christmas Stocking CVC Word Scramble

This CVC activity helps students practice blending and spelling. Children use magnetic letters or tile letters to build simple CVC words that match the pictures on the stocking cards. Saying each sound aloud before blending helps support strong decoding habits.

Christmas Reindeer Spin and Rhyme

Rhyming is a key phonological awareness skill. With a simple spinner and picture cards, children read a word, find a rhyming match, and build their listening skills. This center brings a playful twist to rhyme practice and works well in small groups.

Santa’s Sight Words List Scramble

Sight word recognition builds reading fluency. In this activity, children unscramble the letters to form familiar sight words from the Dolch Pre-Primer and Primer lists. After forming each word, they write it on the recording sheet. This is an excellent December center for reinforcing high-frequency words.

Christmas Sentence Match

This center focuses on early reading comprehension. Children read a simple sentence and match it to the correct picture card. The short, predictable sentences help young readers feel successful while growing their understanding of basic sentence structure.

Christmas Write the Room

Write the Room adds movement to your literacy block. Hang the themed vocabulary cards around the room, give students a recording sheet, and let them find each card and write the matching word. This center blends reading, writing, and active learning in a fun, seasonal way.

Label the Christmas Picture

This vocabulary activity supports early readers by helping them connect words to images. Children place the correct labels on each Christmas picture using Velcro or sticky dots. It’s a wonderful center for building confidence with simple holiday words.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If students rush through activities, shorten the rotation time and switch groups more often.
• If centers feel too difficult, assign them based on skill level rather than letting students choose freely.
• If writing becomes frustrating, allow drawing or letter stamping for beginners.

Age Group Adjustments

Preschool: focus on beginning sounds, simple vocabulary, and syllables.
Kindergarten: use the full variety of activities, including CVC words, rhyming, and sight words.
First Grade: increase independence by having students read sentences and complete more writing on the recording sheets.

Quick Teacher Checklist

• Print and laminate materials
• Add clothespins, magnets, or spinners as needed
• Display “I Can” cards at each center
• Demonstrate each task before starting rotations
• Keep extra recording sheets ready
• Rotate activities weekly for fresh engagement

Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten help make December both joyful and productive. By weaving festive themes into meaningful literacy practice, your students stay motivated and focused while strengthening reading foundations.

Purchase the Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten

To purchase the complete Christmas Literacy Centers for Kindergarten, click on either store link.

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