Homeschooling in December: Activities for Every Fun Holiday
Homeschooling in December has a vibe all its own—some cozy moments, some chaos, and plenty of opportunities to learn together in between. And while Christmas tends to take center stage, the month is actually packed with all kinds of other holidays and observances that can spark interesting conversations and low-pressure learning.
From celebrations to winter traditions to just-for-fun national days, there’s plenty to explore without going full holly-jolly. Let’s dive in—here are the fun days to celebrate in your homeschool this December!
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December Homeschool Calendar: Fun & Quirky Holidays
Week 1 – December 1-6
- Dec 1 – Antarctica Day
Check out the book 24 Hours in Antarctica and explore what it really takes to survive on the coldest continent. Learn about the extreme landscape, the wildlife that calls it home, and the fascinating scientific research happening at the South Pole. Want to go deeper? Try an Antarctica unit study from Gather ’Round Homeschool! These weren’t around when I homeschooled my own kids, but they look seriously “cool.” - Dec 2 – Play Basketball Day
Shoot some hoops or invent an indoor paper-ball game. Perhaps you can up your game with ideas from this list of seven fun games! - Dec 3 – Make a Gift Day
We all have those “someday I’ll make this…” ideas saved somewhere—usually on an overflowing Pinterest board. Today’s the perfect excuse to actually pick one and make it! Choose a DIY project you’ve been meaning to try and turn it into a handmade gift. - Dec 4 – National Dice Day
Celebrate the day (without feeling like a math lesson), with one of our favorites – Tenzi – a fun dice game that encourages fast reactions and is very easy to learn. Be sure to grab the add-on card set, to incorporate even more fun and learning! - Dec 5 – National Blue Jeans Day
Did you know the first name for jeans was “waist overalls”? Check out more of the history of jeans and count how many are in your home. - Dec 6 – Chester Greenwood Day
Celebrate a bit of teen-inventor brilliance today! Chester Greenwood was just 15 years old when he invented earmuffs—proof that great ideas don’t have an age requirement. Read the younger kids a short bio about his life, and challenge your teen to sketch a winter-themed invention of their own. Who knows…the next cold-weather genius might be sitting at your kitchen table.
Week 2 – December 7-13
- Dec 7 – National Pearl Harbor Day
For a Pearl Harbor Day homeschool lesson, explore the historical significance of the December 7, 1941 attack, how it propelled the U.S. into World War II, and the ways it reshaped American society. The National Museum of the Untied States Navy has a fantastic free download. - Dec 8 – Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day
Usborne’s Time Traveler has been a beloved homeschool resource for years—and for good reason! The series takes kids through Knights & Castles, Viking Raiders, Rome & Romans, and Pharaohs & Pyramids in a way that’s both informative and genuinely entertaining. It’s history told with charm, humor, and tons of visual appeal! - Dec 9 – Christmas Card Day
Take a quick dive into the history of Christmas cards! The very first one was created in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole in England, and the tradition spread quickly thanks to the postal system. Look up early designs, compare them to modern cards, and maybe design your own historically inspired version. - Dec 10 – Dewey Decimal System Day
Turn the library into a scavenger hunt! Give your teen a list of Dewey Decimal categories and challenge them to find books that match. They’ll get hands-on practice navigating the system—and maybe even discover a few unexpected reads along the way. - Dec 10 – Nobel Prize Day
Celebrate big ideas and brilliant thinkers with the book How to Win a Nobel Prize (a favorite we carry through PaperPie!). It follows a curious student who travels through time to meet real Nobel Prize winners and explore their discoveries. After reading, challenge your teen to brainstorm their own “Nobel-worthy” idea—anything from a scientific breakthrough to a problem-solving invention. - Dec 11 – National App Day
What’s your favorite app? Is it helpful, fun, or both? Bonus: try a new app you’ve never used before and see what you think! - Dec 12 – Gingerbread House Day
STEM challenge: Try building a gingerbread house that actually stands. Experiment with angles, weight, and candy placement… and enjoy watching any collapses along the way. Full disclosure: I’ve never had much luck with these—so disasters are part of the fun! - Dec 13 – Day of the Horse
Draw or model a breed or learn a quirky fact! If you’ve got a real horse lover, check out The Ultimate Homeschool List for Horse Lovers from Not Consumed.
Week 3 – December 14-20
- Dec 14 – Monkey Day
Celebrate by learning a weird monkey fact, telling a cheesy monkey joke, or sketching your favorite primate. Snack on monkey bread or bananas… or just “monkey around” for a bit. - Dec 15 – Bill of Rights Day
It’s the perfect day to revisit one of the greatest classics of homeschool social studies: “I’m Just a Bill.” I remember watching it myself as a kid—and of course, I made sure my own kids saw it when we homeschooled (and yes, you’ll be humming it all afternoon). After the sing-along, dive into the actual Bill of Rights. Pick one amendment to research, debate, or connect to current events. - Dec 16 – Stupid Toy Day
Here’s a fun table topic to discuss at lunchtime! - Dec 17 – Wright Brothers Day
As an eastern Carolina native, I’ve actually visited the spot where the Wright Brothers made history—and it’s pretty amazing to stand where that first flight happened! If you can’t make a trip to North Carolina today, grab a book about the Wright Brothers and try your hand at building a few paper airplanes. See which design flies the farthest! - Dec 18 – Bake Cookies Day
Take a break from the books and call it a life-skills day: baking, kitchen confidence… and maybe a little chaos. Whip up a batch of cookies (or several) and practice measuring, timing, teamwork, and—of course—taste-testing! - Dec 19 – National Hard Candy Day
Hard candy has been around for centuries—early versions were basically sugar + heat, and used as medicine. Learn a bit about the history of candy-making, then try some candy kitchen experiments. - Dec 20 – Sacagawea Day
Map the Lewis & Clark route and research Sacagawea’s role. Perhaps you may want to try this free unit study!
Week 4 – December 21-27
- Dec 21 – National Crossword Puzzle Day
One of my teachers used to recommend “a crossword a day” to keep your brain sharp—and honestly, he was right. Try a daily crossword (digital or paper) and see how your vocabulary, logic, and problem-solving skills level up. - Dec 22 – Mathematics Day
Math doesn’t have to live inside a textbook. Today’s a great chance to try hands-on math that gets teens thinking, moving, and strategizing. A friend of mine wrote a fantastic post on outdoor math games for teens. It will be a great excuse to get outside, even if there is a chill in the air! - Dec 23 – National Roots Day
Trace your family history or cultural roots, or make a creative family tree! - Dec 24 – Christmas Eve
Read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’—or act it out for some laughs. Feeling creative? Write a short holiday story, or explore weird Christmas Eve traditions from around the world. - Dec 25 – Christmas Day
Celebrate your way! Open gifts, play games, feast, or just chill. - Dec 26 – National Candy Cane Day
I love seasonal science! Check out this Dissolving Candy Cane Experiment. - Dec 27 – Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day
Study symmetry and geometry while making intricate snowflakes. Compare designs and see who’s the “snowflake master.”
Week 5 – December 28-31
- Dec 28 – National Pledge of Allegiance Day
Here’s a terrific post from another homeschool blogger about the Pledge of Allegiance! Discuss things that you didn’t know together! - Dec 29 – National Pepper Pot Day
I’ve never heard of it, but apparently, it’s “The Most Famous Soup You’ve Never Heard Of”. Here’s an updated version of the recipe if you would like to give it a try! - Dec 30 –Bacon Day
A day to celebrate bacon? Count me in! While enjoying breakfast, share this fun fact from The Spruce Eats – “In the 12th century, a church in the English town of Great Dunmow promised a side of bacon to any married man who could swear before the congregation and God that he had not quarreled with his wife for a year and a day. A husband who could “bring home the bacon” was highly regarded by the community for his forbearance. Love it! - Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday! I always head back to my hometown and literally chase a Chinese dragon for good luck. (It works….probably.) Celebrate the last day of the year however your family rolls… even if that means pure, delightful chaos. Set a few goals, try a countdown challenge, take a look at how New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world, or create your own quirky tradition.
Want to make the countdown to Christmas actually fun for your teens? Check out my Advent Box ideas for teens! Each day brings a small surprise—creative, silly, or reflective—and yes, your teens will secretly love it!
And that’s a wrap on December’s mix of cozy, chaotic, and totally random celebrations! From gingerbread engineering attempts to history, candy experiments, and end-of-year fun, I hope these quirky days add a little sparkle to your homeschool this December!
Don’t forget — December also has some great famous birthdays to explore, and you’ll find those included on my printable. You can grab that free planning page on my website (about halfway down my homepage). It’s the perfect place to plan out activities, book picks, traditions, and anything else you want to squeeze into your December homeschool calendar.
I love to hear from my readers! Which days are you planning to celebrate?
I also love to share things from my fellow homeschool bloggers, so if you’ve written something yourself or come across something that would be beneficial to this holiday series, let me know!
