- Mandi SLP of Panda Speech.
Alternative Holiday Themes for Speech Therapy
Updated: Aug 18, 2021

It is important to be sensitive to your students' holiday traditions, customs, beliefs, etc... The last thing I want to do is make one of my students uncomfortable with one of my lesson plan themes. The month of December is a time to be aware that all of your students may not celebrate the way you do! In my school, we do not have restrictions on holiday themes, I am free to use Santa, Christmas tree, or reindeer themes if I choose (and I often do). Sometimes I will have a student on my caseload that celebrates something different or doesn't recognize the secular symbols of Christmas. When this occurs, I come upon with alternative themes to make sure all of my students enjoy the activity. I wanted to share a few to give you some ideas too! For your convenience I have linked to blog posts, freebies, Amazon produces (affiliate), and Teachers Pay Teachers resources in each theme. I wrote a similar post about Halloween-----> HERE
Gingerbread!
This theme can be used with all students (just select materials that are not tied to Christmas necessarily). You can do gingerbread men lessons, gingerbread house lessons, or both!

Books to try:
Crafts to try:

Sensory Bin Ideas:
The Dabbling Speechie's FREE Gingerbread man sensory bin printables
FREE Gingerbread Man and Friends Sensory Bin by Ms. Gardenia's
Digital Resources:
Build a Candy House (Gingerbread House) Articulation BOOM Cards
Gingerbread Speech and Language Activities by Stacey Crouse BOOM Cards
Other materials to try:
Snowmen
People often associate a snowman with Christmas, but there are a ton of activities with this theme that are geared more toward winter weather.

Books to try:
+Snowmen at night Book Buddy by A Perfect Blend
Crafts:

Other materials to try:
Mrs. Snowman Awesome Articulation Sheets by Gold Country SLP
Winter Peg Boards by Ms. Gardenia's Speech Room (snowman included)
Digital Resources:
Snowman Digital Cotton Ball Craft BOOM Cards by Panda Speech
Mr. Frost Lost His Nose BOOM Book (just like that print version but on BOOM Learning) by Panda Speech
Snowflakes/Snowballs

Books to try:
The Big Snowball (Amazon). This book has pictures in the sentences (perfect for my language students). The version I bought on Amazon even has flashcards to go with it!
Craft Activities
You can make snowflakes by folding and cutting paper (google "paper snowflakes" for ideas)
Let is Snow! Articulation and Language Cotton Ball Craft by Panda Speech
Other Resources to try:
Snow Toss Open-Ended Game Mat FREEBIE by Panda Speech (Instant download)
Snowball Splat (Articulation and Language) by Peachie Speechie
Digital Activities:
Snow Speech and Language Interactive PDF by Stacey Crouse
Arctic Animals (Penguins/Polar Bears)

Books to Try:
+Ten on a Sled Book Companion by Speech and Language Pirates
Sensory Bin Ideas:
TPT Resources:

Make Your Own Feed the Animal: Penguin and Polar Bear by Ms. Gardenia's Speech Room
Penguin Language Games for Early Concepts by Natalie Snyders
Digital Resources:

And just for fun! You could do a YETI theme!

Game:
TPT Resources:
Yeti Inferencing and Vocabulary by SLP Runner Yeti for Speech and Language Thematic Pack by Sparklle SLP