Holly & Ivy

Join us as we adventure with Holly & Ivy in the wintry village of Appleton. Get ready to hop on a train ride, learn about owls, explore wintery scenes by world-famous artists, test your senses with Christmas spices, experiment with pinecones, and experience a British Christmas!

The Bookish Christmas School was designed for your family to use during the three weeks leading up to Christmas. My hope is that this guide will provide a relaxed approach to Christmas School that helps your family connect, explore, and enjoy without being overwhelmed.

This guide includes an optional chapter book read-aloud of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Recommended for 4-12 year olds. 

Included in this guide:

• How to Use This Guide
• Monthly Review for planning a peaceful homeschool
• Christmas School Awaits Guide
• Book List Menu
• Weekly Overview Plans
• Daily Plans
• Christmas Journals for 3 grade levels (preschool, lower elementary, upper elementary) that include:  coloring page cover, copywork passages (Letter Sheets for preschool), experiment sheets, movie review sheets
• Printable train tickets, address labels, and Christmas jokes for activities

Adventures by week:

Week One

• Nature Study: Owls
• History: Christmas Trains
• Art: Train in the Snow by Monet
• Movie: The Polar Express

Week Two

• Nature Study: Christmas Spices
• History: Christmas Spices
• Art: The Getaway by Horace Pippin
• Movie: Jingle Jangle

Week Three

• Nature Study: Pine trees
• History: Christmas in England
• Art: The Starry Night by van Gogh
• Movie: A Little Princess

Religious Note: While not explicitly Christian, the story is rich with spiritual overtones—set at Christmastime and steeped in themes of hope, longing, and the quiet fulfillment of heartfelt wishes. It evokes the spirit of the season and the idea of unseen providence gently guiding people toward love and belonging. This guide includes optional daily Scripture readings that tell the Christmas story of Jesus's birth, but the activities in the guide are secular, focusing on universal holiday themes.

This is a digital product; no physical item will be shipped.