Christmas Movie Lesson: Learning Life Skills from Elf

Bring the magic of Christmas to your English classroom with this fun, movie-based lesson using Elf (2003)! Designed for grades 3–5, this 2-hour lesson helps students practice listening, speaking, reading, writing, and vocabulary while exploring friendship, kindness, and believing in yourself.

What’s Included

• Full 2-hour lesson plan (step-by-step)
• Printable student worksheet (vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and creative writing)
• Answer key for easy grading
• Discussion questions + creative art and role-play activities
• Vocabulary flashcard list (elf, toy, snow, candy, etc.)

How It Works in the Classroom

Perfect for:

• Holiday-themed ESL or ELA lessons
• Christmas parties or December sub plans
• Speaking and listening practice with real movie context

Students watch short scenes from Elf (or the full movie) and complete interactive activities:

• Identify characters and settings
• Practice describing feelings and actions
• Write or draw about their favorite scene
• Act out short role-plays featuring Buddy, Santa, and friends!

Standards & Learning Goals

This lesson supports:

• Vocabulary development (holiday and emotion words)
• Reading and writing simple sentences
• Speaking with confidence in group discussions
• Understanding character traits and feelings

Why Teachers Love It

• Engaging Christmas theme—students stay focused and cheerful
• Flexible format—works for ESL, ELA, or morning meetings
• Ready-to-teach—just print, play clips, and enjoy!
• Creative choices—writing, drawing, or acting keep every learner involved