Elves - A Great Theme for Literacy Activities

In 2003, the live-action comedy Elf debuted in the movie theaters! Now it has become a cult classic and must-see each Christmas season! It has a very clever concept and Will Ferrell dressed as a giant elf is so visually funny that just looking at the movie poster makes me laugh. And who doesn’t know about that ol’ Elf on the Shelf? Wow, the pressure to move that little guy around every night and creating clever scenarios for him has become a little much for some busy moms! Sure, Pinterest is loaded with ideas but still…..some of them require a bit of work! I did incorporate a classroom Elf who reported back to Santa about all the fun activities the children did during the school day. He simply changed location around the room each night….nothing elaborate. The children had fun trying to locate him every morning!

It’s fun to do Elf activities in your classroom! Students can be Santa’s helpers by writing Christmas cards and crafts for people in retirement homes, writing letters to our military men and women overseas, and generally helping out during the month of December by being “helpful elves”. Here are some of our favorite Elf Literacy learning activities that will help with your Elf Theme this year.

TRICKY Elves- Our most Popular Game Format

Tricky Elves is our most popular game format. This super fun and exciting game play will have your students begging to play it over and over again. Check out our short video, Tricky Robots (and FREE Game) to see how easy it is to learn this game. Click TRICKY ELVES to see this elf-themed literacy game.

A Song about Elves – Santa’s Helpers

Santa’s Helpers is a song we wrote sung to the tune, London Bridge is Falling Down. Cute clipart illustrates the songbook and and mini-movie has the pages of the book turning while we sing the lyrics. Your class will be singing along in no time! Click SANTA’S HELPERS SONG to see this one at our JK SIngables store.

Santa’s Helpers GAME- CVC Words

There is a Phonics Path Game that goes along with the song above. 45 Short Vowel words are read from the cards as players move along the path. EDITABLE card are included so ANY words can be added that your students need to study. Find it here at SANTA’S HELPERS GAME. P.S. It’s a DOLLAR DEAL!!

How about another fun learning game? Elf Surprises Roll and Cover

This is a low-prep game that is super easy to play. Simply print either the colored or Black/white versions of the game mats and laminate for durability or place inside a clear plastic protector. Players roll a die, read the word in that column, and place their colored “chip” on that word. Play moves UP the columns. First player to place a chip of their color on the top word in any column is the winner! 6 game mats are included so 36 words are practiced. EDITABLE versions of both the colored and black/white mats are also included. Click ELF SURPRISES to find this game at our TPT store.

Elves- Word Families Words Path Game – Candy Cane Shop

Elve are scurrying around the North Pole looking for candy canes to stock their Candy Cane Shop in this fun game. Another easy to prep! Just print and cut out the word cards. The cards have Long A with Silent E word families on them like –ate, ave, ane, ade, etc. If your students aren’t at that instructional level, then insert whatever words they need to practice on the included EDITABLE cards and off you go…ready to play! There are Go Ahead and Go Back cards for exciting play. Players simply roll one die, move that many spaces, turn over a card, and read it. Of course, if they have difficulty reading the word a helpful “elf” adult will be there to guide them to success! ClIck CANDY CANE SHOP for this great game.

Here’s a FREEBIE for you

Here is another easy song sung to the tune, Are You Sleeping (AKA Frere Jacques). It has a colorful song chart and 2 versions of a Take-Home song chart. One has an elf to color and the other version has a space for students to draw themselves as an elf. A cute and easy craftivity is included as well as a mini writing book where students can write all the ways they will be helpful this year! Click LET ME BE YOUR HELPFUL ELF to download this FREEBIE at our JK SINGABLES store.