Gift of the Magi by O. Henry — Short Story Film — 1980
Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg & read by Liam Neeson
Winter at the Boarding School
Snowed in at a remote boarding school during winter break, a group of students discovers an abandoned wing of the building. What secrets do they uncover?
”The Gingerbread Chase”
As you step off the school bus, you spot a gingerbread man racing across the street, frosting glistening and crumbs flying. “Catch me if you can!” he shouts before vanishing around the corner.
Where is he running, and why? Do you chase him or let him go? Write about the wild adventure that follows—will it involve a daring pursuit, a surprising ally, or a sugary mystery? Let your imagination run as fast as he does!
“Nightmare at the Hockey Pond”
Write your own version of this scene:
A group of kids playing hockey on a frozen pond suddenly gets an unexpected visitor. It can be a monster—or another mythical creature of your choice. Describe what the creature looks like, how the kids react, and what bizarre, funny, or scary thing happens next.
A Christmas Animal Story
The Christmas Day Kitten Read Aloud by James Herriot
The Little Match Girl [AUDIOBOOK] read by Ewan McGregor – GivingTales
Objective:
Optional Twist: Create a found poem by copying the words they choose into a fresh format, organizing them into poetic lines without altering their original order on the page.
Example from The Little Match Girl:
Here’s a small excerpt transformed into a blackout poem:
“Flames glowing,
visions of warmth.
The stars above,
grandmother’s smile—
peace in the snow.”