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Christmas Around the World: Free Printable Guide for Year 4

  • ForYear 4
  • StageKey Stage 2
  • CostFree
  • FormatPrintable PDF
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Christmas Around the World is a free printable geography guide for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children read about six places and decide which traditions they would like to try. They then write their own comparison with how we celebrate. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and answers.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children read about six places, one row at a time. The table has three columns: Country, Tradition and I would try it? After reading each row, children write yes, no or maybe in the last column. Then they use the lines on the sheet to write their own comparison with how we celebrate Christmas. There is no single right choice. The aim is to read carefully, think and give a reason.

  • Country
  • Tradition
  • I would try it?

Why look at Christmas around the world?

Christmas is a Christian festival that marks the birth of Jesus. It is celebrated on 25 December in many countries, and some Christian traditions mark it on a different date. Many people who are not religious also enjoy it as a time for family, food and giving gifts. Because so many people share it, it is a good way into talking about how cultures are alike and different.

Traditions change from place to place. Food, music, decorations, gifts and the way families spend the day can all differ. Weather matters too. December is winter in the northern half of the world and summer in the southern half, so some people celebrate in the cold and others in the sun. Comparing places helps children see that there is more than one way to celebrate.

If you try a tradition at home, adults do any cooking, candle lighting or handling of hot items. Children can help with the safe parts, such as measuring, cutting paper with child safe scissors, decorating and tasting once food has cooled.

Did you know?

  • Many people celebrate Christmas Day on 25 December, but some Christian churches celebrate it on a different date.
  • In the southern half of the world, Christmas comes in summer, not winter.
  • The man who brings gifts has different names in different places. Santa Claus and Père Noël are two of them.
  • Christmas trees, special foods and songs are part of the celebrations in many countries, but the details change from place to place.
  • Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and people around the world also have many other festivals.

Skills and curriculum link

  • Reading facts
  • Comparing places
  • Cultures
  • Using a map or globe
  • Giving an opinion with a reason
  • Writing a comparison

This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.

Framework Subject or area Strand Year
National Curriculum (England) Geography Place knowledge Year 4

What children will be able to do

  • I can say how people in other countries celebrate Christmas.
  • I can compare it with how we celebrate.
  • I can find some of the countries on a map.

Ideas to help you talk about it

  • Same and differentAsk what is the same about every celebration, such as family, food or giving. Then ask what is different. Both answers matter.
  • Place and weatherLook at where each country is on a map or globe. Ask whether the weather in December might be the same as ours.
  • ReasonsIf your child writes maybe, ask what would make them say yes. A reason is worth more than a quick answer.
  • RespectDifferent does not mean strange. Encourage kind, curious words when talking about how other people celebrate.

Key words

  • TraditionSomething families or communities do again and again, often for many years.
  • CultureThe way of life of a group of people, including food, music, clothes and celebrations.
  • CountryAn area of land with its own name, border and government.
  • CompareLook at two or more things and say how they are the same and how they are different.
  • GlobeA model of the Earth in the shape of a ball. It shows where countries are.
  • CelebrateDo something special to mark an important day or event.

How to use it

  1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
  2. Read the first row together. Find the country on a map or globe before you talk about the tradition.
  3. Ask your child to write yes, no or maybe in the last column. Ask them why they chose it.
  4. Move on one row at a time. Then let your child write their own comparison on the lines.
  5. Check with page 2 and talk about it. Come back another day to try a tradition at home.

Help, stretch and game ideas

If it feels too hard

Find each country on a map or globe first. Read one row at a time and stop to talk about it before writing anything. Ask, "Do we do something like this?" Start with a row that feels familiar and come back to the others later.

To stretch confident children

Ask your child to research one more country and add a new row in the same style. They write the country, a tradition, and yes, no or maybe. Then they explain to someone else how it differs from our Christmas.

Make it a game

Choose one tradition from the sheet to try at home, such as making star lanterns or reading together. Adults do any cooking or hot items. Afterwards, ask everyone to give it a score out of five and say why.

Mistakes to watch for

Watch forA child writes only yes or no and gives no reason.

Try thisAsk, "What made you choose that?" Then write the answer down together as a sentence.

Watch forA child lists facts about one country but does not compare.

Try thisUse the words "same" and "different". Ask for one thing that is the same as our Christmas and one thing that is different.

Watch forA child thinks every country celebrates Christmas in the same way as the UK.

Try thisLook at the places on a map and talk about weather, food and customs. Point out that traditions change from place to place.

Talk about it

  • Which tradition surprised you most, and why?
  • What do we do at Christmas that might seem new to someone from another country?
  • What would be the same wherever you went?
  • Would the weather change how you celebrate? How?
  • Which place would you most like to visit in December?
  • How do you think people learn their traditions?

Take it off the page

Map hunt

Use an atlas or globe to find each country on the sheet. Trace a route from the UK to each one with a finger and say which are closest.

Star lanterns or paper decorations

Make a paper decoration inspired by one tradition on the sheet. Keep it to paper and card. Adults handle any lights, candles or hot glue.

Family traditions

Ask a grown-up or grandparent what they do at Christmas or at another festival. Write three things down and compare them with the sheet.

Who it is for

Parents

Sit with your child for the first row, then let them lead. Short bursts work well. Be curious rather than correct. If your family celebrates differently, that is useful to talk about too.

Teachers

Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It supports the Place knowledge strand of National Curriculum Geography at Key Stage 2. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

Home educators

Pair it with an atlas, a library book about festivals and a family tradition to try. It can be reprinted for brothers and sisters, or used again later as a quick revision of what was learnt.

Where this fits in

Before this sheet, children benefit from knowing their own Christmas traditions and from finding the UK on a map. Simple talk about how families celebrate at home gives them something to compare with.

After it, children can compare the UK with one place in more detail, such as in Italy Compared With UK. They can also build map skills with the capital cities games and test what they have learnt with the Christmas World Quiz.

Check it worked

Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.

  1. What is one way another country celebrates that is different from ours?
  2. What is the same wherever people celebrate?
  3. Which country would you most like to visit at Christmas, and why?

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Christmas Around the World for?

It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use the stretch idea to research more places.

Do children need to know the countries already?

No. Find each country on a map or globe together and read one row at a time. Locating the places is part of the learning, so there is no need to know them beforehand.

Are there right answers?

The yes, no or maybe column is a personal choice, so listen for the reason. Page 2 has notes and answers to help you check the facts and guide the talk.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas.

Is this a screen free activity?

Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children read, think and write by hand.

What if our family does not celebrate Christmas?

The sheet still works. Children read about traditions and compare them with something they know. That can be their own family celebrations or another festival. Keep the talk open and respectful.

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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.

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