One of my favorite times to teach how-to writing is during the holiday season. Kids are already thinking about traditions, decorations, treats, and all the little moments that make this time of year special. Because they’re so familiar with the topics, the writing feels accessible, meaningful, and really fun.
December is also a great month to revisit procedural writing skills. Students have grown a lot since the beginning of the year, and holiday-themed prompts give them a chance to practice:
- Using sequencing words (first, next, then, last)
- Breaking a process into clear steps
- Adding details that help the reader follow along
- Drawing and labeling to support their writing
- Planning before drafting
And honestly, the engagement is through the roof.
Holiday-Themed How-To Prompts Kids Love
Here are some festive prompts that work really well with K–2 writers:
🎁 How to Catch an Elf
A fun, imaginative prompt that encourages creative problem-solving. Students love designing “elf traps” and explaining exactly how they work.
🎁 How to Wrap a Present
A simple, real-world skill that students can easily sequence. You can model this one with an empty box and scrap paper for extra support.
🦌 How to Make Reindeer Food
This one feels magical, and it’s perfect for practicing steps in a recipe-style structure.
🎄 How to Decorate a Christmas Tree
Students naturally understand the order here, which helps them focus more on transition words and adding details.
🍬 How to Make a Gingerbread House
Whether you use paper templates or actual graham crackers, this prompt leads to rich vocabulary and really cute writing.
🎅 How to Get on Santa’s Nice List
A sweet, reflective prompt that ties in nicely with discussions about kindness, making good choices, and helping others.
Helping Students Organize Their Thoughts
Before asking students to write their final “how-to,” it’s incredibly helpful to have them plan their steps. A simple planning page or graphic organizer can make a big difference.
Here are a few ways to scaffold the planning process:
- Act it out first. Students rehearse the steps with manipulatives, pictures, or pantomime.
- Draw each step. Small sketches help students remember the order and details.
- Use transition word cards. Keep “first,” “next,” “then,” and “last” visible during planning.
- Discuss the order as a group. Especially for prompts like gingerbread houses or tree decorating, kids love debating the “right” order.
- Encourage complete sentences during drafting. Once they’ve planned, the writing becomes much more confident and organized.
Planning first helps students slow down, think clearly, and produce writing that flows logically — and it reduces frustration when they move on to their final draft.
Make It Fun and Festive
A few easy ways to make holiday how-to writing feel special:
-Add a craft or drawing component
-Let students share their writing with a classmate
-Turn multiple pieces into a class book
-Display them on a holiday-themed bulletin board
-Pair each prompt with a related read-aloud
December writing should feel joyful — not stressful — for both students and teachers.
Want All Six Prompts in Ready-to-Print Format?
If you’d like the planning pages, drafting templates, and all six holiday prompts in one place, I do have a pre-made set available. But feel free to use the ideas above and make them your own — the goal is simply to bring some seasonal fun into your writing block!
