One of my favorite books to read aloud to my 3rd and 4th graders at Christmas time is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It is a hilarious and heartwarming tale that centers around the Herdman kids—six wild, misbehaving siblings who take over the annual Christmas pageant in their town. The outrageous antics of, the Herdmans bring chaos and unexpected lessons for the characters in the book and tons of laughter from the kids in my room. Of course, the fact that it ends with touching moments for all involved makes it a feel-good read at a feel-good time of year.
If you are reading this classic along with me, here are a few ideas you can use to extend the story with learning opportunities and book projects.
Creative Classroom Activities
-
Create a Movie Trailer
Have your students create a movie trailer for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This activity combines reading comprehension with creativity and technology skills. Students can write scripts, act out scenes, and film their trailers. It’s a great way to bring the book to life and allows students to showcase their understanding of the story in a fun, visual way.
-
Draw a Map of the Church
Students can draw a detailed map of the church where the pageant takes place. They should label all the important spots where the Herdmans’ misadventures occur. This helps with spatial reasoning and recall of the story’s events or you can add complexity by including a few area and perimeter tasks. Plus, it’s a fun way to visualize the setting of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
-
Write an Epilogue
Encourage your students to write an epilogue for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. What happens to the Herdmans and other characters after the story ends? Using the same tone and tense as Barbara Robinson, students can extend the narrative and explore character development. This activity hones their writing skills and deepens their connection to the characters.
-
Rewriting a Scene
The sassy personality of the first-person narrator is one of my favorite things about this book, but what would it sound like if it had a different narrator? Have students pick a scene from the book and rewrite it from Imogene Herdman’s perspective. This exercise helps them understand point of view and character voice. It’s also a fun way for them to get inside the head of one of the most colorful characters in the story.
-
Character Diaries
Ask students to choose a character and write diary entries from their point of view. What are they thinking and feeling during the events of the book? This activity helps students practice empathy and character analysis while improving their writing skills. Grab this free trait-o-meter activity to jump start the diary entries!
-
Design a Pageant Poster
Students can design a poster advertising The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. They should include key details from the book and use their artistic skills to make it eye-catching. This activity combines art with comprehension and allows students to express their understanding of the story visually.
-
Group Discussion and Debate
Host a group discussion or debate about the themes of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, such as kindness, understanding, and community. Encourage students to share their thoughts and back them up with examples from the text. This fosters critical thinking and public speaking skills. The comprehension questions and reading activities in this novel study are perfect for sparking conversation:
-
Act Out Scenes
Have students work in groups to act out different scenes from the book. This can be done as short skits in front of the class. Acting out the scenes helps students with recall, and understanding dialogue, and it’s a lot of fun!
Bonus: If you are able to sneak a movie day into your last week before break, there is a 1983 made for TV film version of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever that is great for a compare and contrast activity. And I just saw that there is a new film version coming for Christmas 2024 starring Lauren Graham (any Gilmore Girls fans out there??).
By integrating these activities into your lessons, you can make reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever a dynamic and engaging experience for your students. They’ll not only enjoy the story but also deepen their comprehension and appreciation for literature through creative and interactive methods. Happy reading!