Episode 115

4 Ways to Make the Holidays Inclusive

Published on: 10th November, 2025

Holidays can be a magical time in the classroom, but they can also be tricky to navigate. In this episode, I’m sharing 4 practical ways to make your holiday lessons more inclusive, culturally responsive, and welcoming for every student.

You’ll learn how to celebrate the season while respecting the diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions your students bring to class.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to:

✅ Shift from “holiday parties” to cultural learning experiences

✅ Include global celebrations in your lessons

✅ Encourage student voice and family traditions

✅ Use reflection and connection instead of comparison


These ideas are easy to implement, low-prep, and perfect for upper elementary classrooms, especially if you want to build community and cultural understanding during the winter months.


Related Blog Post: https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/cultural-sensitivity-during-the-holiday-season/


Explore more classroom-ready holiday resources:

❄️ Winter Holidays Around the World Unit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801


🎄 Christmas Around the World Unit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832



Mentioned in this episode:

Social Studies Guided Curriculum

Easy-to-follow lesson plans and activities for social studies - just print and teach! The complete bundles for Communities, Texas History, and U.S. History are available. Click the link to learn more!

Learn more about the Smart and Simple Social Studies Guided Curriculum!

Get the Winter Holidays + Christmas Around the World Units!

Winter Holiday 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563801 Christmas Around the World 3-week Unit https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holidays-Around-the-World-Unit-Activities-Social-Studies-Mini-Lessons-14563832

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About the Podcast

The Social Studies Teacher Podcast
Social Studies Strategies, Tips, and Ideas for Upper Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Are you an upper elementary or middle school educator looking for simple strategies to make teaching social studies easier and more fun? This podcast is perfect for 3rd-8th grade teachers and parents who want to maximize their time and bring social studies to life in their classrooms!

Your host, Kirsten of The Southern Teach, is a mom and educator with over a decade of experience teaching in the classroom. She is all about simple and actionable strategies that result in wins, big or small.

Each week, she'll share a variety of tips on integrating social studies with other subjects, teaching accurate and culturally-relevant social studies topics, lesson and resource ideas, and more! Listen in for ways to make teaching social studies manageable, fun, and best of all - rewarding for both you and your kids!