At the Early Excellence Project, we believe in the power of books to inspire joy, creativity, and meaningful learning moments for children. This holiday season, we’re excited to feature Santa's Gotta Go! by Derrick Barnes. This festive story follows Santa as he finishes his Christmas Eve duties and embarks on an unforgettable journey to spread holiday cheer in surprising ways.
Through humor, vibrant illustrations, and heartwarming moments, this book provides opportunities for little learners to explore themes of generosity, gratitude, and the magic of the holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you'll find valuable character development lessons that resonate universally, making it a meaningful read for every family.
In this post, we’ll share literacy lessons to spark fun and creativity while supporting your child’s reading and comprehension skills.
Holiday-Themed Vocabulary
The playful language in Santa’s Gotta Go! introduces children to words and phrases associated with the holiday season. As you read, pause to highlight new vocabulary like "sleigh," "jolly," or "celebration." Try these fun activities to build your child’s vocabulary:
Picture Match: Ask your child to point out illustrations that match the new words.
Act It Out: Encourage your child to act out or describe the meaning of each word in their own way.
Word Jar: Create a “holiday word jar” where your child can collect new words and revisit them throughout the season.
This interactive approach makes learning new words engaging and memorable!
Sequencing Santa’s Adventures
The story follows Santa on his exciting post-Christmas journey. Use the book to teach your child about sequencing by discussing the order of events:
After reading, ask your child to recall what Santa did first, next, and last.
Use simple prompts like, “What happened after Santa delivered the presents?”
For younger learners, draw pictures of the key events and have them place them in order.
Sequencing activities help children build comprehension and narrative skills while encouraging attention to detail.
Exploring Generosity and Gratitude
One of the central themes of Santa’s Gotta Go! is the joy of giving and sharing. After reading, take time to discuss the following questions with your child:
“How does Santa show generosity in the story?”
“Why is it important to share with others?”
“What are some ways we can spread joy like Santa?”
Follow up with a creative activity:
Generosity Jar: Help your child decorate a jar and fill it with ideas for kind acts, such as making a holiday card, sharing toys, or donating to a food drive.
Thank You Notes: Encourage your child to write or draw thank-you notes for family members, teachers, or friends to show gratitude during the holiday season.
These conversations and activities encourage empathy and kindness, both key elements of early social-emotional learning.
Sharing Gratitude Through Video
A wonderful way to extend the themes of Santa’s Gotta Go! is by helping your little learner express gratitude in a modern, creative way. Using a smartphone, guide your child to record a short video message to share with family and friends. Here's how:
Prepare the Message: Ask your child to think of a few things they’re grateful for this holiday season. For example, they could thank a grandparent for a special gift, share something they love about a family tradition, or simply wish someone a happy holiday.
Practice Makes Improvement: Help your child practice what they’d like to say, keeping the message short and sweet. Encourage them to use expressive language and share their personality!
Record the Video: Find a festive spot in your home to record the message. Use simple props, like holiday decorations or a favorite stuffed animal, to make it fun.
Share the Cheer: Once the video is ready, help your child send it via text or email to family and friends.
This activity reinforces the themes of gratitude and connection while introducing your little learner to the power of digital storytelling. It’s a heartfelt way to spread holiday cheer and stay connected with loved ones.
Rhyme and Rhythm Fun
Derrick Barnes uses playful rhymes and rhythmic text to make Santa’s Gotta Go! an engaging read-aloud experience. Use the rhyming text to boost phonological awareness:
Rhyme Hunt: Ask your child to listen for rhyming words as you read and repeat them aloud together.
Make Your Own Rhymes: Challenge your child to come up with their own rhymes inspired by the story. For example, “Santa’s on the go, spreading joy like snow!”
Clap It Out: Clap along with the rhythm of the text to help your child feel the beat and patterns of the words.
These activities make reading fun while building essential pre-reading skills.
Spread the Holiday Spirit
Santa’s Gotta Go! by Derrick Barnes is a delightful story that reminds us all of the joy in giving and sharing during the holiday season. Through these literacy lessons and activities, your little learner can develop key reading skills, practice generosity, and make meaningful connections with the story’s themes.
We hope this post inspires joyful moments with your little learners. From all of us at the Early Excellence Project, happy holidays and happy reading!
Looking for more ways to nurture your child’s love of learning? Check out other blog posts from our Literacy Lessons for Little Learners series, featuring books like
Stay tuned for next month’s book feature, and as always, thank you for joining us in fostering a love of literacy!
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