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10 Engaging Writing Activities for Middle School ELA After Thanksgiving Break


 The stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break can be tricky in the middle school ELA classroom. Students are buzzing with holiday energy, yet there’s still plenty of room for creativity and learning. Here are ten writing activities that will keep your students engaged during this festive season. Whether you want to lean into the holiday theme or keep it more general, these ideas are sure to inspire!

Holiday-Themed Writing Ideas

  1. What’s in the Stocking?
    Students imagine what a favorite literary character would find in their holiday stocking. What would Auggie from Wonder receive—perhaps a pair of astronaut socks or a new book? What about Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables—a new notebook for her vivid imagination? This activity encourages students to think critically about characters and their traits.

  2. Holiday Traditions Around the World
    Assign students to research a unique holiday tradition, such as Iceland’s “Yule Book Flood,” and write an informational essay. To make it creative, they could write from the perspective of a book-loving Icelandic teen excitedly unwrapping their book on Christmas Eve!

  3. Letter to Santa as a Literary Character
    What would Ebenezer Scrooge ask Santa for—a second chance or something sentimental like a new pair of slippers? Or maybe Harry Potter is writing, requesting a spellbook to help him ace his next Defense Against the Dark Arts exam. Let students put themselves in the shoes of their favorite characters to craft these imaginative letters.

  4. The 12 Days of… Writing Challenge
    Students reimagine the classic “12 Days of Christmas” with their own theme. What might Percy Jackson’s “12 Days of Camp Half-Blood” look like? Or what about The Giver’s dystopian twist on the song? Encourage creativity with poem, song, or story formats!

  5. Grinch-Inspired Persuasive Writing
    In this activity, students write a persuasive letter to the Grinch, convincing him to embrace the holiday spirit. Maybe Max the dog would beg him to think about how much happier he’d be, or Cindy Lou Who could remind him of the true meaning of community and kindness.

Non-Holiday Writing Ideas

  1. End-of-Year Reflection Journals
    Encourage students to reflect on their favorite books, lessons, or personal growth. For example, if they loved reading Stargirl, they might write about how they learned to celebrate individuality or kindness. A letter to their future selves could include advice they’ve learned, such as “Be bold, like Katniss Everdeen!”

  2. If I Were in Charge of Winter Break
    Students write a creative narrative about their dream winter break. Maybe they imagine joining Lina and Doon from The City of Ember as they explore a mysterious underground world—or building snowmen with Olaf in Arendelle!

  3. Snow Day Survival Guide
    Students craft a guide for surviving—or thriving—on a snow day. For example, “What Would Jonas Do on a Snow Day?” could highlight how the protagonist from The Giver might enjoy discovering snow for the first time, from sledding to building snow forts.

  4. Middle School Magazine Feature Writing
    Assign students to write feature articles for a mock middle school magazine. How would Diary of a Wimpy Kid’s Greg Heffley rank holiday movies? Or what advice would Esperanza Rising’s Esperanza give about staying motivated through tough times?

  5. Plot Twist Challenge
    Take a story or novel you’ve studied in class and have students write a holiday-themed alternate ending or plot twist. For instance, what if the lottery in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery were replaced by a secret Santa gift exchange? Or how might the ghosts of A Christmas Carol appear in a different story, like The Outsiders?

Make Writing Fun and Festive!

With a mix of creativity, reflection, and skill-building, these writing activities will keep your middle school students engaged and excited during the busy lead-up to winter break. Whether you’re focusing on the holidays or keeping it more general, these ideas are a perfect way to end the semester on a high note.

Do you have a favorite writing activity for this time of year? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your ideas!


Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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