Teaching ending punctuation can feel tricky at this age, but Christmas themed reading passages make the skill simple, fun, and meaningful. These Christmas Punctuation Worksheets for First Grade give students short, engaging stories and ask them to highlight the correct ending punctuation as they read.
The images below show exactly what’s included in this set of Christmas literacy worksheets for first grade.
Each passage is written from a child’s perspective and includes lots of natural opportunities for first graders to practice periods, question marks, and exclamation marks. With two differentiated versions—one with pictures and one with a drawing box—you can easily support a range of readers.
What’s Inside the Christmas Punctuation Pack
Here is the full list of passages included in this resource:
- Santa and his sleigh (with a helicopter surprise)
- Jan’s bedtime Christmas story
- Kids hearing Christmas carolers
- Picking the perfect Christmas tree
- Putting the star on the Christmas tree
- The Nativity: Jesus, Mary, shepherds, Wise Men
- Christmas in Australia
- Christmas in Brazil
- Christmas in Mexico
- Christmas in the Netherlands (Sinterklaas)
- Christmas in the Philippines
- Christmas in Sweden (St. Lucia)
- Christmas in the U.K.
- Decorating a Christmas tree as a family
The variety keeps students engaged and provides meaningful reading practice throughout December.
How to Teach Ending Punctuation with These Worksheets
1. Introduce Ending Punctuation with a Mini Lesson
Spend a few minutes reviewing the three main punctuation marks:
- A period ends a telling sentence
- A question mark ends a question
- An exclamation mark shows strong feeling or excitement
Tip: Use simple hand signals to keep students moving and help them remember the difference.
2. Model How to Highlight Ending Punctuation
Show students how to slow down and read with expression.
Action Step: Project one worksheet and model your thinking aloud as you choose the correct punctuation.
Why: Students learn to connect tone, meaning, and punctuation.
Tip: Circle tricky sentences such as those beginning with Do you…, Can you…, or Which….
3. Let Students Work Independently or in Small Groups
Each passage is short, engaging, and includes a fun Christmas story from a child’s perspective. Students highlight punctuation as they read, making this activity a great literacy center during December.
Action Step: Assign a passage based on reading level.
Why: The stories feel accessible and build reading fluency.
Tip: Use the differentiated versions so all learners feel successful.
4. Use the Passages for Oral Reading Fluency
Once students have highlighted punctuation, have them read the passage aloud.
Action Step: Partner students to take turns reading.
Why: Hearing how punctuation changes their voice builds fluency and expression.
Tip: Encourage students to change their volume, pitch, or tone when reading sentences with exclamation marks.
5. Extend Learning with Quick Writing Practice
Turn their reading into writing.
Action Step: Have students flip the page and write their own sentence using a period, question mark, or exclamation mark.
Why: Students apply what they learned in authentic writing.
Tip: Create a Christmas themed bulletin board to display their sentences.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If students highlight too quickly: Encourage them to read aloud once before marking.
- If they confuse periods and exclamation marks: Practice reading the sentence both ways and identify which makes sense.
- If they struggle with questions: Review question words like who, what, when, where, why, do, can, is.
Age Group Adjustments
- Kindergarten: Read aloud together and highlight as a class.
- First Grade: Independent or small group work.
- Second Grade: Quick warm-up, fluency practice, or center activity.
Quick Checklist for Teachers
- Print the passages
- Give students highlighters
- Model one passage
- Assign independent or partner work
- Add a writing extension (optional)
These Christmas punctuation worksheets for first grade make grammar practice simple, meaningful, and fun during the busy December season. Students love the Christmas themed stories, and teachers love the easy prep and targeted skill practice.
Purchase the Christmas Ending Punctuation Worksheets
If you would like to purchase the complete set of 14 Christmas Ending Punctuation Worksheets, click on either store link below.
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