Activities on the video “Biography: Santa Claus” for Elementary

By November 1st, Santa Claus is everywhere, but you probably didn’t know that Santa wasn’t always the fat man in the red suit. In fact, Santa didn't get his iconic, jolly look until Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, drew him that way. Before the 1860s, Santa was represented as everything, from a jolly elf to a tall gaunt man. In central Europe, Santa was even depicted alongside the Krampus, a devilish figure who punishes bad children.

This enlightening video by the acclaimed History Channel, describes how Santa Claus took the form we now know due to the creativity of New Yorker cartoonist Thomas Nast. Watch the video with your students, with or without subtitles, and then do the activities that follow in this ebook. There are activities for all kinds of learners, especially the younger ones.

At the back of the book, you will find detailed Teacher's Notes with directions about the activities, as well as the Answer key.