Christmas Nonfiction Reading & Assignments Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

Bring meaningful Christmas nonfiction into your classroom with this engaging reading and assignment set built around the famous 1897 editorial Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. Designed for late middle school and high school students, this resource pairs historical nonfiction with thoughtful reading, discussion, and writing activities. Students explore author purpose, tone, vocabulary, and main idea while also examining philosophical questions about belief, truth, and hope. With a guided presentation, activities, assignments, and a creative response, this lesson has everything you need.

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Background of Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus:

In 1897, eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon began to doubt the existence of Santa Claus after hearing from friends that he was not real. At her father’s suggestion, she wrote to The Sun, a widely read New York City newspaper of the time, believing the paper would tell the truth. An editor named Francis Pharcellus Church responded with an editorial that went on to become one of the most famous pieces of Christmas nonfiction ever written. His response addressed Virginia’s question while also exploring deeper ideas about belief, imagination, and the unseen forces that shape human life.

Included In This Christmas Nonfiction Reading And Assignments Resource:

➡️ Teacher Presentation: Use this 16-slide PowerPoint presentation to guide the lesson from start to finish. The slideshow provides historical background on Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus, context for the time period, prompts for each activity, and discussion questions that help students unpack the meaning and purpose of the text. This presentation keeps the lesson organized and supports whole-class instruction.

➡️ Pre-Reading Journal Response Activity: Students begin with a reflective writing prompt that asks, “How would you respond if a child asked you if Santa was real?” This activity activates prior knowledge, builds personal connection, and prepares students to think critically about belief and truth before reading the editorial.

➡️ Full-Text Reading of Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus: Share the complete editorial written by Francis Church so students can engage directly with the original Christmas nonfiction text. Having the full reading allows students to analyze language, tone, and structure while practicing close reading skills.

➡️ Vocabulary in Context Activity: The editorial includes advanced and unfamiliar vocabulary in Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. This activity helps students determine word meanings using context clues, improving comprehension. A detailed answer key is included for support.

➡️ Finding the Main Idea Activity: Each paragraph of Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus conveys a distinct main idea. In this activity, students identify and explain those ideas, strengthening their ability to analyze nonfiction structure and author purpose. A complete answer key is provided.

➡️ Post-Reading Creative Assignment: Students extend their understanding of Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus by writing a narrative that imagines Virginia’s backstory. Using inference and evidence from the text, students consider how her doubts formed, why she wrote to The Sun, and how she may have reacted after reading the response.

What Teachers Are Saying About This Christmas Nonfiction Reading And Assignments Resource:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a perfect gateway into a nonfiction unit. I was able to find a CBS Sunday morning video and a Macy's commercial to apply some background information and personal connection. It also got students to think about how to be nicer to others and be the older kids younger kids look up to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Presto plans are my go-to plans whenever I want to shake things up and get students excited. Great graphics and engaging activities to keep students learning. 100 % recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a fun Christmas reading activity that really stretched some of my tutoring students. I will be using it every Christmas season.

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