A Break from Classrooms But Not from Learning: Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Offers Tips for Continued Engagement Over the Holiday Season

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) leaders are reminding families that while classroom learning may be on pause during winter break, there are still opportunities for students to stay physically active and mentally engaged while enjoying the downtime away from school. The CPS two-week winter break begins December 23 and runs through January 3.

“The winter break is a well-deserved pause from the classroom to focus on well-rounded activities outside of school,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “We hope that families find time to recharge, connect with one another and, of course, continue to find joy in learning so that our young minds are sharp and ready in the new year.”

Classes resume across CPS Monday, Jan. 6. Below are some simple ideas for families to incorporate learning into the holiday season fun.

FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

• Count together – Whether you are running errands in the neighborhood or doing chores at home, children can count the world around them. How many holiday decorations do you see in the window? How many socks are in the hamper?

• Cook or bake together – If you are baking cookies or treats, involve your child in the process. Young children can help with measuring, counting ingredients, and forming the shapes. 

• Play games together – A family game night is a great way to bond and practice math and literacy skills. Some favorites for young children are “Hungry, Hungry Hippos”, “Go Fish” and “Don’t Spill the Beans!”

• Read books together – Reading books out loud helps your young child build their literacy skills. Take a visit to the Chicago Public Library to check out some books to enjoy together or peruse the digital collection. Remember, library cards are free for all Chicago residents.

• Hunt for letters together – Practicing letter recognition is easier than you think. Choose one letter and hunt for it on signs, in books, or even at the grocery store. How many times do you see the letter “L” on this page?

• Journal about winter break memories – Have the whole family create a written memory of the best parts of the holiday season. A young child can help by drawing the pictures and adding in their own favorite memories. 

• Write holiday cards or thank you notes – The season of gratitude presents many opportunities for children to practice their writing and literacy skills while bringing joy to others.

• Visit a public library or museum – For hands-on learning, families can take advantage of the city’s abundant libraries and museums, many that offer special holiday programming and free admission days for residents. 

“As a public school district, CPS plays a huge part in the daily lives of students and families, but we recognize that learning must also happen outside of the classroom,” said CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova. “We are constantly working with our community partners to ensure there is a collective effort to offer enrichment opportunities throughout the city, especially during times when students are out of school.”

Although schools are closed, families can find many free and educational activities around Chicago to make the most of winter break. Below is a list of resources for Chicago residents. 

FOR EAGER READERS

There are many literary resources available both in-person or online. Students can participate in winter break reading challenges, explore titles, find interactive activities at the Chicago Public Libraries or explore independently from home through virtual collections.

Chicago Public Library

Chicago Public Library is offering more than 140 in-person programs for kids and teens during winter break. These include board game drop-in play days, LEGO competitions and many kinds of arts and crafts activities across all CPL branches. Visit https://shorturl.at/64wEt to learn more and sign up with a library card or 81 Club Card.

For those who do not want to venture out, all CPS students have access to the District’s virtual library along with the Chicago Public Library’s virtual collection through CPS credentials. The directions can be found here. 

To find holiday reads, students can use Sora to browse Christmas titles, Hanukkah titles, and Kwanzaa titles. CPS students can find additional e-books using the CPS Virtual Library Catalog. Click here for instructions on logging in to the appropriate ebook reader.

Britannica

Britannica offers a number of resources, along with fun holiday activities:

1. The Winter Break Reading Challenge Blog: This challenge features a curated selection of books from library reading lists across the United States, offering a diverse range of genres and topics to spark curiosity and enjoyment.

2. Download these interactive calendars to access daily Britannica Education holiday fun all month long. https://britannicaeducation.com/resources#calendar

3. The popular “Supporting Newcomers and Multilingual Learners in Your District” edWeb recording is online now, and offers strategies that can help move multilingual students forward and upward.

Teaching Books

Students can explore titles, resources, and winter fun activities independently from home through TeachingBooks. There are video readings, audio excerpts, games, and craft ideas available here. CPS students can use the following sign in to access TeachingBooks resources. (Username: cps Password: cps)

Capstone PebbleGo

Winter Bingo and other resources for students, parents, and teachers are available here. Students can also access PebbleGo to explore fun topics independently at home by logging in with Username: cps and Top Secret Password: cps

MUSEUMS AND ART INSTITUTES

Museums and art institutes are a great way to keep young minds engaged. Many have special holiday programs, with some offering free admission days for residents. 

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences offers free admission days on Thursday, December 26, and Thursday, January 2. 

Chicago History Museum

Admission to the Chicago History Museum is free for Illinois residents ages 18 and under. Free resident days include: December 18; January 20–24, 28–31; February 4–7, 11–14, 17, 18–21, 25–28.

To learn more about history in the comfort of your own home, the Chicago History Museum has designed daily activities for kids, families and teens that promote learning of Chicago history, making personal connections with the city, encouraging family conversation, and fostering creativity. The History at Home challenges are available at https://www.chicagohistory.org/chicago-history-at-home-families/.

Field Museum

Families who visit will get the opportunity to meet a Field Museum scientist and explore science through play at the Crown Family PlayLab. The Field Museum will be free for Illinois residents on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Families who qualify for state food assistance can receive $3-per-person Basic admission for up to six people on all other days. Click on this handout for more information about the Field Museum programming and discounted admission.

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago Public Library cardholders 18 and older can log in at chipublib.org/digitalpasses to reserve free general admission passes to the museum through Explore More Illinois. Free admission is also available to current Illinois educators, including pre-K–12 teachers, teaching artists working in schools, and homeschool parents. Educators can register online to receive a voucher for a complimentary ticket to the museum. This voucher must be presented—as a printed document or on a smartphone—with a valid educator ID at one of the museum’s admission counters.

STAYING ACTIVE

For those who want to keep their bodies moving, there are opportunities indoors and outdoors to stay active.

Chicago Park District

Chicago Park District offers dozens of winter break camps across the city for a low price. Learn more and register at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/winter-break-camps/cps. 

Holiday events are also offered in parks, including visits and skating with Santa, live holiday music, dancing, making holiday crafts, and the annual holiday flower shows at Garfield Park and Lincoln Park conservatories. Learn more here: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/holiday-season/cps

Most outdoor ice rinks are now open. Learn more and register for skate sessions here: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/ice-rinks/cps

Lincoln Park Zoo

ZooLights runs until January 5. Most Mondays are free with registration. Tickets for each Monday are released one week in advance. Other nights cost $7-$10 per person. More details and the full schedule are available at https://www.lpzoo.org/event/zoolights/.

 

The Learning team is also running Winter Break Camp and registration for most age groups is $125 per child per day. Learn more at https://www.lpzoo.org/youth-programs/zoo-camps/winter-break-camp/.

SAFE HAVEN AND SAFE SPACES

Time away from school can create a void of resources for some families. CPS partners with faith-based and nonprofit organizations to host Safe Haven programs to provide all CPS students with additional learning time outside regular school hours. The full list of holiday hours can be found here. General questions about the program can be directed to the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives at 773-553-2500 or email faithbased@cps.edu.

As part of the City of Chicago’s Safe Spaces for Youth Series, students can join community partners for dozens of fun and exciting events across Chicago from December 21 to January 7. Download the My CHI. My Future. app or visit their website for complete details.

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