Stefanie M. Aliens Under the Mistletoe by EasyReadStories.com – 787 words
When a wobbling spaceship lands in Juniper and Orin’s snowy Michigan backyard, Christmas takes an out-of-this-world turn! Gleebo, Zorp, and Fizzix, three quirky aliens, have traveled across the galaxy to learn about Earth’s holiday. The siblings teach their new friends about decorating trees, wrapping presents, and Christmas dinner, while the aliens share their own hilarious and wacky celebrations from home. Chaos, laughter, and a sprinkle of galactic magic make this an unforgettable holiday adventure.
Aliens Under the Mistletoe – Additional Resources
This Christmas-themed activity pack is perfect for engaging kids in creative, educational, and festive fun. It’s ideal for classrooms, homeschooling, or family activities during the holiday season. The pack includes:
1. Question Worksheet
A set of comprehension and discussion questions based on the story “Aliens Under the Mistletoe.”
- Purpose: Encourages critical thinking and reading comprehension skills.
- How to Use: Teachers or parents can use this worksheet after reading the story to start discussions or as an independent activity to assess understanding.
2. Draw-the-Other-Half Symmetry Activity
A fun symmetry drawing challenge where kids complete the other half of an alien.
- Purpose: Develops fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and creativity.
- How to Use: Students can complete this as an art activity or quiet time task. It’s also great for pairing with lessons on symmetry.
3. Coloring Page
A black-and-white illustration of the aliens and children celebrating Christmas in a snowy backyard, ready for kids to color.
- Purpose: Sparks imagination while improving fine motor coordination.
- How to Use: Use this page as a relaxing creative activity or as part of a larger art project. It can also tie into discussions about Christmas traditions and creativity.
4. Christmas Traditions Around the World
A list of countries around the world with brief explanations of their unique Christmas traditions.
- Purpose: Teaches cultural awareness and celebrates diversity in holiday celebrations.
- How to Use: Use this resource to complement geography lessons. Kids can locate the countries on a map or discuss how different cultures celebrate special occasions.
How you can use the Aliens Under the Mistletoe Activity Pack
In the Classroom:
- Incorporate these activities into a holiday lesson plan.
- Pair the story with reading and art activities for a well-rounded festive unit.
- Use the cultural traditions list for a geography or social studies project.
At Home:
- Provide a mix of fun and educational activities to keep kids entertained during the holiday break.
- Use the question worksheet to spark conversations about the story.
- Create a cozy family reading session and follow it with the coloring and drawing activities.
Aliens Under the Mistletoe
It was a snowy night in Hollybrook, Michigan. Juniper and Orin were busy decorating the tree while their mom baked cookies in the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon and sugar filled the air, and soft Christmas music played on the radio.
Orin held up a shiny gold ornament. “Do you think Santa will like this one?”
Juniper rolled her eyes. “Santa doesn’t look at the ornaments, Orin. He cares about the cookies!”
Just as she said that, a strange green glow filled the living room. The ornaments sparkled, and the snow outside seemed to shimmer like glitter.
“What’s that?” Orin asked, his eyes wide.
Juniper ran to the window and gasped. “Something’s in the backyard!”
They both pressed their noses to the cold glass. A round, wobbling spaceship was landing on their snowy lawn, its lights blinking in every color of the rainbow.
The door opened with a soft whoosh, and out rolled, hopped, and bounced three very strange visitors.
“Greetings, Earthlings!” Gleebo said, his shiny round body wobbling as he waved a stubby arm. “We come in peace!”
Juniper and Orin stepped outside into the cold, their boots crunching in the snow. “Who are you?” Juniper asked, her breath puffing in white clouds.
“I’m Gleebo, and these are my friends, Zorp and Fizzix. We traveled across the galaxy to learn about your famous holiday—Christmas!”
Explaining Christmas
“Christmas?” Orin tilted his head. “How did you hear about that?”
“Our antennae picked up Earth broadcasts,” Zorp explained, blinking his Christmas-light eyes in a pattern that looked like a star. “We saw twinkling trees, delicious food, and shiny packages. We had to find out what it’s all about!”
Juniper smiled. “You’ve come to the right place. We can show you!”
She led the aliens inside, where the warm air smelled of cookies and pine. Gleebo spun around, marveling at the lights on the tree. “These glow sticks are amazing!”
“They’re not glow sticks,” Orin said. “They’re lights.”
Gleebo picked up a shiny ornament and sniffed it. “Is this food?”
“No!” Juniper laughed. “It’s just for decoration.”
Aliens Trying Traditions
The kids showed the aliens how to decorate the tree. Gleebo got tangled in tinsel and rolled across the floor like a shiny snowball. Zorp tried to hang a candy cane but ate it instead. “Mmm, this is fantastic! Why do you hang them up instead of eating them?”
“It’s part of the tradition,” Orin said, giggling.
Fizzix used his bouncy antennae to stick a star on top of the tree, then accidentally knocked it down when he started bouncing with excitement.
When it was time to wrap presents, Zorp thought the paper was the gift and tried to wear it like a scarf. Gleebo wrapped Fizzix by mistake, and the fuzzy alien laughed until his antennae glowed bright orange.
Aliens’ Wacky Celebrations
“What holidays do you celebrate on your planet?” Juniper asked as they sipped hot cocoa (which the aliens found strange but delicious).
Gleebo’s round body wobbled with excitement. “Oh, we have so many!”
Zorp blinked a pattern that looked like fireworks. “On Flip-Flop Festival, we trade shoes and walk backward while sprinkling glitter everywhere!”
“And during Blobfest,” Fizzix added, “we sculpt our favorite memories out of goo and display them in the town square!”
The kids laughed. “Those sound so weird—but fun!”
A Christmas Dinner to Remember
Juniper and Orin invited the aliens to stay for Christmas dinner. They sat around the table, which was covered in steaming dishes: mashed potatoes, green beans, and a golden turkey.
Gleebo poked the mashed potatoes. “Is this for face painting?” he asked, smearing some on his round cheek.
“No! You eat it!” Juniper said, laughing so hard she spilled her cocoa.
Fizzix tried cranberry sauce but accidentally bounced it onto the ceiling, where it stuck like a red star.
Despite the chaos, everyone had a great time, sharing laughs and stories.
A Galactic Gift
Before leaving, the aliens presented the kids with a glowing orb. “This will let you share your Christmas traditions with the galaxy,” Gleebo said.
In return, Juniper and Orin gave the aliens a small Christmas tree decorated with ornaments they made together. “Take this back to your planet so you can remember us,” Juniper said.
As the spaceship lifted into the sky, it left a trail of sparkling stardust. The snow glittered like diamonds, and Juniper and Orin waved until the glow disappeared.
“Do you think they’ll really share Christmas with the galaxy?” Orin asked.
Juniper grinned. “I bet they will.”
And with that, they headed back inside, ready to add “hosting aliens” to their list of favorite Christmas memories.
