The January Smooth-Start Bundle
The January Smooth-Start Bundle:
A Ready-to-Go Winter Literature Mini Unit
Make January effortless, engaging, and completely stress-free.
Make January EASY!
Coming back from break is hard—for both teachers and students. Attention is scattered, routines need rebuilding, and you need something that is both meaningful and easy to implement.
That’s exactly why this bundle exists.
This Winter Inquiry-Based ELA Bundle gives you everything you need for a seamless, low-prep two-week mini unit that blends mythology, poetry, short stories, and critical thinking. And every resource is completely flexible—you can teach the full unit as designed or pull pieces individually for sub plans, skill lessons, extensions, or future units.
Whether you’re easing students back into reading and writing or launching January with a powerful thematic focus, this bundle will help you start the new year calm, confident, and prepared.
How will this make your life easier & provide great content for your students?
Ready-to-teach and fully flexible — Use the complete 2-week sequence for an engaging start to the new year or pull individual lessons, activities, and texts whenever you need a no-prep day or high-quality sub plan.
Built-in inquiry = built-in engagement — The guiding EQ, discussion prompts, and analysis routines ensure students do the thinking, not you. No extra planning required.
Seamless literacy integration — Students read fiction, poetry, world mythology, and nonfiction while strengthening annotation, analysis, and academic writing without teachers scrambling for supplemental materials.
Perfect for mixed-ability classes — Differentiation tips, scaffolded questions, and visually supported activities help you support ESOL, SPED, and gifted learners without creating separate assignments.
What's included?
1. Inquiry-Based 2-Week Mini Unit: “How Does Winter Reveal Human Nature?”
A complete winter-themed study that blends beauty, danger, folklore, and reflection—all grounded in one compelling essential question.
Students explore winter as both a symbolic force and a lived experience through:
“The Snow Fairy” by Claude McKay
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
The Japanese myth Yuki-Onna
Bonus winter texts (including “To Build a Fire”) for contrast and depth
A culminating one-pager requiring synthesis across two texts
Discussion prompts, close reading questions, and annotation-based activities for every piece
2. Two Bonus Non-Fiction Skills Refreshers with high interest articles your students will love.
3. Bonus Writing Warmups: Winter edition of Brain Rot Re-Writes, Show Don't Tell Writing Prompts, and more!
Want a preview? CLICK HERE!
Use the full sequence as a ready-made January unit or pull activities individually for:
Emergency sub plans
Skill review days
Small-group interventions
Poetry mini lessons
Folklore or mythology units
Thematic extensions anywhere in the semester
If you’re ready for an effortless January, meaningful lessons, and students who feel re-engaged after the break… this bundle is exactly what you need!
$10
$10