Science is all around us, explaining the mysteries of every part of life including Christmas. From the animals involved in nativity scenes to Christmas decorations, you can find resources for lessons throughout the season. Additionally, science lessons and activities revolving around Christmas help your students to apply science to everyday life. In doing so, your students increase their ability to remember what they learned.

Stargazing
Use the story of the Star of Bethlehem to tie together astronomy and Christmas. In elementary classes, teach about the brighter stars in the sky. In more advanced education, teach about the life cycle of a star. Also include instruction on meteors and comets, and how either one could or could not cause the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem.

Professor F.J. Tipler from Tulane University has tried to argue potential causes of the Star of Bethlehem, were it real. Tipler argues that a Type Ic hypernova or Type Ia supernova in the globular cluster of the Andromeda galaxy could explain the star's appearance.

Oh Christmas Tree
Combine the Christmas holiday with environmental science to teach about the hearty coniferous tree. Because they can withstand freezing temperatures, coniferous trees, or conifers, remain green throughout the winter months, giving them the name "evergreen." Whereas deciduous trees sprout leaves, conifers are identified by their needles.

When teaching your lesson on conifers, include the history of the Yule tree tradition, which stretches back to the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia, an agricultural holiday celebrating the god Saturn, according to the University of Illinois Extension.

Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh
Use the Christmas season to teach about different minerals. In its lesson plan, "Natural Resources and Your Christmas Tree," the Mineral Information Institute lists 26 different minerals used during the Christmas season, including sulfur, manganese and aluminum. For example, lessons could include information on copper's ability to conduct electricity among Christmas lights, aluminum and why it works for the Christmas tree topper, and the use of silica in creating Christmas ornaments.

For an advanced high school chemistry project, look at the chemical makeup of these different minerals.

Lighting Up Science
Use Christmas lights to teach a science lesson on electricity. Discuss the currents that pass through different types of Christmas lights. Compare the electrical structure of each type of light, discussing why some lights fail if one of the bulbs burns out. Talk about the heat and light generated from excess energy. At the end of the class, create a battery out of potatoes or lemons for the Christmas lights.