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Advent with OpenLearn

Updated Tuesday, 30th November 2021

Unveil the free learning treats hidden behind each door of the 2021 OpenLearn Advent calendar and discover some gems from the world of learning from throughout the year.

Countdown to Christmas!

We've chosen our favourite articles, games, videos, courses and interactives and as well as other festive fun for you to enjoy.

Share with #AdventOL

Each day until Christmas a new door will unlock, so just click or tap the numbers below to find a new surprise to explore!

What’s your favourite festive tune?

Dissect the structure and meaning of your favourite Christmas song with the free course Listening for form in popular music.

Day 1 door which has a graphic of an orange hat with a red border and two pieces of holly stuck out the top either side. There is a filled red circle and filled yellow circle that look like berries joining the hat to the holly.

1

Could it have been a meteorite the wise men followed?

Discover more about the magic of meteorites in this collection...

Day 2 door with a graphic of an angel floating. She has yellow hair and a blue halo with a blue band around her middle that has a yellow number 2 in it. The rest of her dress is green with a yellow border at the bottom.

2

Everyone loves a new book in their Christmas stocking

But is paper better than a digital version for our children? Find out in this article.

Day 3 door is a graphic of a brown robin with a red breast from a side view. The beak and tail of the robin are blue and the wing at his side is green with a yellow number 3 over it.

3

Will your gifts last longer than Christmas day?

Are they repairable, or built to be disposed of, as this article asks…

Day 4 door which has a graphic of a yellow hat with an orange border and two pieces of holly stuck out the top either side. There is a filled orange circle and filled red circle that look like berries joining the hat to the holly.

4

Feeling frisky under the mistletoe?

Find out whether your opinions on sex are the norm in this interactive...

Day 5 door is a graphic of an orange Christmas Stocking that has a blue toe area and heel with a red border at the top. There is also a blue layer and a green layer of pattern at the top of the sock, with green and white alternate dots.

5

Fancy an elf internship?

Interning in Santa’s workshop isn’t possible but there are other placements. Explore in our FREE course, Internships and other work experiences.

Day 6 is a graphic of a Santa hat with a blue number 6 in the middle.

6

The Christmas period can be a difficult time for some

Explore the free course Challenging ideas in mental health to find out how you can help.

Day 7 is a graphic of a bauble that's mostly dark blue with a red band with white stars on wrapped around the centre and a yellow line either side of this.

7

Dreading a political bust up over Christmas dinner?

Check out our Age of Offence films and explore the role offensive language plays.

Day 8 door is a graphic of a blue Christmas Stocking that has a red toe area and heel with a red border at the top. There is also a green line of pattern at the top of the sock, with yellow and white alternate dots either side of it.

8

Expecting lots of novels as Christmas gifts this year?

Explore our relationship with books in the free course What happens to you when you read?

Day 9 is a graphic of a red and white candy cane stood upright with the curved bit at the top. It has a blue looped bow on the middle.

9

Some of our Christmas customs have their roots in ancient Greece

Find out more about the language in our free course Getting started on ancient Greek.

Day 10 is a graphic of a blue had with a love heart decoration as it's bobble. There's a red border to the blue hat and a yellow number 10 in the middle.

10

Got your frankincense and myrrh, but need gold?

This interactive map shows you where to find it…

Day 11 door is a graphic of a snowman with a blue top hat and two blue buttons in the middle. It wears a red scarf and has an orange carrot for the nose.

11

Baby, it’s cold outside!

But did you know spending time outdoors can improve our mental health significantly? Find out more in this article, The benefits of outdoor green and blue spaces.

Day 12 is a graphic of an orange and white candy cane stood upright with the curved bit at the top. It has a green looped bow on the middle.

12

Christmas can be a test of endurance

Make sure you’re ready with this free course.

Day 13 is a graphic of a double bauble hanging downwards. The bauble is dark blue and green and there is a red snowflake image in the middle of it and some white dots across the blue band areas.

13

Did you know that Santa is 1,750 years old?

Perhaps he should check out our FREE course, Retirement planning made easy (and you can too!)

Day 14 is a graphic of a decoration of a star with a yellow heart in the middle. The star looks like it's made up of two stars with the top layer being orange and the bottom layer being dark blue, which only shows in the gaps between the orange star.

14

What’s the best ever Christmas number 1?

Discover how you could write a Christmas hit in this article.

Day 15 is a graphic of a Christmas decoration. It's of a red five-pointed star that has a white cirlce in the middle with a red snowflake on it.

15

Writing your cards with an international greeting?

Then check out our range of free language courses in our Open Centre for Languages and Cultures.

Day 16 is a graphic of a hanging bauble that's slimline and pointed at the bottom. The bauble is orange with a red sphere at the top, separated by a blue line and blue hanging area. There's a white circle in the middle of the orange decoration that has a dark blue snowflake on it.

16

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Are paranormal experiences real? Can being 'spiritual' help with the way you feel about death? Explore in our interactive.

Day 17 is a graphic of a red love heart decoration that has a green band around the middle with red stars in and white dots either side.

17

Feel like you’re over-indulging?

Get healthy in the new year with yoga. This article delves into its popularity.

Day 18 is a graphic of a hanging double bauble with a slightly pointed bottom. It's mainly white with two red stars in the iddle and a red ribbons at the top and bottom, and two blue ribbons in the middle with white dots on.

18

What’s your theory on the Christmas Star?

Comet? Jupiter and Saturn converging? If you’ve ever wondered how objects in space get their names check out our article.

Day 19 is a graphic of a dark blue love heart decoration that has a red band around the middle with yellow stars in and white dots either side.

19

Making Christmas gifts this year?

Maybe you could make a career from it! Find out more in this free course.

Day 20 is a graphic of a dark green bauble with a red band around the middle that has white snowflakes on it. There are white dots either side of the red band.

20

Driving home for Christmas?

Make sure you’re a safe driver (particularly on icy roads) and not driven to distraction in this interactive.

Day 21 is a graphic of a square green present with red ribbon.

21

Silver coin in your Christmas pud?

Do people have Christmas superstitions? This article explores why people are superstitious

Day 21 is a graphic of a rectangular red present with yellow ribbon.

22

Thinking of New Year’s Resolutions?

If you want a new career, promotion or to be a better manager, make sure you check out our Applying Psychology to Work hub.

Day 21 is a graphic of a rectangular yellow present with green ribbon.

23

It’s Christmas Eve!

To you and yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas. If you find yourself at a loose end in the next few days, why not try one of our FREE Courses?

Day 21 is a graphic of a square orange present with dark blue ribbon.

24

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