Meet David De’ Ath, founder, editor, and writer at Wonderful World English. With his extensive background as an English teacher, David provides valuable insights and practical tips on ESL for students and teachers alike.
The holiday season is a magical time, brimming with excitement and joy, and what better way to embrace this spirit than by bringing it into the classroom?
No matter the age or background of the students, Christmas presents a wonderful opportunity to have lots of fun while learning about this beloved festive period.
Our carefully curated list of ten Christmas-themed activities is designed to cater to students across various age groups.
Celebrating Christmas in the classroom can be enhanced with the help of these activities: Making cards or ornaments, writing festive stories, singing carols, decorating gingerbread houses, secret Santa, exploring global traditions, decorating a tree, playing themed games, and baking cookies. Each of these offers a fine mix of joy and learning!
These activities are not only easy to prepare but are also highly engaging, ensuring that learning remains fun and interactive.
From crafting festive decorations to exploring holiday-themed educational content, each activity is a unique blend of merry-making and learning.
They promise to spread the holiday cheer and enrich the classroom experience, making this festive season both memorable and educational.
So, let’s dive in and turn our classrooms into vibrant spaces of festive learning and fun!
10 Christmas Classroom Activities
Get ready to spread holiday cheer in the classroom with these 10 Christmas activities!
Each one is designed to blend festive fun with educational value, perfect for students of all ages.
From creative crafts to delicious baking, these activities will make learning enjoyable and memorable during the holiday season.
Let’s explore the festive spirit with these merry activities!
1. Personalized Christmas Cards
Promote a burst of creativity in your classroom with a Christmas card-making activity.
Cards are a staple element of the Christmas period, and making them can be an excellent activity that is simple to prepare.
Equip students with simple materials like card stock, colorful markers, and shimmering glitter, and watch their imagination take flight.
Show some examples of Christmas cards and let your student’s creativity flow.
Christmas offers a plethora of beautiful things that can be put onto a card, from a snowman to a stocking to Santa with his reindeer!
As they craft their unique holiday cards, students not only polish their artistic talents but also develop their writing skills.
Encouraging them to write thoughtful, personal messages to friends or family members inside their cards adds a special touch and makes this activity a delightful blend of art and language learning.
This fun and creative exercise is sure to bring smiles and a festive atmosphere to your classroom.
2. Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Another creative activity that lets you dive into the festive spirit is having students create their Christmas ornaments.
Much like Christmas cards, ornaments can come in a wide variety of splendid styles, shapes, and colors.
Provide a variety of materials such as colorful paper, soft felt, and easy-to-shape foam, and let their creativity run wild.
This hands-on activity is a joyful way to decorate the classroom and an excellent opportunity for students to hone their fine motor skills.
As they cut, glue, and decorate, they get to express their unique artistic styles.
This ornament-making session is more than just a craft; it’s a celebration of individuality and the joy of the holiday season.
Students can take their ornaments home and give them to their loved ones as a Christmas present, which will surely put a smile on more than one face!
3. Festive Storytime
Why not spark your students’ imaginations with a Christmas-themed story-writing activity?
You can begin by reading some famous festive stories or playing an engaging video and then encourage students to craft tales of their own
This can be done in the form of a short story, poem, or even a play.
This exercise sharpens their writing skills and opens the door to a world of creative, festive storytelling.
As they weave their narratives, students explore various aspects of the holiday season, including the magic of Santa Claus, the incredible story of Jesus Christ, and the joy of giving, making it a perfect blend of learning and seasonal fun.
This activity is a fantastic way to nurture young writers and celebrate the spirit of Christmas in a uniquely creative way.
If you’re feeling particularly Christmassy, why not try dressing up as Santa or asking a colleague if they’ll do it for you when they’re in a good mood?
Santa can surprise the students and read them an exciting Christmas story.
Kids love it!
4. Christmas Carols Sing-Along
Harness a festive mood and a wonderful sense of community in your classroom with a Christmas carols sing-along.
Gather the students and share the joy of singing classic holiday tunes together.
This is a fun activity and a wonderful way to develop musical skills among students.
Introduce simple musical instruments or incorporate fun actions and movements to make it even more engaging.
This interactive experience not only brings the classroom together but also celebrates the traditional sounds of the holiday season, creating a warm and merry learning environment.
There are lots of great Christmas carols on YouTube, with We Wish You a Merry Christmas being a classing.
Check out the video below for a video with dance and lyrics of this famous carol:
5. Gingerbread House Decorating
This one allows you to turn your classroom into a festive workshop with a gingerbread house decorating session.
This hands-on activity is a favorite for all ages.
It will, however, take more preparation than some of the other suggestions, so be mindful of this.
This one will have you provide students with graham crackers, colorful icing, and an assortment of candies and watch their architectural creativity come to life.
As they design and build their gingerbread houses, students engage in a fun activity and develop valuable design and planning skills.
Plus, it’s a delicious way to enjoy the results of their hard work.
This activity combines creativity, learning, and a sweet treat, making it a delightful and educational experience for the holiday season.
If it isn’t practical to decorate actual gingerbread houses in your classroom, you can make cardboard versions instead!
This can be an excellent alternative that is lots of fun and gives the students something creative and Christmassy to take home.
Click the image below to check out this kit of 12.
6. Secret Santa
Cultivate a sense of community and kindness in your classroom with a Secret Santa activity.
This cherished holiday tradition is not just about exchanging presents; it’s also a meaningful way to teach students about thoughtfulness, generosity, and the true joy of giving.
This can be done by putting everyone’s name into a box or a hat (a Santa hat would be perfect for this!) and letting the students pick out a name one by one.
It’s important that the students keep the name of the student a secret, with only you and them knowing who they have to get a gift for.
As each student secretly picks a classmate to surprise with a gift, they learn the value of considering others’ preferences and the happiness that comes from making someone else smile.
This activity builds a warm, inclusive atmosphere and highlights the spirit of the season: giving and sharing joy with others.
There are some excellent stocking fillers available on sites like Amazon.
We find these wind-up toys to be a great, affordable option to offer students.
Click the link below to check them out!
7. Christmas Around the World Exploration
Embark on a journey in your classroom by exploring Christmas traditions from around the globe.
This educational activity is enlightening and can broaden students’ horizons, offering them a glimpse into how different cultures celebrate the festive season.
By learning about diverse customs, foods, and songs, students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the world’s rich tapestry of traditions.
This global exploration is a fantastic way to cultivate cultural awareness and inclusivity, making the holiday season a learning experience that extends far beyond the classroom walls.
You can give your students the task of creating a presentation for a country you give them, which will promote teamwork and help build their confidence.
From the classic traditions in Western countries to the folks in Japan who like to eat a bucket of KFC on Christmas day.
There are so many different ways that this holiday is celebrated, so this activity can be lots of fun and very educational.
8. Classroom Christmas Tree Decoration
Bring the whole class together for a festive and fun activity by decorating a classroom Christmas tree!
This group project is much more than just an enjoyable task; it’s a wonderful way to promote teamwork and a sense of belonging among students.
As they collaborate on choosing ornaments, arranging lights, and placing the star on top, they learn the value of working together towards a common goal.
The act of transforming a simple tree into a beautiful symbol of the holiday season creates a shared experience and a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the classroom.
This activity is a delightful way to celebrate the festive spirit and nurture a strong, supportive classroom community.
If working with very young students, you can invite parents and carers to join in, which will give them a heartwarming opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones.
Whether having one big tree or several smaller ones, decorating a Christmas tree is synonymous with the festive period and can be an excellent activity for everyone to enjoy.
It also provides an awesome opportunity to take photos!
9. Festive Puzzles and Games
Enhance the classroom experience this holiday season by introducing Christmas-themed puzzles and games.
These activities are a source of fun and also an effective educational tool.
They challenge students to engage in critical thinking and problem-solving in a playful, festive context.
Whether it’s a jigsaw puzzle depicting a winter scene, a word search filled with holiday terms, or a Christmas trivia game, these activities make learning exciting.
They’re a great way to keep the brain active and engaged, all while soaking in the joyful spirit of the season.
This approach to learning through play is sure to keep students entertained and intellectually stimulated.
For a list of some great games to play in the classroom at any time of the year, the link below is full of great ideas!
Related Article: Fun Classroom Games to Play – Teacher’s Guide
12 Games of Christmas can be an excellent addition to the classroom at Christmas and offers students of all ages lots of festive fun to get involved in.
Click the image below to check it out!
10. Christmas Cookie Baking and Decorating
If your classroom setup or school permits, you can dive into the delightful world of baking by decorating Christmas cookies with your students!
This activity is a treat for the taste buds as well as an engaging and educational experience.
Students learn the basics of baking, measuring ingredients, and following recipes, which are essential life skills.
The fun continues as they unleash their creativity in decorating their cookies with icing, sprinkles, and edible decorations.
This hands-on experience teaches valuable cooking skills and encourages artistic expression.
It’s a perfect way to combine learning, creativity, and the joy of sharing delicious homemade treats during the festive season.
Check out the latest Christmas bestsellers below to see what deals you can bag for your classroom and home!
This is an affiliate link, so we will receive a small percentage of anything purchased, helping support us.
Conclusion
These ten Christmas-themed classroom activities are far more than mere festive fun; they’re a bridge to a world of learning and skill development!
Each one is thoughtfully designed to nurture different abilities, from creativity and critical thinking to teamwork and cultural awareness.
As you engage your students in these diverse and enjoyable activities, you are celebrating the season’s joy while also enriching their educational journey.
So, let’s welcome the holiday cheer and transform the classroom into a lively, learning-filled winter wonderland!
We hope you find value in this guide.
Be sure to reach out if you require any assistance!
Have a wonderful day and Merry Christmas!
Image Attribution: All images licensed via canva.com
