3 Christmas themed activities your students will love!
When you chose Christmas themed activities for your class in December, they should definitely be fun for your students - BUT it is also SO important that they fit you as a teacher!
Everyone deserves to enjoy their holiday! Down below, I have a couple of my favorite Christmas themed activities! Ranging from LOW PREP to BIG HOT MESS! 😂
I hope you find something that gives you that Christmas Cheer!
Low-Prep Christmas themed activity
Hand down. My favorite LOW PREP Christmas themed activity is color-by-code worksheets. Let me explain...
They are tried and true. They are simple - but they work! They are a great way to review Math and literacy skills in a fun way during the holiday.
They take no time to prep - but the kids take their time to color. During the holiday season, there is SO MUCH planning on our plates as teachers. Early finisher work is a must during this time, so you don't get the dreaded "I'm done - What do I do know?" question. I also make my copies in bulk at the beginning of December and let my students enjoy the coloring time when they finish their assigned work.
Holiday Decor! Two birds - one stone. I always hang them around the classroom throughout the month. It helps make the room colorful and festive! It also encourages the students to take their time coloring that worksheet - because they want to be proud of the work that is displayed in class.
The kids enjoy them! The kids really enjoy these color-by-code worksheets. They are having fun, engaged, and learning. It's a win-win all around.
Shop Color-by-Code Worksheets:
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Hands-On Christmas themed activity
My favorite hands on Christmas themed activity is building a Gingerbread house! Truth be told, this is a family tradition that made its way into the classroom.
There are a couple methods to this Christmas themed activity:
Make it messy!
This is always what I opted into.
At this time of year, teachers (and some of the kids) are burnt out! So I like to take this time to just have FUN!
I like to let my kids make their Gingerbread house with no guidelines, no expectations, and no grades.
Often times put them in groups so that it can become a team building, Christmas themed activity.
In other words, it can be a messy Christmas themed activity... but, sometimes messy activities are good for the soul!
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Make is STEM!
Other teachers I know like to incorporate STEM into this Christmas themed activity. Which is still messy, I'm sure, but just a smidge more structured than my methods.
If you teach Math and/ or Science, this Christmas themed activity is a great opportunity to bust out all the critical thinking skills. Here are a few Teacher Pay Teachers resources to guide your lesson.
Gingerbread Mouse House STEM™ Activity
In this Christmas themed activity Students design and build their very own paper Gingerbread House for the Gingerbread Mouse!
Author: Carly and Adam STEM
Winter STEM Activities Challenges - Gingerbread House
This Christmas themed resource has science, technology, engineering, and measurement activities to do with your upper elementary kids that will really get their brains going this winter season!
Author: StudentSavvy
Make it crafty!
The last way to complete this Christmas themed activity in your classroom is with a craft. This is for the no mess - no stress kind of teachers!
If you opt into the gingerbread craft, you can even double down, and use the gingerbread house craft as one of their gifts to take home to their families.
Here is another TPT listing for some ideas:
Build a Gingerbread House Paper Bag Craft
This coloring craft makes it quick and affordable for students to create their own gingerbread houses! This is a perfect activity for a holiday party or to pair with student writing for a unique bulletin board display!
Author: Krista Wallden - Creative Clips
Christmas gift exchange!
I know it's not for everyone - but I have always done a gift exchange with my students!
It really teaches them to be excited for others and to focus on the giving part of Christmas, not just the receiving.
Here are the two gift exchanges I recommend doing with your class.
Sock exchange: For me, a sock exchange has always been the way to go! The gift is simple and affordable. AND it is VERY important for you to be able to buy a couple extra pairs of socks - just in case you have parents that forget or students who leaves them at home.
Book exchange: Another great option is a book exchange. This is a great way to get your students excited about reading over winter break! Books are also priced appropriately for this kind of event.
I hope these ideas help make your Christmas season unforgettable this year!