Christmas Ideas in the Classroom: Games + Activities

Looking for ways to bring Christmas into your classroom?

Christmas is my favourite time of year, and there’s nothing better than creating community in the classroom by celebrating in the festive season together. There are so many special things you can do around it.

I was a teacher for almost 10 years in the public school board, so we celebrated Christmas in a way that was still inclusive for all students. It was always fun and something both the teachers and students looked forward to.

I have tons of ideas applicable to different age groups.

Christmas Ideas in the Classroom: Fun Ideas

1. Make Christmas cards for a vulnerable group

Best for: Ages 6-13

Choose a vulnerable group (perhaps this can be done as a class vote, or whoever is most easily available in your area) and make holiday cards for them.

Some suggestions are:

• Seniors in nursing homes
• Veterans
• Women’s shelter

Students who don’t believe in Christmas can make New Years, or holiday cards instead. What matters the most is the well-wishes and the kind words.

You may need to coordinate with a community organization to get the cards to them – whether its a shelter or a nursing home.

2. Have a pyjama day

Best for: Any age

I’m not sure why pyjamas are associated with Christmas; maybe its the cozy Christmas mornings, and the cold weather in the northern hemisphere during Christmas.

One way to celebrate Christmas at school is a pyjama day (or a “cozy day” as our school calls it, to sound more inclusive of all cozy clothes.) You can allow kids to wear whatever they’re super comfy in, and bring a stuffie.

If you want to add onto the cozy day, you can also provide hot chocolate. It makes a good last day of school (before the holidays, or the end of the year) party idaea.

3. Secret Santa

Best for: Older grades (6-8)

You have to be careful with doing Secret Santa in the classroom, but if organized well, then it can be a fun, exciting game that allows all kids to go home with a little treat.

I recommend sending home a permission slip to parents for a classroom Secret Santa, as they need to consent to spend a certain amount on a gift (make it $10-$15.) Only students who return permission slips participate, but hopefully 100% of your parents agree to it.

Hopefully, no one completely flakes out, but I might recommend having a few spare gifts on hand in case someone forgets their gift. I recommend having the ‘due date’ for the gifts several days before you plan to open them, so that there’s lots of chances for people to bring their gifts in.

As I was only a homeroom classroom teacher once, I never ran my own Secret Santa – however, teachers of the older grades at my school ran one, and so did my daughter’s teacher.

If you want the Secret Santa presents to be less open-ended, you could also call it a “holiday book exchange” where everyone buys their favourite book for the person they’re gifting to.

💡 An Idea: If the idea of running a full-on Secret Santa with money spent and presents makes you uncomfortable, another idea is to do it as a Christmas/holiday card exchange. A Secret Santa, but with cards and kind words only, rather than gifts.

4. Learn about Christmas/Holidays around the World

Best for: Any age

There are hundreds of ways to study holidays around the world. One fun way is to assign different holidays to different students/groups and then they can do a presentation.

• Winter Solstice
• St. Lucia Day
• Kwanzaa
• Hannukah
• Lunar New Year
• Christmas in different countries (how it’s celebrated in France, vs Nordic countries and North America)

Something like this one would be good for younger grades (Grade 1-4) but there are more indepth ones for older kids.

5. Decorate the classroom

Best for: Any age

Decorating your classroom can be done in a festive, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way.

It brings coziness and cheer to the room, and turns the classroom into a place that feels like home. See my classroom Christmas decoration ideas here.

6. Fundraiser or foodbank donation

Best for: Any age

Run a holiday drive to collect food bank donations for a local charity. Instead of the food bank, you could also choose an animal shelter. Maybe you can look at what charities are in your area, and choose as a class which one to donate too.

Students can then bring in donations from home, and you deliver it a few days before Christmas.

7. Carolling

Best for: Younger ages

One of my favourite things that we used to do in school when I was a kid was carolling. We called it “The Week of Song” and the whole school went to the gym and did carolling together.

It’s probably the only reason I know many Christmas or winter songs, since we didn’t go to church.

If you think this is something your class might buy into, perhaps come up with your own Week of Song. Choose different types of songs (some funny, some peaceful, some cheery, and others about Santa Claus, or the peace of winter – be sure to mix it up.)

8. Watch a Christmas movie

Best for: Any age (depending on the movie)

There are so many Christmas and holiday themed movies, and of course you’ll want to choose one that is suitable for the age group you’re teaching.

Some common Christmas movies I’ve seen shown in our public school near the holidays are:

• Home Alone (older grades only)
• Elf (older grades)
• Polar Express *this is a safe one for all ages, rated G
• Frosty the Snowman (1969) *also rated G
• The Santa Claus

You could combine the Christmas movie with a pyjama + hot chocolate day, or save it for the last day of school. It could also be used as a whole class reward.

9. Holiday-themed Feast and Potluck party

Best for: Middle to older grades

This idea is a bit more involved, but would also be fun and educational. Anything involving food will be your students’ most memorable moments from all their schooling. (Trust me, I still think about how my teacher organized a classroom Thanksgiving dinner in Grade 6.)

How about a potluck party where everyone brings in a dish from their culture for the holiday season? Here are some examples:

• Samosas for the Festival of Lights
• Latkes for Hannukah
• Pepparkakor (Swedish gingerbread)
• a Yule log for winter solstice
• Dumplings or wontons for Lunar New Year

If people bringing in food is too hard, you could also try to make some of these dishes in class, although it might be tough depending on what kind of kitchen you have access to.