The time leading up to winter break can be hectic and exhausting. I like to use the motto, “if you can’t beat them join them.” All kidding aside, having fun Christmas activities for the classroom to do during this busy time of year can make these few weeks before break a lot more enjoyable.
Before we get into the list, I wanted to note that I teach at a Catholic School. Therefore, we learn about Christmas and do Christmas activities.
If you teach at a public school, it would be best to take some of these ideas of Christmas activities for the classroom but make them winter-themed instead of Christmas-themed. Alternatively, you could check out my gingerbread activity ideas.
Sing Christmas Carols
Singing Christmas carols with your class is fun and easy. There are a bunch of YouTube videos that also include lyrics. This helps all students participate, even if they don’t know all of the words. A few video options are: 25 Popular Christmas Songs for Kids with Lyrics and Traditional Christmas Carols with Lyrics.
Make a Christmas Craft
Christmas crafts are a hit! There are SO many options depending on your grade level. I suggest doing a quick Pinterest search by typing “Christmas craft grade ___” and you’ll find suitable ideas for your students’ age.
Christmas Guided Drawing
I don’t know about you but my students are obsessed with guided drawings. Art for Kids Hub on YouTube is my favourite. They have a ton of Christmas guided drawings such as elf, Santa, Christmas penguin, and Christmas tree.
Christmas Decorating
My favourite way to have students decorate for Christmas is to give them a bunch of different art supplies and let them make and put up their own Christmas decorations. They get super excited to do this and are always very creative.
Themed STEM Challenge
There are a ton of themed stem challenges out there. You could do Christmas stem challenges or even winter stem challenges. This website has a ton of really great ideas. All you need to do is provide students with some fun building materials and they are off to the races.
Random Acts of Kindness
Doing random acts of kindness is one of my favourite things to do during the Christmas season with my students. We come up with different acts of kindness that we can do around the school as well as ones they can do at home. I like to turn this into a challenge and have students do as many acts of kindness as they can. I also encourage them to get creative by trying to do a variety of acts of kindness.
Christmas Cards
I’ve done this Christmas cards activity a few different ways. One way is to show students a model Christmas card and have students created step by step like a craft. Another way is to give them supplies and let them have fun creating their own Christmas cards.
Watch a Christmas Movie
My students love to watch movies together as a class. Depending on the age of your students, make sure the movie is suitable for their age range. In the past, I have watched Noelle and Elf as both are rated G.
Play Pictionary or Charades
Christmas Pictionary or Christmas Charades can either be played as a whole class or in smaller groups. The rules follow the original versions the only difference is that the things that students are acting or drawing are Christmas-themed. These make great short activities to do in morning meeting as well.
Themed Kahoot
There are a ton of themed Kahoots out there. You might also be able to find themed GimKits or Blookets. Students love to play these! If you haven’t tried them yet, what are you waiting for?
Christmas Activities For The Classroom Made Easy
Liked these ideas? I’ve created a digital Christmas Countdown calendar so you can reveal these fun Christmas activities for the classroom to your students.
Each day, you click on the calendar countdown number and that day’s surprise will pop up. I’ve also included instructions and links for each activity so that the planning is all done for you.
