It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As winter break approaches, there’s an undeniable buzz in the air. Everyone would rather be home with a cup of hot cocoa and some seasonal cozy movies, meaning there’s a real educational slump. Instead of fighting it, here are the best activities for those last few days before the bell rings; even ones so fun, your students will forget they’re learning! Happy Holidays!
Holiday-Themed Lessons
With a classroom full of rambunctious kids, sometimes a holiday-themed lesson is just what kids need to satisfy their holiday spirit. (Any lesson can be adapted to be multicultural or winter-themed based on your school’s holiday policy.)
1. Christmas-themed STEAM activities. Get your students’ creative juices flowing while combining elements of STEAM and Christmas! Design a new sled, help Santa out of a chimney, build a 3D pop-up Christmas card, design a new hat for Santa using recycled paper, etc. The opportunities are endless and fun, for endless fun!
Learn more at Innovation Kids Lab
2. Elf applications. Create an “Elves Wanted” poster and go over the job description with your students. Then, give them each an application and have them write out why they would be the best elf for the job.
Learn more at Boy Mama Teacher Mama
3. Milk jug igloo. Try a classroom engineering project using recycled milk jugs for a team activity that kids will never forget.
Learn more at Hub Pages
4. Help find Rudolph. Set students on a mission to help Santa find Rudolph using a fun WebQuest that has them searching and engaging in an inquiry-oriented activity!
Learn more at Finding Rudolph: A Christmas WebQuest
5. Gingerbread house STEAM activity. Have students build their own gingerbread houses using graham crackers, icing, and various candy materials. Then, implement one of these lessons to address specific math standards based on grade level:
- Count the number of mini chocolate chips and tell whether they’re even or odd numbers.
- Measure the dimensions or find the perimeter, area, and surface area of various parts of the house.
- Give students basic materials like graham crackers and icing, then allow them to “purchase” the different candy materials they will need to complete their house. They should get a certain allotment of “money” that they can spend.
Learn more at Sadlier Math Blog
6. Invent-a-Holiday. Discuss how different December holidays are celebrated around the world within different cultures. Then have kids break into groups and invent their own holiday based on their favorite foods, colors, symbols, and traditions. You can even choose one group’s holiday and have an in-class celebration.
Learn more at Homeschool Super Freak
7. Pointillism snowmen. Introduce the concepts of pointillism and art history with this fun, easy-to-do activity. The round shapes that make up a snowman make for the perfect craft to dive into this technique with.
Learn more at Meaningful Mama
Festive activities and crafts
There’s something about craft activities around the holidays that turn every student into a budding artist—and the crafts don’t have to be typical handprint reindeer or construction paper trees. We have some new takes on holiday favorites that make the perfect gift for kids to bring home to a loved one or enjoy themselves.
1. Snow globe in a jar. These snow globes are easier than they look and they come out looking amazing. If you have some extra mason jars lying around, this activity is a must-do (and if mason jars are out of your budget, small baby food jars work, too!).
Learn more at Julie Ann Art
2. Yarn-wrapped stars. This is great craft for students of all ages (it’s also great for bilateral coordination!). Simply cut stars out of cardstock or have kids cut them out themselves, tape a small piece of yarn in a loop about an inch from one of the tips of each star, and let kids go nuts wrapping the yarn to cover their star!
Learn more at The Inspired Tree House
3. Paper plate holiday crafts. Got paper plates? Who doesn’t?! From Santa masks to Christmas wreaths, these simple crafts are sure to please.
Learn more at Crafty Morning
4. Reindeer slime jars. The slime-craze is far from over, and we love this holiday spin on a kid-favorite.
Learn more at The Best Ideas for Kids
5. Hot cocoa ornaments. Who doesn’t love a warm mug of hot chocolate? Create these super simple cocoa ornaments for kids to enjoy at home or give to someone special.
Learn more at Forkly
6. Pin the heart on the Grinch. If your students could use a fun game to get the giggles out, try this new take on the old-fashioned party game for an instant crowd-pleaser. The Grinch template can be printed on two sheets of 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper while the hearts can be cut out of red construction paper. Simply give kids a blindfold, spin them around, and let the fun begin!
Learn more at Twin Dragonfly Designs
7. Silver bells matching game. Affix sticky dots to the bottom of Hershey’s kisses to create a memory game that can be adapted for variations like letters, numbers, sight words, and more.
Learn more at I Can Teach My Child
8. Popsicle stick sled. Popsicle sticks, glue, and some candy canes are all you need to make these adorable sleigh keepsake ornaments. Go a step further and have students decorate them with paint and glitter to add their own creative touch.
Learn more at Crafty Morning
9. Hanukkah Word Search. A classic activity for a reason. It works the brain while also celebrating the season!
Learn more at Boy Mama Teacher Mama
10. Printable photo booth props. This is great for making memories together as a class!
Learn more at My Party Games
I do the Elf application with a little twist. I mad my own application so it looks a little different but with the same premise.
Every day, the week before Christmas break, Santa leaves a job for the girls and boys. Each job centers around a skill or concept I want to promote.
The girls and boys are active the last week before break so it is a perfect time to do activities.
Santa leaves his best elf, Max, in the classroom to watch the kids. He switches places everyday. He always has a note from Santa explaining what to do. Max is not the ‘elf on the shelf’.
Monday is a day to promote sharing. Santa leaves one small container of play dough for each child. He says that it is a day of sharing. He wants them to make a colorful snowman. How will they do that with just one color?
They share…Use the words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ask someone for a little piece of their play dough. When they give you a piece, you give them a piece. The children start out the day this way. All day long you will hear kind words.
Tuesday – I use one of the sets of paints and figures from a $ Store.
Santa wants to see how neatly you can do your work today. Start out with painting the figure. Then watch your students work neatly all day!
Wednesday – Santa needs scientists to help make new things. Are you a good scientist? I use Orbies but the off brand name. You can get them at the $ store. One package will make a class of about 15 students.
Leave a cup, water and the Orbies for each child. It is a simple experiment that the children love and will watch with excitement grow.
At recess we talk about what happened and they can play with the creation.
I use a little swimming pool in my classroom and each child dumps the Orbies in the pool. We watch them grow in the pool. Also Amazon big Orbie balls. They end up looking like a flower. They are pretty cool. They can also go in the cup, if you don’t want a pool in your classroom!
Thursday – Santa wants them to discover what to do. I use bath bomb with a toy inside. These are so cheap after Christmas. I but a year in advance. No directions from Santa…just a note saying be a good detective.
The girls and boys and I have a meeting as to what we should do with the ball. When they figure out what to do, bring in water and watch their faces glow.
Friday – Elves have to be good at counting. Santa hides candy in the classroom and the children hunt for it. When they find a piece they bring it to a ten frame that Santa left for us. The children can only bring one piece at a time.
When we are pretty sure we found all the candy, we count it together by using tens and ones. Then we get to share it.
The children also become ‘Official Elves”. I buy elf ears again at the $ store and take pictures of them. You know that people cannot become an elf until they are 100 years old. So no one will be leaving for the North Pole until then!
It is a fun week and it takes the edge off of the daily routine.