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As the festive season approaches, it’s the perfect time to infuse your classroom with joy and creativity while keeping your students engaged. The holidays offer endless opportunities for fun, meaningful activities that align with educational goals. Inspired by the classic carol “The 12 Days of Christmas,” this blog presents 12 festive ideas to make the season merry, bright, and full of learning for you and your students.
Day 1: Festive Writing Prompts
Kick off the season by encouraging students to write creatively. Use prompts like:
“If I were an elf, my favorite job would be…”
“Describe the most magical snow day.”
Day 2: Holiday Math Challenge
Design math problems with a festive twist. For example:
“If Santa’s sleigh can carry 500 gifts, how many trips would he need to make for 1,250 presents?”
Day 3: Seasonal Science Experiments
Bring STEM to the season with experiments like:
Making snow using baking soda and conditioner.
Testing which materials insulate heat best for “Santa’s hot cocoa mug.”
Day 4: Craft a Classroom Garland
Let your students collaborate to create a festive classroom decoration. Each student can design a piece of the garland, such as snowflakes or paper stockings, with a personal touch. This promotes teamwork and creativity.
Day 5: Holiday Around the World
Teach cultural awareness by exploring how different countries celebrate the holidays. Incorporate geography, history, and traditions through videos, stories, or student presentations.
Day 6: Winter-Themed Book Swap
Encourage students to share their favorite books with a winter or holiday theme. Organize a class book exchange or read-aloud session featuring festive stories like The Polar Express or How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Day 7: Holiday-Themed Escape Room
Set up a classroom escape room with puzzles themed around the holidays. Use riddles, math challenges, and clues to solve a festive mystery. This engages critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun way.
Day 8: Music and Movement
Introduce your students to classic holiday songs. Teach simple choreography to “Jingle Bells” or host a caroling session. Music fosters creativity and movement enhances engagement, especially for younger students.
Day 9: Acts of Kindness Calendar
Create a countdown calendar where students perform small acts of kindness daily. Examples include:
Writing thank-you notes to staff.
Donating toys or supplies.
Day 10: Build a Gingerbread Village
Have students work in teams to construct gingerbread houses using graham crackers, frosting, and candies. This project combines creativity, teamwork, and engineering skills.
Day 11: Festive Movie Day with a Twist
Screen a holiday classic like Elf or Home Alone but add a learning component. Have students write a review, discuss character traits, or identify story elements like plot and conflict.
Day 12: Seasonal Reflection and Gratitude
Wrap up the festivities with a reflective activity. Ask students to write or draw about what they are grateful for this year. Create a “Gratitude Wall” where everyone can share their reflections.
The 12 Days of Teaching is a fun way to keep your students engaged while celebrating the festive season. These activities spark joy and integrate learning in creative, meaningful ways. So, grab your Santa hat, turn on some holiday tunes, and prepare to make this season unforgettable for your students!
How do you acknowledge and celebrate Christmas and the time leading to it? Let us know in the comments below.
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