December is here, and the holiday spirit is in full swing! With all the excitement buzzing in your classroom, it’s the perfect time to blend learning and celebration. Whether you’re looking for ways to keep your students focused or just want to sprinkle some holiday magic into your lessons, these easy holiday classroom activities will help you create a joyful and productive learning environment. Get ready to inspire your students while making December both meaningful and fun!
Festive Days
Get in the holiday spirit with some festive dress-up days. My advice is don’t overcomplicate it, and it will become easier for students to participate. Try to be general (green day) instead of specific (Grinch Day) so that it is more inclusive! And don’t forget to join in on the fun.
If you want to borrow this graphic, I have an editable copy for you here. To use the font I used, you will need to click “file –> download as a PPT” and download KG Blank Space Solid.
Reader’s Theater
Building reading fluency + having fun! My students obsess over Readers’ Theaters every year! I seriously think it’s one of the most memorable parts of our year. We always begin by doing a whole class read-through. Then, I have students sign up for their top two choices of characters to be. I try reeeeeally hard to give everyone a character of their choice but also explain that it’s not always possible. I make copies for each student to send home to practice and keep a copy at school (it’s a lot of copies, but it’s worth it to not have the headache when students don’t bring it back to school).
We practice for a week or two and then invite another class to come to watch. Here’s a free 5 part reader’s theater called “The Snow Family” by Designed by Danielle and another free one with 4 parts by The First Grade Bloom.
Holiday Books
One of my favorite December classroom activities is reading holiday books! Monthly-themed virtual libraries are always a hit with students! There are twelve books in the December library, including many holidays and traditions.
It is FREE and available in Google Slides or Seesaw. Click here to get your copy!
You could have students listen on their own during independent literacy centers. Or, you could incorporate it as a part of your day and choose a book to listen to as a whole class!
Design a Sweater
Are you on the hunt for some new holiday writing activities? The Design a Holiday Sweater activities offer a fun and festive way to get your students writing! With options for opinion writing, character analysis, and descriptive paragraphs, these activities combine creativity and skill-building to keep your students engaged this holiday season.
Designing a holiday sweater is one of my favorite activities every year! I love seeing students’ creativity. I make sure to provide ample time to work on them so they can be high quality! You can find this activity here.
Holiday Memory Games
If you’ve been following along here for a while, you know I absolutely LOVE games! I think they are one of the best ways to learn, keeping students engaged and excited. I play games with my reading groups at least once a week. Playing games virtually looks a little different but I’ve created games for each month and they are a lot of fun! These December Memory games are perfect for a morning meeting activity, reward, brain break, or Fun Friday!
As the holiday season brings its unique energy to your classroom, these easy holiday classroom activities are the perfect way to keep your students engaged and excited about learning. By adding a touch of festive fun to your lessons, you’ll create memories your students will cherish long after the season ends. Whether you’re wrapping up the semester or just looking to spread some cheer, these activities will help you finish the year strong. Happy teaching, and enjoy the magic of December!
Looking for more festive ideas? Check out this blog post.
