Create festive decorations with students
Decorating the classroom is a perfect way to kick off the Christmas season while fostering teamwork and creativity among pupils. So then, a good way to start is to set up a craft station with supplies such as coloured paper, glitter, ribbons, and glue, and let children create their own decorations.
Popular options include paper chains, baubles, and snowflakes. For an extra challenge, introduce mathematical concepts like symmetry for snowflakes or measurement when creating garlands. You could also encourage pupils to make decorations inspired by historical or cultural Christmas traditions, linking the activity to wider learning themes. Displaying the finished decorations will give pupils a sense of pride and ownership over their festive classroom.
Learn about Christmas traditions around the world
Christmas is celebrated in countless ways across the globe, making it an ideal topic for a geography or cultural studies lesson. You can explore with your class how children in different countries mark the festive season, from Germany’s Christmas markets to Sweden’s St. Lucia Day. Pupils can work in small groups to research and present a particular country’s traditions, adding their findings to a collaborative classroom display.
For younger children, interactive storytelling or videos can bring the subject to life, and you can extend the learning by incorporating a craft or snack from one of the cultures studied, turning the lesson into a fully immersive experience. As well as broadening your children’s cultural understanding, it can also nurtures curiosity and respect for diversity.
Use Christmas-themed maths challenges
Who says maths can’t be festive? Create Christmas-themed challenges to keep pupils engaged with numbers during the lead-up to the Christmas break. Tasks could include working out how many decorations are needed for a Christmas tree of a given height, calculating costs for a festive feast within a budget, or solving logic puzzles involving elves and gifts.
To make the activity more dynamic, you can even turn it into a game or competition, with pupils earning points for each challenge solved. One way to incorporate real-world maths is by asking pupils to estimate postage costs for sending Christmas parcels or working out times for Santa’s sleigh journey. These activities encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and the application of maths concepts in a seasonal and enjoyable context.
Host a story hour with classic Christmas tales
Reading time takes on a magical quality when classic Christmas stories are involved. Choose timeless favourites such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Nutcracker, or even contemporary festive picture books for younger pupils. After reading, you can spark a discussion about the themes, characters, and moral lessons of the stories. For added engagement, ask pupils to act out scenes or create artwork inspired by the story. To extend the activity further, challenge them to write an alternative ending or a sequel to the tale. They can surprise you!
Make handmade Christmas cards for the community
Encourage kindness and creativity by having pupils design and create Christmas cards to share with people in the local community. Whether sent to care homes, hospitals, or other local organisations, this activity teaches empathy while giving pupils the opportunity to practise fine motor skills and written expression. It’s a good idea to provide a variety of materials, such as markers, glitter, stickers, and stencils, to allow for a wide range of designs.
Include a brief class discussion about the importance of spreading joy and gratitude, tying the activity into broader lessons about community values. To add a personal touch, pupils can also include poems or drawings that reflect their own festive experiences. It’s a small but meaningful gesture that can leave a lasting impression on both the pupils and the recipients.
At EPSL, we've been providing schools with supplies like personalised exercise books, educational books, and other resources for almost 50 years. We’re focused on making learning accessible and enjoyable all year round – so if you have any questions about any of our products, please feel free to give us a call at 01254 686 500. Our team is always here to help you bring out the best in your classroom.
