It’s that time of year again… classrooms start buzzing with holiday energy, and lesson plans are hanging on for dear life! December excitement is real, and while you want to embrace the joy, you also don’t want your instructional time to disappear in a cloud of glitter and candy canes. Finding that balance between festive fun and academic focus can feel like juggling snowballs… with mittens on! But here’s the good news: you don’t have to choose between fun and focus. With the right activities, you can sprinkle in seasonal cheer and holiday fun without sacrificing standards.

Why Holiday Fun is a Must in the Classroom

Holiday fun isn’t just about making things “cute” or filling time before break. It’s a powerful way to build classroom community, keep students motivated, and make learning stick during one of the most distracting times of the year!

Kids thrive on novelty and excitement, and when we tap into that festive energy, we can channel it right back into meaningful lessons. Whether it’s a gingerbread-themed math activity or a snowy day writing prompt, these moments of joy remind students that school is a place where learning feels exciting and connected to real life. Plus, the holidays naturally spark curiosity and creativity, which are the perfect ingredients for deeper engagement and lasting memories. A little seasonal magic goes a long way in keeping spirits bright (for both you and your students!) as you head into winter break.

Now, let’s talk about how to keep your students learning, laughing, and fully engaged all the way to winter break!

Simple Classroom Transformations with Big Impact

First, classroom decor. I know, I know, this can be stressful during an already busy time! But hear me out… You don’t need to turn your classroom into the North Pole to make it magical. A few small touches can completely change the atmosphere and boost engagement. Try these mini-transformations that bring big cheer without big stress!

Gingerbread Engineering Lab

Transform your classroom into a Gingerbread Engineering Lab! Use brown butcher paper and candy-colored cutouts to give your room or classroom door that gingerbread look. Challenge students to design and build their own “gingerbread houses” using classroom supplies. I have a couple of helpful resources to make this even easier, too!

Design a Gingerbread House with Numbers 1-20 is perfect for working on number identification, counting sets, and one-to-one correspondence, all while using their creativity. This resource is ideal for students in Pre-K-1st.

And for your older students in 2nd-5th, this Gingerbread House Measurement Activity is the perfect option! Students will be following the guidelines provided to measure and design their own gingerbread house. With options for inches, centimeters, or mixed practice, you can give your students an engaging activity to work on this holiday season! The resource includes options for measuring whole numbers or with fractions.

Snowed-In Learning Day

For a fun classroom reward, dim the lights, play a crackling fireplace video, and let students “bundle up” for winter-themed reading and writing. Use fun prompts like, “If school was canceled for a snowstorm…” or “If I were stuck inside a snow globe….” It’s calm, creative, and keeps learning front and center right up until break.

The North Pole STEM Station

Bring a touch of engineering magic to your classroom with a North Pole STEM Station! Transform a small table with simple materials like marshmallows, toothpicks, gumdrops, or popsicle sticks, and challenge your students to “build a sleigh,” “design Santa’s bridge,” or even “construct a stable for the reindeer.”

This hands-on station encourages collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity while giving students a chance to apply key STEM skills in a fun, festive way. You can easily tie in math by having students measure, compare heights, or calculate which structure can hold the most weight. It’s the perfect mix of holiday excitement and academic rigor. Students will be too busy engineering to realize how much learning they’re doing!

Festive Writing That Doubles as Cute Decor

Writing is one of the easiest ways to blend academic rigor with holiday fun. These Christmas-themed writing activities help students practice essential skills while creating adorable displays your whole school will love.

Elf Yourself

Bring holiday magic to your writing block with Elf Yourself! This hilarious, hands-on writing craft takes your students’ photos and turns them into cheerful little elves. With options for how-to, persuasive, expository, or creative writing, your students will be hitting writing standards while giggling the whole time.

Each elf craft includes space for writing, making them perfect for your December bulletin board or door display. Plus, they double as keepsakes or parent gifts! You can even turn this activity into a staff morale booster by “elfing” your coworkers. It’s guaranteed to bring a few belly laughs to the teacher’s lounge.

Santa is Stuck!

Need another festive favorite? Santa is Stuck is an engaging writing craft that invites students to problem-solve their way through the ultimate Christmas dilemma: how to rescue Santa from the chimney! Pair it with the picture book Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene for an easy and delightful read-aloud connection.

Students can choose from multiple writing prompts and templates (primary and standard lines included!) to write their rescue plans. The fun continues with a Santa craft that showcases their writing. This is perfect for a hallway display that will stop everyone in their tracks.

You can even tie this writing lesson in with STEM, if you’re looking for more learning fun! Challenge students to “engineer” a chimney escape plan for Santa using craft materials. It’s creative writing, critical thinking, and engineering all rolled into one merry lesson.

Creative Holiday Fun Crafts That Teach, Too

Crafts can be more than just cute; they can connect to your standards, too! These classroom-tested ideas reinforce literacy, math, and SEL skills while adding that cozy, festive feel.

Kindness Countdown Chains

Replace the typical Advent calendar with a paper chain of kindness! Each link includes a kind act or positive affirmation written by students. This activity will allow your students to practice writing complete sentences and using verbs correctly in a fun and festive manner! Try opening one link together each morning to start your day with connection and community.

Winter Wishes Writing Ornaments

Students write “wishes for the world” or goals for the new year on paper ornaments, then decorate and hang them on a classroom “Kindness Tree.” This gives your kids a chance to work on opinion or expository writing. You can even send the ornaments home as a keepsake gift for families as you wrap up your holiday fun!

STEM Snowflakes or Symmetry Art

Break out the coffee filters or craft sticks for a simple geometry tie-in. Students fold, cut, and unfold to explore symmetry while designing their own snowflakes. Extend this activity with a writing workshop afterward and use this prompt: “If I were a snowflake, I would…”. Then display the writing pages with the snowflakes each child makes.

Holiday Around the World Projects & Crafts

Assign small groups a country to research and gather facts on a large piece of poster board. Extend this further by asking them to craft a simple cultural decoration or symbol. They can use books from the library or pre-approved educational videos to do their research. This activity will focus on reading comprehension and informational writing, while also encouraging inclusion, curiosity, and global awareness during the holidays.

If you really want to take this to the next level, consider having a cultural holiday classroom festival to share research projects, and maybe even taste foods from different places around the world to wrap things up. What could be better?!

Holiday Fun AND Joyful Learning That Lasts

The holidays don’t have to derail your plans; they can enhance them! With creative crafts that connect to standards and simple classroom transformations that spark wonder, you’ll keep engagement high and learning steady. Pair these ideas with writing favorites like Elf Yourself and Santa is Stuck, and you’ll have a December full of laughter, creativity, and meaningful learning! Oh, and don’t forget the Gingerbread Math Crafts, too! With these in your back pocket, you’ll be set for a season full of holiday fun and balanced learning!

Ready to fill your classroom with holiday cheer (without losing your teaching groove)? Check out all of my favorite December Learning Activities on my Teachers Pay Teachers store to bring all the joy, and none of the chaos, this season!

Looking for More Holiday Fun?

Read these posts next for more ideas about how you can keep the holiday fun (and learning) rolling in your classroom!

• Holiday Magic: December Activities and Books for the Classroom
• 3 Tips to Survive the Holidays in the Classroom
• Holiday Activities to Help Keep Students Engaged

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