The run up to Christmas can feel like it is a continuous GO GO GO. That’s why, last year we asked Teacher Tappers to share their favourite Christmas-themed activities, so we could share with you this year ahead of the last week of term madness.
As always, the Tappers didn’t let us down, and an absolutely astonishing 3,804 of you wrote in 🤯 Here are our favourite choices, as recommended by real Teacher Tappers:
🎄 15 Christmas (and Winter!) classroom ideas you might not have tried before
December always brings the classics: calendars, concerts, and more glitter than anyone strictly needs in their life. But when we asked teachers to share the less typical things they do in the run-up to Christmas, you sent in a sleighful of creative, thoughtful, and occasionally chaotic ideas.
Here are some brilliant activities you might want to pinch for your own primary classroom this year.
❤️ 1. The letter that makes everyone cry
One teacher swears by a humanitarian letter to Father Christmas, where children write not for themselves, but for someone else.
“Once the children grasp that anything is possible—ending homelessness, stopping starvation, it becomes a beautiful, holistic lesson that makes staff and parents cry.”
A gentle way to explore empathy, kindness, and big hopes for the world.
👵 2. Christmas dinner for the community
Another teacher’s class prepares a Christmas dinner service for senior citizens, complete with a song performed as an act of kindness. A lovely way to boost confidence and strengthen local community ties.
“Our class prepares a Christmas dinner for senior citizens and we sing a song for them as an act of kindness.”
“It’s such a confidence boost — the children love giving something back.”
🔧 3. DT Automata: moving Christmas models
In DT, some pupils make Christmas-themed automaton models — think cams, cranks and levers bringing reindeer, snowmen or elves to life. It’s hands-on mechanics disguised as festive fun.
“Our students were making Christmas-themed automaton models in DT,” and“they loved it when they worked out the reindeer actually moves!”.
📐 4. Geometry meets fairy lights
One teacher gets pupils to draw a Christmas tree entirely from straight lines, then colour each angle to make “fairy lights.”
Add in protractors and suddenly it’s Christmas and angle-measurement revision.
“Create a Christmas tree from straight lines, colour the angles to make fairy lights, then measure the angles with a protractor.”
“The children forget it’s maths — they’re too busy making it look magical.”
❄️ 5. The indoor snowball fight
A favourite for breaking up the December wiggles:
“Snowball fight using scrap paper with forfeits like making a ‘snow angel’ when hit — chaos follows!”
Low prep, high squeals.
🏭 6. Santa’s workshop: enterprise edition
In groups, children design and create mini ovens for dolls’ houses as part of a Santa’s Workshop enterprise game. It’s creativity, construction, budgeting and teamwork all wrapped up with a bow.
“The Santa Workshop Game — creating mini ovens for dolls’ houses as an enterprise activity in groups.”
🎅 7. Santa’s grotto, student-run
One class runs a Santa’s grotto for younger children, with the older pupils organising the set-up, queueing system, gifts and even Santa’s “script.” A brilliant leadership opportunity.
💃 8. A winter Ceilidh
Several teachers mentioned hosting a ceilidh — a joyful mix of music, movement and traditional dance. Perfect for indoor PE when the playground is frozen solid.
🎭 9. The trip that levels the playing field
One teacher wrote about taking pupils to a theatre show, adding:
“For many it is their first experience of live theatre – we always secure sponsorship so there are no financial barriers.”
🤶 10. The staff panto (Oh, yes you should)
If your staffroom contains any drama enthusiasts, you could join the teachers who write and perform in a full staff pantomime. Silly costumes optional (but encouraged).
✍️ 11. Literacy with a twist: How the Grinch stole Christmas
One teacher uses the season to teach instruction writing by getting pupils to write “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”—a playful way to practise sequencing, clarity, and bossy verbs.
“Every year, we do writing instructions on ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’. It’s really fun for students, and they enjoy the story too.”
🔢 12. “Christmaths” Investigations
A few favourites:
- Using multiples to find the “perfect” Christmas tree
- Calculating how many gifts are given in The 12 Days of Christmas
- Tackling Twinkl Christmas maths mysteries
Seasonal problem-solving = instant motivation boost.
🕎 13. Celebrating Hanukkah
One teacher working in a Jewish school shared the joy of singing Hanukkah songs and playing with dreidels. A lovely reminder that December celebrations come in many forms.
🧵 14. Craft skills that stick
If your class needs something calm and absorbing, try teaching a new craft hobby such as friendship bracelets or quilling. Perfect for those long winter afternoons.
🇪🇸 15. Spanish Christmas tree decorating
For MFL, pupils read Spanish sentences to decide how to decorate a Christmas tree, choosing colours and placements based on the instructions. Language learning + festive creativity = win.
⭐ Share your favourites
If your favourite Christmas activity isn’t on the list, then send it in! Tell us all about it England@teachertapp.co.uk and spread more festive fun!
