holiday IDEAS & Activities for the primary classroom

'Tis the season for all the things... If you haven't collapsed from exhaustion yet, I commend you! If you're running on fumes or just need a little inspiration, check out this collection of simple and fun ideas that will help you survive and thrive in your primary classroom this holiday season! 

Elfie sELFie Holiday Cheer Pack

Help your students spread some holiday cheer this season! As teachers, we are always looking for ways to increase kindness and help our students become the best version of themselves. This Holiday Cheer Pack seeks to help you achieve this during the holiday season in a FUN and MEANINGFUL way! Pair this set with your favorite elf read alouds! 

This Holiday CHEER Anchor Chart gives your students a focus for each day. This set also includes writing pages, Elfie Selfie photo props, brag tags, and Cheer Cards (for spreading the cheer ALL around!) I've even included an editable parent letter if you choose to spread some holiday cheer in your community like collecting food for your local food bank or organizing a toy drive for those in need. 

Merry Word Work (CVC/CVCe Words) 

Get your kiddos excited about word play with these fun activities, great for literacy centers or Daily 5. These also make a great addition to your small groups and intervention!! I grabbed some small ornaments from the Dollar Tree and wrote the alphabet on them with sharpie to make this activity even  more fun!

This set helps reinforce CVC and CVCe words in a fun and festive way! Students can create their own words using store bought mini-ornaments, unscramble mixed up words, and play spinner games. Easy and FUN! 

Christmas Math Riddles

My students always enjoy math riddles! In fact, they usually beg me for more! Usually, my math riddles are printed on a single page. Students complete the math problems in order to find the answer. However, for the holidays, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of printing them on one full page at a time, like I normally do, I decided to make them into a cute flip book! I've even given them as student gifts (can you believe that?!) Math as a gift! Y'all, my kids didn't flinch or turn up their noses. They were SO HAPPY! #winning

Holiday Books Countdown 

These book templates are so FUN!!! I always have so many books I want to read with my students and this was the perfect way for me to turn it into an event. Twelve Days before Christmas Break, the fun begins! 

This countdown book template includes a page for each holiday book of your choosing, counting down the 12 days before Christmas (or Winter) break. There is a space for students to write the title and respond. I've included an editable option in case other teachers might want to include lines or a specific directions for students. 

No Prep Sub Plans 

Whether the Christmas season has brought you a case of the sniffles or your students have driven you to crazy town, these No Prep Lesson Plans will save your sanity! This set includes activities for a WHOLE DAY all centered around one of my favorite holiday books, Olive, the Other Reindeer. If you're avoiding Holiday themed books, check out my No Prep Plans for Tacky the Penguin or Tacky in Trouble.

Christmas Class Books

My Back to School Class Books were such a hit, I knew I needed a Christmas version stat! Class Books are SO amazing for SO many reasons. After reading the selected book, students all fill out the SAME response page. The teacher will collect the pages and tape or glue them into the Target blank books (from Target dollar spot). Add them to a special bin in your library and let your students read them all throughout the season!

I have made 8 book templates for the following Christmas books:

• Mooseltoe
• The Gingerbread Man (any version)
• Sneezy the Snowman
• The Night Before Christmas
• The Snowy Day 
• Olive, the Other Reindeer
• How to Catch an Elf
• “The Christmas Grouch” for your favorite GRINCHY story

DIY Snowman Kit

Do you want to build a snowmannnnnn.... sorry, now you have that song stuck in your head, right? Well, your students can too with my DIY SNOWMAN KIT!

If you want to stick with using only white Playdoh, you can search your local craft store or dig around at Walmart! Another option would be to purchase this bulk white modeling dough from Amazon. You can roll out small balls of it and pop one into each sandwich bag. Or, if you prefer to DIY, you can just make your own. Here's an easy, no-cook recipe!

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Looking for some Holiday Gift Ideas?
​Check out my previous post especially for Coffee Loving Teachers!