Sitting on Santa's lap, pin the nose on Rudolph and frosting Christmas cookies. That’s what we think of when we begin planning our classroom holiday party. But 2020 came and ruined all the fun, didn't it?
How in the world are we going to have a fun classroom Christmas party without any……fun? Here are a few ideas that will make your students smile, while still keeping it educational and all at a safe distance!
1. You've Been Elfed!
December is the month to add a little holiday cheer into the lives of others! Fill a special holiday basket with wrapped treats and other goodies for another classroom in your hallway. Decorate their doorway with tinsel and lights and tuck a little note in the basket telling them they've been elfed!
Keep the fun going around your hallway as each classroom takes a turn “elfing” each other!
How To Do This Activity Remotely – Fill a small goodie bag with dollar store candies and treats for each of your students. Drop it off in their mailbox at home and tell them it must have been from one of Santa's elves!
2. Fill Your Classroom With Holiday Music
There's nothing more lovely than listening to Christmas carols and holiday music during the month of December. Turn on the tunes as the kids arrive to class each day or play them softly in the background during your holiday party. There's plenty of free holiday music on YouTube and many have cute videos to accompany the tunes.
How To Do This Activity Remotely – Why not have a holiday sing-along as part of your daily google meet or zoom sessions? Choose a new Christmas carol to sing each day or add the link to your google classroom for kids to sing at home.
3. Spend A Day At The North Pole
You may not be able to have your traditional classroom holiday party but that doesn't mean you can't have fun! Turn your classroom into the North Pole, complete with twinkle lights and faux snow!
Tell your students, as they enter your winter wonderland, that they’ll be visiting the North Pole….all from the safety of their very own desk!
Begin the day with the story Jolly Old Santa Claus or The Littlest Elf to set the stage. Tell your students that Santa put an ad in the Toyland Gazette looking for some new helpers at the North Pole.
Have your students apply to be one of Santa's elves with this free official North Pole Elf Job Application and then let your students try out some of the different jobs of Santa's elves!
How To Do This Activity Remotely – Many of these activities are available in a Google slides version. Have your students join in the fun at home by doing the activity on their computer!
ACTIVITY 1 – THE ELVES BAKE COOKIES
The North Pole bakery is Santa's favorite place to visit and the elves keep busy helping Mrs. Claus make the cookies! At this activity, students can frost and sprinkle their own sugar cookies and make a cute Christmas cookie craft.
Give each child their own plate with a couple of cookies, a bit of frosting and sprinkles to make a real treat for your party. Then they can make this simple cookie craft at the safety of their own desk. (Available in a Google Slides version)
ACTIVITY 2 – THE ELVES FEED THE REINDEER
One of the most important jobs of Santa's elves is to care for the reindeer. At this station, your little elves will make some reindeer food! Give each child a small ziplock bag, some oats and “magic dust” to help the reindeer fly (glitter). Add this cute poem and they'll be ready to sprinkle it on the lawn on Christmas eve.
ACTIVITY 3 – THE ELVES TRIM THE TREES
One of the most important jobs is keeping Santa's village merry and bright. Your little elves can safely help Santa trim the trees with this cute Christmas tree craft. All that's needed is the tree pattern, colored dots, and a star on top! (Available in a Google Slides version)
ACTIVITY 4 – THE ELVES WRAP THE GIFTS
Who's in charge of wrapping all the gifts in Santa's workshop? Why the elves, of course! This is one job your students will love. Give each child some markers and a white paper lunch bag and they can decorate their own wrapping paper to use for a class made ornament or gift at home. (Available in a Google Slides version)
ACTIVITY 5 – THE ELVES HELP SANTA CHECK HIS LIST
Are you on Santa's naughty or nice list this year? Your little elves can safely play this Naughty and Nice game by giving them each their own game board, mover, and dice.
Have them play with a partner, but at a safe distance, taking turns reading their own deck of cards and determining if the activity on the card is naughty or nice. The first person to help Santa read his bag of toys in the center, wins the game. (Available in a Google Slides version)
ACTIVITY 6 – THE ELVES MAKE TOYS
What's the number one job of Santa's elves? Making the toys! In this cute activity, kids can make their own puzzle with a simple coloring page that they will cut apart and put in a ziplock bag. Trade with a friend to see who can put their puzzle together the fastest! (Available in a Google Slides version)
ACTIVITY 7 – THE ELVES HAVE SNOWBALL FIGHTS
Even the elves have to take a break once in a while! Their favorite sport is having snowball fights! Students can safely play this Snowball Sums game with a partner as they solve doubles addition facts. Your little elves will love throwing snowballs (cotton balls or marshmallows) into styrofoam cups to try and knock their opponent's snow fort down! (Available in a Google Slides version)
ACTIVITY 8 – THE ELVES MAKE CLOTHING
Dress your little elves in style with this cute elf hat craft. Easy to make at their own seat while they stay socially distant at the North Pole!
4. Holiday Treats and Snacks
No classroom holiday party would be complete without a few Christmas treats! If you're really feeling the holiday spirit you can add to the fun with some Santa crunch popcorn, Christmas oreo ornaments, or reindeer rice krispies.
But, if making treats isn’t an option, grab some pre-packaged (COVID safe) holiday goodies at your local grocery store. These Little Debbie gingerbread cookies taste delicious and these holiday-themed lollipops are adorable!
5. Add A Cozy Fireplace
Finally, add some warmth to your room with a digital fireplace! Your students will love eating their party treats by the cozy fireplace and chatting about all the fun they had at the North Pole!
As you can see, your classroom holiday party can still be fun even in the middle of this Covid pandemic! With a little imagination you can create a safe and fun atmosphere for your Christmas celebration!
Ready to spend a day at the North Pole with your little elves? Click here to grab this resource today! (Updated to include a digital Google slides version.
Looking for more engaging holiday activities that include a digital version for your classroom this December? Head over here to see our companion activities to the story The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett and how we adopt gingerbread babies of our very own!
