35 Fun Christmas Classroom Ideas to Try This Year

If you’re looking for some fun Christmas classroom ideas to try this year, then this post is for you. I’ll show you the best ideas to decorate your class door, your entire classroom and yourself, plus holiday themed classroom management ideas and learning activities that you and your students will love.

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Decorate Your Class Door

I love the idea of decorating your class door because then the whole school gets to see your class’s holiday spirit! I have found the most creative teachers out there that have created amazing classroom doors for the holiday season that you’ll want to copy.

1 | Gingerbread Classroom Door

This fifth-grade teacher, Constance created this holiday masterpiece with her students to help bring cheer to a student that was going through a rough time in their life. It looks like they brought a little magic to their classroom.

If you want to copy this idea start with brown butcher paper to create the gingerbread house and add candy cane patterned windows.  Get students involved by each decorating a paper plate that becomes a lollipop!

2 | Nutcracker Christmas Door with Student Pictures

How cute is this nutcracker Christmas classroom door? Add your students’ photos to the colorful nutcrackers, hang the matching bow banner, and scatter extra bows around the door for a festive finishing touch.

The kit includes lettering for Pre-K through 6th grade, so you can customize it for your class. Grab the printable Christmas classroom door decor kit on Etsy to create your own!

3 | Buddy the Elf Door

A great way to get your students excited is to add one of their favorite Christmas movie characters, Buddy the elf to your class door!

4 | Light up the School with Kindness

Light up your classroom with kindness this Christmas! Have students write their acts of kindness on colorful paper lightbulbs, then clip them to strings across your door to celebrate all the ways your class spreads joy.

The matching banner and rainbow lettering bring this cheerful display together. Grab the printable Christmas kindness classroom door kit on Etsy to create your own!

5 | Elfie Classroom Door

One of my personal favorite ideas that the whole class can have so much fun with is to create an Elfie Classroom door. Everyone can take their own elfie by popping their head in the window.

If you’re looking for more ideas on classroom door decorations for the holidays, you’ll love this post…

105 Creative Christmas Classroom Door Decorations

Holiday Themed Classroom Management

If you’re looking for new classroom management ideas that will get the kids excited just put a holiday twist on them. Check out some creative classroom management ideas to try in your class this time of year.

6 | Light up the Board for a Classroom Reward

I love this genius idea that Angela, a third-grade teacher from North Carolina came up with. She created this poster with the lights not colored and told her students a light would get colored when they were behaving well.

Then when all the lights were colored, they would get a special reward. Her students had a great time with it and were on their best behavior.

7 | 10 Days of Christmas Classroom Reward

Here’s a great idea from Morgan a third-grade teacher from Texas. She noticed that behavior was starting to slip before the holiday break, so she created this 10 days of Christmas poster.

When the class is focused for the day the student with the best behavior gets to unveil a flap at the end of the day. Under each flap is a note for class gifts like holiday pencils, hot cocoa or new books.

Do a Classroom Elf Activity

If your class is lucky enough to be visited by a classroom elf take advantage of this awesome opportunity by incorporating a new learning activity that the kids will be super excited to do. Check out below what some silly elves have done to bring festive cheer to their classrooms!

8 | Classroom Elf Arrival Idea

This class gets an elf every year with a special letter from Santa Claus explaining that the elf was sent to make sure the kiddos are behaving.

9 | Elf Surveillance Journal

If you’re looking for some fun Christmas classroom activities involving your class elf you can have students complete an elf surveillance journal.  In their journal they can write about all the fun things the classroom elf is doing!

10 | Funny Classroom Elf Ideas

One of the best parts of having a classroom elf is seeing where they’ll turn up each morning! From silly hiding spots to little classroom pranks, these mischievous visitors give students something fun to look forward to every day. Whether your elf is TPing the classroom or drawing funny faces on bananas, their playful surprises bring a little extra Christmas magic to your classroom.

If you’re looking for more fun classroom elf ideas, then check out this post… Creative Elf on the Shelf Classroom Ideas

Add Christmas Decor to Your Classroom

Check out the best ideas below to decorate your class for the Christmas holiday this year.

11 | Festive Ceiling Idea

Try hanging festive Christmas decorations from the ceiling to really get your students in the holiday spirit.

12 | Wrapped Christmas Desks

Here’s an excellent way to get your kids involved with the holiday decor. Have them wrap their desks in bright festive Christmas wrapping paper for instant holiday classroom cheer!

13 | Getting Administrators Involved in Holiday Decor

The perfect way to involve administrators in the holiday fun is to add their faces on the characters of your Christmas display!

14 | Cozy Classroom Fireplace

This is the perfect time to create a cozy reading space in your classroom library. You can create your own fireplace with lights and stockings and all!

15 | Cozy Holiday Reading Day

Plan a cozy holiday reading day with pajamas, favorite books, and comfy spots around the classroom! That cozy fireplace corner could be the perfect reading spot, with cushions and soft lighting. Mix independent reading with a festive read-aloud for a relaxing activity before winter break.

16 | Classroom Christmas Tree

How fun would it be to add a rainbow Christmas tree to your classroom this year? Wrap holiday books in colorful paper and place them underneath, then let students take turns unwrapping one each day to enjoy together during Christmas story time.

It’s such a sweet way to build excitement and make reading part of your classroom holiday traditions! You can find this rainbow Christmas tree on Amazon and top it with a color-changing light-up star for even more colorful Christmas magic. The tree topper even has a music mode where it changes colors with music!

Want more ideas to decorate your classroom for the holidays? Then check out this post…

Classroom Christmas Decoration Ideas

Incorporate Reading for the Holidays

Check out the ideas below to incorporate reading into your class for the holiday season that your students will love.

17 | Book Christmas Tree

This high school teacher created this book tree to add holiday cheer to her classroom and then let each student pick out a book to keep before Christmas break.

18 | Classroom Book Advent Calendar

This is a fun idea to create an advent calendar with books for the classroom.  Wrap each book like a Christmas present with a number on it. The kids will have fun opening and reading a new book each day.

Christmas Classroom Crafts

Now let’s check out some fun Christmas activities and Christmas crafts. These would be great to do with your class the week before winter break or even during your classroom Christmas party.

19 | Puzzle Piece Christmas Tree

Here’s a fun craft activity that creates a sense of community in your class. Each student receives a triangle to decorate and then you compile them to make this tree.

20 | Popsicle Stick Gingerbread House Frame

How cute is this gingerbread house photo frame for a student-made Christmas gift? Glue craft sticks into a house-shaped frame, then let students paint them gingerbread brown with red and green accents.

Once dry, decorate with white paint “icing,” glitter, gems, and a tiny wreath before attaching each student’s school photo behind the opening. Add a ribbon loop to turn it into a keepsake ornament or add a magnet on the back!

21 | Rudolph and Gingerbread Art Activity

The best holiday classroom decorations are students’ artwork.  You can have students create Rudolphs with fun glasses and dream up their own gingerbread houses for a fun Christmas bulletin board.

22 | Student Snow Globe Art Activity

Here’s a fun activity.  Have students create mini snow globe ornaments with the snow made out of fingerprints!

23 | Paper Plate Christmas Wreath Craft

These paper plate photo wreaths make a sweet classroom Christmas display and a keepsake for families! Have students paint a paper plate green with the center cut out, then add a red construction-paper bow at the top. Attach each student’s photo behind the opening and add a ribbon loop so they can hang their wreath at home.

24 | Fingerprint Christmas Ornaments

Here’s a fun craft that students can make as a parent gift. Students will use their thumbprints to create mini reindeer.

Festive Teacher Outfits

Another fun way to incorporate the holidays in the classroom is with your own festive holiday outfits. The crazier you get the more the kids will love it. You can wear a cute holiday sweater with jeans, add fun accessories like holiday headbands or go all out with a Christmas tree dress! Check out some of my favorites below.

25 | Festive Holiday Teacher Outfit Ideas

Looking for a little holiday outfit inspiration? These cute Christmas teacher outfits pair festive tops with comfy bottoms and fun accessories for December school days, holiday spirit week, and classroom Christmas parties.

From gingerbread and candy cane details to cozy snowman sweaters, there’s a look for every holiday mood! Shop all the Christmas teacher outfits and accessories here to put together your favorite look.

Classroom Holiday Activities

Next let’s check out some holiday activities that will get your whole class in the festive spirit for the season.

26 | Dear Santa Writing Activity

Letters to Santa are a fun writing activity that students will be excited to work on. Have students paint Santa Claus, too, and display their artwork alongside their letters for a festive bulletin board!

27 | Christmas Around the World

Take your students on a pretend trip with a Christmas Around the World activity! Give each student a paper passport and explore holiday traditions through books, maps, and simple crafts at different country stations. Students can collect a stamp after each stop and record something they learned about how families celebrate in different places.

28 | Paper Chain Christmas Tree

This teacher divides her class into groups of three and has them build a paper chain. Then the whole class works together to assemble the chains and create this cool tree that doubles as Christmas decor for the classroom.

29 | Elf Persuasive Writing Activity

Steal Miss Fairclough’s idea for a persuasive writing activity. Have students pretend they’re elves applying for a North Pole job and write a letter persuading Santa to hire them.

30 | Christmas STEM Challenges

Bring some holiday fun to your science and engineering lessons with Christmas STEM challenges! Give students simple supplies like craft sticks, paper, tape, and blocks, then challenge them to build Santa’s sleigh, a freestanding Christmas tree, or a bridge that supports a toy reindeer.

Encourage teams to test their designs, make improvements, and share what helped their creations stay sturdy.

 31 | Christmas Memory Writing Activity

Here’s another fun Christmas writing activity. Each student writes about their favorite Christmas memory to create a holiday display for the class.

Christmas Classroom Party Ideas

Celebrate the season with Christmas classroom party ideas that keep students busy and having fun! Set up stations with printable holiday games, a Christmas escape room, and a festive photo booth with props for silly pictures.

Students can rotate through the activities in small groups, making time for teamwork, laughs, and holiday memories. Check out these ideas below.

32 | Christmas Classroom Games

Keep students engaged before winter break with Christmas classroom games like scavenger hunts, word searches, and roll-a-Christmas-tree! This printable Christmas games and activities bundle from Etsy includes 50 activities, plus a surprise bonus, with options for different ages. Print your favorites for holiday party stations, early finishers, or a festive classroom activity break.

33 | Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Station

Set up a gingerbread cookie decorating station where students can add their own festive touches to premade cookies! Give each student a paper plate, a small icing bag, and cupcake liners filled with sprinkles and candies to keep supplies organized.

Let small groups visit the station during your classroom Christmas party, then send their creations home in treat bags or enjoy them at snack time.

For more ideas for Christmas treats for your classroom party check out this post…

50 Easy and Fun Classroom Christmas Treat Ideas

34 | Holiday Escape Room Game

Challenge students to save Christmas with The Grouch printable escape room from Etsy! Designed for ages 8 and up, this adventure includes 13 challenges and takes about 45–60 minutes, with no internet or physical locks needed.

For a classroom activity, print a set for each team of up to eight students and let them work together to recover Whytown’s missing presents before time runs out!

35 | Holiday Photo Booth

Set up a holiday photo booth with a festive backdrop and a basket of props so students can snap silly pictures with their friends! This Christmas photo booth prop set from Amazon includes 41 pieces, with holiday hats, beards, signs, and paper eyeglasses to mix and match.

Assemble the props with the included sticks and adhesives before the party, then let students strike their favorite holiday poses!

For more classroom Christmas party ideas check out this post…

50 Fun Classroom Holiday Party Ideas, Games & Activities

Hopefully you now have some new Christmas classroom ideas to try this year.  Feel free to save your favorite ideas to your Pinterest boards.  To do that just click on the picture, then the P and choose your board.

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