7 Festive Classroom Games to Brighten Up the Holiday Season

Materials:

• Wooden or plastic spoons
• Cotton balls or (or mini pompoms)
• Ribbon or similar to mark the finish line

Objective and Rules

Students follow a course marked on the ground while keeping their “snowball” on their spoon. This can also be done in teams as a relay race. Whenever a player drops their snowball, they have to go back three steps.

Materials:

• One pair of thick mittens per student or team
• Individually wrapped candies with twisted paper/plastic wrappers or small items wrapped in wrapping paper

Objective and Rules

Individually or as part of a team, students must completely unwrap their candy or items while wearing the mittens. The first person or team to unwrap their candy or item wins. 
 

Materials:

• One tray or desk per team (if using physical items), or, if playing as a class, your interactive whiteboard
• Place or display 7 to 8 holiday-themed objects (decorations, elves, reindeer, etc.) on the trays or interactive whiteboard   

Objective and Rules

Students have a few seconds to study the collection of items. Next, the game leader covers the board (or asks students to close their eyes) and removes one item. The leader uncovers the tray or asks students to open their eyes. The first team to name the missing object scores a point.

Materials:

• One Santa hat for the teacher
• Toques or Santa hats for each student

Objective and Rules

Start the day with your Santa hat on, and instruct your students to put their hats on when they arrive. The only rule for this game is that no one can take off their own hat until the teacher has removed theirs. Wait until your students are distracted, then discreetly take off your hat. The last student to take their hat off loses.

Materials:

• Party balloons (inflated, but not too fully)  

Objective and Rules

In teams of two, students must follow a course (marked out on the floor with tape or around chairs, etc.), holding the balloon between them without using their hands (back to back, hip to hip or forehead to forehead). The first pair to finish without dropping their balloon wins. 
 

Materials:

• An elf plushie or other doll/figurine

Objective and Rules

One student (or the teacher) hides the object somewhere in the classroom. The others have to find it. The hider gives clues by saying “cold” (far away), “warm” (getting close), or “hot” (very close). The first person who finds the object gets to be the next hider.

Materials:

• Scrap paper
• Pencils 

Objective and Rules

Divide the class into two groups. Ask each student to write down a Christmas-related word (e.g., tree, present, reindeer, carol) on a slip of paper. Then, have them fold up their papers and drop them into a container. Students will take turns drawing a slip of paper from the hat and acting out the word without speaking, while their team tries to guess it.