Christmas classroom games: 20 festive ideas to engage students

Author: Megan Pitman
Published: 20/11/2024

Christmas classroom games - Santa board game scene

The run-up to Christmas is a magical and exciting time, but it can present challenges in the classroom. As teachers, we strive to keep students engaged and learning until the end of term. However, it's a delicate balance—motivation often wanes as students' minds drift towards the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Injecting festive cheer with quizzes and games is an excellent way to energize your lessons. Need inspiration? We've taken our popular classroom games templates and given them a festive twist!

20 Christmas classroom games that keep students learning

Our classroom games templates feature 20 versatile games suitable for all key stages and subjects, offering adaptable, engaging, and creative ways to support learning. Download the template pack for step-by-step teaching notes and all the printables you'll need to get started. It's available for £10 or free with a Premium subscription.

For Christmas, we've devised simple ways to transform our classic classroom games into festive versions your students will adore. They're perfect for end-of-term activities as the holidays approach!

1. Challenge track

The 'Challenge track' game is a board game that combines review and revision questions, where players move along a track by answering questions correctly and rolling dice, with different squares having various actions or forfeits.

Challenge track Christmas classroom game   

To create a Christmas-themed ‘Challenge track’ game:

  • Replace the regular board with a Christmas-themed track (e.g., a path through a winter wonderland or Santa's workshop)
  • Use Christmas-themed questions appropriate for the subject being taught (e.g., Christmas traditions around the world for a geography class, or Christmas-related maths problems)
  • Use Christmas-themed counters (e.g., mini Santa figures, snowmen, or reindeer)
  • Add a time limit to create a sense of urgency, like ‘Race to save Christmas’.

2. Chase

The 'Chase' game is a fast-paced board game that combines strategy, luck, and knowledge. Players move around the board by correctly answering questions, with the goal of capturing other players' counters.

Teachit 'chase' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Chase' game:

  • Replace counters with festive tokens (e.g., mini Christmas trees, gingerbread men, or elves)
  • Create Christmas-themed question cards or adapt the keyword system:
    • Use Christmas vocabulary for keywords (e.g., reindeer, mistletoe, tinsel)
    • Incorporate festive command words (e.g., 'carol', 'wrap', 'decorate')
  • Add special 'Christmas Magic' spaces that allow players to move to any space on the board
  • Rename the game 'Santa's Chase' or 'Reindeer Race' to fit the Christmas theme.

 

3. Chatterbox

The 'Chatterbox' game is a classroom adaptation of a popular playground game. It involves creating a folded paper fortune teller with questions or tasks hidden inside.

Teachit 'chatterbox' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Chatterbox' game:

4. Connect five

The 'Connect five' game is a grid-based quiz that combines strategy with subject knowledge. Players aim to answer five questions correctly, choosing one from each row, to win the game.

Teachit 'connect five' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Connect five' game:

  • Use Christmas-themed categories for row headings (e.g., 'Santa's Workshop', 'Reindeer Games', 'Christmas Carols', 'Holiday Traditions', 'Festive Foods')
  • Create difficulty levels for column headings (e.g., 'Elf', 'Reindeer', 'Mrs Claus', 'Santa Claus', 'Father Christmas')
  • Add 'bonus' squares that allow players to answer an extra question for a chance to win faster
  • Introduce 'Christmas magic' wildcards that let players choose any question on the board.

5. Cube

The 'Cube' game is a versatile activity that involves creating a six-sided cube. It can be used for revision, peer teaching, research tasks and decision-making exercises.

Teachit 'cube' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Cube' game:

  • Design a festive cube template with holiday patterns or images on each face
  • Develop a 'Santa's Workshop Cube' for maths, with Christmas-themed word problems on each face
  • Make a 'Christmas Around the World Cube' for geography, featuring festive traditions from different countries
  • Craft a 'Christmas Story Cube' for English, with prompts for creative writing on each side
  • Design a 'Christmas Science Cube' with winter-related experiments or concepts for science classes
  • Create a 'Christmas History Cube' exploring the origins of various holiday traditions.

6. Diamond nine

The 'Diamond nine' game is a ranking activity that encourages critical thinking and group discussion. Students arrange nine statements or ideas in a diamond shape based on their perceived importance or relevance.

Teachit 'diamond nine' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Diamond nine' game:

  • Use holiday-themed ranking criteria, such as 'most essential for a perfect Christmas' or 'most important to Santa's operation'
  • Incorporate a timer shaped like a Christmas tree or snowflake to add excitement
  • Have groups present their diamond arrangements to the class, explaining their choices using Christmas-themed vocabulary
  • Award points or small festive prizes for well-reasoned explanations and creative thinking.

7. Dominoes

The 'Dominoes' game is an adaptable classroom activity that involves matching questions with answers or keywords with definitions. It can be played individually, in pairs, or in small groups, and works well as a 'follow me' loop game or a traditional dominoes setup.

Teachit dominoes game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Dominoes' game:

  • Create Christmas-themed question and answer pairs for various subjects
  • Introduce 'wild card' dominoes featuring Father Christmas or reindeer that can be used to match any card
  • Use the game as a festive ice-breaker or end-of-term revision tool across various subjects.

8. Fast talking

The 'Fast talking' game is a fast-paced, team-based activity where players describe words or phrases to their teammates without using certain prohibited clues. It's based on the popular game 'Articulate' and encourages quick thinking and effective communication.

Teachit 'fast talking' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Fast talking' game:

  • Design festive game cards with Christmas imagery and categorise them into holiday-themed groups (e.g., 'Santa's Workshop', 'Christmas Carols', 'Holiday Traditions')
  • Introduce special 'Christmas Magic' cards that allow players to act out or draw their clues instead of describing them verbally
  • Add a 'Christmas Carol' challenge where players must hum or sing part of a carol for their teammates to guess
  • Award bonus moves for teams that can answer additional Christmas trivia questions between turns.

9. Heads and tails

The 'Heads and tails' game is a versatile activity suitable for small groups, combining chance with subject knowledge. Players flip a coin to determine whether they answer questions from odd or even-numbered squares on a grid, aiming to complete all nine boxes first.

Teachit 'heads and tails' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Heads and tails' game:

  • Fill the grid with Christmas-related content appropriate for different subjects
  • Add a twist: If a player lands on a special 'Santa's Workshop' square, they can choose any unoccupied square
  • Award small festive prizes or 'Christmas spirit points' for correct answers.

 

10. Hexagons

The 'Hexagons' game is an engaging activity that encourages students to make connections across topics. It involves arranging hexagon-shaped cards with keywords and explaining the relationships between adjacent concepts.

Teachit 'hexagons' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Hexagons' game:

  • Introduce 'Santa's Special Hexagons' that allow students to make connections across three or more keywords for bonus points
  • Use Christmas-themed prompts for explanations, such as 'How does [Keyword A] help Santa deliver presents more efficiently than [Keyword B]?'
  • Award 'Christmas spirit points' for creative and well-reasoned connections.

11. Hexbusters

The 'Hexbusters' game is based on the classic TV programme 'Blockbusters'. It involves teams competing to create a path across a hexagonal grid by answering questions correctly.

Teachit 'hexbusters' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Hexbusters' game:

  • Replace team colours with Christmas themes (e.g., 'Team Santa' vs 'Team Elves')
  • Incorporate 'Christmas Magic' squares that allow teams to choose any hexagon if answered correctly
  • Include bonus 'Christmas Carol' questions where teams must sing part of the answer.

12. Learning grid

The 'Learning grid' game is a versatile classroom activity that combines chance, knowledge recall and creative expression. Students roll dice to select squares on a grid filled with keywords or images, then perform various tasks related to the chosen item.

Teachit 'learning grid' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Learning grid' game:

  • Create Christmas-themed task cards for special squares:
    • 'Carol Charades': Act out a Christmas carol for others to guess
    • 'Festive Facts': Make up a Christmas-themed question for others to answer
    • 'Santa's Sketch': Quick draw a Christmas keyword for others to identify
    • 'Elf's Workshop': Use playdough to model a Christmas item for others to guess
  • Incorporate 'Christmas Magic' squares that allow students to choose any task
  • Award 'Christmas spirit points' for creative and well-explained answers.

13. Ludo

Ludo is a classic board game where players race their tokens from start to finish based on dice rolls. It's simple to play yet engaging, making it an excellent choice for classroom activities.

Teachit 'ludo' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Ludo' game:

  • Replace traditional coloured tokens with Christmas icons (e.g., Santa, reindeer, elves, snowmen)
  • Rename 'home' squares to 'Santa's Workshop' or 'North Pole'
  • Add 'Christmas Magic' spaces that allow players to move an extra space or ask another player a question
  • Award 'Christmas spirit points' for correct answers, with bonus points for explaining answers using festive vocabulary.

14. Matching

The 'Matching' game is a versatile classroom activity that can be played in various formats, including 'Snap' and 'Pelmanism'.

  • Snap (two players): Players simultaneously turn over cards from their sets. If a keyword and description match, the first to shout 'snap!' wins the pair. The player with the most pairs at the end wins.
  • Pelmanism (two to six players): Cards are placed face down. Players take turns flipping two cards, keeping matched pairs and earning another turn. The game continues until all cards are matched, with the winner being the player with the most pairs.

It helps reinforce key concepts and vocabulary across different subjects.

Teachit 'matching' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Matching' game:

  • Introduce 'Santa's Special Cards' that allow players to make a free match if drawn
  • Award 'Christmas spirit points' for correct matches, with bonus points for explaining the connection using festive vocabulary
  • Adapt the game rules to include festive twists:
    • In the 'Snap' version, players must sing a line from a Christmas carol instead of shouting 'snap!'
    • For 'Pelmanism', add 'Reindeer Run' cards that allow players an extra turn if drawn.

15. Pen and dice game

The 'Pen and dice' game is a dynamic pair activity that combines chance with knowledge recall. Students take turns answering questions on a grid, swapping roles based on dice rolls.

Teachit 'pen and dice' game   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Pen and dice' game:

  • Introduce 'Santa's Special Six' rule: Rolling a six allows the player to answer two questions in a row
  • Add 'Reindeer Bonus' squares that give extra points if answered correctly
  • Award 'Christmas spirit points' for correct answers, with bonus points for using festive vocabulary in responses.

16. Ping pong

The 'Ping pong' game is an engaging and interactive classroom activity that combines physical skill with knowledge recall. It involves teams answering questions or performing forfeits based on their ability to toss a ping pong ball into cups.

Teachit 'ping pong' classroom game   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Ping pong' game:

  • Replace regular cups with festive red and green cups or decorate them with Christmas patterns
  • Use a small bauble or a 'snowball' (white ping pong ball) instead of a regular ping pong ball
  • Design Christmas-themed forfeits, such as:
    • 'Reindeer Dash': Gallop around the room like a reindeer
    • 'Elf Whispers': Whisper a Christmas carol for your team to guess
    • 'Present Wrap': Attempt to wrap a small object with one hand
    • 'Snowman Sketch': Draw a snowman blindfolded
  • Add a 'Christmas Magic' cup that allows the team to choose any question if the ball lands in it
  • Award bonus points for answers given using festive vocabulary
  • End the game with a 'Christmas Carol Challenge' where teams must sing a carol to earn final bonus points.

17. Snakes and ladders

Snakes and Ladders is a classic board game where players move along a numbered grid, climbing ladders to advance and sliding down snakes to move backwards. It's a game of chance that can be easily adapted for teaching and learning.

Teachit 'snakes and ladders' game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Snakes and Ladders' game:

  • Use Christmas-themed counters like miniature Santas, reindeer, or elves
  • Introduce 'Christmas Magic' squares that allow players to move forward extra spaces if answered correctly
  • Add 'Carol Squares' where players must sing a line from a Christmas song to move forward
  • Incorporate 'Santa's Workshop' squares where players can earn bonus moves by answering quick-fire questions
  • End the game with a 'Christmas trivia challenge' where players must answer a final question to win.

18. Taboo

Taboo is a word-guessing game where players describe a keyword without using specific 'taboo' words. It's excellent for expanding vocabulary and reinforcing key terms.

Teachit 'taboo' classroom game   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Taboo' game:

  • Introduce 'Santa's Helper' cards that allow one 'taboo' word to be used
  • Add 'Carol Charades' rounds where players must hum or act out Christmas songs
  • Use Christmas-themed buzzers for the opposing team to signal when a 'taboo' word is used
  • End the game with a 'Christmas Cracker Challenge' where teams compete to describe as many words as possible in one minute.

19. Top trumps

Top Trumps is a popular card game where players compare numerical values on themed cards to win rounds. It's an engaging way to reinforce knowledge and practise comparing values across various subjects.

Teachit 'top trumps' classroom game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Top Trumps' game:

  • Use Christmas-themed categories such as 'Festive Factor', 'North Pole Rating', or 'Jingle Bell Score'
  • Include a 'Christmas Trivia' category where players must answer a question to use that score
  • Add 'Santa's Special' cards that have boosted scores in certain categories
  • Introduce 'Elf Helper' wildcards that can be used to swap a low score for a higher one
  • End the game with a 'Grand Christmas Challenge' where players use their collected cards to create the best festive story or solve a holiday-themed problem.

20. Word puzzle

Word puzzles are engaging classroom activities that challenge students to unscramble letters or syllables to form keywords or phrases, often guided by clues or questions. This versatile game can be adapted for various subjects and difficulty levels.

Teachit 'word puzzle' classroom game template   

To create a Christmas-themed 'Word puzzle' game:

  • Create Christmas-themed clues or questions to guide students
  • Introduce 'Santa's Helper' bonus letters that can be used in multiple words
  • Add a 'Reindeer Rush' timer to increase excitement
  • Include 'Elf Riddles' as additional clues for more challenging words
  • End the game with a 'Christmas Cracker Challenge' where students create their own festive word puzzle using the solved words.

 

Megan Pitman

Megan is a former geography teacher with experience working in a variety of secondary school settings teaching KS3, KS4 and KS5 students and as an online private tutor. During her teaching career, she delivered whole-school PSHE and British values initiatives and supported colleagues' professional development in these areas.