How to Make Christmas Magical in the Classroom
08 Jul, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- How to make Christmas magical in the classroom.
- Discover more about our education recruitment services.
As December approaches, the magic of Christmas begins to fill the air and students are excited for the annual festivities. As much as it’s up to parents and guardians to make Christmas magical for their children, Teachers and Teaching Assistants can bring the season to life and keep spirits high in the classroom.
However, celebrating Christmas in the classroom isn’t just about games, activities and decorations, it’s about creating moments that make learning fun, making memories, sharing experiences and embracing new traditions.
As it's the most wonderful time of the year, in our latest blog, we’re delving into how to make Christmas magical even in the classroom.
How to make Christmas magical in the classroom
5 ways to make Christmas magical in the classroom:
- Create a festive atmosphere.
- Encourage connection.
- Celebrate inclusive traditions.
- Make memories.
- Create gifts.
Create a festive atmosphere
A great way to make Christmas in the classroom just as magical as it is in the movies, is to change the atmosphere. While the classroom is a centre for learning, it is also a safe space for students to be themselves, have fun and make meaningful connections.
By decorating the classroom and incorporating Christmas activities into the curriculum, December can be a much more memorable and fun time for students. Teachers can transform the classroom into a more magical and exciting setting during the festive season by taking inspiration from Santa’s Grotto or a winter wonderland.
During the countdown to Christmas, Teachers may even want to start the day with a festive message such as a festive story, a sing-a-long or a Christmas joke to get everyone excited about learning in a more relaxed and fun atmosphere.
Creating an atmosphere of warmth and fun at Christmas time is essential as it helps students stay motivated and engaged, while also boosting morale across the classroom.
Encourage connection
Underneath all the snow, presents and festivities, Christmas is about connection and is typically a time when families and friends come together. In the classroom, building meaningful connections is crucial for learning and engagement and at Christmas time it’s even more important to create a sense of belonging.
At Christmas, both digital and face to face connections are highly valued by students as strong friendships help create a sense of belonging which plays a vital role in wellbeing. Christmas is the perfect time to make space for social and emotional learning in schools to reap the benefits of stronger relations in the classroom.
Teachers can make learning more engaging, fun and collaborative by setting hands-on projects and activities that require teamwork, communication and social skills, such as organising a Christmas party or working together to create a festive display.
Working together on a project can build confidence and trust as well boost motivation and improve behaviour. Encouraging connections, communication and kindness between students can strengthen relationships and help create a better, more connected and welcoming environment throughout the festive celebrations.
Celebrate inclusive traditions
The holiday season is the perfect time to inspire and inform students about different celebrations, cultures and traditions. Teachers can help make Christmas a magical and inclusive time for everyone in the classroom by embracing the diverse ways people celebrate around the world.
Different holidays have different meanings and delving into the history behind holiday traditions in other parts of the globe can ensure that all students experience magic in the classroom.
To understand how students celebrate holidays in different cultures, ask students to share their traditions and identify similarities and differences between their experiences.
Students can enjoy learning about different places and experiencing new traditions at Christmas such as trying a foreign food or hearing a new story or song.
Recreating and adopting new traditions in the classroom offers a great teaching and learning opportunity for all, one that sprinkles a bit of magic across the classroom regardless of religion, faith or culture. These shared experiences create moments of fun and inclusivity, allowing even students that don’t celebrate Christmas to feel welcomed, accepted and part of the festivities.
Students can reflect on what they’ve learned and in doing so, develop empathy, respect and open-mindedness, helping to inspire a deeper, more inclusive sense of community within the classroom.
Make memories
Christmas is a time for creating lasting memories and schools play a big part in that. Long after students leave school, they may not remember every lesson, but they will remember how they felt during the festive season.
Teaching staff can create moments of pure joy and magic by transforming the classroom into a winter wonderland or reimagining lessons with a Christmas twist.
Schools could even recall old magical memories from throughout the year with a reverse secret santa. Instead of giving gifts, each student anonymously writes a kind or funny compliment about another student. All the notes are mixed and read aloud (without names), so everyone can experience kindness and share a few laughs.
These simple but effective shared experiences and surprises bring students together and add a touch of warmth and wonder to the classroom. By focusing on simple, meaningful moments rather than material things, Teachers can help make this time of the year truly unforgettable.
Create gifts
For both students and Teachers, the act of giving and receiving a gift carries emotional and magical significance, but it isn’t always financially possible.
With the ongoing cost of living crisis, the pressure to buy gifts can be overwhelming, particularly for young people. That’s why creating gifts in the classroom can be a powerful and inclusive experience that’s memorable, engaging and cost effective.
Dedicating time in your lessons for students to make a gift is a great way to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get creative and make someone feel special.
Teachers can either assign each student a classmate or allow students the freedom to create a gift for someone of their choice, whether that’s a family member, a friend or even themselves.
For many students, the joy of giving and witnessing someone’s reaction can be a truly magical and memorable experience, especially when the gift is hand crafted. Best of all, every student leaves with something homemade, which teaches them the value behind intentional and thoughtful gift giving without the need for a big budget.
Recruit teaching, support and facilities staff
As a specialist education recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools with their recruitment needs.
Whether you’re searching for teaching, support, or facilities staff, we have exclusive access to some of the best educators in the North West.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- Primary schools - Jimmy Callagher
- Secondary schools - Liam Jones
- SEND schools - Jamie Heath
Teaching, school support staff and school facilities jobs
If you’re searching for a new career opportunity, why not take a look at the latest education jobs, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant job opening becomes available.
Meet Jamie Heath
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
