It's time to get start decking the classroom walls because the holidays are right around the corner! This is a time to celebrate, so inspire your students with a fun party that is sure to get them in the holiday spirit. Throwing a classroom party doesn't have to be a challenge. With a few fun ideas and quick tips you will be ready to play classroom party host in no time. So whether you are a teacher or a parent hosting a holiday party, here are a few tips to help you pull off a fun event. Download the free printable gift tags here for parent gifts!
I like to transform my student tables into little holiday tables where my students can choose their own seat and mix and mingle with their friends. To get started, I use some fadeless white shiplap paper as my tablecloth. This helps to keep the tables clean, but it can also be used at the end of the party for students to draw on. Running down the middle of my tables I use a roll of the buffalo plaid plastic tablecloth . I leave it doubled over and simply unroll it onto the tables. It goes on quickly and you can cut it easily once it is on the tables. To decorate the tables I have my students help with some craft projects. This year some simple Christmas trees were assembled and glued front to back to line the center of the tables.
Bright colored felt trees make adorable centerpieces amongst the students' trees. I love to get my students stockings as a memorable gift. I put a holiday coloring book and crayons inside as a gift students can use long after the party is over. Just add some colorful polka dotted plates to your table and you are all set. Since we were just serving simple finger foods we didn't need extra supplies but you could always include Christmas Paper Cups, polka dot napkins or light blue plastic silverware.
I have my students help to set the table for our party, this helps them take ownership. We go over etiquette, manners and how to talk with friends and socialize. Before we sit down to enjoy some holiday treats I have my students rotate between 4 stations; two crafts and two games. While they rotate I play holiday music. They can't help but sing along!
Our first craft station has students make this adorable reindeer craft kit. My students assemble their reindeer and personalize them with their names. Using fabric strips they tie them onto the back of the chair they want to sit in for the party.
For our second craft station students make an ornament to give their families for the holidays. This year they created photo ornaments using the clear plastic ornaments. I printed out black and white images of my students and had them pre-cut so they could easy fit into the ornament. They added a little dash of craft snow into each side and some colorful red, green and white pom poms.
The students used ribbon and fabric scraps to decorate the top of their ornaments. These make adorable keepsakes for parents. On the back I have each students sign their name and date it using a permanent marker.
Just have students wrap their ornaments in colorful tissue paper and place them into cute buffalo plaid favor bags. Add a cute printable tag ( I prefer to print these on bright cardstock) and attach with some washi tape and you have a perfect gift to send home to parents. Download the free printable tag here!
For the game stations I like to balance fun with some learning so I adapt games to review skills taught up until the holidays. Our first game station uses the wooden candy cane ring toss set.
On each candy cane I write a number, for example 3, 7, 9, 10, etc. Every ring that lands on the numbered candy cane my students have to multiply the number of rings by the number on the candy cane. When they are done they add their scores and compare to see who has more. This is a fun way to review those basic multiplication, addition and subtraction skills.
For the last game station holiday bowling is a class favorite. I write random 2 to 3 digit numbers on the bottom of each plastic tree. They take turns bowling and adding up the numbers on the bottoms of the pins that fall down. The person with the highest score after 5 rounds wins.
After our rotations are completed the students sit down to enjoy some holiday treats sent in by the parents. This is a time for them to socialize and use those manners we talked about earlier. As the party winds down I give each of my students an elf with a holiday ornament as a gift. On the ornament each student writes down their favorite classroom memory and their name. We take turns hanging these on our classroom tree. As we reflect on the memories from the year so far I am reminded how fast it all flies by. This is a great way to end our classroom festivities and a special day that they will remember.
