December is one of the most magical—and busiest—months in the classroom. Between assessments, holiday events, and sugar-level chaos, teachers need activities that are simple to prep, fun for students, and meaningful. Holiday ideas and tips to ease the chaos of December in the classroom.
If you’re looking to fill your December lesson plans with hands-on learning, purposeful centers, and a few pinch-of-magic crafts… you’re in the right place!
Below, I’m sharing several of my top-selling December resources on TPT—the ones teachers come back to year after year because they’re easy, adorable, and truly effective for early learners.
1. “Elf-a-Bet” Alphabet Craft + Tracing Practice
The perfect blend of fine motor fun and letter formation
If you teach TK, kindergarten or first grade, you know students need a lot of repetition when it comes to handwriting and letter recognition. That’s why the Elf-a-Bet activity has become such a beloved December favorite.
This resource includes:
- A cute elf craft that students assemble with simple, classroom-friendly shapes
- Uppercase and lowercase alphabet tracing pages
- A kid-friendly layout that makes independent work a breeze
- Built-in fine motor practice as students cut, glue, trace, and write
Teachers love using Elf-a-Bet for literacy centers, morning work, holiday rotations, and sub plans. The best part? It adds that festive December sparkle while still supporting essential printing and fine motor skills.
2. “S’Elf’less Acts of Kindness” Classroom Community Project
Build kindness, connection, and classroom culture all month long
Amid all the holiday energy, it’s important to center the idea of kindness—and this resource does exactly that.
The S’Elf’less Acts of Kindness project encourages students to complete small, meaningful acts of kindness throughout December.
It includes:
- Printable elf-themed kindness cards
- A class kindness challenge
- A reflection writing piece
- Optional craft elements for a kindness display
Teachers use this as:
- A countdown to winter break
- A daily morning meeting warm-up
- A December SEL focus
- A whole-class kindness goal and celebration
It’s an easy way to shift the classroom energy from “busy” to purposeful, generous, and joyful.
3. Shape-Based Elf Craft: “Express Your Elf!”
A creative math + art combo your students will adore
If you want a craft that doubles as a shape review, this Express Your Elf Shape Elf Craft activity is a must-have in December. Students build an elf using 2D shapes, then complete the recording sheet with the cute pun, “Express your elf!”
This resource is perfect for:
- Reviewing 2D shapes in a hands-on way
- Displaying a festive December bulletin board
- Supporting spatial reasoning and geometry vocabulary
- Integrating math and writing into one joyful project
Teachers often hang these on their December hallways—instant smiles guaranteed! Add a glitter border and you’ve got a showstopper display with meaningful math behind it.
Why Teachers Love These December Activities
- Low prep (because nobody has time for anything else in December!)
- Standards-aligned
- Festive without being overwhelming
- Flexible for K–2
- Perfect for centers, crafts, and SEL moments
These resources help teachers maintain structure and meaningful learning while still embracing the holiday fun.
Make December Magical—Without the Stress
Whether you need literacy practice, shape review, a craft that doubles as a bulletin board, or a kindness project, these resources will help you create a warm, joyful, and engaging classroom all month long. If you enjoy these ideas you may also like these resources and these blog posts.
If you use any of these in your classroom—please tag me on Instagram @teachingmore! I love seeing your little elves at work.
Happy Teaching – spreading Christmas Cheer in December!
