December can be a busy month in the classroom. But I love it because I like to incorporate Christmas themed things into our academics. It makes it more engaging and exciting for students. Plus, I think it’s a lot of fun! So today I thought I would share 5 math Christmas activities that I do in my 2nd grade classroom. However, keep in mind that these activities can work in both 1st grade and 2nd grade.

 

Math Christmas Activities

 

I Spy Math Facts – Christmas Math Activity Sheets

Children love the game I Spy. So I made worksheets where students get to play that game and work on math fact fluency at the same time. I print off a worksheet that has lots of different Christmas themed clipart. Then I hide different math facts. Students search through the clipart of Christmas trees, Christmas lights, reindeer, presents, and more to find certain kinds of facts.

For example, I may print off the page that has students look for facts that make 10. When they find a fact that equals ten, they write the answer to the equation. When students find a fact that doesn’t equal 10, I have them write the equation on the back of the page with the answer. So they get lots of practice with math fact fluency.

I have different versions of this worksheet where students find facts that make 6 all the way to facts that make 15, so I use these worksheets for the whole month of December. 

Find these December I Spy Math Fact Worksheets here. 

 

Christmas Math Riddles

Math fact riddles are another fun way to give students math fact fluency practice. These have fun facts that students solve math facts in order to reveal. I have some that are Christmas themed, such as giving facts about evergreen trees, snowflakes, and snowmen.

These are great to put in a math center for the month of December. I also like to set these out as fast finisher activities. All I have to do is print out the worksheets and they are ready for students. Find these math fact riddles here.

 

Christmas Math Game – Don’t Eat Pete

Don’t Eat Pete is a favorite game in my 2nd grade classroom. And I have a version with Christmas clip art which makes it really fun for students in the month of December.

In this game, students work in a small group. They choose one to leave the group as they choose “Pete.” (which is just one of the squares on the playing board.) When ready, they call the one player to come back. That one play starts to pick up “markers” as they say the math fact for each square.

When they go to pick up “Pete” they group says, “Don’t Eat Pete.” Then it is another player’s turn.

Students have a blast playing this game. Plus, it is low prep for teachers! Just print off the page and slip it into a sheet protector. 

Find this Don’t Eat Pete Christmas math activity here.

 

Christmas Math Boom Cards

If you like to incorporate technology into your classroom, then BOOM Cards are a great option for you. These are digital task cards and they are so engaging for students. I have a Christmas themed set that has students practice math fact fluency.

Students practice math facts by typing in the answer, dragging and dropping answers, or answering multiple choice questions. 

Boom Cards work on computers, laptops, and tablets. Find these Christmas themed BOOM Cards here.

 

Christmas Math Activity

My students love crafts, so I like to combine math and crafts. I call these math crafts or math craftivities. I will include math problems on the parts of the craft. Students solve the math problems and then cut out and glue the pieces together.

Before Christmas break, I have my students make a Christmas Tree Math Craft. There are four parts of the tree where students solve different math equations. Then they fold them down the middle and glue them together so it makes a 3-D effect. Students think this is so fun. You can send them home with students, or display them to decorate your classroom for the month of December.

Find this Christmas Math Craft here.

 

Christmas Math Lesson

You can use all of the math Christmas activities I’ve shared here in the blog post as a complete Christmas math lesson. You could use these the day before your school is let out for winter break. Here are 2 options I think you could do.

Option one has students making the Christmas Tree Craft at the same time. Then you can set out the I Spy worksheets, riddles, BOOM cards, and Don’t Eat Pete game as fast finisher activities.

Or the second day before school is let out you can have students complete the craft and then the next day do Christmas math rotations. Split students into 4 groups and have them rotate through completing the I Spy worksheets, riddles, Don’t Eat Pete game, and BOOM cards.

I personally like to do the Christmas math rotations. I feel like it keeps my students really engaged and working even when they have the “Christmas crazies” right before winter break.

So no more wondering what you can do to make math fun in the month of December. Use these math Christmas activities to get your students the fun practice they want and need.

 

Want to get a jump start on math activities for January? Check out this blog post: 5 Math Activities Perfect for the Winter Season

And make a fun January wall display by having your students write about their winter break. Learn how in this blog post: 3 Winter Break Writing Activities to Start Preparing For Now

Want other ideas on how to help students master basic addition and subtraction math facts? Check out my free workbook for teachers: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Facts Fluency.

Download your’s free, here.