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40+ Christmas Maths Activities – Festive Numbers Galore

Written by Blake Simpson Last Updated on September 29, 2023

The most wonderful time of the year is here, and it’s time to infuse some festive spirit into your math lessons. Yes, you read that right! Christmas isn’t just about decking the halls and unwrapping presents. It’s also an excellent opportunity to make learning math fun and engaging for your students. So, grab your Santa hat, sprinkle some holiday magic, and let’s explore 40+ Christmas Maths Activities that will turn your classroom into a festive number galore!

Christmas Maths Activities for Kindergarten

The holidays are a time of joy and wonder, and there’s no better way to celebrate with kindergarteners than with math games that have to do with Christmas. In this piece, we’ll look at some fun and useful ways to add some Christmas magic to early math learning.

1. Counting Santa’s Presents

Let’s kick off our Christmas math journey with everyone’s favorite gift-giver, Santa Claus! Create a worksheet with rows of gift boxes, each containing various presents. Then, encourage your little ones to count the presents in each box and write the corresponding numbers. This activity sharpens counting skills and adds a sprinkle of holiday excitement.

2. Patterned Ornaments

Deck the halls with patterns! Provide your students with ornament stickers in various colors and shapes. Ask them to create beautiful patterned designs on a paper tree or wreath. Not only will this activity enhance their pattern recognition, but it will also unleash their creativity.

3. Snowflake Addition

Snowflakes are unique, just like every math problem! Use snowflake-shaped flashcards with addition problems. As your kindergarteners match the correct answers, they’ll learn that math can be as enchanting as a winter wonderland.

4. Gingerbread Subtraction

Who can resist gingerbread cookies during the holidays? Turn these tasty treats into math tools! Draw gingerbread men on paper and use them to teach subtraction. As kids “eat” the gingerbread cookies, they’ll discover the sweet side of learning math.

5. Santa’s Shape Sorting

Santa’s toy workshop is bustling with shapes waiting to be sorted. Provide your students with a variety of toys in different shapes. Challenge them to categorize the toys by shape, fostering shape-recognition skills while having fun.

6. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” Board Game

Players take on the role of Santa Claus and work together to deliver presents to children worldwide. The game board features a beautifully illustrated map of the globe, and players must strategize their routes to ensure that every gift is delivered on time. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” encourages cooperation, planning, and problem-solving.

7. Snowman’s Shapes

Building a snowman is a cherished winter tradition. Turn it into an educational experience by having kids create snowmen using various geometric shapes. They’ll learn about shapes while crafting their very own frosty friend.

8. Candy Cane Patterns

Candy canes are a holiday favorite, and they also make fantastic tools for teaching patterns. Give your students a selection of candy cane patterns to continue, helping them grasp the concept of sequencing and patterns.

9. Christmas Tree Symmetry

What’s more symmetrical than a Christmas tree adorned with baubles? Fold a piece of paper in half, draw half of a Christmas tree, and let your students complete the other half symmetrically. It’s a wonderful way to introduce the concept of symmetry.

10. Wreath Fractions

Wreaths are circular, making them perfect for introducing fractions. Cut out different colored paper circles and ask your students to divide them into equal parts, teaching them the basics of fractions in a festive way.

Christmas Maths Activities for Middle School

Forget the notion that math is boring; let’s make it as exciting as unwrapping presents on Christmas morning. So, put on your Santa hat and get ready to explore the world of Christmas math!

1. Santa’s Sleigh Geometry

Santa’s sleigh may seem like a magical vessel, but it also obeys the laws of geometry. Introduce your students to the fascinating world of geometric shapes by challenging them to design their version of Santa’s sleigh using various shapes such as triangles, circles, and rectangles. This activity reinforces geometry concepts and lets them exercise their creative muscles.

2. Christmas Math Mazes

Mazes are a great way to warm up and review different math concepts. You can find math mazes with a Christmas theme that teach different middle school math ideas. It takes to finish these mazes is between 5 and 15 minutes, which makes them great for every day in December.

3. Stocking Probability

Santa’s stockings are filled with surprises, and probability plays a significant role in what you’ll find inside. Create a fun stocking-stuffing game where students calculate the probability of receiving certain gifts based on size, shape, or color. It’s a great way to introduce probability concepts with a festive twist.

4. Christmas Tree Exit Tickets

Make your exit tickets festive by turning them into Christmas ornaments. Students can complete their exit tickets on ornament-shaped pieces of paper and display them on the classroom door or a designated wall area. This simple idea allows students to showcase their work while adding a touch of holiday decor to your classroom.

5. Order of Operations Puzzle

Reviewing the order of operations is crucial, and a Christmas-themed puzzle can make it more engaging. Create a puzzle where students must solve and match problems to their correct solutions. This hands-on approach helps reinforce the order of operations while adding a fun holiday twist.

6. Real-World Math Activities

Use math tasks from the real world related to the holidays. For example, you might need to figure out how much money you have to spend on gifts, measure ingredients for holiday recipes, or compare prices when buying decorations. These activities show students how math ideas can be used and applied in the real world.

7. Trigonometry with Reindeer

Santa’s reindeer are known for their precise navigation skills. Introduce your students to trigonometry by having them calculate the angles and distances Santa’s sleigh must travel to reach each house. It’s a challenging yet engaging way to explore trigonometric concepts.

8. Wits and Wagers Trivia Game

Engage your students with a fun trivia game incorporating math questions about the holiday season. This game encourages students to make educated guesses about numerical answers to various holiday-themed questions. It’s an excellent way to boost teamwork, estimation skills, and problem-solving.

9. Christmas Math Puzzles

Puzzles are a fantastic way to stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Create a variety of Christmas-themed math puzzles, including crosswords, logic puzzles, and riddles. These puzzles will keep your students engaged while honing their mathematical abilities.

10. Santa’s Sudoku

Sudoku is a favorite puzzle game that can be given a holiday twist. Design Christmas-themed Sudoku puzzles with holiday symbols and numbers. Your students will have a blast solving these brain teasers while embracing the holiday spirit.

Christmas Math Activities For High School

High school students can also enjoy the festive spirit of Christmas while sharpening their math skills. In this article, let’s engage in Christmas-themed math activities designed to challenge and inspire older learners during the holiday season.

1. Christmas-themed Trashketball

Play “Trashketball” in the classroom and go over Algebra 1 or other units. For a Christmas theme, the crumpled-up papers will be the “snowballs,” and the trash can be a Christmas target. One point for the right answers and one for making a good shot.

Learn more: Christmas-themed Trashketball

2. Make: The 12 Days of Christmas

The end of the year is a perfect time for a scavenger hunt, a fun activity everyone can enjoy. Students answer the math problems that serve as clues to uncover the next step in the puzzle. To make it fit into the festive decor. Include some festive deco and candy canes at each stop, and put the clues in red and green envelopes.

3. Math teachers’ fun Jeopardy revision class

Jeopardy in the classroom is a tried-and-true game, and when the kids make their own version, you really have their attention. By making different questions and answers, they are reviewing. Play this quick and challenging game. Excellent for teaching math.

4. Mathematical Caroling

Who says caroling can’t be a math activity? Create mathematical carols with equations instead of lyrics. Your students can sing their way through algebra, calculus, and geometry problems. It’s a harmonious blend of music and math, adding a festive twist to learning.

5. Santa’s Statistical Workshop

Santa’s workshop is bustling with activity, making it an ideal setting for statistics. Collect data on toy production, elf performance, or even reindeer behavior. Then, have your high school students analyze and interpret the data using statistical methods. It’s a practical application of statistics in a whimsical context.

6. How to Afford for Family Christmas Dinner?

At Christmas, everyone loves to eat. On the other hand, many of us don’t know how much it costs to buy and cook a holiday meal. Give your kids different budgets and instructions on how to figure out how much money is spent on the holiday meal using math.

Learn more about How to Afford Family Christmas dinner

7. Christmas Shopping Spree

Holiday shopping is a tradition for many, but shoppers should be mindful of promotions and discounts. Being a smart shopper is a sign of intelligence. This section has many useful teaching materials and mathematical activities for high school pupils. The students will enjoy going on an imaginary shopping trip.

8. Gingerbread Math Pack

Whenever the holiday season rolls around, your mind automatically goes to the gingerbread mansions you attempted to build but which collapsed within 24 hours. Due to the weight of all the sweets, the structure collapsed. Students will have a great time playing in this math-related activity.

9. Let it snow!

Due to global warming, it doesn’t snow much in many places, but around Christmas time, it can snow a lot in some states in the US and Canada. In the math lesson, let’s talk about the weather and how much it rains and snows on average in the winter.

10. Ann Dickerson Candy Cane Math and Hypothesis

Candy canes have become a popular snack among teenagers. Predicting the rate at which candy canes will melt is a fun science experiment. Prediction is the game’s name here; students will learn how to keep track of their data and findings using a record sheet and observation sheet.

11. Hands-on Math at Christmas

Scrabble math is enjoyable to construct and play inside and outside the classroom, so put away those textbooks and get out the board games this holiday season. All ages are welcome; younger players may use calculators to get an edge.

12. Complex Conic Christmas Decorations

Conic sections may sound complex, but they can be transformed into beautiful Christmas decorations. Have your high schoolers create holiday-themed conic section art, including circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. It’s a creative way to explore the world of conic sections while adding a festive touch to the classroom.

Christmas Math Activities for Preschoolers

Christmas math activities can add to the enchantment of the holiday season for preschoolers. Looking at some fun and age-appropriate ways to teach young children some basic arithmetic while also getting into the holiday spirit.

1. Reindeer Counting

Santa’s reindeer are getting ready for their big night and need your preschoolers’ help! Create a fun counting game with reindeer-themed visuals. Encourage the little ones to count the reindeer and match the correct number. It’s a delightful way to enhance counting skills and connect with the magic of Christmas.

2. Measure An Elf

Measuring an elf is not just a whimsical holiday activity; it’s also a fantastic way to introduce children to basic math and measurement concepts. This hands-on and engaging activity can be incorporated into your holiday festivities or used as an educational project in a classroom setting.

3. Gingerbread Man Matching

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday favorite and can be used for a delightful matching game. Create pairs of gingerbread man cut-outs with different patterns or decorations. Ask your preschoolers to match the gingerbread men with identical designs. It’s a scrumptious memory and matching game rolled into one.

4. Jingle Bell Number Hunt

Jingle bells are synonymous with the holiday season and can be a fun way to introduce numbers. Hide jingle bells around the classroom and provide your preschoolers with number cards. As they find the bells, they should match them to the corresponding number. It’s a festive scavenger hunt that reinforces number recognition.

5. Decorate the Christmas Tree (Counting)

What’s Christmas without a beautifully decorated tree? Provide your preschoolers with a paper Christmas tree and colorful ornaments. Ask them to decorate the tree while counting each ornament they place. It’s a hands-on activity that combines creativity and counting.

6. Snowflake Size Comparison

Snowflakes are intricate and come in various sizes. Create a collection of paper snowflakes in different sizes and ask your preschoolers to arrange them from smallest to largest. This activity introduces size comparison and adds a touch of winter wonder to the classroom.

Baking cookies is a cherished holiday tradition. Get your preschoolers involved by baking and decorating Christmas cookies. Use cookie cutters in various shapes—stars, bells, and Christmas trees. They’ll learn about shapes as they decorate the cookies and enjoy a tasty treat afterward.

8. Colorful Stocking Sorting

Santa’s stockings come in a rainbow of colors. Provide your preschoolers with a set of miniature stockings in different colors. Challenge them to sort the stockings by color, fostering color recognition and sorting skills. It’s a colorful and engaging activity.

9. Counting Holiday Lights

Holiday lights brighten the season and can also brighten up math lessons. Create a string of paper holiday lights with numbers on them. Your preschoolers can practice counting by attaching the lights in the correct numerical order. It’s a charming way to combine counting and creativity.

10. Snowy Pattern Play

Snowy landscapes offer a wonderful backdrop for exploring patterns. Use white paper as a snowy canvas and colorful stickers or cut-outs as pattern pieces. Encourage your preschoolers to create their own snowflake patterns. It’s a creative and tactile approach to learning about patterns.

Bottom Line

Let math be the guiding star that illuminates your classroom this holiday season. With these 40+ Christmas Maths Activities, you can transform learning into a festive and mathematically enriched experience. Math isn’t just about numbers; it’s about problem-solving, critical thinking, and practical applications, and these activities showcase that beautifully. So, enjoy the holiday spirit through a mathematical journey with your students as enchanting as the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree. Happy holidays and happy learning!