December is holiday season! This is the perfect time to showcase new activities based on some of the lesser-known theme days.

These theme days can be beneficial to your classroom as classes slow down right before winter break to keep the energy flowing.

Some of our favorite days for incorporating activities include:

• Make a Gift Day (December 3)
• National Dice Day (December 4)
• National Letter Writing Day (December 7)
• Gingerbread Decorating Day (December 12)
• National Ugly Sweater Day (December 16)

Look below for fun ways to make December special for you and your students before winter break.

Note: You do not have to have a theme activity on the actual theme day. Rather, use this list for new ideas and inspiration any time of year.

Make a Gift Day (December 3)

 
Now is a great time for your students to make gifts for the family.

There are many different crafts your students can make to give to their families this time of year. One of our favorite gifts is a handprint calendar for the coming up year! Sit your students down a few at a time and create a wonderful gift that families can use for the whole year, personalized by their child.

Another great gift is a salt dough handprint craft! This gift is also personalized from their kid's hands and can be painted by the child to give to their family during this giving season.

National Dice Day (December 4)

Count up those dice! This day is all about dice and the many different activities you can do with your class and dice. There are so many fun games you can play in your classroom that involve dice and how to count with them.

If you are looking for activities that require dice and counting, look no further than our own Pinterest page!

We have many different dice activities that you can print and allow your students to enjoy. We also have other worksheets other than dice to explore.

National Letter Writing Day (December 7)

A handwritten note is always something special. Have your class write a note to someone special in their lives. This can be a parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend. They can write about their favorite time with those individuals or thank them for something they did.

Your class can take these letters and either mail them or bring them home to give to that special person. This teaches your students about being kind to someone else and showing gratitude towards someone.

Gingerbread Decorating Day (December 12)

Gingerbread is super delicious during this time of year and the best part is being able to decorate them! To save time by not having to bake, use paper gingerbread people to decorate using glue and different types of accessories.

If you are looking to bake gingerbread, here is a simple recipe that can help you along the way. This activity is a fun craft for the class but also a delicious treat after the hard work of decorating them.

National Ugly Sweater Day (December 16)

What’s December without an ugly sweater? Buying sweaters for the whole class can be really expensive, that's why your students should be able to draw what they want their sweaters to look like.

It is much cheaper and makes for a fun activity in the classroom. This day is also the perfect time to have an ugly sweater party before winter break!