Holiday traditions plus promo items for teachers help engage classrooms

By Stephanie Lamie

The weeks leading up to winter break bring a little extra excitement to the classroom. Students are counting down the days, seasonal traditions are in full swing and the energy in the air is bustling. Why not put some of that enthusiasm to good use? Seasonal activities give students opportunities to connect and learn from one another while building a stronger classroom community. That sense of connection matters: Research shows school connectedness is associated with better grades, improved attendance and greater engagement. Sprinkle these ideas—along with a few choice promotional items for teachers—into your plans to make the season more meaningful while helping every student feel welcome and included. 

Explore celebrations around the world 

The holiday season brings a natural opportunity to introduce students to traditions from a variety of cultures and communities. Read books, share videos or create classroom displays that highlight celebrations from around the world. Invite students to discuss family traditions and identify common themes, such as kindness, family and giving. Exploring a variety of customs can help students learn from one another while fostering feelings of respect and togetherness. Make the experience even more interactive with a passport activity using notebooks, holiday stickers and other school promotional items that encourage participation. 

Create a classroom gratitude tradition 

The end of the calendar year is a great time to encourage students of all grade levels to reflect on the people and experiences they appreciate. Set aside a few minutes each day or week for students to share something they’re grateful for, whether it’s a friend, family member, teacher, pet, possession or recent school memory. Create a gratitude wall, paper chain or bulletin board where students can add messages or shoutouts throughout the season. This simple tradition can encourage kindness, spark meaningful conversations and give every student a chance to contribute. Promotional items for teachers, like school supply pouches, can also be used to recognize students who receive peer shoutouts throughout the season. 

Launch a month of kindness 

Turn the season into a classroom-wide kindness challenge. Each day, encourage students to complete small acts of kindness, like helping a classmate, inviting someone to join a group activity, or writing a positive note to a teacher or staff member. Create a kindness calendar with a new challenge for each day leading up to winter break. Along the way, students will build empathy, strengthen relationships and help make the classroom a more positive place for everyone. 

Add a fun visual element by giving students colorful push-pop wrist straps to wear as they complete kindness challenges throughout the month. Or give push-pop stars as end-of-challenge rewards, helping students remember that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. 

Build a tradition tree 

Invite students to write a seasonal tradition, favorite winter activity or special memory on a snowflake or ornament for a classroom tradition tree. As students add their ornaments, the display becomes a visual celebration of the varied experiences that make up the classroom. This activity encourages storytelling and helps students learn about one another. 

Bring the tradition to life by having students create their own paper snowflakes with scissors and construction paper. Once their designs are complete, students can personalize them with markers, crayons and other craft supplies before adding them to the tree. At the end of the season, they can take their snowflakes home as a keepsake of the classroom community they helped create. 

Celebrate winter with a classroom read-in 

A classroom read-in is a simple way to slow down and enjoy the season together. Set aside time for students to read independently or listen to a favorite winter-themed story read aloud. Or have students pair up with a classmate and have them read to each other. The tradition promotes literacy while creating a cozy, memorable experience before winter break. Choose books that celebrate winter, friendship and community to foster a sense of belonging. Give students custom bookmarks to commemorate the experience. 

A season of belonging 

As winter break nears, these simple activities allow your students time to laugh, connect and make memories together. Pick a few favorites and—with a little help from well-chosen promotional items for teachers—make them new annual classroom traditions. 

Stephanie Lamie

Stephanie Lamie is a senior merchandising category manager who has been with 4imprint for 28 years, including 21 years in her current role. She oversees several product categories, with her largest areas of focus being writing instruments and tradeshow displays. Stephanie enjoys discovering new products, tracking industry and retail trends, partnering with suppliers and learning more about sustainability. She began her 4imprint career as an expediter before moving into sales, claims and corporate programs—experience that gives her a broad understanding of the business. As an expert in all things pens, she uses her deep knowledge of 4imprint’s departments and customer needs to bring the very best writing utensils and tradeshow products to the market.

All marks are the property of 4imprint or their respective owners.

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