The holiday season in the classroom isn’t just festive—it’s full of magical moments that students remember for years to come. We asked some of our amazing Epic Ambassadors to share their favorite holiday read-alouds and classroom traditions, and wow—these ideas are full of joy, imagination and heart.
Whether you’re looking to spark creativity, build classroom community or simply soak up some seasonal fun, these teacher-tested ideas have you covered.
(And don’t miss the FREE printable bonus section at the end!)
Classroom Activities Inspired by Books on Epic
Alphabet Elf Letter Hunt
From Educator Ambassador Mrs. Montford
Book Pick: How to Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace
Activity: “For a fun and engaging Elf on the Shelf activity in kindergarten, hide alphabet letters around the classroom before students arrive and place a note with the elf that says, ‘I hid some letters! Can you help me find them?’ When students enter, explain that the elf needs help collecting the letters before magic time. As students search the room and find each letter, they bring it to the carpet to say the letter name, the sound it makes and a word that begins with that sound. All the letters are then placed in the elf’s basket together. To extend the activity, students can draw and label an object that begins with the letter they found.”
What makes this book a favorite: “I love How to Catch an Elf because it captures my students’ imagination… It’s a story that brings joy, sparks curiosity and creates a magical learning moment we all look forward to each holiday season.”
Zodiac Feast & Lunar New Year Celebration
From Educator Ambassador Jessica Caldwell
Book Pick: The Great Race by Dawn Casey
Activity: “For a fun and engaging Elf on the Shelf activity in kindergarten, hide alphabet letters around the classroom before students arrive and place a note with the elf that says, ‘I hid some letters! Can you help me find them?’ When students enter, explain that the elf needs help collecting the letters before magic time. As students search the room and find each letter, they bring it to the carpet to say the letter name, the sound it makes and a word that begins with that sound. All the letters are then placed in the elf’s basket together. To extend the activity, students can draw and label an object that begins with the letter they found.”
What makes this book a favorite: “I used to live in China, so this activity is very close to my heart. Students love discovering their zodiac animal and learning the story behind it. There are also individual ‘Year of the…’ books on Epic for them to explore. The Lunar New Year feast is always a big hit—and something my students have loved year after year.”
Holiday Passport Project
From Educator Ambassador Hannah Roddy
Book Pick: The Story of Our Holidays: Chinese New Year by Joanna Ponto, Faye Robinson
Activity: “My class ‘travels’ the globe in December to learn about winter holidays. At home, students work with their families to present how they celebrate.”
What makes this book a favorite: “I love giving my students the opportunity to not only learn about other cultures but have the chance to teach each other… This helps create an inclusive classroom where everyone appreciates and celebrates their differences.”
Share the Joy Donation Drive
From Educator Ambassador Lydia Dennison
Book Pick: Mr. Simon’s Special Christmas by Marine Gérald
Activity: “Inspired by the story, my class organized a donation drive for a nearby school—gathering toys and books to spread joy.”
What makes this book a favorite: “This book connected beautifully to our theme of sharing and empathy… Through the characters’ choices and emotions, students explored what it truly means to care for others.”
Global Holiday Flight Adventure
From Educator Ambassador Deltonya Rawlins Sayers
Book Pick: Ms. Rawlins Sayers couldn’t pick just one— she loves to read multiple books exploring holidays around the world. Check out our holiday collection for ideas!
Activity: “My classroom becomes an airplane and students travel the globe with snacks, videos, crafts and of course—books from Epic. Passports get stamped, traditions are explored and real foods are sometimes tasted.”
What makes this book a favorite: “We love this activity because it brings learning to life… It builds curiosity, empathy and appreciation for diversity all while keeping learning fun and engaging.”
Presidential Pups & Global Traditions
From Educator Ambassador Kristy Buchalla
Book Pick: First Dog’s White House Christmas by Patrick Lewis, Beth Zappitello
Activity: “Before reading this text to students, we look at photos of the White House interior at Christmas and share our observations. After reading, we make a chart of the dogs, the countries they are from, and what they brought to the White House. To incorporate Social Studies, we write a detail about Christmas in Zimbabwe, Australia and Canada. If you wanted to add a holiday craft to follow this text, kids could use dog bones, red ribbon, small googly eyes and a small red pom-pom to make reindeer ornaments. You could also make gingerbread dog ornaments using an easy Pinterest recipe, a dog cookie cutter and ribbon.”
What makes this book a favorite: “This book allows me the opportunity to teach them to organize information, locate text evidence and compare/contrast what Christmas looks like around the world.”
Snow Talk & Writing Fun
From Educator Ambassador Mrs. Sabrina Jackson
Book Pick: Our Snowy Day by Robert Rosen
Activity: “I work in a special education classroom where some of the kiddos do not read on grade level. I like playing Our Snowy Day because the kids get to think about fun activities to do in the snow and outside. We share the different things we do with our families and friends.”
What makes this book a favorite: “We live in a very snowy area and it is just so pretty to look at. The snow usually puts everyone in the holiday spirit and when it is count down to Winter Break time, these activities help them steer their classwork into their excitement. I get to expand on their writing while still keeping it enjoyable.
Classroom Activities Featuring Books From Your Library or Book Store
Snowman Story Swap
From Educator Ambassador Christina Schik
Book Pick: Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Activity: “After reading Snowmen at Night, my fourth graders write their own version of the story. They practice adding descriptive details about their snowmen and describe what their own snowman would do if it came alive at night! (Night at the Museum meets wintertime!) They then write their final draft on snowman-shaped paper and decorate it to look like their snowman before their night out. It is a hit every single year!”
What makes this book a favorite: “What I love about this activity is that I really get to see my students’ creativity and imagination come through!”
The Grinch’s Daily Surprise
From Educator Ambassador Leslie Rennick
Book Pick: How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Activity: “As soon as the month of December arrives in my classroom, so does the Grinch! He brings his book for me to read aloud to my class along with daily notes, treats, tricks, and games. He moves around my classroom every day to watch student behavior and to keep track of who is following school expectations. When students are good, he leaves them treats and plays tricks on Mrs. Rennick. When students misbehave, he leaves treats for Mrs. Rennick and plays tricks on them. Each day leading up to Christmas break, he spreads Christmas Magic within my classroom for all to enjoy. This year, we will have 14 school days in December leading up to Christmas break where the Grinch will be spreading cheer. We can’t wait to see what his visits bring!”
What makes this book a favorite: “This brings some Christmas magic into my classroom and into the lives of all of my students. This provides some really great core memories for myself and all of my students.”
Cajun Left-Right Game
From Educator Ambassador LeAnna Whittington
Book Pick: Cajun Night Before Christmas by Trosclair & James Rice
Activity: “After reading the story aloud—complete with Cajun accents—we play the Left-Right game with gift bags filled with candy and a homework pass.”
What makes this book a favorite: “My students absolutely eat up the Cajun twist and the accents. It feels like home and the kids giggle through the whole read-aloud.”
A huge thank you to all of our Epic Educator Ambassadors for sharing these ideas! Whether you’re looking to celebrate global traditions, encourage kindness or simply enjoy a good festive read, these book-based activities bring warmth and wonder to the season.
FREE Bonus Printables
Check out these fun printables that encourage reading and creativity in the classroom and at home over holiday break.
Want even more ways to make spirits bright? Explore winter tales, holiday adventures and much more in our A Very Epic Holiday Collection—curated just for kids (and the grownups who love reading with them).
Wishing you and your classroom a joyful, story-filled holiday!
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What are good holiday classroom activities?
Great holiday classroom activities often start with a great book. As our Epic Educator Ambassadors have shown, the most memorable ideas come from stories that spark creativity, curiosity and connection. You might try an alphabet letter hunt inspired by How to Catch an Elf, snowman storytelling with Snowmen at Night, a donation drive after reading Mr. Simon’s Special Christmas or a Lunar New Year feast alongside The Great Race. Some teachers even take their students “around the world” with holiday passports and global traditions using books available right on Epic. Whether you’re building classroom community, exploring different cultures or adding a little seasonal magic, book-based activities make the holidays meaningful and fun.
▶ What books are best for holiday read-alouds?
The best holiday read-alouds are the ones that capture your students’ imagination while opening the door to meaningful conversations, creativity and joy. Favorites from our Epic Educator Ambassadors include How to Catch an Elf for playful phonics fun, Snowmen at Night for inspiring imaginative writing, and Mr. Simon’s Special Christmas for teaching empathy and giving. The Great Race and The Story of Our Holidays: Chinese New Year are perfect for exploring global traditions, while Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins introduces students to Hanukkah through a spooky, engaging tale. Whether you’re looking for laughter, heart or cultural learning, there’s a read-aloud to match every classroom vibe—and many are available on Epic.
▶ How do I incorporate books into holiday classroom activities?
Start by using read-alouds as springboards for engaging, hands-on experiences. A single story can inspire everything from creative writing and themed crafts to cultural explorations and classroom games. Books give students an emotional connection to the lesson, making it easier to build comprehension, spark discussion and bring the holiday spirit to life in a meaningful way.
