🎄Christmas Math and Literacy Centers for Kindergarten - Hands-on December Activities
When December Hits, I Don’t Want to Fight the Holiday Wiggles… I Want to Use Them.
It was the week after Thanksgiving, and my kids were practically vibrating with excitement—counting down to Christmas, singing carols on repeat, and asking if we could make snowmen out of marshmallows before breakfast. Sound familiar?
I used to struggle to keep them focused this time of year… until I started leaning into the magic of the season. These Christmas-themed math and literacy centers feel like play, but they pack in real learning. My kids don’t even realize they’re practicing reading and math skills—they’re just decorating gingerbread houses, smashing snowballs, and filling Santa’s sleigh.
And honestly? That’s what I love most about them.
What’s Included:
✏️7 Literacy Centers:
✅ Christmas Tree Sight Word BINGO
✅ Gingerbread Rhyming Cookies
✅ Hot Cocoa Sound Fix
✅ Snowball CVC Word Smash!!
✅ Roll, Read & Build a Gingerbread House
✅ Roll, Read & Build a Snowman
✅ Spelling Snowmen
➕6 Math Centers:
✅ Gingerbread Counting
✅ Santa’s Sleigh Addition
✅ Santa’s Workshop Measuring
✅ Snowball Throw Subtraction
✅ Fill the Stocking Fun
✅ Roll-A-Tree
✏️Literacy Centers:
🌟Christmas Tree Sight Word BINGO
Practice sight words in a festive, playful way! Kids use red, blue, and yellow chips to cover Fry words on Christmas trees. I use this one during small groups or as a morning warm-up—they love the game feel.
🍪Gingerbread Rhyming Cookies
Match rhyming words to decorate your cookie! Each gingerbread cookie features a CVC word, and kids find the matching rhyme to complete the set. This activity builds phonological awareness in the sweetest way.
☕Hot Cocoa Sound Fix
Sort marshmallow letters into hot cocoa cups based on beginning, middle, or ending sounds. Cozy phonics practice that kids always ask to repeat!
❄️Snowball CVC Word Smash!!
Smash and roll Playdough snowballs as you sound out each CVC word—tap each sound, then roll the snowball to blend it! This playful, hands-on activity builds decoding skills while keeping kids moving and engaged.
🏠Roll, Read, & Build A Gingerbread House
Roll a number, read a decodable sentence, and add a piece to your house! Great for fluency and building excitement.
⛄Roll, Read, & Build A Snowman
Same idea, but now kids build a snowman instead! They roll, read CVC words, and add parts to their snowman—perfect for post-Christmas winter centers when you're still in snow season mode.
🔤Spelling Snowmen
Build snowmen by placing snowball letter circles in the right order to spell CVC words. It’s phonics + spelling + fine motor all in one.
➕6 Math Centers:
🍪Gingerbread Counting
Students count and match gingerbread cookies to numbered pans, reinforcing counting skills and number recognition. This activity is perfect for small groups or independent practice.
🎅Santa's Sleigh Addition
Children solve addition problems by adding math link cubes as presents to Santa’s sleigh. This festive, hands-on center builds addition skills in a playful way—perfect for December math practice.
📏Santas Workshop Measuring
Students measure holiday-themed items like presents and candy canes using math link cubes, introducing them to nonstandard measurement concepts in a playful context.
❄️ Snowball Throw Subtraction
Learners practice subtraction by "tossing" Playdough snowballs and covering the correct answer, combining physical activity with math skill reinforcement.
🧦Fill the Stocking Fun
Children count and fill stockings with mini erasers or counters to match the number shown, enhancing their counting abilities in a festive setting.
🎄Roll-A-Tree
Students roll a die and use the color key to add bingo chips to decorate a Christmas tree, reinforcing number recognition, counting, and fine motor skills.
✨How to Use These Centers
1. Morning Tubs – Snowball Smash and Gingerbread Counting are perfect for starting the day with playful, low-prep learning.
2. Small Group Lessons – I use Hot Cocoa Sound Fix for phonics work and Santa’s Sleigh Addition to build math confidence with manipulatives.
3. Early Finisher Activities – Roll-A-Tree and Fill the Stocking are quiet, independent favorites that students love returning to.
4. Cross-Curricular Learning – Combine literacy, math, and fine motor skills all in one themed center to maximize engagement and skill-building.
💬What Teachers Are Saying:
“My kinders LOVED the Christmas Tree BINGO. They didn’t even realize they were practicing sight words!”
— Mrs. B., Kindergarten Teacher
“Roll and Read Gingerbread House was a huge hit—we used it every day leading up to break.”
— Ms. Hall, 1st Grade Teacher
“So many skills packed into these—thank you for making learning so festive and fun!”
— Mr. James, Special Education K–2
🎁Ready to Bring the Holiday Cheer into Your Classroom?
With 13 engaging centers, editable templates, and all the December magic, it’s your go-to set for fun, skill-based learning this season.
❄️Looking Ahead?
Get a head start on January with my Winter Centers Bundle — perfect for snow-themed learning after break!