Every time a holiday rolls around, I can feel a shift in my students’ energy levels. They get so excited about the festivities that keeping them focused on learning becomes a bit trickier. That’s why I turn to the holiday math activities I have collected throughout the years. The themed activities are the perfect way to tap into whichever holiday excitement we’re near while still keeping our students on track academically. Today, I’m sharing the color by number activities that let me channel my students’ holiday buzz into something productive. They help my students stay engaged, even when their minds are already halfway to the holiday!
Engaging Students With Holiday Math Activities
Celebrating different holidays throughout the school year can be a fun way to break up the routine and bring a little excitement into our classrooms. When it comes to deciding whether or not we should celebrate with activities like holiday math activities, there are definitely some pros and cons to consider.
On the plus side, holiday-themed activities can make learning feel more relevant and exciting. Using a Thanksgiving color by number can connect math practice to something our students are already thinking about. These kinds of activities often feel like a treat, which can be a big motivator, especially as energy levels rise and attention spans shorten. Plus, holiday math activities can help our students see learning as something that’s woven into their everyday lives, even during festive times.
However, there are some challenges. Not every student celebrates the same holidays. Being mindful of that is key. We want all students to feel included and comfortable in our classrooms. That’s why I often stick with more seasonally themed activities, like “winter” or “fall” rather than specific holidays, to keep things more inclusive. In the end, holiday math activities can definitely work well, as long as we’re thoughtful about how we approach them and aim to create a welcoming environment for everyone.
Interested to hear more pros and cons about celebrating the holidays with our students? Make sure to listen to our podcast episode, Celebrating Holidays in the Classroom.
Using Color by Number for Holiday Math Activities
Your students will love these holiday math activities! This bundle offers a series of engaging color by number activities that align with different holidays throughout the year. It makes math practice festive and fun while keeping it academic. It’s perfect for mixing up your routine with a seasonal twist that covers everything from fall and Thanksgiving to summer and Valentine’s Day.
Each activity is a self-checking math review that your students can work through independently. They solve math problems and find the matching answer on the coloring sheet. Then, they use the assigned color to fill in that section. With themes like New Year’s, Christmas, and St. Patrick’s Day, these activities capture your students’ holiday excitement while reinforcing essential skills like adding decimals, multiplying whole numbers, evaluating exponents, and solving one-step equations. With digital versions included for four of the resources, they’re super flexible for in-class or at home.
In this bundle, you’ll find nine unique resources for eight different holidays or seasons. They’re perfect for centers, sub days, or just a fun, low-prep day when you want to keep students learning and give them a bit of holiday cheer. Whether it’s Thanksgiving or a winter theme, these holiday math activities are a fantastic way to engage your students in seasonal math practice!
How to Incorporate These Holiday Math Color by Number Activities
There are so many creative ways to bring holiday math activities to life using color by number activities in your math class! With these ideas, you can transform color by number activities into an engaging tool in your classroom. By doing so, you can also bring a festive spin to math practice that your students will love! Here are a few fun ideas from the resource to make the most of these activities:
Partner or Small Group Work
Sometimes, working in pairs or small groups can really boost engagement. You can have students each solve the problems independently. Then, they check in with their partner or group to compare answers before they color. This setup allows them to learn from each other and work on communication skills. Plus, it’s a great way to bring in some peer collaboration!
Switch Up the Coloring Style
Why stick to plain old coloring when you can add some flair? Encourage your students to use crayons, markers, or even watercolors. Try patterns instead of solid colors. Purple stripes or green polka dots can create unique and creative masterpieces. This variation adds a twist that makes these holiday math activities even more exciting.
Create a Calming Zen Day
Coloring is known for its calming effects, so why not make a whole Zen Day out of it? Dim the lights, put on some soft music, and let your students choose a comfy spot to work. This approach allows for some math review and helps your students decompress and relax. This is especially helpful during stressful times, like before testing.
Use Digital Options
Many color by number resources come with digital versions. If you’re equipped with tech resources, let your students try out digital coloring. They solve the problems, type in their answers, and fill the sections with the right colors on a screen. It’s a fun, tech-savvy twist on traditional coloring.
Host a Coloring Contest
Add a little competition with a coloring contest! Set the rules to ensure it’s not about speed but about accuracy and creativity. Once the rules are set, have your students work individually or in teams. You can give points for correct answers and neat coloring. Whether for a small prize or just bragging rights, turning these holiday math activities into a game can motivate your students to put in their best effort.
Additional Resources
If you’re a big a fan of holiday math activities, you’ll love diving into even more ways to incorporate color by number into your classroom! These activities are packed with benefits that make them a valuable tool for math practice. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite posts that explore the ins and outs of color by number. Check out the resources below for all the details about why these activities are a must-have in any math teacher’s toolkit!
- Color by Number Magic: Transforming Math Lessons
- Rigorous Math With Color by Number Activities?
- Can Big Kids Love Color by Number Math Activities?
Get in the Holiday Spirit With These Holiday Math Activities
Holiday math activities increase student engagement and boost motivation when there are distractions going on. These color by number activities bring just the right mix of fun and learning to your classroom. They give your students a festive way to practice essential skills. Whether it’s through group work, creative coloring patterns, or even a relaxing Zen Day, there are so many ways to make these activities work for you and your students. I hope you’re feeling inspired to add some holiday-themed color by number fun to your math lessons this year. Your students will thank you for it!
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