Our top 10 Christmas Activities for Sunday School are here to help! Getting kids excited about the true meaning of Christmas is such a special job. It’s not just about crafts; it’s about making the Nativity story come alive for them.
We want to create moments they’ll remember all year. These ideas are simple, fun, and packed with meaning. They’re perfect for helping little hearts understand the joy of Jesus’ birth. Let’s make this Christmas season unforgettable for your class!
1. Host a Simple DIY Nativity Play 🌟
This is a classic for a reason! You don’t need a big production. Use simple craft paper for headbands and bathrobes for costumes.
Let the children take turns being Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and angels. It’s a wonderful way to help them personally connect with the story.
2. Create a Verse-a-Day Advent Calendar 🗓️
Help kids count down to Christmas with a focus on the story. Use small paper bags or envelopes, one for each day.
Inside each one, place a single Bible verse that tells a small part of the Nativity story. Each Sunday, the kids can open the bags for that week and read the verses together.
3. Make a Craft Stick Manger 🌾
This is a perfect craft for little hands. All you need are craft sticks, glue, and some yellow yarn or raffia for “hay.”
The kids can build their own small manger. You can even print a small paper “Baby Jesus” for them to place inside. It’s a tangible reminder of where Jesus was born.
4. “Follow the Star” Scavenger Hunt 🗺️
Bring the Wise Men’s journey to life! Hide large paper stars around the church or classroom.
Each star has a clue or a Bible verse about the journey. The final star leads the children to a Nativity scene or a small “treasure” box representing the gifts for Jesus.
5. Throw a Birthday Party for Jesus 🎂
This concept really clicks with young children. Decorate the room with a few balloons and a “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” banner.
Sing “Happy Birthday” and have a simple cupcake. It’s a fun, joyful way to celebrate that Christmas is all about Him.
6. Start an “Angels Among Us” Kindness Challenge 😇
Remind children that the angels brought “good news.” Encourage them to be “angels” by doing acts of kindness.
Create a paper angel for each child. When they complete a kind act (like making a card for an elder or helping a parent), they can add a cotton ball “feather” to their angel’s wing.
7. Tell the Story with Story Stones 📖
This is a wonderful, reusable tool. Find 8-10 smooth, flat stones.
Paint (or draw with permanent markers) simple pictures on them: Mary, Joseph, a donkey, a stable, a star, an angel, a shepherd, a sheep, and Baby Jesus. The children can hold the stones and put them in order as you tell the story.
8. Make Handprint Angel Ornaments 👐
Parents and guardians treasure these! Have each child trace their hands on white paper or cardstock.
Cut out the handprints and glue them together (palms overlapping, fingers pointing down) to make the angel’s wings. Add a paper circle for the head and a pipe cleaner for the halo. It’s a personal and precious keepsake.
9. Decorate “Story” Cookies 🍪
This is always a hit. Get simple sugar cookies in Christmas shapes like stars, angels, and mangers.
As the children decorate with icing and sprinkles, talk about what each shape means. The star led the Wise Men, and the angel told the shepherds the good news!
10. Make Cards for Nursing Home Residents 💌
Teach the children about sharing God’s love with others. Have a card-making station with construction paper, glitter, and crayons.
Let them create bright, cheerful cards for residents at a local nursing home or for members of the church who can’t attend. It’s a simple, powerful lesson in giving.
✝️ A Joyful Conclusion
Teaching the Christmas story is all about planting seeds of faith in a fun way. We hope these activities help your Sunday School class feel the true joy of the season.
Choose one or two to try, and watch the kids light up as they learn about the best gift ever given.
Don’t forget to Pin this post to save these ideas for your Christmas lesson planning!
