Holiday Activity: My 12 Days of Christmas

Coloring sheets, word puzzles, tinsel, glitter, and glue are just some of the items you’ll find scattered around many classrooms during the holidays. There are so many wonderful craft ideas and activities people have used to make the season a memorable one at school.  Here’s a fun way to keep your students engaged in writing during the weeks before the holiday break. 

Ask students to use their creativity to rewrite the lyrics of a holiday tune.  Allow them to work in pairs or small groups, and invite them to really “get outside of the box” to present their final masterpiece to the class.  They might turn their song into a rap, a short musical skit, dramatic presentation, radio broadcast, or a story.  Anything’s possible when creativity is applied! 

Here’s one example of how you could change the lyrics to “The 12 Days of Christmas.”  Follow these links to hear the original song, see the lyrics, and be inspired by a different version of the tune.

• Sample Video Book

• Music and Lyrics

After you present this idea to your students, ask for their input about ideas to help make the activity more memorable.  Remember, if your students take ownership in the idea, they will put more effort into the activity.  Allow your students ample time to get creative, and don’t forget to have some holiday fun!

My Twelve Days of Christmas

Directions: Use the worksheet below to help rewrite the traditional Christmas carol.

1.     In each box, complete the sentence, using your own words.

2.     Draw your own pictures to rewrite the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.”  

3.     Suggestion:  a) Go wild with creativity, b) use descriptive adjectives, and c) paint a picture with your words… perhaps ‘FOUR SMELLY SOCKS’, ‘NINE CREAM BUNS’, or ‘TWELVE FLUFFY CATS’ might work for you.