15 Classroom Decorations That Meant the Holidays Were Coming
Holiday decorations in classrooms created excitement and signaled that winter celebrations and school break were approaching.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
For many students, the holidays felt real when teachers began decorating the classroom. Handmade crafts and festive items turned ordinary spaces into cheerful places filled with color and light. These decorations became traditions that students looked forward to each year as signs the season had arrived.
1. Paper Chains
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Red and green construction paper chains often stretched across the classroom walls. Students worked together to create them during art time. They were simple but made the room feel brighter and festive. Some classrooms used them as countdowns, removing one link each day until break.
2. Snowflake Cutouts
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Handmade snowflakes were taped to windows or hung from the ceiling. Each student designed their own by folding and cutting paper. The variety of shapes made every snowflake unique. Covering the classroom with them gave the space a wintry look.
3. Bulletin Board Displays
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Teachers transformed bulletin boards with holiday themes. Borders, student artwork, and cutouts of trees, snowmen, or bells were common. The boards often displayed projects made in class. They became a focal point of seasonal classroom decoration.
4. Holiday Door Designs
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Classroom doors were wrapped in paper or decorated with festive themes. Teachers and students added stars, candy canes, or stockings. Walking through the halls felt different when each door reflected the holiday season. It showed the spirit of the entire school.
5. Small Christmas Trees
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Some classrooms had small artificial trees in the corner. Students made paper ornaments or decorations during class to hang on them. The trees gave the room a central holiday feature. Even the smallest ones made a big difference in the atmosphere.
6. Menorah or Dreidel Decorations
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Some teachers added Hanukkah decorations to represent different traditions. Posters of menorahs or cutout dreidels appeared on walls or bulletin boards. This helped classrooms include multiple holidays. It also gave students a chance to learn about different celebrations.
7. Garland and Tinsel
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Garland and tinsel were often hung across chalkboards or around windows. The shiny decorations caught the light and made the classroom sparkle. They were inexpensive but transformed the room quickly. Many teachers reused them each year.
8. Holiday Countdown Calendars
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Calendars that counted down the days until break were placed at the front of the classroom. Students took turns marking off each day. Some calendars were homemade while others were store-bought. They created daily excitement as the break grew closer.
9. Window Paintings
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Some classrooms had painted holiday scenes on windows. Snowflakes, snowmen, and trees were common designs. They brightened the view both inside and outside. Cleaning them off after the holidays was part of the yearly routine.
10. Santa Posters
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Large Santa posters or cardboard cutouts often decorated classroom walls. These were paired with reindeer, elves, or sleigh images. They were inexpensive and easy to reuse. Their bright colors made them stand out to students immediately.
11. Festive Borders for Boards
Walter Baxter on Wikimedia Commons
Teachers swapped plain bulletin board borders with holiday ones. Designs included candy canes, snowflakes, or red-and-green strips. This small detail made the boards look completely new. Students noticed it right away as part of the seasonal changes.
12. Hanging Stockings
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Mini stockings with student names were often hung on the wall. Teachers sometimes filled them with pencils, candy, or small treats. The stockings gave students a sense of ownership in the decorations. They also made the classroom walls colorful and festive.
13. String Lights
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Strands of lights were placed around bulletin boards, doors, or windows. The soft glow gave the classroom a warm feeling. Teachers often turned them on during reading or quiet time. Lights made the room feel cozy during short winter days.
14. Holiday Art Projects
epSos.de on Wikimedia Commons
Student projects like cotton-ball snowmen, paper ornaments, or handprint crafts were displayed around the classroom. These decorations made the room personal. Teachers filled the walls and doors with handmade work. Students enjoyed seeing their creations as part of the display.
15. Seasonal Welcome Signs
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Signs with messages like “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” were taped to classroom doors. They were paired with holiday images like wreaths or snowflakes. These greetings set the tone before students even entered the room. Changing the sign became part of the yearly tradition.