4 Christmas Activities for Science and Geography

The end of term is approaching, so you’re probably looking for some quick activities that feel festive and meaningful but don’t add to your workload or require a lot of materials. These simple, curriculum-linked Christmas ideas for science and geography are easy to do and are fun for pupils across several key stages. Have a go during one of your lessons, and don’t forget to tag us in your social media pictures and videos! 

1. The Melting Snowman Investigation

This activity idea links to our States of Matter unit in Year 4 Science and turns an everyday ice cube into a seasonal science challenge. Give pupils an ice cube with a snowman face drawn on it using a whiteboard pen. Their task is to find out where in the classroom their “snowman” will melt the fastest. They might choose a sunny windowsill, a shady corner, the top of a radiator cover or even outside if it’s warm enough.

As the snowmen melt, pupils notice the effects of temperature, light and airflow, linking directly to learning outcomes on how materials change state when they are heated. Older pupils could extend the task by experimenting with simple insulation, wrapping some snowmen in materials like foil, felt or paper towels to investigate how different materials slow down melting. 

2. Mapping Santa’s Journey 

A world map becomes imbued with sparkle and excitement when viewed through Santa’s eyes! In this activity, pupils plot the route Santa might take as he travels around the globe on Christmas Eve. You can guide pupils in identifying continents and oceans, locating key countries and discussing which regions Santa might visit first if he is planning the most efficient path around Earth. Try dividing pupils into groups and giving them different starting points to test their knowledge of continents and oceans. 

This activity links well to several of our geography units, including EYFS All Around the World, Year 1 The World, Year 3 Biomes and Year 5 Our Blue Planet. You could ask your pupils to imagine what Santa might experience as he travels: warm summer weather in Australia, snowstorms in Scandinavia or deserts in northern Africa. This activity requires nothing more than a printed map or a screen, and can be completed independently or in groups. 

3. Candy Cane Dissolving Test

This activity links well with our Year 5 Properties of Materials unit. With just a few cups and some candy canes, pupils can easily see what happens to a festive candy cane when it is submerged in various liquids. Ask pupils to dip candy canes or peppermint sweets into liquids such as warm water, cold water, salt water or vinegar. They then observe which liquid dissolves the candy cane the fastest.

The colourful swirling effect makes the changes easy to see, especially for younger pupils, and older pupils can record times, compare outcomes and consider the variables involved. It’s a festive twist on scientific enquiry and requires minimal setup. 

4. Festive Fieldwork Walk 

A simple winter walk can become an exciting geographical adventure during the festive season. Take pupils outside to explore how the local environment changes in winter. They might look for bare trees, frozen puddles, wildlife activity or signs of human adaptation such as grit on paths or Christmas lights in windows. This links to several of our geography units, including Year 2 - The United Kingdom. 

Along the way, ask the pupils to note human and physical features (you could give bonus points for anything Christmas-related), observe weather patterns and discuss how the season affects people’s daily lives. They could take notes on clipboards as they go. This is a great opportunity to practise fieldwork skills such as noting observations, sketching simple maps or using directional language. Because it is rooted in pupils’ own environment, the activity feels both meaningful and relatable. It requires nothing more than a few clipboards and coats.

Each of the activities listed above is linked to one or more curriculum units available on Developing Experts. If you enjoyed these activities and would like to see more, you can experience all our resources in a free two-week trial. Sign up now at www.developingexperts.com. Plus, don’t forget to tag us on social media - we’d love to see your annotated Santa maps and dissolved candy canes!