I really love coming up with fun and unique holiday ideas, but Christmas makes it HARD! There are so many different Christmas songs to pick from (see our list of over 100 Christmas Songs for Primary!) that this post will be a little different than my other holiday singing time ideas posts — I’m sharing ideas by Christmas song title!!
There are over 190 Christmas Singing Time ideas in this post, so just scroll down to the song your are teaching to find lots of ways to teach that song. You can also adapt ideas from other lists, as many can be modified just a little bit and work with any of these songs.
I’ve also started off the Christmas teaching ideas list with some activities that can fit with any of the Christmas songs or that go through and work on a variety of different Christmas songs from the Children’s songbook.
100 Christmas Songs for Primary
If you’re still searching for the perfect Christmas song to teach, head over to this master list with TONS and TONS of beautiful songs to pick from. I’ve also listed some of my favorites to help you narrow down the list.
Christmas Singing Ideas
(For ANY Christmas Song or MIX of Christmas Songs!)
1. Christmas Spot It & Ways to Sing
This adorable Christmas Spot It games can be played in 2 ways! Each symbol has a matching Christmas song you can sing AND a matching way to sing! So pick either mode and have fun singing with some cute Christmas Ways to Sing!
2. Symbols of Christmas
This one just might be my favorite activity for Christmas!! You’ll teach some of the important Symbols of Christmas while singing through a variety of songs or incorporating the symbols into how they relate to your song of choice.
Plus, there’s some fun add-ins for using props, colored posters, draw the symbols on the board, and other ways to use this one!
3. Christmas Tic Tac Toe: Shepherds, Angels, Wise Men
Have you ever played a 3 player game of Tic Tac Toe? I’m so excited for this fun themed activity that ties in the Christmas Devotional! You’ll divide into 3 teams of the Shepherds, the Angels, and the Wise Men while singing whichever Christmas song you are teaching.
4. Merry Bells Handbells Christmas Song List
You can’t make it through Christmas without bringing out your handbells!! They’re my favorite to use during the holidays. Head over to see this master list of all the Merry Bells Christmas Song List to find the bell charts you need. Plus, use my promo code PrimarySinging to save 10%.
5. Primary Christmas Songbook Sing & Color
This one actually uses a mix of ALL the Primary Christmas songs, instead of just one song in particular, but I think it’s a fun activity after you’ve learned or presented your songs to extend the Christmas fun! Head over to grab the printable Christmas Songbook Sing & Color activity!
6. Snowball Fight
Go for a no-prep singing time for your busy holiday weeks in December or January with this cute Snowball Fight singing time game. The kids will pick a favorite song or way to sing and then toss them to the front! Pick a random snowball and reveal what’s inside!
7. Decorate the Tree Christmas Ornaments
Use this cute hand drawn Christmas Ornaments and Ways to sing ideas for a fun and simple singing time activity. Draw a big tree up on the board and then fill it in with a mix of ornaments as the kids decorate the tree together.
8. Christmas Karaoke Caroling
Sing through a mix of different Christmas songs with this fun and unique Christmas Karaoke Caroling singing time activity! The kids will love singing karaoke style through a mix of songs. It can be a great way to help you pick which song the kids would like to learn and sing together this year!
9. Pick a Christmas Tree
In this Pick a Christmas Tree Trivia & Christmas Songs singing time activity you will have the kids answer fun trivia questions about Christmas trees and then sing through your choice of Christmas song or a mix of songs. This is a fun and flexible activity that can be used in a variety of additional fun ways as well.
10. Christmas Tradition: Find the Pickle
Bring this fun Christmas morning tradition into your Primary room as you play this Christmas Find the Pickle singing time idea! You’ll hide pickles around the room and use the themed ways to sing or pick a mix of songs to sing through.
11. Pick a Christmas Stocking
Use this adorable Pick a Stocking Singing Time idea as a cute way to reveal songs to sing or a variety of ways to sing cards. Simply hide a way to sing card behind a darling illustrated stocking. Let the children “open” the stocking to reveal your way to sing (or song of choice!)
4 More Christmas Singing Time Ideas
- 25 Days of Christmas Nativity Advent Countdown
- Christmas Trivia Questions for Kids
- Roll a Snowman Dice Game
- Musical Chairs Gift Exchange
Teaching Ideas by Specific Christmas Song
(In Alphabetical Order by Song Title)
Away in a Manger
25 Ideas for Teaching Away in a Manger
See my curated post with 25 different fun ideas for teaching Away in a Manger in Singing Time! Includes a dance scarves pattern, unscramble words, guess what’s next, draw or trace idea, silent videos, arms wings, paper plates pattern, and what’s in the bag idea.
Born to Be a King
- Born to Be a King Flip Chart
- Handbell Chart
- Melody Map (FB group)
- Color coded flip chart for UNO game (FB group)
- Crack the Code (Sharla FB group)
- Body Rhythm (FB group)
Born to Bring Us Joy
- Born to Bring Us Joy Flip Chart
- Action Words
- First Letters
- Keyword Swap
- Interactive Pictures
- Handbell Chart (Angie Killian)
Christmas Bells
Could I Hold the Baby
- Could I Hold the Baby Flip Chart
- Manger Questions
- Dance Scarves
- Hand Actions vs1 (In a Pinch Primary Music)
- Finger Actions vs2 (In a Pinch Primary Music)
- Rhyming Pairs & Actions vs2 (In a Pinch Primary Music)
- Gently Pass a Baby Doll
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing Flip Chart
- Body Rhythm Partners
- Sand Blocks
- Erase the Words
- First Letters
- Dramatic Leading
- Song Story
If I Were There
- If I Were There Flip Chart
- Picture Me There
- Dance Scarves
- Bell Chart (Angie Killian)
- Melody Map Match (Angie Killian)
- Eraser Pass (Angie Killian)
- Bingo Game (FB Group)
Little Lord Jesus
- Little Lord Jesus Flip Chart
- Jingle Bells
- Bell Chart (Angie Killian)
Mary’s Lullaby
- Mary’s Lullaby Flip Chart
- Nativity Scene Activity
- Sway & Sing
- Snowflake Match
- Sketch a Scene (FB group)
O Little Town of Bethlehem
12 O Little Town of Bethlehem Singing Time Ideas
See this master list with 12 different fun ideas for teaching O Little Town of Bethlehem. Includes a song trivia game, dance scarves, silent video, fill in the blanks, finish the picture, a special descant part, picture puzzles, and at the stable idea.
Oh Hush Thee, My Baby
- Hand Action Ideas (FB group)
Once Within a Lowly Stable
- Once Within a Lowly Stable Flip Chart
- Dance Scarves
- Chords Bell Chart (FB group)
- Draw the Nativity (FB group)
Picture a Christmas
- Picture a Christmas Flip Chart
- Missing Pictures
- Shadow Box! (FB group)
- Hand Actions (FB group)
- Printable Nativity Masks (The Dating Divas)
- Picture a Christmas Felt Nativity (In a Pinch Primary Music)
- Handbells (Angie Killian)
Prince of Peace
Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus
18 Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus Singing Time Ideas
See this master list with 18 different fun ideas for teaching Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus. Includes a picture song puzzle, stained glass graphics, finish the picture, ribbon wands, hand actions, melody map, and rhythm sticks pattern, and more!
Silent Night
Sleep, Little Jesus
- Sleep Little Jesus Flip Chart
- Sand Blocks
- Finish the Picture
- Symbols for Christmas (Facebook)
- Paper Word Strips (Singing Magic)
Stars Were Gleaming
- Stars Were Gleaming Flip Chart
- Shadow Puppets
- Picture the Manger
- Jingle Bells
- Scrambled Pictures (Sharla Dance)
The Nativity Song
- The Nativity Song Flip Chart
- Sing-Along Posters
- Nativity Skit
- Partner Rhythms
- Stop & Sing Game (FB group)
- Star Singers (FB group)
- Stacking the Song (FB group)
The Shepherd’s Carol
- The Shepherd’s Carol Flip Chart
- Ribbon Wands
- Actions in a Round
- Alleluia Extra Verse (FB group)
- Song Symbols (FB group)
- Egg Shakers (FB group)
The World’s Smallest Shepherd
When Joseph Went to Bethlehem
18 When Joseph Went to Bethlehem Singing Time Ideas
See this master list with 18 different fun ideas for teaching When Joseph Went to Bethlehem. Includes a comic strip, simple actions, song trivia, pipe chimes, directional marching, at the stable idea, sing & act skit, and egg shaker patterns!
When We Seek Him
- When We Seek Him Flip Chart
- Sing-Along Videos
- Dance Scarves
- Line Matching
- Rhythm Sticks (FB group)
- Actions (Angie in the FB group)
- Melody Map (Angie Killian)
More Christmas Ideas
from the Friend Magazine
There are some resources that aren’t perfectly made for Singing Time, but can be adapted to incorporate into your activities! These are free resources published in the Friend Magazine.
- Nativity Family Coloring Page
- Follow the Star Maze
- Jesus is Born Story
- I Love Jesus Coloring Page
- Christmas Crafts Around the World
- When Jesus Was Born Nativity Cutouts
- Sing & Color Christmas Nativity Light the World
- Have a Song-a-Day Christmas Countdown
Continue next to see TONS of fun New Year themed Singing Time Ideas!
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What are some of the ways you’ve taught any of these Primary Christmas songs?
