Let’s pretend – Christmas role-play ideas

Transform the classroom into Santa’s workshop, play at delivering presents and host a
pretend Christmas dinner. Practise Christmas vocabulary and feed children’s imaginations
with these role-play ideas on the theme of Christmas.

Why use role-play?

1. Role-play makes vocabulary come alive.

2. It gives children the opportunity to interact with each other and practise English in a
non-threatening, non-intimidating way, but it will also give you, the teacher, an
opportunity to assess the children’s speaking abilities.
3. Pretend play comes spontaneously to children even without props and costumes. In
fact, they may become so engaged that they revert to their native language during the
game. This is perfectly normal and simply shows that you’ve offered a truly child-
centred activity! The role of the teacher is to keep bringing them back into English by:
 asking questions (Have we delivered the presents to Poland yet?)
 introducing new elements to the game (Oh no! There’s a snowstorm!)
 using songs (break into a song or a chant at any point of the game, e.g. Presents,
presents, let’s deliver the presents, and the children will soon follow!)
 showing the children you want them to use English (instead of saying repeatedly
Speak in English, try The reindeer only understand English today)
 praising the children when they express themselves in English.

Santa’s workshop
Preparation

1. Gather a range of toys to take into class. Pre-teach toys vocabulary using the realia.
Invite older children to write the vocabulary on a poster. Use this as a checklist of the
toys that Santa’s elves must make during the role-play activity.
2. Gather the tools needed to make the toys. If you have a small group, children could use
real or plastic hammers, screws and nails. If you’re using real tools, make sure you do
a thorough risk assessment first! Alternatively, improvise with the objects in children’s
pencil cases – a ruler for a saw, pencils for hammers – or get children to cut out tools
from cardboard. Teach the names of the tools.
3. Make elf hats (see box below).

Elf hats
1. Cut a strip of white card, paper or newspaper long enough to wrap around the
child’s head when rolled into a cone.
2. Cut a piece of coloured crepe paper the same length, but much wider.
3. Stick the coloured paper onto the surface of the card strip.
4. Roll this into a cone and stick it closed with glue, staples or tape.
5. To the top of the hat, attach a pompom made with cotton wool or scrunched up
white tissue paper.

4. Make elf name cards. Encourage the children to use Christmas vocabulary in their
names, e.g. Twinkle Toes, Holly, Bauble Bob.
5. Set up the room as a workshop by placing the tables in rows like workbenches.
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 Let’s pretend – Christmas role-play ideas

Role-play

1. Act out making the toys – set the elves to work! It’s fun to mime and pretend, but if you
prefer, the children could make toys out of plasticine or junk, or they could draw them.
Ask the elves: What are you making? We’re making a/an/some …
2. Wrap up the toys and make gift labels: To … From …
3. Place the toys in sacks, boxes or piles ready to deliver around the world. Ask the elves:
Where’s this doll going? To Italy.
4. It’s nearly midnight! Quick! It’s time to deliver the toys …

Christmas delivery
Preparation

1. Make a sleigh from a gigantic box, an upturned table decorated with ribbons and bells
or row of chairs.
2. For reindeer, you could use chairs, broomsticks or children.
3. Bring in a (blank) map for planning the route and, optionally, the country names on
labels.

Role-play

1. Give names to the reindeer. Groom them, put on harnesses and give them plenty of
food and water before you set off. Don’t forget to sprinkle on the magic dust so they
can fly!
2. Put the sacks of toys in the sleigh. Make an itinerary – which countries will you visit
first? Draw the route on the map. Older children could write/stick on the names of the
countries.
3. Park the sleigh on the roof and deliver the presents. Don’t get stuck in the chimney!
Shhh … Don’t wake the children!
4. All the presents have been delivered. Time to go home … Be careful of that
snowstorm!
5. The reindeer have been so good – give them a carrot and say goodnight!

More Christmas role-play ideas

 cooking and eating Christmas dinner

 cleaning the house and decorating the Christmas tree
 buying gifts for family and friends
 making a snowman
 going ice-skating
 waking up on Christmas morning
 the Nativity

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